Welcome back to our TV coverage of Outlander book two. Read our past reviews and recaps here.
“I’ve kept my word. I lay your vengeance at your feet.” – Murtagh Fitzgibbons
Well, you cannot deny that Murtagh did the thing in what happens to be one of my favorite episodes of Outlander this season.
“Vengeance Is Mine” takes place shortly after last week’s victory at Prestonpans. Still in an attempt to change the course of history, Jamie tries to convince the Jacobite leaders to continue their march on London. But England’s military force has the leaders worried, and they decide to head back to Scotland. Jamie’s sway over the Prince has them concerned as well, so in an effort to keep his influence away from their leader, Jamie, Claire and the Highlanders are sent (or pretty much exiled) to the north. On their way to Inverness, they encounter and are eventually swarmed by a band of redcoats. The only way out of it is pulling an old trick out of their bag, pretending Claire is their hostage and use her as an exchange for freedom with the redcoats.
That all works, but of course there are hiccups in that plan. Jamie and Murtagh assume Claire will be taken to the nearest camp, only she’s not because that would be too easy. Claire is to be taken elsewhere, but she conveniently bumps into Hugh Munro (an acquaintance of Jamie’s) and asks him to find Jamie and let him know where she’ll be.
And that’s where the biggest surprise is in store, Claire is taken to the home of the Duke of Sandringham – a man who has caused her and Jamie pain in innumerable ways throughout their time together – including the attack on Claire and Mary in Paris. The Duke is clever and knows not to reveal Claire’s identity to the redcoats. I wish Claire was just cunning and saw through his obvious scheming and manipulation when he let her pen a letter to Jamie about her exact whereabouts. Regardless, we all saw what happens. The Duke finally gets what he deserves, and Claire and Mary are saved.
This was a fun episode, especially compared to the tense and heavy episodes from previous weeks. The tone was noticeably lighter, the stakes and suspense were still high, but there was never really any doubt that Claire wouldn’t be able to get herself out of the Duke’s clutches while making sure Jamie stayed safe.
Was it a filler episode? Pretty much, but it was a good one, and a much needed break from the heavier stuff of the last two weeks. It also contained probably the most romantic moment of the season (or even the series) so far. I’m still feeling the affects of all the swooning Jamie caused.
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A few more thoughts on “Vengeance is Mine”:
- We are beginning to see why Claire ends up back in the 1940s. Jamie sounds like he has a plan if they can’t stop the fall of the rebellion from happening, and a certain time-traveling stone portal might be part of it.
- I’m glad to see Mary again and the influence Claire has on her. I think Claire is going to play in big role in their brief time together to help Mary grow into a strong, brave woman.
- There’s only two episodes left, and I can’t imagine everything that will need to happen in those two episodes to properly wrap up Dragonfly in Amber and set up Voyager.
- Finally, the fact that there are only two episodes left made me realize how I’m going to miss some of the Highlanders.
Rating: 9/10
Outlander is rated TV-MA and airs Saturdays at 9/8c on Starz.
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