This was a highly enjoyable episode for me, and a very interesting one in terms of relationships.
If we start with Jamie and Claire, there was notable tension between the two at different points in the episode. It brought home that the two had been living very independent lives for the past 20 years, and suddenly having to take someone else into account, being a partnership again, wasn't exactly like riding a bicycle, to use last week's simile. These two are still strangers to each other.
We saw this when they differed over trying to save the man who'd attacked Claire, over Jamie's lie to Old Ian about Young Ian's presence in Edinburg, and in Claire's desire to first go help the Campbells, and again when she suggests moving out of the brothel and setting up their own place.
Speaking of the Campbells... I had thought that maybe the show would omit these two characters, but lo and behold, there they were! And I have to say, I much prefer how the show presented them. I think Margaret Campbell's situation in the show makes far more sense than the book version. Book readers likely picked up on some of the gibberish she spouted at Claire when Claire took her pulse, namely the line "Abandawe will devour you". I am not sad that they've left out the whole "Edinburgh Fiend" side plot.
The other major relationship in this one is of course Fergus and Young Ian. Their scenes together were so good! Definitely loving these two -- both the actors and the characters. Iloved that Fergus called Ian "brother". Young Ian is one of my fave book characters, and with every scene, John Bell just brings him to life so wonderfully.
The print shop fire -- you know when Jamie jumps down from the upper level to the floor to get to Young Ian? Did anyone else thing "Batman!" I was wondering if that was done on purpose as sort of a nod to Sam having played Batman on stage. Apparently, there were a lot of issues with the print shop scene between Young Ian and the bad guy -- caitri, who wrote that really interesting post about the printing in ep. 306, has written another one pointing out the issues in 307. I will ask her if I can link to it again.
So good to see Ian Murray Sr. again!
And the secret that Jamie's been keeping from Claire is out of the bag -- for viewers anyway -- Jamie has another wife. Which likely explains his weird reaction to Claire admonishing him for lying to Ian about Young Ian. When Jamie got all defensive about lying, and made that comment about lies having shades now -- this from a man who's been lying about his identity from the day he and Claire met. But it was really a guilt reaction -- he's been keeping the biggest lie from her. Although, technically-speaking, he's not lied to her about having another wife -- because she hasn't asked if he's married anyone else. But he certainly hasn't TOLD her about the other wife -- so it's a lie of omission. And his repeated claims to everyone who raises this with him that everything will be fine... Will it Jamie? Will it really be fine?
I may have a bit more to say later -- only managed to watch this one twice and there was a lot in it! Meant to watch a 3rd time but got sucked into the baseball...
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winterfish
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Date: 2017-10-30 12:45 pm (UTC)If we start with Jamie and Claire, there was notable tension between the two at different points in the episode. It brought home that the two had been living very independent lives for the past 20 years, and suddenly having to take someone else into account, being a partnership again, wasn't exactly like riding a bicycle, to use last week's simile. These two are still strangers to each other.
We saw this when they differed over trying to save the man who'd attacked Claire, over Jamie's lie to Old Ian about Young Ian's presence in Edinburg, and in Claire's desire to first go help the Campbells, and again when she suggests moving out of the brothel and setting up their own place.
Speaking of the Campbells... I had thought that maybe the show would omit these two characters, but lo and behold, there they were! And I have to say, I much prefer how the show presented them. I think Margaret Campbell's situation in the show makes far more sense than the book version. Book readers likely picked up on some of the gibberish she spouted at Claire when Claire took her pulse, namely the line "Abandawe will devour you". I am not sad that they've left out the whole "Edinburgh Fiend" side plot.
The other major relationship in this one is of course Fergus and Young Ian. Their scenes together were so good! Definitely loving these two -- both the actors and the characters. Iloved that Fergus called Ian "brother". Young Ian is one of my fave book characters, and with every scene, John Bell just brings him to life so wonderfully.
The print shop fire -- you know when Jamie jumps down from the upper level to the floor to get to Young Ian? Did anyone else thing "Batman!" I was wondering if that was done on purpose as sort of a nod to Sam having played Batman on stage. Apparently, there were a lot of issues with the print shop scene between Young Ian and the bad guy --
So good to see Ian Murray Sr. again!
And the secret that Jamie's been keeping from Claire is out of the bag -- for viewers anyway -- Jamie has another wife. Which likely explains his weird reaction to Claire admonishing him for lying to Ian about Young Ian. When Jamie got all defensive about lying, and made that comment about lies having shades now -- this from a man who's been lying about his identity from the day he and Claire met. But it was really a guilt reaction -- he's been keeping the biggest lie from her. Although, technically-speaking, he's not lied to her about having another wife -- because she hasn't asked if he's married anyone else. But he certainly hasn't TOLD her about the other wife -- so it's a lie of omission. And his repeated claims to everyone who raises this with him that everything will be fine... Will it Jamie? Will it really be fine?
I may have a bit more to say later -- only managed to watch this one twice and there was a lot in it! Meant to watch a 3rd time but got sucked into the baseball...