Summary: Roger seeks a kindness from Jocasta. Jocasta shocks Roger and she gets a piece of his mind. The Gathering is drawing to a close. Claire’s guts are griping. Germaine sings a tune. The mobcap dies an ugly death. Jamie consoles Claire. Jamie has a plan for the Ridge. A deal is struck. Himself is in demand.
Setting: Mt. Helicon, NC, Late October 1770 with cool, grey, and wet weather.
The importance of family as deduced by Roger after his encounter with Iain Mhor.
Roger’s incorrect at believing the Regulators had not made it into the history books.
Roger’s internal conflict about the Cameron wealth versus the Findlay family’s lack thereof. His request for Jocasta to help the family felt like the work of the Reverend. Canny Jocasta hatches a plan that won’t hurt the Joan Findlay’s pride.
The private conversation between Roger and Jocasta.
Claire’s ponderings.
Claire’s interaction with Marsali, Germaine, and the teakettle.
Jamie returning to camp with the priest.
Jamie and Claire by the pool.
Jamie and Claire discussing the militia and the Ridge.
Please share your thoughts and comments to 719-425-9444 or contact@adramofoutlander.com. Comments or messages may be included in the podcast or a written post.
My initial thoughts are below, but you’ll need to listen to the podcast to get the details! Click above.
Summary: Roger remains imprisoned. Jamie and Claire arrive at the village but are turned away. River Run receives a guest. Brianna awaits the birth of her baby. Otter Tooth is revealed. Young Ian makes a decision. Jocasta gets some lovin’. Testosterone poisoning rears its head. Roger learns the truth. Roger reveals his experiences. A choice needs to be made. A baby is born. Uncle Murtagh enjoys the baby. Jamie and Claire return. The baby has no name. But is Bonnet dead? Roger returns. The British are coming. Tryon assigns Jamie a job.
Things I am Pondering (in no particular order):
Hey 1970’s Otter Tooth, how’d you bring the gemstone through the stones without it dissolving?
Young Ian is quite decked out in tribal ware and language coming into the episode.
Seriously?! They traveled for months, only to get turned away.
Why did the Mohawk go roughly 700 miles to bury Otter Tooth’s head and the stone?
Why would Murtagh, a fugitive, show up at River Run knowing Jocasta has many British friends?
By the way, Murtagh has terrible manners.
Where the heck is Lord John? EDIT: He’s away on business.
Phaedre’s magical skills feeling the baby’s position through layers of clothing is, well, close to reality. Her technique was decent and well ahead of the times, but hands on a bare belly are needed to really feel for the baby’s position.
Would the Mohawk really have taken Otter Tooth’s head and g
It’s a good thing Claire knows one word in Mohawk.
Will the banished Mohawk woman end up at the Ridge?
Jamie, Young Ian outwitted you, sir. He’s a man grown now choosing his own destiny.
It’s gut-wrenchingly sad to see young Ian left behind.
Who knew being told you were never liked and getting a drink in the face is foreplay? Smooth operator, “Remember where ye came from…”
By the way, Murtagh is looking like a fine silver fox lying shirtless in bed. Jocasta is a saucy minx.
Testosterone poisoning at its finest. That said, I truly enjoyed Roger’s fighter coming out on Jamie.
Young Ian killed the gauntlet. Clever boy.
Claire’s annoyed stance looks like any wife, sister, mother, waiting for the boys to stop it.
I am curious why Claire did not look at Roger’s obviously injured arm after he stopped hitting Jamie.
Roger, Roger, Roger! So many feels. Just so damn good. As he asks questions and the information he is given sinks in and as he shares what he knows, seems to deepen the loss and difficulty of the whole situation.
Roger needs a minute! Jamie simmer down.
Wait a minute. ROGER cost you a lad that you love? No. Claire did by wearing that damned gemstone of Otter Tooth.
One of my fave moments, when Roger says, “What?!” with disdain to Jamie.
A gorgeous laboring scene with Brianna being surrounded by women then cut to Brianna being introduced to her baby. What the absolute hell?!
“We will choose his birth date wisely, but you can be sure the lad was born in wedlock.”
So “Uncle” Murtagh has been hanging around River Run for several months. Interesting.
Brianna’s sadness that Roger is not with her parents is tough to watch.
But Murtagh do you really know Bonnet didn’t get out of the jail too?
What’s the significance of that awkward dinner Brianna decides to show up at? An olive branch of forgiveness?
Finally, Brianna’s love for Roger shows when she runs out the door and into his arms. Homerun that.
The love is there and we can feel it.
“Take me to see my son.”
Roger’s looking pretty fine with his low cut 70’s open shirt.
The snuggle between Jocasta and Murtagh has Jamie and Claire perplexed.
Murtagh’s regulating ways have him in hot water.
Ongoing thoughts:
Did Roger stop at the standing stones on the way to River Run?
Who’s tending to and settling the Ridge? One-handed Fergus with Marsali’s help and the one other tenant are not capable of doing it all these past many months. That storyline got dropped like a hot potato.
Has Roger processed his trauma?
Will Jamie fake Murtagh’s death by sending him to Canada or back to Scotland?
When in Season 5 will we get to see Young Ian decked out in his new Kanienkehakan manner?
What in the heck are the circular pin adornments for? I looked it up and couldn’t find the answer. EDIT: They are pins gained in trade.
Why did Brianna not ask where Young Ian was?
The lack of any reconciliation between Jamie and Brianna is strange especially because she told Murtagh she already forgave him.
The timey-wimey-ness of Season 4 hurts my brain and made it difficult to figure out any frame of reference. Certainly, Brianna’s timeline was ahead of Roger’s. He was gone for 11 months. Jamie and Claire were gone 6.5-7 months to retrieve him even though they were only a couple of weeks behind him in theory?
See you next up for The Fiery Cross read-a-long.
Please share your thoughts and comments to 719-425-9444 or contact@adramofoutlander.com. Comments or messages may be included in the podcast or a written post.
Visit Outlander Starz on social media, like or follow: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and the officialwebsite. All photos are the property of Starz/SONY PICTURES TELEVISION INC.
Join the A Dram of Outlander Community
Please share posts, join the discussions, and follow this website and social media sites listed below!
Enter (click above and follow the directions) to win your choice of one of two shawls inspired by those worn by Claire Fraser in Season Four of the Outlander TV Series. These beautiful shawls are hand-knit with love from 100% wool yarns. They will keep you warm while curled up with a dram and your favorite book or television show.
Cathy Ann Knits is a one-woman business in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, offering a variety of hand-knit accessories and items for the home. All items are hand knit by Cathy herself. Cathy Ann Knits is in no way affiliated with Sony or Starz. The shawls are inspired by those seen in the show Outlander and are not official products.
Terms and Conditions: The giveaway runs from 1/28/2019-2/4/2019 12:01 am. A winner will be randomly chosen on 2/5/2019 at 12:01am MT. The winner will be contacted by email after the contest ends to choose one of the two offered shawls. The winner has 48 hours to respond to claim the prize or it will be awarded to the runner-up. The Outlander inspired shawls are by Cathy Ann Knits. They are being given away by A Dram of Outlander. All Rights Reserved.
My basic thoughts outline is below, you’ll need to listen to the podcast to get the details!
Summary: Roger completes the initiation and remains a slave. He is known as dogface. Fergus plans. Lord John brings Brianna news. She requests an audience after reading the letter. Brianna and Lord John share an intimate moment. Roger works in the village. A woman with a baby helps Roger. Brianna and Lord John make a visit. Roger breaks a cultural rule. Roger meets a priest. Roger learns his location. Marsalis deduces the plan. What would Jamie and Claire do? The priest is tortured. Roger prays. They dig. The priest is taken away. Brianna and Lord John arrive at their destination. Roger escapes. Brianna says her peace. Murtagh escapes. Roger does the priest a service. His lover makes a choice.
1 The protective care of God or of nature as a spiritual power. ‘They found their trust in divine providence to be a source of comfort.’ Synonyms: fate, destiny, nemesis, kismet, God’s will, divine intervention, predestination, predetermination.
1.1 God or nature as providing protective care. ‘I live out my life as Providence decrees.’
2 Timely preparation for future eventualities. ‘It was considered a duty to encourage providence.’ Synonyms: prudence, foresight, forethought, far-sightedness, judgement, judiciousness, shrewdness, circumspection, wisdom, sagacity, common sense, precaution, caution, care, carefulness
Conflict, Friendship, Protection, Forgiveness, and Confrontation:
Brianna reacts to the news Lord John bring about Bonnet’s arrest.
Brianna needs to move forward into freedom through forgiveness.
Lord John is protective… “I’m not sure that means taking afternoon tea with a murderer.”
Brianna misses her mother and experiences unexpected emotions when arriving in town. Lord John offers support.
Brianna talks to Bonnet…alone. With Lord John waiting protectively.
When she speaks to Bonnet, he gets a rise out of her.
Purpose and Friendship:
Fergus and the other Regulators refuse to let Murtagh stay in jail and be sentenced to hang.
Marsali supports the plan to break Murtagh from jail.
They wish Claire and Jamie were there to help because they would find a way.
While Lord John and Brianna are in the jail, Fergus and friends put the breakout plan into action.
Marsali and Fergus are going to the Ridge.
The boys make to break Murtagh out of jail and run into LJG and Brianna during the escape.
With the baby in a basket and all their goods in a wagon, Marsali provides the getaway vehicle.
Biding Time, Kindness, Reflection, Conflict, and Sacrificial Love
Roger’s put to work as a camp slave even though his arm is injured.
He encounters a young mother, Johiehon, who offers Roger medicinal help to help with the pain of his injured arm.
Kahereton is jealous and worried about Roger.
Roger unwittingly breaks a cultural rule and is put in a hut.
Roger is questioned why he was sold by his people.
Roger meets Pere Alexandre Ferigault in the hut.
Love is the common denominator between Roger and Alexandre.
The priest tells his story and why he’s prepared to die.
Roger tells his story and why he is an idiot.
Roger digs his way out of the hut and to the screaming of Pere he runs away.
Roger tries to talk himself out of going back to help Pere.
He cannot do it. Calls himself a stupid fool. He runs back to the village.
Roger returns to the village and hastens the priest’s death.
Johiehon walks into the flame to join her lover.
Kahereton is devastated and picks up the baby.
Roger is stunned by the turn of events, then is hauled away. “That’s it, lads, take me back to the idiot hut.”
Freedom
Brianna finds of mind and body freedom through forgiving Bonnet.
Pere Ferigault and his lover find freedom in death.
Murtagh gains his freedom by the acts of his friends, including an unlikely ally
Bonnet is a cat with nine lives and presumably escaped before the prison blew up.
Though still a captive, Roger finds freedom in confronting his own emotions and thoughts and doing the right thing.
I CANNOT wait until the finale. See you on the flip side.
Please share your thoughts and comments to 719-425-9444 or contact@adramofoutlander.com. Comments or messages may be included in the podcast or a written post.
Visit Outlander Starz on social media, like or follow:Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and the officialwebsite. All photos are the property of Starz/SONY PICTURES TELEVISION INC.
Join the A Dram of Outlander Community
Please share posts, join the discussions, and follow this website and social media sites listed below!
My basic thoughts outline is below, you’ll need to listen to the podcast above to get the details!
Summary: Roger is recaptured. Brianna uses art therapy. Brianna sketches a beautiful woman. Jocasta plans a party. Jamie, Claire, and Young Ian are on the trail. There is a worry about Brianna. Young Ian plays a marriage therapist. Fergus finds intel, but not work. Jocasta bears a gift. Marsali knows what a man needs. The eligible men arrive. Brianna commands a parlor game. A pirate is captured. A proposal will be made. Brianna hatches a plan. Bones are discovered. Jamie and Claire makeup. Roger is put to a test.
This episode brims over with emotional vulnerability and characters being unable to hide who they are, what they are, and exist in bareness for viewers to watch. The overarching theme of hope from hopelessness is a bit over the top and lacks any subtlety whatsoever, yet the message gets brought home for each of the characters loud and clear.
Brianna The Prized Heifer:
Salivating single men…mostly.
Jocasta is persuasive.
A Lord joins the dinner party.
A game of psychology.
Brianna swoons and begins to gain a friend.
An offer he couldn’t refuse.
Lord John:
His presence.
His friendship.
His encounter.
Bonding with Brianna.
What’s Up with Roger:
He daydreams.
He’s tested by the Mohawk villagers.
Jamie and Claire:
The divide between them.
The makeup.
A Man Needs A Purpose:
Fergus’ plight and the wife always knows best.
Murtagh the Wanted:
Regulator business.
Capturing the pirate.
The Bonnet conundrum is fixed.
Lizzie the Loud Mouth:
She’s judgmental.
She’s irresponsible with her words.
She’s loyal.
Final Thoughts:
I wanted to love this episode. So much detail and excellence were given to the whole River Run experience, yet the Jamie and Claire makeup seemed okay but the lacking impact left something missing. The Fergus subplot is plain bizarre since he had a job when Roger ran into him at the newspaper shop. Nevertheless, Marsali shines. Murtagh and Bonnet end up going to jail together. This should prove an interesting story arc in the next episode.
Please share your thoughts and comments to 719-425-9444 or contact@adramofoutlander.com. Comments or messages may be included in the podcast or a written post.
Visit Outlander Starz on social media, like or follow: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and the official website. All photos are the property of Starz/SONY PICTURES TELEVISION INC.
Join the A Dram of Outlander Community
Please share posts, join the discussions, and follow this website and social media sites listed below!
A Dram of Outlander 