‘Outlander’ season 2, episode 9 review: William Grey’s arrival and the horrors of war
We’ve known that war was coming to “Outlander” for quite some time, mostly because of the movement of the overall story and also the determination of one Prince Charles. Yet, as someone coming into this story with little experience with the Diana Gabaldon book series, we had little idea as to how it would unfold through the lens of Jamie and Claire’s journey.
During tonight’s “Je Suis Prest,” we had what may qualify as one of the most viscerally uncomfortable moments of the entire series, as Jamie Fraser proceeded to simulate sexually abusing his own wife Claire in order to persuade new arrival William Grey to talk and give up the location of the British camp. It was a horrific thing to watch, even if there were plans in place, and while it may have produced results from Jamie and his men to sabotage the opposition, you do have to wonder whether it was worth it, or if there was another way to appeal to Grey’s good nature.
We have a feeling that this young man is far from gone from the series; generally, anytime that someone says something akin to “let’s hope our paths never cross again,” it’s almost a guarantee that they will. Think of this as Chekhov’s warning, if you will. (Until we meet again!)
This form of torment was just one in a wide array of terrible things associated with Claire in this episode, given that over the course of the hour, we saw through flashbacks / flash-forwards / whatever you want to call them in time her learn to deal with death during World War II, as she saw tragedy befall some American soldiers she was just starting to get to know. That PTSD she experienced in those moments came back into her head with every gunshot in the training field or moment of violence she experienced. Jamie offered her a chance to return home and sit this one out, but as she noted, she did not want to be a dragonfly in amber, stuck in a singular experience. (Hey, a “Dragonfly in Amber” reference!)
Maybe reminding us of the title of a Diana Gabaldon novel is enough for it to be considered a “happy moment” from an otherwise largely-sad hour, though we did also enjoy Murtagh’s training regimen very much. Also, it was nice to get a little bit of Dougal in this episode; even though his past with Claire doesn’t exactly make him endearing, the speech from Claire to him regarding narcissism was a thing of beauty and one of many excellent Caitriona Balfe monologues this season.
Before we conclude, let’s make it clear that we understand story-wise where the William Grey torment scene was coming from, and it made sense. Still, it was a moment of discomfort, for both her as a character and us as a viewer, amidst a series of reminders about the terrors of war. “Outlander” is staying strong creatively, and with four episodes left, it will be intriguing to see what lies ahead. Episode Grade: A-.
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Marie Rosato
June 5, 2016 @ 8:19 pm
Come on take a good look it Was ClAire who starte the farce and Jamie picked up on it he didn’t take it as far as. The book where he rips her bodice and bares her well known boobs. They played that scene well she even got two klick him in the family jewels so it was not. The gloom and doom you portrayed .her ptsd was taken care of by Jamie’s promise never to let her be love so completely broken and alone.
Barbara Hilliard
June 5, 2016 @ 4:17 pm
The episode was brilliant from start to finish. I disagree about the horrifying trauma inflected upon Claire in the LHG scene. From watching show and podcast my impression was her initiating the scene took that out. Jamie my have took it a step further than she anticipated but she handled that quite well by kneeing him in the family jewels
Susan
June 5, 2016 @ 12:15 pm
First of all you do not have the character’s name even right!!!! It is Lord John Grey not William did you even watch the show?? Seriously?
Matt Carter
June 5, 2016 @ 3:03 pm
We’re following what Starz gave us in the promotional materials (which was William Grey for now) and we’re not trying to look ahead through the lens of the books. Hope that clears it up!
MarieC
June 7, 2016 @ 12:20 am
I think it’s a good thing to have a reviewer who is not familiar with the books. You give us a very objective point of view. As a fan of the book series, it is interesting to me to read what a non-book-fan thinks of the show as a standalone. Thanks, and keep it up!
Matt Carter
June 7, 2016 @ 8:44 am
Thanks! I had put some thought previously into reading up, but personally I think I would have a harder time appreciating it as a standalone entity if I went down that road.
MarieC
June 7, 2016 @ 12:19 am
It is William when he is first introduced in the books, and Lord John Grey later on. So, having him be William Grey in this episode was correct.
Butler Lady
June 5, 2016 @ 6:24 am
This is a joke, right? Best part of episode.
Anna del Monaco
June 5, 2016 @ 5:51 am
still a long way from what goes on in Thrones…..life back then was definitely not a picnic and needs to reflected on the show
Auntie Lamb
June 5, 2016 @ 5:05 am
What? The rape of Mary; Claire’s near-constant jeopardy from all and sundry; and every second of “Faith:” THESE didn’t upset you? Please give me an effing break!!
Matt Carter
June 5, 2016 @ 3:05 pm
The one thing that’s gotta be clear is that being “upset” over something doesn’t equal disliking the episode by any means. I’d argue that having a sharp reaction to something like this, whether it be planned by the two of them or otherwise, is a good thing. This was the characters’ intent in doing it in the first place.
Terri
June 5, 2016 @ 5:04 am
That uncomfortable scene with William Grey? Oh, please! I’ve seen much worse on CBS “Criminal Minds”! As for Jamie “using or abusing” Claire, it was Claire’s idea when she gave him the clue by using the word “sadist” (that she defined for him in season 1). She was having fun with the deception also. Much ado about nothing!!!
Cynthia
June 5, 2016 @ 3:22 am
Oh please, that “uncomfortable” scene was so tame compared to the book. In the book it’s not Claire’s idea at all – Jamie does it to her without her knowing beforehand – and he also tears at her gown so she’s basically topless. This was much tamer and she was in control on TV. Frankly, I liked it better on TV but it was not exactly a traumatic scene.
Jan LaBouve Remling
June 5, 2016 @ 6:21 pm
I agree….horrific, come on Matt get real.
Heather Hovey Shields
June 5, 2016 @ 2:45 am
” we had what may qualify as one of the most viscerally uncomfortable moments of the entire series”
This is a joke right? I mean, this is meant to be satire. It must be. Have you even watched the show? You did catch last season where Jamie was tortured (hand nailed, smashed, back flayed, etc), repeatedly raped, and brought to complete mental undoing, all at the hands of a disgusting sadist. You caught that part right? And yet this small and funny portion of the show wherein Claire comes up with a plan to pretend with her husband that she’s a captor so they can, together, get information… that, that consensual pretend is the most viscerally uncomfortable moment of the entire series? I’m not really sure you have a job with your limited powers of insight.
Akash Singh
June 5, 2016 @ 2:34 am
This was a fantastic episode! Perhaps more than any other episode of “Outlander”, this is the one that Bear McCreary should submit for Best Score consideration. It’s sublime, from the first frame to the Jacobite ballad at the end of the episode, sung beautifully in Gaelic.
As for the issue with the sequence with Master Grey, I find it to be an improvement over the text frankly. I’m glad they avoided the flawed cliché of torture providing the right answers. I found it an intelligent plot mechanism as Claire realized how to get to him.
I won’t delve into book spoilers just in case, but the added material of Claire’s PTSD coming into play here was quite fantastic. The bit where Claire was lying down in the trench and the soldier was crying out for his mother really got to me and Caitriona displayed those emotions brilliantly.
Reilly
June 5, 2016 @ 2:30 am
Matt, I have had an issue with some of the specific rape scenes in this season but I can’t agree with you about the scene with Jamie and Claire working together to get Master Grey to talk. She initiated it and gave him the hint about what to do by calling him a sadist, a term she explained to him last season. And there were even two funny moments when she nails him a little too well with her knee and when he kisses her and she kisses back at first before remembering that she’s NOT supposed to like it. Most of the fan comments I have read name that scene as one of their favorite in the episode. Interesting how it can be viewed so very differently for you to call it “most viscerally uncomfortable moments of the entire series.” I guess in a way, that makes it good writing if people can watch it and have such a dichotomy of opinions.
I thought Jamie was showing both a connection to Claire by understanding what her idea was and compassion for not having to harm Master Grey to get the information. It was part of the great leadership he displayed in this episode under tricky circumstances. I also didn’t find it a sad hour but one of inspiration despite very tough odds. Only three people on that field know the specific outcome that they hope to change. With that said, I’m prepared for much sadness in the next few episodes.