
I loved this episode! I didn’t think I would because Diana had said she didn’t really have anything for Claire’s parents and wasn’t interested in their story. So I was worried what Matt Roberts might make of it. But I absolutely loved it! World War I & II history is fascinating to me, but I think in part because I cannot fathom the whole world at war and all the things that went with it. This episode was richly shot and felt more like a movie than a show. We see the horrors Henry experiences on the front while we see him and Julia strike up a courtship over letters. Julia has been alone for much of her life, and they give each other hope in a dark time. I love when Henry is reading one of the letters and a fellow soldier looks over his shoulder to see what it says and Henry brushes him off. That was a fantastic bit of directing and made everything feel so real. Although it’s fascinating that Julia has a Scottish reading phase! Interesting and foreboding! They quote John Donne to each other, much like Claire quoted it to Ned in Outlander Season 1. Although we do hear “I Do Like to Be Beside the Seaside” in the background while they write to each other.
While I’m not much of a love at first sight person, I do love how they start their life together right away. There are many missing pieces of their story, yet I’m sure we will get more as the season goes on. As they say in the movie, When Harry Met Sally, “When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with someone, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.” There is a certain urgency when surrounded by war and death. It puts into perspective what really matters, and what matters is that they make the most of their time together. While it is lovely, we do see Henry with some pretty serious PTSD. It brings me to tears every time I watch him suffer his nightmare and Julia crawls into bed with him and starts reciting her first letter to him to calm him down. But after we see that beautiful moment, we go back to the Scottish Highlands where poor Julia is stranded in the past. She sees a wagon with people and asks for help. Sadly, they kidnap her and take her to a Lord Lovat to pay their debt to him. Meanwhile, in search of Julia, Henry wanders down to the village and wanders into a tavern. After getting an ale from Malcom Grant, he realizes he’s in year 1714. He tries to repay the favor by using his legal knowledge to let Malcom know he’s being duped. Instead of a thank you, he’s hauled to the Grant house and instantly made the new bladier. While in a slightly better position than Julia (who’s basically a house slave), he’s in just as much danger. After all, one false step and he could have his head on a pike by a young Mr. Bug, much like the last bladier. However, it does allow him some protection and a chance to scour the highlands for Julia. Hopefully it can give him some speed to find her. As strong and smart as she is, Julia is in a very precarious position in Lord Lovat’s house. He’s definitely keeping tabs on her, hoping to pounce on any moment alone with her. Brian comes across her as Julia is trying to escape. He feels sorry for her but knows between the storm coming and what Lovat would do to find her and what he would do to her after he finds Julia, which would not be good for her. One of Lovat’s henchmen is hiding behind the wall and captures her. She is taken to Lovat and as she tries to plead her case, is struck by Lovat and ordered to be whipped. Brian steps up and takes the blame and the lashes, which gives us a “like father like son” moment. However, this all makes me worry the Julia will lose the baby. I know there are many theories flying around about who the baby might be or the baby’s gender, but I’m worried that she will miscarry. And sadly, that might be safer for them both.
We cut to a month later at the MacKenzie gathering where we see Ned and Henry negotiating in the Grant carriage. Ned offers to help Henry find Julia if he will take the offer of Ellen’s hand to the Grants.
And much like the beginning of the episode where their letters were a lifeline during the war, Julia and Henry write their letters to each other to cope with their new hopeless situations.
I think this episode was fabulous and releasing both 101 and 102 together was brilliant because it really set the tone for the series. All the pieces on are the chessboard, and we can officially let the games begin. All the main characters have urgency to survive and make things happen. It’s also a reminder how in many ways, Claire was fortunate she was found when and how she was. It’s also a sad reminder of how women were viewed as property, not people.
Some episode makes us think. This episode gave all the feels. I’m not sure which couple I’m rooting for more….Ellen & Brian or Julia & Henry. Arguably Colum and Dougal is a love/hate bromance worth fighting for. After seeing the Grants at home, I’m not sure Ellen should marry Malcolm, even if it seems he’s crushing on her. And I’m worried what Julia might have to do to survive and should Henry ever find her, what shape she will be in. I wish I had more witty comments, but sometimes it’s ok to let the tear come.
Till next time….Slainte!
Tonight’s Dram: Undammed Spirits. It’s a whiskey made in Montana that’s delicious. And it’s perfect since Julia survived a car crash, time travel, and servitude. Her hope and perseverance is Undammed. I just hope her spirit isn’t broken. I personally like the Thief Creek Bourbon but they also have a nice single malt.
Comfort food: We haven’t seen much food in this episode. Seeing Julia’s china on her table made me wonder what food was available to her during the war. But I came across a recipe for war cake that we have to try. I also found out that it was during World War 1 that margarine and Crisco were invented so that those on the home front had something since butter and lard were sent to the front lines. This definitely was something I could have made during Covid lockdown.
Song: There is a setting of Emily Dickinson’s poem by Susan LaBarr that is lovely. I thought it perfect considering they are each other’s hope.
Here are the words:
Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,
And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.
I’ve heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.