Previously on Outlander: Claire was kidnapped by the captain of the Porpoise, who had been informed of Jamie’s crimes, and she jumped from the ship, in hopes of warning Jamie before he’s arrested in Jamaica. Jamie gave his blessing for Fergus and Marsali to get married.
Claire is floating on a cask in the ocean, when she finally spies land. However, it isn’t Grand Turk, like she’d been aiming for, so she has no idea where she is. She struggles with the survival aspects, like finding water, and starting a fire. Then she wakes up to being attacked by fire ants. And the next morning, she wakes up to a giant snake crawling over her. OH, HELL NO. This island needs a resort, STAT. She finally encounters another person on the island, and passes right out. She wakes up, tied to a bed, by a cranky Spanish lady, who didn’t want her scratching her ant bites. The next time she wakes up, she’s greeted by Father Fogden, a defrocked priest who talks to coconuts, and lives with his dead wife’s mother. He informs her that she’s on the Island of Saint-Domingue. Claire wants to head to the nearest village the next day, to book passage to Jamaica, but he warns her of ransacking escaped slaves on the island. Mamacita may be a mean old lady, but she provides Claire with the first hot bath she’s had in who knows how long. Father Fogden insists Claire isn’t well enough to travel for a couple of weeks, despite her protests. Mamacita wants Claire out NOW.
When Father Fogden’s favorite goat, Arabella, is murdered and roasted by a Chinese man, Claire realizes the Artemis must be nearby. And sure enough, they hit some rough weather, and lost several men, including Captain Raines, and they’d been repairing the ship on the beach. They’re almost ready to set sail, when Claire signals them. She and Jamie have a happy reunion, before Mr. Willoughby has to sew up Claire’s arm, where she tore it up, running through the jungle. Despite the possibility of warrants for his arrest, Jamie is determined to continue on to Jamaica, in search of Ian.
Mr. Willoughby offers sincere apologies and repayment to Father Fogden, for the Arabella incident, so that he’ll agree to marry Fergus and Marsali. Claire goes to offer Marsali marital advice. Specifically, Marsali wants advice on birth control, which Claire promises to provide. The young lovebirds are married by a stoned defrocked priest, in front of their parents, and a bunch of sailors.
Claire’s wound gets infected, and with a raging fever. Luckily, she has Jamie help her administer some of her penicillin from the future.
Kilt Drops: 1
Turtle soup is a pretty infamous scene from the book and does not disappoint. I’m not sure I’m interested in trying turtle, but a soup that calls for a bottle of sherry has me intrigued.
Wit and Wordplay
Lesley: “Mac Dubh’s wife turns up the most unlikely of places, does she not?”
Hayes: “Aye. She just drops in out of nowhere.”
Jamie: “His name is Fergus Claudel Fraser.”
I’m not crying, YOU’RE CRYING.
Sasse-WHAT?
- I don’t hate Marsali, but I can’t help but be bummed that hot Fergus is off the market. It’s a sad day for the jeune filles of Edinburgh.
- Father Fogden tells Claire about Abandawe, a sacred cave on Jamaica. The same place she was warned about by Archie Campbell’s disturbed sister in Edinburgh. Guess we’ll be coming back to that at some point.
- What do we know about Father Fogden’s drug of choice? The effects seemed less euphoric than advertised, and more befuddling.
- If I remember correctly, Claire’s arm wound originally came from a knife fight. If you’ve read the book, what did you think of the scuttling of some of the pirate encounters?
Next week: They finally arrive in Jamaica, and we find out what happened to Young Ian.
