As I embarked on this recap, I was already met with a dash of humility, as my visiting father, with a tone of finality, informed me that he and my stepmother had abandoned "Outlander," deeming it a soap opera in the truest sense. Though I stumbled over words, attempting to argue that its melodramatic essence had always been its charm, unfortunately, this particular episode served as a stark reminder of their criticism, solidifying their stance.
With Claire immune to typhoid and Jamie securely aboard the Artemis, the show seemed at a loss on how to imbue the epidemic with the necessary gravity and emotional resonance. Their solution, akin to the forced inclusion of a younger Fergus into the Paris timeline from the previous season, was to introduce Claire to a sweet, innocent 14-year-old assistant, whose fate seemed sealed with the prediction of impending doom, as if a raven perched on his shoulder and a hooded figure with a scythe shadowed him incessantly. Claire, beware: attachment is not an option here.
It almost felt as though Sam Heughan was elsewhere, perhaps undergoing a root canal, during the filming of this episode, given his scant two minutes of screen time. When he did appear, it was mostly through the bars of a cell, a consequence of Jamie's impulsive assault on the captain—a move as ill-conceived as it was impulsive. Jamie's plan to orchestrate a mutiny and rescue Claire seemed as vague as it was ambitious, and Fergus, with a blend of disbelief and reluctance, politely declined his offer. However, this twist did serve its purpose, granting Jamie the pretext to finally grant Fergus and Marsali his blessing to wed, employing the timeless tactic of "defying me proves your manhood." And so, these whirlwind lovers were set on a path to share in the miseries of life, just like everyone else. That was pretty much the extent of the Artemis saga; let's return to the main narrative thread.
Claire, busily alienating an entirely new circle of male acquaintances, had made considerable progress. She had deduced, despite the vehement denials of one of the galley hands, that he was the Typhoid Mary aboard the Porpoise. Without hesitation, she had him shackled and confined to the brig. This action, predictably, incensed the already surly cook, whose rage simmered just beneath the surface. Fear not, there will be a scene where his intentions towards Claire will leave you convinced that assault is imminent—because, after all, this remains "Outlander."
We're all deeply impressed by Claire's mission to bring the germ theory to the masses, albeit with mixed results. However, her dedication comes at a steep price – she's sacrificing everyone's grog rations, leaving them almost preferring the fate of typhoid. Oh well, Claire takes her work with unwavering seriousness.
Meanwhile, my husband, grimly enduring the episode of 'Outlander' beside me on the couch while attempting to immerse himself in John Keegan’s 'The Price of Admiralty', offered a plethora of devastating critiques regarding the show's naval inaccuracies. I'm sure you would have savored every word. He was just warming up when Claire caught sight of a Portuguese flag, momentarily hoping that the Porpoise had encountered the very ship that had taken our Ian.
Sneaking into the captain’s cabin to uncover more, Claire swiftly realizes that Ian's plight is the least of their worries. A crewmember has identified Jamie as the notorious A. Malcolm, renowned for his seditious pamphlets and – horror of horrors – murder! And who should this crewmember be but the milky-eyed henchman of old Sir Percival, whom we had been evading back in Aberdeen. Claire might as well dispatch him on the spot, in my humble opinion, but unfortunately, the captain is already privy to the information, rendering her hands tied.
Claire, having conveniently forgotten that she had once dispatched a fellow human being, asks innocently, "Murder? What murder?" The henchman responds, "Do you recall the corpse found in the crème de menthe? Because we found crème de menthe in the crème de menthe," to which she replies, "Ohhhhh, ohhh, right, gotcha."
Now, Claire must pull out all the stops to warn Jamie that he'll be thrown into chains the moment he sets foot in Jamaica. But first, we must confront the melodrama that was promised. Our sweet, innocent Elias contracts typhoid and passes away extremely swiftly, hanging on just long enough to ask Claire if she's his mommy ("Yes, Elias, it's mother"), evoking a surge of emotions from her. She sews him into his shroud, a heart-wrenching scene that leaves us all in sorrow. Farewell, Elias! It was a beautiful one-and-a-half episodes getting to know you.
At the very least, Claire has forged a bond with the Dutch woman entrusted with the vital task of keeping the ship's goats alive — can you even fathom the pungent aroma of goats aboard a vessel devoid of proper sanitation? This nascent friendship proves pivotal, first aiding her in an aborted bid for freedom and, we hold out hope, eventually facilitating a triumphant escape. Claire, our wandering soul, embodies the spirit of adventure, yet I harbor grave concerns about her ability to navigate the waters to the Artemis by sheer swimming prowess, quite aside from the uncertainties awaiting her upon arrival. But such mysteries lie ahead for us to unravel!
