This season still seems to be inching towards its truecommencement, a testament to the mesmerizing rapport between our lead protagonists that has us completely enthralled. Lives have been altered dramatically—hands lost, babies born, prisons endured, Harvard Medical School embarked upon and graduated from—yet an air of limbo persists. We are abruptly transported to Boston, circa 1956, where Claire sports a chic bob, Brianna has blossomed into school-going years (how swiftly time flies!), and the dynamics within the Randall marriage have undergone a subtle transformation. It's an open union now! Frank indulges in (supposedly "discreet") romantic encounters, while Claire feigns indifference, though her heart betrays her otherwise. Truth be told, given Claire's dwindling affection for Frank, this arrangement isn't entirely unwise.
Meanwhile, the object of Claire's affection languishes in prison, shackled and patient in 1755 (if you're keeping tabs). Enter the dashing and sophisticated Lord John Grey, now appointed as the governor of this infamous prison—a posting clearly reserved for those who have spectacularly misstepped back in England. The previous governor introduces Jamie to Grey as the de facto leader among the Scottish inmates—the lone soul kept in chains and the one Grey should address for any concerns.
Jamie bears a profound sense of duty towards his fellow prisoners, including our beloved Murtagh (wonder no more about his whereabouts!), who appears as frail as Dustin Hoffman at the climax of 'Midnight Cowboy,' clinging desperately to a fragment of his forbidden tartan. A pestilent rat infestation plagues them too, though to these men, it presents a grim opportunity, for they resort to consuming these vermin. The carceral plight is dire indeed!
Back in Boston, the sands of time had slipped further, evident by Frank's newfound spectacle-adorned visage, as Claire joyously commemorated her Harvard Medical School graduation. The festivities initially promised unbridled merriment, until an ill-timed knock at the door heralded Frank's latest romantic entanglement, arriving at the most inconvenient of moments. This culminated in Claire dressing down her intoxicated spouse by night's end, her reprimand anything but discreet. Frank's pleas of ignorance fell on deaf ears, prompting Claire to broach the topic of divorce. However, Frank, seemingly brainwashed by countless men's rights forums, was adamant about not surrendering custody of Brianna, vowing instead to persist in their loveless union, mutually ensnaring them in misery. He further accused Claire of neglecting her marital duties, her disinterest in him becoming all too apparent to their circle of friends and colleagues. A woeful revelation indeed.
Across the pond in Scotland, Jamie's narrative took a new turn as the Redcoats apprehended a babbling Scotsman, a linguistic amalgam of Gaelic and French, who spoke of a potentially mythical French treasure previously hinted at by the old governor. Dragged to the prison, Jamie was compelled to serve as translator. In exchange, his shackles were removed, and Murtagh was gifted some blankets. Yet, Jamie promptly cautioned the gabbling Scotsman, Duncan, that his every word would swiftly reach English ears. "The gold is cursed!" Duncan raved. "The MacKenzies are dead! Ellen MacKenzie, tales of selkies, whispers of the white witch! She seeks a valiant soul! She will come for thee!" With these haunting words, he expired. The setup seemed ripe for a Scooby-Doo mystery, setting the stage for an adventurous unraveling.
Lord Grey met this news with underwhelming indifference, whereas Murtagh's heart soared with the hope that Claire might be the subject of these whispers. Grey extended an invitation to Jamie for dinner, during which Jamie, mindful of the men's meager rations, requested permission for them to set traps and gather watercress to stave off scurvy. To Jamie's surprise, Grey did not dismiss his plea outright. They shared a camaraderie over their meal, a moment Jamie later recounted to the other prisoners to lift their spirits. The tale seemed to work wonders, or so one could surmise.
Later, amidst the men checking the traps sanctioned by Grey, Jamie seized his chance for freedom. Grey, less than pleased, found himself confronted by Jamie, who revealed his memory of sparing Grey's life long ago. Grey, too, recalled the past, asserting the debt had been settled. "You vowed to slay me as well," Jamie reminded him, his desire for life dim without Claire. He knelt, sword discarded. Grey, however, declined to fulfill the vow, instead listening to Jamie's brief tales of Claire – simply that she was known as the white witch, sans the revelation of time-traveling escapades. Ultimately, Grey did send a physician to attend to Murtagh.
(In a fleeting glimpse of Boston, 1966, Brianna stands proudly at her graduation ceremony, her parents beaming with joy. A thought crosses my mind—Frank's days might be numbered!) Grey and Jamie have grown remarkably close, their camaraderie evident as they engage in a chess match like old buddies. Grey confesses that he, too, contemplated suicide after Culloden, haunted by the loss of a Very Special Friend. Jamie then speaks fondly of Claire, his tone so romantic as he utters, “Her name was Claire,” that it takes my breath away. Grey, perhaps carried away by the moment, allows his hand to rest a tad too long on Jamie's, prompting an instant flashback for Jamie to the last man who dared touch him. His reaction is swift and stern: “Desist, or I shall end you.”
With graduation festivities concluded, Frank prepares to deliver a bombshell to Claire: he seeks a position at Cambridge, wishes Brianna to accompany him, and craves a divorce. To me, this rationale seems impeccable! “I yearn to spend the remainder of my days with a woman who adores me truly,” Frank declares. Yet, Claire, whenever her gaze meets Brianna's, sees Jamie reflected in her daughter's eyes. Frank believes that but for Brianna, Claire might have eventually forgotten Jamie. “Hear me out,” Claire responds firmly. “No passage of time could ever erase him from my memory.” With that, Frank exits, leaving Claire to proceed to the hospital for a surgical procedure.
Winter descends upon Scotland, and all prisoners, save Jamie, are destined for the Colonies, where they will be liberated after 14 years of indentured servitude—hardly a covetable fate! Jamie, tainted by his treason, is ineligible for this fate, but Grey has arranged for him to serve a nobleman. Jamie protests, “I did not grant you my favors,” to which Grey sheepishly replies, “Admittedly, not my finest hour. Off you go now.”
Now, we arrive at the poignant segment of the episode, showcasing Caitriona Balfe's finest performance of the season, in my humble opinion. Claire's companion from medical school approaches her, his visage etched with a somber mask, to deliver the harrowing news: Frank has perished in a car accident. As tears stream down her face, Claire bestows a poignant kiss upon Frank, whispering to him that her affection for him was genuine, that he was, indeed, her first love. With a heavy heart, she bids him farewell. This abrupt departure of Frank from the narrative feels somewhat rushed, leaving me with the sense that his character was not given the justice it deserved. Nevertheless, it serves as a poignant indication that Claire is inexorably drawn back towards Jamie. Our long-awaited reunion must surely be just around the corner.
