Alright, while I'm absolutely thrilled to witness Claire's reunion with Jamie, this whole farce about him harboring a secret attic wife at Lallybroch is truly over the top. And no, I'm not referring to the existence of a secret spouse, heavens no, it's been an eternity since then! What bugs me is the notion that he wouldn't promptly confide in Claire. Of course, he would have! Imagine him saying, "Hey, just like you, I was married to someone else because we were torn apart by centuries and an ocean." I'm quite sure Claire would have blushed momentarily but then moved past it. It's always infuriating when a show resorts to having characters behave foolishly, and more importantly, out of character, merely to propel the plot. This particular segment feels clumsily handled as a result.
That being established, was I eagerly anticipating the grand revelation? Absolutely, you bet! They truly milked the suspense, punctuating it with Jenny's resentment towards Claire for bolting after Culloden and Jamie's discovery of treasure on that mysterious island. And in quintessential TV fashion, Jamie was on the verge of spilling the beans to Claire when...well, I'll just say it. It's Laoghaire. His wife is none other than Laoghaire. Yes, THAT Laoghaire, accompanied by two red-headed daughters! (They aren't actually his offspring, but the optics in that moment, let's face it, were far from flattering.) Jamie earns top marks for uttering the dumbest line ever by responding, "You're the one who told me to be kind to the lass!" while Claire stands there thinking, "SHE TRIED TO BURN ME AS A WITCH!" I laughed so hard I almost tumbled off the bed.
The ensuing all-out brawl morphs into steamy passion, or rather, it was on the brink of doing so, when Jenny douses them like stray dogs fighting in the street. These two are such dramatic souls who thrive on melodrama, goodness gracious. It's truly for the best that they clear the air. However, it's Jenny that Claire desperately needs to reconcile with, considering they're our ultimate power couple. Jenny knows Claire isn't being completely honest.
Jenny's irritation is entirely justifiable. She's fiercely loyal to her family, albeit moody towards those she cherishes, and Claire's abrupt departure to the Colonies without even attempting to locate her husband or corresponding with his family for nearly a year is a slight she won't easily forgive. Though, she won't have much time to dwell on it.
Laoghaire, unwilling to merely storm in and hurl the dreaded 'C' word at Claire, finds herself compelled to return the following day to shoot Jamie in the arm—a classic, non-fatal wounding spot cherished by television producers worldwide. Here, Claire, exasperated beyond measure, patches him up after administering the world's first dose of penicillin. This fortuitous turn of events provides Jamie the perfect opportunity to explain how, in the name of all that's holy, he found himself wedded to that blonde harlot. Unsurprisingly, his answers revolve around feelings of loneliness, horniness, and a misplaced sense of chivalry.
The non-romantic, yet arguably principal, storyline of this week's episode centers on the mysterious treasure chest hidden on Selkie Island, which Jamie casually mentioned to Claire just before Laoghaire went all 'Kill Bill' on him. This revelation takes on greater significance given Jamie's astronomical alimony and child support obligations. (How she manages to get away with shooting him in this chauvinistic society and then slaps him with such an exorbitant sum boggles the mind!)
With Jamie incapacitated, it falls to Young Ian to brave the waters and retrieve the bounty. This chest of loose jewels, once retrieved, must be transported to France to be converted into... potatoes, cotton, bullets, or whatever it is that Laoghaire desperately needs. As is always the case with Jamie, nothing proceeds smoothly. Ian is promptly intercepted and abducted by an anonymous vessel, while Claire and Jamie can only watch helplessly from the shore, their cries falling on deaf ears.
I find myself more sympathetic towards Jenny's stance towards Claire (which, admittedly, is softening by the minute) than ever before. It's undeniable that Jamie's life has been nothing but turmoil since he met Claire. It's hard to spin her return as anything other than an additional layer of drama in what was already a life brimming with it. Despite starting the episode furious with Jamie (and the screenwriters) for his deceit, I ended up annoyed with Claire for being angry at Jamie. He's relentless in his obsession with her, and who could blame him? He's incredibly handsome, rugged, and determined to make her happy! It's almost as if she's married to the protagonist of a historical romance novel! How dare she hold it against him for lying about being married and adopting two children!
Of course, Claire will inevitably have to extend forgiveness to Jamie, as their fate likely entwines in a series of daring escapades aimed at rescuing Ian, reclaiming their buried treasure, evading imprisonment, and shunning the peril of being accused of witchcraft or facing the British muskets. The series remains somewhat ambiguous in depicting a content and unharassed Jamie and Claire, perhaps because domestic bliss is not their forté. We shall observe whether this relentless pursuit of excitement begins to take its toll on us. *I acknowledge the author's aversion to such categorization, yet these novels are undeniably steeped in historical romance, and there is absolutely no fault in that. They are nothing short of thrilling tales brimming with adventure!
