Murtagh, with his characteristic flair for complications, isn't exactly smoothing out the already perilously steep path Jamie treads on. When Jamie urged his godfather to lay low and become "elusive as a whisper," Murtagh seems to have interpreted it as "march to the neighboring town and turn a few high-ranking officials into human pincushions," for there he stands, our rebellious ringleader, front and focal in the drama of "Between Two Fires." The Regulators are terrorizing Hillsborough, Murtagh leading the charge.
As if Jamie's plate wasn't already brimming with challenges sans the Regulators' antics, he and Lieutenant Knox roam the rugged backcountry in search of Murtagh. For now, Jamie holds the reins tight. Knox, while appearing as an ordinary soul, is a die-hard patriot, unwavering in his allegiance to "King and country." The duo sails smoothly as Jamie navigates the tightrope between loyal subject and Colonel, while covertly shielding his people.
Their serene voyage hits a turbulent patch when news of Hillsborough's unrest reaches them, revealing the grotesque practice of tarring and feathering. Knox, thirsting for justice, might just get his wish, as they apprehend three anonymous Regulators. This marks Jamie's first genuine test in maintaining his facade. Knox won't let Jamie converse alone with the captives—two of whom Jamie recognizes from their refusal to settle on Fraser's Ridge. So, Jamie ensures he takes the lead, steering the conversation: he claims ignorance of them, portraying Murtagh merely as a fugitive, unrelated to him by blood or bond. Alas, Jamie's trial run at balancing loyalty and deceit crumbles spectacularly when Knox, provoked by Ethan's defiance, plunges into a fits of rage, executing him without trial. "You've slain a man without due process!" Jamie shouts at Knox, imbuing the law with an unexpected allure. These are tumultuous times indeed.
Knox harbors a semblance of remorse, not for the murder but for mirroring the lawless Regulators he vows to eradicate. Yet, Jamie knows the other two captives face a grim fate in Hillsborough. Hence, he enacts Plan B: breaking into the jail to spring them free. Jamie lectures them on making Murtagh's life harder while in hiding, only for them to reveal, "Murtagh was the mastermind behind that feather-plucking fiasco." This revelation stirs alarm for myriad reasons, chiefly because Jamie foresees war looming on the horizon, with his ability to shield Murtagh dwindling.
Murtagh, all too aware of Jamie's precarious position, shares it. His fellow Regulators ponder his true allegiance: to their cause or to his godson. Murtagh asserts unequivocally, "I fight for the cause." Thus, this impending conflict promises high stakes and heart-wrenching drama. Joyous times ahead, indeed.
Let's momentarily halt the chaotic thoughts swirling in my mind about Jamie potentially having to witness Murtagh's demise and divert our attention to more mundane yet fascinating topics, such as autopsies and DIY penicillin. Delightfully, I must report that Claire, after taking a backseat in the season five opener, bursts onto the scene with urgency in this episode! I adore Claire Fraser, the physician and scientist of the North Carolina backcountry, and it seems we're in for a generous serving of her expertise this season.
Claire is going about her daily routines when Mrs. Farrish, a settler at Fraser's Ridge, dashes up to the main house with her husband, who is, let's just say, in dire straits. She pleads with Claire to save him. However, upon discovering that Mrs. Farrish attempted to alleviate her husband's severe stomach ache (appendicitis) with leeches and mercury, Claire thinks, "Oh dear, this poor soul is as good as gone." Yet, our Claire refuses to let this be a futile endeavor. She insists on performing an autopsy to uncover answers. It's Bree who gently reminds her mother that while autopsies are standard practice in the 1960s, they are viewed with suspicion akin to witchcraft in the 1700s. It's endearing of Bree to assume Claire would heed her warning, but she doesn't. In fact, Claire goes so far as to instruct Roger to fill Mr. Farrish's coffin with rocks, allowing her to retain his body for study. I commend her dedication to science, but this is undoubtedly body-snatching of the highest order, and let's not overlook the stench. Oh, the unbearable stench!
Claire is a woman possessed by a mission. And what does every person driven by a mission require? A trusty sidekick. Fellow viewers, I am thrilled beyond measure by Claire's decision to enlist Marsali, an exceptional butcher and thoroughly cool individual, as her apprentice. Initially, Marsali is understandably skeptical, thinking, "Lady, have you lost your mind?" But as Claire elucidates the vast amount of knowledge they can glean from studying a deceased body, Marsali becomes intrigued. Marsali truly embodies the best of us.
However, the issue lies in the fact that Marsali is but one person. Claire has an entire settlement of individuals prone to ingesting mercury and other poisons at the behest of male doctors in Cross Creek. In addition to conducting clandestine autopsies, Claire conjures up a fictional doctor named Rawlings, who holds "radical" views on medicine, and pens a list of medical dos and don'ts for the residents of Fraser's Ridge. The situation is dire, people! Dire enough that individuals are succumbing to basic infections! Consequently, Claire resolves not to let these infections claim more lives, and thus embarks on making penicillin from moldy bread. Once again, Bree confronts her mother, cautioning that introducing 20th-century medicine to Colonial America is reckless, not only because it might turn the townsfolk against her but also because it could potentially distort the fabric of time and space. Claire counters that every life she saves alters history, just as Bree's journey to the past to warn Claire and Jamie of their fates did. Thus, she dismisses the concerns, exclaiming, "To hell with time, space, and history!" while adorned with another fierce headband. I'm once again fully on board this wild ride. I've never been more invested in preventive healthcare!
In this episode, Bree finds herself striking out twice when attempting to soothe the loved ones around her. While the newlyweds share an endearing moment as Bree tries to initiate Captain Roger McKenzie into the art of rifle-manship, Roger's discomfort becomes palpable. He's visibly out of sync with his surroundings, longing to return to their own era once they ascertain whether Jemmy possesses the ability to traverse through the stones. Claire echoes this sentiment, acknowledging her longing for family but acknowledging the greater safety their future world offers. Convincing Bree to abandon her parents will undoubtedly prove to be a herculean task, setting the stage for a season-long conflict. For the time being, however, Roger and Bree must shelve this discussion.
I regret to be the one to impart this grim news, but we are faced with a Stephen Bonnet predicament. As Roger stumbles upon Bree's obsessive and increasingly disturbing sketches of the man who assaulted her, we learn that Lord John Grey's intelligence was spot on: Bonnet is indeed in Wilmington. True to his despicable nature, he's indulging in a Colonial Women’s Fight Club event and subsequently torturing a man who dares to call him out on cheating. When questioned about why he doesn't simply end the man's life, Bonnet replies that he needs to set a better example, now that he's "a father." The very thought makes me retch. Bonnet is en route to the Frasers of the Ridge, and trouble is brewing.
