Oh, friends! We have weathered the harrowing escapades of the Beardsley Excursion and, as if in gratitude for our valorous efforts, are now being serenaded by the sweetest of reprieves. Imagine the scene: hands being kissed with reverence, foreheads gently touching, and James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser – dancing, yes, dancing with such fervor that he had to shed his belt and coat to move with unrestrained abandon. What an era we're living in!
If last week's episode subjected us to the darkest depths of a relationship from the pits of hell, "The Company We Keep" brings a tender bloom back into the world of Outlander. Don't misunderstand me; dreary occurrences that will undoubtedly cast a shadow over the remainder of the season do transpire, for this is Outlander, where perfection is but a fleeting dream. Yet, all these trials are enmeshed in the tapestry of love.
Upon their arduous journey to Brownsville, where they were to reunite with Roger, Fergus, and the ever-swelling militia, Claire, Jamie, and the Beardsley baby stumbled straight into a perilous quagmire. Roger and Fergus's arrival in Brownsville was anything but warmly welcomed; in fact, the townsfolk greeted them with bullets flying. These Brownsville fellas were all worked up because they spotted Isaiah Morton among the militia ranks – remember him? The dashing hat-wearing gent who pledged allegiance to Jamie during the Fiery Cross ceremony. And if there's one thing Brownsville folks loathe, it's Isaiah Morton parading into town. It transpires that Morton had an illicit liaison with Lionel Brown's daughter Alicia, thereby scuttling Lionel's grand scheme to marry her off to a wealthy suitor. Lionel is livid. He demands Morton be handed over.
This is Roger's first grand opportunity to shine in a leadership capacity! A chance to prove that Jamie's faith in entrusting him with such immense responsibility was well-placed! A chance for him to become a hero.
So, he devises a plan as cunning as it is daring: he'll assure the Browns of Brownsville – how they overlooked "Brown Town" during their town-naming sessions is beyond comprehension – that they'll stand down and surrender Morton, despite the militia vastly outnumbering them. Then, he plots to get them all tipsy on Fergus's whiskey, hoping they'll forget this entire saga ever unfolded. "Get everyone sufficiently inebriated to forget they're angry with you" sounds like a scheme I might've conjured in college to smooth over tensions with my roommates after I accidentally dispensed dish soap into the dishwasher, causing a kitchen flood. But hey, why not, Roger?
One of the most intriguing aspects of Season Five lies in the spotlight it casts on the profound differences between Jamie and Roger. True, they hailed from distinct centuries, but even if fate had placed them in the same era, they would still share virtually no common ground. Roger remains oblivious to Jamie's Highlander lifestyle, while Jamie has little patience for Professor MacKenzie's academic pursuits. Thus, when Jamie arrives in Brown Town to find Roger belting out a tune with all his might, only to learn that Roger's actions had led several soldiers to desert, unable to respect a captain who would betray one of their own as Roger had done with Morton, the last thing Jamie craves from Roger is a linguistic lecture on the phrase "Dutch courage." Their strained father-in-law dynamics are unparalleled in the entire realm.
Jamie has made his entrance, ready to tackle the challenges head-on. He first seeks out Morton, tied up in a shed, to unravel the full narrative. Morton reveals his undying love for Ali, who reciprocates his affections, yet finds himself trapped in an arranged marriage. Rather than allowing the Browns to have their way, Jamie springs Morton free and urges him to flee. When Morton's disappearance is discovered, tensions escalate, nearly leading to a shootout in the streets, until presumably the leader of Brown Town appears to mediate. He and Jamie manage to smooth things over, with the Brown leader pledging his men's allegiance to Jamie's militia, boasting of their prowess. However, there's a catch: his men will follow his commands. Jamie nonchalantly agrees, with a hint of irony, only to later realize that this arrangement might backfire spectacularly. For now, however, everything seems amicably resolved.
Meanwhile, Claire is entangled in her own drama with the Brown women. She encounters Lucinda Brown, a woman who has just given birth but lost her daughter, yet is capable of breastfeeding the newborn. Lucinda and her husband express interest in adopting the baby, having both the space and the heart to nurture her. However, Claire must temporarily shelve this discussion as more pressing matters arise. During her time with Lucinda, Claire spots the "Dr. Rawlings Recommends" column in their newspaper. This discovery prompts a hush-hush meeting with Jamie and Fergus, as they realize that any inquiry into "Dr. Rawlings" could trace back to Fraser's Ridge through the printer where Fergus inadvertently left the papers. Such a revelation seems inevitable.
Claire also finds herself playing the role of a feminist trailblazer to Alicia, who is devastated by Isaiah's abrupt departure. He is the love of her life! Claire sternly admonishes Alicia, urging her not to shed tears over a married man. However, if contemporary society frowns upon feminism, imagine the scorn it garnered back then. Alicia learns of Isaiah's marriage, plunging her into deeper distress as she realizes she'll never be with him. To make matters worse, she discovers she's pregnant with his child. Alicia contemplates suicide, convinced her situation cannot deteriorate further.
Hey there, at least the streets are abuzz with revelry, aren't they? The atmosphere is electric as every man signs up for the militia, with songs echoing and libations flowing freely. Even Jamie indulges in a little jig, although intended more for the crowd than just me — my apologies for the exclusivity illusion. How enchanting to behold Jamie and Claire, tipsy and flirtatious, a rare sight indeed of their carefree spirits unleashed. Not a soul in sight harbors maliciously towards them.
Beneath the silvery glow of the moonlight, deep within the woods, after several rounds of toasts, Jamie broaches the topic of keeping the baby to Claire. He's witnessed her tender embrace of "the wee bonny" and realizes this might be their final opportunity to nurture a child together. "My life revolves solely around you, Claire, but if you yearn for another child, I'd consider giving you one," he remarks, almost romantically impregnating our imaginations. Claire, her eyes brimming with tears, gazes at her husband, profoundly moved. "Please understand, if it's within the realm of possibility, I cherish you even more for your willingness to take this leap," she responds. Oh, the depth of their love! Yet, Claire declines the idea of having a baby, sensible as she is, cherishing their current life together and hesitant to alter it. Their shared regret at not parenting together doesn't justify welcoming a child into their precarious existence. Furthermore, she reminds him of the haunting specter of "Bree discovering their obituary," their grim romantic tradition of confronting mortality. "I'm thankful for each day we share," she asserts. Their romance is so overwhelming, it brings tears to my eyes just contemplating it.
Suddenly, a gunshot shatters the tranquility, and Claire and Jamie discover Alicia in the woods, attempting to end her life, albeit only grazing her arm. She's utterly devastated. As Jamie ventures out to procure some liquor to soothe Alicia's nerves, who should he encounter but Isaiah Morton? He's been biding his time, patiently awaiting a safe moment to reunite with Alicia. Seeing her is a necessity for him. Speaking of unyielding love, Morton and Alicia are hopelessly entangled. Neither Morton nor his wife finds happiness in their union; they haven't shared a bed in two years. Alicia and their child are his true family. When Jamie and Roger, who has joined their makeshift gathering, caution Morton that staying means certain death, he challenges them. Would they heed advice to abandon the loves of their lives? What if someone told them they'd never see their wives again? The penny drops for Jamie and Roger. They too would refuse to part from the women they adore. Hmm, perhaps these men do share a common bond after all.
They have resolved to aid Morton and Ali in their escape, a venture fraught with peril and certain to incite the Browns' wrath, yet there exists no viable alternative. As Morton and Ali depart the town at the break of dawn, Claire's ominous narration echoes, "One can only prayerfully hope that the good fruits of their endeavor outweigh the potential ills that may ensue." The future holds uncertainties for them, shrouded in the mist of time. As for Claire, Jamie, and Roger, their chapter in Brown Town has concluded. Jamie intends to lead his men to Hillsborough, hoping to resolve the conflict with the Regulators peacefully, without resorting to violence. Claire, however, must hasten back to Fraser's Ridge, for Kezzie and Josiah both suffer from tonsillitis, and she fears that Kezzie's frail constitution may not endure until surgery. Jamie entrusts Roger with the task of escorting them back, a duty Roger views as a demotion, a sign of Jamie's lack of confidence in him. Yet, upon witnessing the dire state of affairs at the Ridge, he will surely be grateful for his reassignment.
Bree is efficiently overseeing the Ridge, but her composure shatters upon learning that an Irishman approached Jemmy in town, inquiring whether he resembled his mother or father more, and subsequently leaving a disturbingly familiar coin in his crib. Convinced that Bonnet has discovered their whereabouts, Bree's panic intensifies when Jemmy momentarily disappears within the confines of the Big House. Despite her attempts to drown her sorrows in alcohol and confide in Marsali, who reveals her own haunting past of abuse by her deceased father, Bree remains unable to extinguish the specter of Bonnet from her mind. She tosses countless portraits of him into the flames, yet his presence lingers. Desperate, she yearns for the swift return of her mother and husband.
