Oh, Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ, what a wild ride this episode of "Outlander" dishes out! Claire teeters on the brink of death, only to be miraculously healed and then subjected to a haircut that sends shockwaves reverberating through Fraser’s Ridge—all within the first 20 minutes of this 70-minute epic. It’s nothing short of chaotic.
A dysentery outbreak strikes the Ridge settlers, earning it the moniker "the bloody flux," though I’ll stick with the more palatable term for decency’s sake. For those who grew up reliving the perils of the Oregon Trail, you understand the gravity of this situation. This ain’t no mere snapped wagon axle; this is dysentery, folks! Claire diagnoses a contaminated water source as the culprit, yet funeral after funeral piles up as the body count escalates, and no one seems able to pinpoint the issue. Then, Claire herself succumbs to illness—feverish, shivering, headache-ridden, and lost in hallucinations. It’s dire. Jamie watches over her with a terror-stricken gaze, but he’s not alone in his caregiving duties. Enter Malva Christie, eager to assist and refuse to budge from Claire’s bedside. She fetches Jamie tea and professes her admiration for Claire, branding her amazing and a role model, unlike the witchcraft accusations swirling around. In a feverish delirium, Claire glimpses Jamie swigging whiskey by the window while Malva soothingly strokes his back. Though Claire lacks the strength to utter her disbelief, I’ll voice it for her: something fishy’s going on—on Malva’s part, not Jamie’s, poor guy.
A week passes, along with Claire’s feverish dreamscape of a pounding heart and a serpent slithering indoors. She awakens to Roger’s revelation that Mrs. Bug and Malva, believing a severe fever could be cured by shaving the patient’s head, chopped off all of Claire’s stunning curls—without supervision and, I suspect, with Malva harboring hidden motives. Let’s be frank: Caitríona Balfe could rock any hairstyle, but this sight still startles her, especially considering they’re in the 1770s, a time when pixie cuts hadn’t quite caught on. Roger adds that Jamie had already seen her and wept. Wept! Claire’s hair was indeed magnificent, but it’ll grow back. Meanwhile, dozens are perishing from an intestinal infection, so priorities, people!
Though a few more souls succumbed while Claire was ailing, Jamie deduces that a deceased elk polluting the water source was to blame, halting the epidemic’s spread. Claire and Tom Christie fell ill nearly last. Yet, Dr. Fraser isn’t fully convinced. She knows her affliction wasn’t dysentery but something else entirely. From what she gathers, Tom suffered the same malady. Gathering her remaining strength, she visits Tom to request a stool sample for verification. Imagine Tom’s reception to such a request! At least he escorts her home. Tom appears simultaneously intrigued, amused, and irked by Claire. Alas, the mystery of how both fell ill with the same unknown malady, despite having been apart, remains unsolved for now.
This particular episode appears to meticulously craft tender, yet heart-fluttering moments for Jamie and Claire, immersing us in their serene yet swooning bond. Jamie, petrified at the thought of losing Claire to her illness, whispers to her that without her, "the sun would neither rise nor set." We witness an entire scene where they lie entwined in bed, reminiscing about the time she inadvertently stepped on him while he dozed outside her door, chuckling at how Jamie finds Claire's perception of his humor to be her most endearing trait. They confess to each other how their unwavering fidelity, despite the passage of time, remains both significant and enchanting. These moments are delightfully sweet, evoking that familiar, fluttery feeling unique to Jamie and Claire's love story.
Yet, beneath this sugar-coated facade lies a trap, for on this show, blissful moments rarely endure without a impending twist! Just as Jamie prepares to depart for the Provincial Congress to proclaim independence from the crown and select delegates for the inaugural Continental Congress—with the overenthusiastic and eager Roger hot on his heels—the Christies arrive at their doorstep, bearing a bombshell.
Malva reveals she is pregnant, claiming that Jamie is the father. I apologize for the abruptness, but honesty demands no euphemisms here. Malva not only stakes her claim but also orchestrates an astonishing charade, recounting a tale of guilt, alleging that their first encounter transpired during Claire's illness, when she pitied Jamie's sorrow so deeply that she succumbed to his advances. Though her narrative aligns with a feverish Claire's actions, one can sense the fabrications woven within. Claire, incensed, slaps Malva across the face and flees the house. Jamie, fuming with rage, finds himself compelled to defend his innocence, yet Malva persists, citing intimate scars and marks known only to someone who has beheld him nude. (Recall her covert peek into Jamie and Claire's lovemaking in the stable? A reconnaissance mission, it seems.) Tom insists Jamie sign a document acknowledging the baby as his heir. Jamie, however, expels them from his home with an emphatic command. Witnessing this unfolding drama is excruciating, for how can Jamie credibly refute his paternity in the absence of Maury Povich, whose era lies nearly two centuries hence?
At this very moment, Jamie's sole concern revolves around Claire's belief. He locates her in the stables, where her anger simmers like a pot on the brink of boiling over. Her fury is directed at Malva for orchestrating such a betrayal. She's enraged at the mere contemplation that Jamie could engage in intimate relations with another and subsequently lie about it, especially after all she has selflessly surrendered to be with him. Her speech is fiery and heartfelt, emphasizing how she, Bree, and Roger are out of place here yet persist "because her love for Jamie surpassed the life she once knew. And she was convinced that Jamie returned her affection with equal fervor." To entertain Malva's allegations would be to declare their love a hollow lie. This circuitous yet deeply emotional expression underscores Claire's unwavering belief in Jamie's innocence. Firstly, she knows the depth of their bond, and secondly, she is aware that Jamie would never abandon one of his flesh and blood. Seizing this moment, Jamie confesses to his past encounter with Mary MacNab during his cave-dwelling days near Lallybroch post-Culloden. Is this revelation truly a significant matter meriting a "confession"? Claire was miles away in the future, entwined with her former husband, and Jamie believed her return improbable. Isn't it plausible to assume he might have sought solace elsewhere, at least once? Regardless, Jamie and Claire's love remains steadfast, yet they dread the Ridge's reaction once the truth surfaces, for it inevitably will.
Indeed, upon learning of the affair, the Ridge's inhabitants treat them with disdain. Jamie, occupied with Sons of Liberty matters, leaves Claire to bear the brunt of their scorn. The townsfolk shun her, refusing even medical aid, all convinced by Malva's tale. Claire attempts to reason with Malva, her pain evident as she watches the younger woman cause Claire such suffering. Claire tells Malva she was proud to be her mentor and acknowledges that Malva must be enduring immense distress to resort to such measures. These words pierce Malva's heart, but her resolve wavers only momentarily when Allan enters the scene. She reverts to her accusatory role, labeling Claire a witch. It's a cruel and deplorable spectacle, prompting Claire to warn them to stay away from her family. Clearly, reason will not prevail with Malva.
Weeks drag on, and Claire clings to the hope that time will heal all wounds. News traveled more slowly in those days, but perhaps the townsfolk will eventually move on to other matters. Ian steps forward, offering to alleviate the situation by confessing to a past liaison with Malva, hinting that he could be the father and marry her to clear Jamie's name. Claire appreciates his gesture but notes their awareness of Malva's encounter with Henderson, casting doubt on Ian's paternity as well.
Two months have elapsed, transforming Claire's tresses into an adorable bob, while Jamie has returned from his conference, only to reveal that the Malva saga had cost him the delegate's seat. The Frasers continue to endure the sting of ostracism from their community. One fateful day, Claire catches sight of Malva approaching the surgery. In a sudden surge of dread, she slams the doors shut and takes a deep inhale of ether, seeking refuge from the specter of Lionel Brown that still haunts her.
Haunted by a harrowing nightmare, Claire envisions Malva intruding upon her life, stealing it away. In the dream's grip, Claire clutches a scalpel to Malva's throat, her voice rising in a defiant scream, "Dare to come near me or my husband again, and I swear, I'll end you." The intensity of the vision is palpable—terrifying yet filled with the raw power one might expect from the formidable Christie clan.
Awakening from her slumber, Claire ventures into the garden, only to be confronted with a harrowing sight: Malva's lifeless body, her throat savagely slit. Stunned and determined, Claire resolves to at least save the innocent life trapped within. Without hesitation, she performs an impromptu C-section on Malva's corpse, but to her despair, the baby is nowhere to be found. Claire is reduced to tears, her actions a harrowing testament to desperation.
This crazy act, undoubtedly, spells trouble for Claire. As I've said before, heavens above, what a chaotic turn of events!
