When the heavens open up over Fraser's Ridge, it isn't just rain that pours down; it's chaos. Amidst the downpour, Claire and Jamie find themselves entangled in the harrowing murder mystery of Malva, with Claire unfairly positioned as the prime suspect. Just when it seemed their plates couldn't hold any more, Lizzie and the Beardsleys storm in, unloading a saga of throuple proportions onto the unsuspecting aristocracy of the mansion. Does Lizzie realize the weight on Claire's shoulders? Claire, accused of slaying a pregnant girl and haunted by her assailant's specter, is hardly in the mood for tales of twin-induced pregnancies and uncertain Paternity. One wonders if Claire's patience isn't tested to its very limits; it's a miracle she didn't reach for the ether mid-story. Yet, professionalism and a sex-positive outlook keep her composed, even as Lizzie enthusiastically recounts her malaria-induced tryst with the Beardsley twins, noting their "identical everywhere" nature with a gleaming smile. Claire's nonchalant "well, I'm glad you're enjoying yourself" masks the absurdity of it all, yet not everyone shares her openness.
Must Lizzie be so oblivious? She seems genuinely astounded that her liaison with the twins might not sit well with the Ridge's pious fishing folk, demanding she tie the knot with one – not both, mind you. Just days ago, Lizzie corrected Claire for uttering a curse in front of a dysentery-stricken family, yet she fails to grasp the community's possible disdain for her twin fling. How does one miss such a fundamental disconnect? Jamie resolves the twins' indecisiveness by having them draw straws, ultimately handfasting Lizzie to Kezzie. But this trio isn't done; they sneak off to Roger to duplicate the ceremony with Josiah, ensuring all bases are covered. Why can't they see the pragmatism of a single marriage for public appearance, while indulging in their "one soul in two bodies" fantasy at home? It's insulting to Josiah and Kezzie, and no one has the luxury for such frivolity – especially not Claire and Jamie, besieged by far graver concerns.
Rumors fly thick and fast, as settlers who believe Claire jealously murdered Malva for sleeping with Jamie grow in number and boldness by the hour. It's galling to witness Mr. Crombie and Henderson, of all people, accost the Frasers at their doorstep. Crombie, whose mother-in-law died accusing him of horrors, and Henderson, caught in flagrante with Malva in the church – their accusations ring hollow. The pinnacle of absurdity unfolds at Malva's funeral, where Allan, in a fit of grief, screams accusations at Claire for his sister's death and envies their supposed idyllic life. Noteworthy too is Tom Christie's eerie silence, his reactions toward his son speaking volumes in their restraint. Intriguing, indeed.
Amidst a swirl of accusations and, I daresay, the harrowing aftermath of discovering Malva in such a ghastly manner, Claire is on the brink of a nervous breakdown. The oppressive specter of Lionel Brown looms ever larger, at one juncture even convincing her that she might have been Malva's killer. Perhaps that "dream" she had under the influence of ether, where she menacingly vowed Malva's demise, was in fact a harrowing reality. Though Lizzie's revelations about that fateful day reassure her otherwise, the accumulated stress and guilt continue to fester within her, eating her alive.
This turmoil culminates in a poignant, heart-wrenching confrontation between Claire and Jamie, a scene that, though I hesitate to draw parallels solely on the basis of twins, mirrors the intense emotional exchange they shared in the stable, where Claire passionately declared that all her actions stemmed from her unwavering love for Jamie. Now, she turns this love into a scathing self-accusation, quietly but trepidatiously confessing to Jamie that she believes herself responsible for every calamity that has befallen them since she crossed through the stones. She laments how her selfishness has inflicted pain upon numerous souls, including Bree, Roger, and Malva. Her return altered the course of events, leading to irrevocable damage to those she holds dear. And all this, she claims, was driven by her singular desire to be with Jamie above all else. For this scene, bestow upon Caitríona Balfe all the accolades deserved! As she reveals how she has compartmentalized her life's experiences merely to survive, only for them all to burst forth in a chaotic flood—the trigger for this overflow, though unspoken, is evident to us and to Jamie: the ordeal she endured at the hands of Lionel Brown and his cronies—it is nothing short of heart-shattering. We have witnessed this unraveling in real time throughout the season. She has struggled to suppress her emotions for survival's sake, to no avail.
Jamie endeavors to soothe her by reminding her of how, after Jack Randall's brutal rape shattered him into pieces, she "found" him. But only after he allowed her to glimpse his darkness. He implores her to do the same for him now. He is privy to her ether-induced escapades and her visions of Lionel, and he begs her to cease them. They must confront these demons together. He adds that if her desire to be with him makes her selfish, then he too is guilty of the same. Claire vows she would relive it all "to be with" him. They embrace, their theme music swelling in the background. I am emotionally drained.
Yet, hold on! The saga continues! Just as you might start to believe Claire might embark on her healing journey, Robert Brown and his minions from Brown Town—aka the Safety Committee—arrive at the mansion with the intention of arresting Claire for Malva Christie's murder. Agh!! With but one episode remaining, what fate awaits our beloved Claire this time?
