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Wee Cap Episode 716 (S7 Finale) A Hundred Thousand Angels

The Season 7 finale is upon us. No more early alarms on Friday morning for me until Season 8. The teaser of Blood of My Blood tells us it comes this summer. Which means I can cancel my Starz subscription for several months.

PSA: There is a suicide warning at the start of the episode.

We start with a flashback of two sisters skipping through some tall grass toward their mother. It's a happy memory. Based on the ages and hair color, you assume it is Jane and Fanny. Jane, in present day, is giving an interview to the 18th century version of a tabloid writer about the murder, being asked why she stabbed the creepy redcoat "26 times". She mocks his exaggeration of the story. He can't understand why she feels no remorse. He's trying to get her story but she knows that he just wants to make money off of her, like others before him. He plays one last card, reminding her that Fanny will only know what he chooses to write if she doesn't give him the interview. She nods reluctantly to his last offer for the interview.

Hopefully, this is the last time Sinead ruins the mood. Title image is the northern lights.

We're in the church/hospital and a distraught Jamie is telling an unresponsive Claire what he remembers what she taught him about blood in the human body. He knows that even if their blood type didn't match, that his blood would know hers. She whispers "I've decided not to die." She is weak and still in pain but she tells him she knows what it is like to think he died, and she wouldn't do that to him. A tearful Jamie is grateful. Sam knows just when to drop a tear.

Pirate LJG is back in the British Camp. William seeks him out to help Jane. Even though William is a large man, he looks more boy than man, as he tells his father the story.

Ian returns to tell Jamie that William is safe. Jamie and Rachel explain what happened to Claire. Jamie has given care of his troops over to Lafayette, which means Roger will find him in the history books instead of a General Fraser. Ian is concerned about what this could mean for Jamie and the military's rules.

Pirate LJG brings the snark. Murder leads to complications, but not nearly as many as marriage! David has really shined bright in Season 7.

A week later, Claire continues her recovery. She needs to pee in a bucket and asks Jamie to leave to give her privacy. She wants to review the color of her urine. Nothing says love like holding a hurricane lamp over a bucket of pee together. She tells him she wants to go home to the Ridge.

Claire is sleeping and sees a shadowy figure from the past enter the room. It's Master Raymond. He told her it is not her time to die. He came to ask forgiveness. She asks for what and he replies "some day you will know". He kisses her hand and she sees what looked like a black and white bird to me. She notices Jamie is there and he says he didn't see anyone all night. They talk about death and she asks Jamie if he thinks she'll see Faith when she dies.

Buck and Roger walk back from Lallybroch and see Gem. Bree and Mandy appear in the fog and Richard does a great job showing unbridled joy.

LJG stops by to see Claire in the hospital. She wants to exam his eye and he replies "you should be resting, my dear." Jamie overhears that term and isn't happy. LJG corrects himself and calls her Mrs. Fraser. They talk about William briefly in sort of a testosterone standoff and Claire's eyes roll hard. She takes LJG"s hand and thanks him for saving her life. Jamie is still standing over them, being stubborn as ever. Can that friendship be saved? Deep down, they both wish it would.

Claire continues her recovery and can move easily. Denny returns and tells her he never wants to do that again (i.e. operate on someone he knows and cares about).

At Lallybroch, Bree looks at her grandmother's portrait on the wall. She goes over to the tower to see Brian and he looks startled at the resemblance and the essence of her that reminds him of Ellen. (And I'm sorry but is it possible that Sophie has actually gotten worse? She should never take a part with an American accent again.)

Back at the hospital, Jamie and Claire are back to their old selves when a knock on the door reveals Wiliam, out of uniform.

Jane is knocking a few down at the jail. William and Jamie sneak toward it with their faces covered. Jamie mentions something Brianna told him and it dawns on William that he has met her, his sister. They enter and disable the guard. William rushes to Jane but finds he is too late. Jamie cuts a lock of her hair for her sister.

Jamie brings Claire up to speed when he returns. He tells Claire about Fanny and the next day William brings Fanny to them. She's naturally distraught and scared. They give her the lock of hair and ask her to come live with them. Jamie promises her that she will be safe with them. They want to bury Jane first.

William asks Jamie to explain how he was conceived. Jamie refuses but promises that he didn't force his mother, although he did not love her. William said he knows that her husband was much older and he put 2 and 2 together. William thinks of his mother as reckless but Jamie tells him she was also courageous, bold and confident. It is a gift he gives to William about his mother. They show a quick look at Geneva and you really can see the resemblance. Great casting and a great scene.

They bring Fanny to a cemetery of unmarked graves, the last and worst way that society treats its poor. Poor little Fanny is having survival guilt and is comforted by Claire. Fanny shows Claire the locket with her mother's picture. Her mother's name was Faith.

Ian and Rachel talk and he wants to return to the Ridge with JC. Ian gains a new life and loses an old one. And I'm sitting here crying for a dog.

Back at Lallybroch, Roger and Bree are happy to be together. They talk about staying there and waiting for Jamie but realized that isn't smart. Roger worries about his father. Bree misses hers. Where/when do they belong now?

Jamie and Ian pack the wagon. Claire hears Fanny singing in the church and it's the song she sang when Faith died. A song that came out centuries later. Fanny says her mother taught them that song. Claire tells Jamie that she thinks Faith lived. Is this some sort of time travel meets reincarnation? What has Master Raymond been up to...

I didn't like that they played that old recording over the credits, it kind of took me out of the moment.

A decent finale with a few cliffhangers or at least stories left untold. Great 1:1 scenes with several pairs.

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Yearly check in, you still think they are in a secret marriage?

Gotta love anons like this. You're an anon, how do I know that it's your "yearly check-in". And why would I owe you any answer if you don't even identify yourself annually.

You also have me mistaken for someone else because while I have always felt they were in a secret relationship, I don't believe I've ever noted a secret marriage. In fact, when the infamous blue/pink? It's been so long that I forget the color, was received and posted, I am on record as saying that I thought the paper was legit. The Maestro marriage itself? Not so much.

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Wee Cap Episode 715 Written in My Own Heart's Blood

The penultimate episode is a shorter one than the others but packed with content. It begins with a Claire voiceover as we see all the battles that Claire and Jamie have been through over the years. She speaks of death both peaceful (Colum) and horrible (Angus) and we continue to see all the friends that they have lost with a quote from Murtagh "There's always a war coming." She ends with "war is inevitable and death is too" and we wonder who that we know will die in the battle today. It's a effective intro until Sinead's voice interrupts us.

The title credits are over a painting from the war with a familiar looking general on the right. As the camera pulls away, we see it is from a museum.

It is dawn, the new flag waves in the wind and a drummer boy calls the solders to arms. A sleepy Claire wakes and turns to an already dressed Jamie and says "you were right". He must have predicted this as the day. He's rubbing his hand and says the only time he's ever without pain is with Claire in bed. He has been thinking of his long-dead mother, ancestors give the strength you need for battle. He tells Claire of what he saw and did at her funeral and it's very touching. He rejoices over the fact that he can see Claire's age in her face and hair, since his mother died so young. That's all this show needs, time focused on these two with one of them having a nice long monologue. It was also a nice reminder of what soldiers must be feeling before they go into what will be a bloody battle that they may not survive.

We are told this is the Battle of Monmouth in 1778. You can visit this historical site today in New Jersey. It becomes a turning point in the war for both the Americans and GW himself. After we toured Lexington and Concord last summer, my history buff son said to me "Washington was a terrible general (i.e. war strategist), but he was a great leader."

Jamie and Claire have their parting words later and he frets that the last time he spoke to William he had him up against a tree in anger. He wishes he could tell him how much he's loved him from afar. Hey! How come we didn't get an "On your way, soldier". I feel robbed.

Jamie walks away and then stops like a guy who realized he forgot to lock the door. He turns back to her and says "It willna be today, Sassenach." He rides off to lead his army of farmers and tradesmen against the most experienced army in the world. He's Herb Brooks in 1980 Lake Placid. Well, maybe GW is Herb so I guess that makes him Craig Patrick.

Claire thinks about a conversation they had the night before. She tells him something feels different this time.

We bump up to 1788 and find Roger and Buck camping beside a large stream. Buck is wondering with all the time travelers in his/Roger's family, was his father one as well. (We know his mother was.) Roger is holding something back (and has zero poker face about it) and Buck calls him on it. Roger tells him who is mother was. Buck is quite pissed that Roger held this information back when they met Ghellis and demands to know who is father is. At this point, Buck is apoplectic that Roger didn't tell him that day, but Roger tells him he didn't want to risk changing the course of time if Buck did something in anger. Buck slaps right back that Roger was being a bit hypocritical given how they helped Jerry. Pretty damn smart for a guy who probably has a 5th grade education. He reminds Roger that you got to say goodbye, etc. and he kinda robbed Buck of the same. Roger looks remorseful as this hits home. Buck walks off to get his horse to go back to see Mommy and Daddy. And once again, he uses the Pythagorean theorem and tells Roger that Dougal came to the house for Roger, otherwise they might not have met and neither he nor Roger would be alive today. The professor just got schooled.

At this point, we're halfway through the episode with just two scenes of 1 on 1.

Claire is at the Monmouth army hospital with Denny trying to convince the head medical dude that she can handle war wounds. He even questions Denny's credentials. You kind of hope he ends up puking at the first sight of blood on his fine white shirt.

Claire gets her kit ready to do triage outside and sees/hears the first cannon fire. She hears herself repeat "something feels different this time." Claire gives Rachel the triage plan.

In the woods, Ian and Pirate LJG begin to execute their plan to rescue William. They walk into the Hessian camp and tell them Captain Richardson says turn him over to us. Ballsy or stupid? Kind of both. The German wants money but they want to see Wills first. He is shackled and hooded and not looking too well. Ian demands the key to unchain him, the Hessian calls their bluff but he is too slow. (Ian is pretty badass in this scene.)

Ian keeps his promise to Rachel, which may not have been the smart thing to do. William looks at his dad with a bit of trepidation. Pirate LJG acknowledges the unspoken words and promises to talk about it later. LJG thanks Ian and sends him to his new bride, (William clocks this) but does thank his cousin for saving him. William needs a win, he's had a very bad week or two. They leave and Ian looks off to the woods. He's rethinking his last decision.

The wounded begin to arrive at triage. Claire brings a man who appears to be suffering from a collapsed lung into the hospital and Dr. TightAss gives her a lecture, ignoring the person he had just been treating. He tells her the man just has noise in his ears and is "nervous" and she does a makeshift chest tube. Hasn't this guy ever watched ER? You sir, are no Dr. Greene.

LJG and William get back to the camp and William doesn't want to wait to talk about his parentage. Dude, there's a battle going on, not everything is about you at this point. He's just like Bree when she found out- spoiled, angry, and self-centered. When an exasperated LJG says "William!", his son throws back several names at him for his last name but reminds him that he never was or will be William Grey. He's forgetting how much LJG sacrificed to raise him. LJG claims him as his son once again and tells him about Jamie.

Roger and Buck ride to Lallybroch. Brian Fraser welcomes them back. Roger writes a note to Bree in hope she finds it in the 20th century. Buck gives him a letter to send to Ghellis to thank her for helping him when he was sick. Roger thanks him for his help but Buck confesses he is not a good person. He tells the story of how he loved Morag but she loved another so he took her to North Carolina but eventually back home to Scotland. He offers to go back to the 20th century to tell Bree to bring her up to speed in case she doesn't get Roger's letter. He knows he can connect to Jem because he and Roger are all his blood, his sons.

Bree pulls a book from her bookcase. It is called The Soul of a Rebel, written by Frank Randall. She writes a letter to Roger saying "I hope you are safe, I went back to find you." and opens the desk drawer to find Roger's letter. (You mean to tell me no Scottish antique dealer bought that desk for 200 years?) Fun fact, I have my father's rolltop desk and when I was cleaning it out, I actually did find a typed business letter from the 1950's, stuck in a drawer. The previous owner worked in sales for the company that sold jukeboxes in the area. I digress.

Franny runs to William in tears. An officer who had frequented the brothel recognized Jane and arrested her. This little actress puts Sophie to shame.

Bree and the kids are at the stones. She tells Mandy to think of Daddy when they go through the stones and Mandy obeys a little too soon.

The British are getting very close to the hospital. Dr. TightAss says he will stay for a bit, Denny and Rachel will go back to the main camp. Um, have you met Dr. Claire Fraser? She won't leave her patients. Dr. TightAss finally admits she's a good surgeon.

The young American soldier that we met in Jamie's inspection last week runs through the woods to find Jamie. He tells him the British are close to the hospital and Jamie gathers some men to get back there. Lt. Bigsby runs back to the triage center as the British men are right there and tells her to shelter inside. She asks him about Jamie. He tells her Lee was relieved of command because he told his men to retreat. Jamie was with George Washington at the battle.

The British keep walking past, in retreat. Jamie arrives and tells his men to let them keep retreating. The soldiers start yelling at each other and it's starting to get out of hand. Jamie yells to stand down but nobody hears or cares.

Shots are fired at random and the doctor becomes the patient. And Jamie looks 200 years old.

Dr. TightAss becomes Dr. Useless. Jamie curses him (I was surprised it wasn't in Gaelic). General Lee wants Jamie but he won't leave. Jamie orders the young soldier to take off his shirt. He uses Claire's blood to write his resignation on the young man's back.

Finally, Claire manages to blurt out Denny. I've been screaming that in my head for the last five minutes. Jamie prays while still pressing on her wound.

Denny and Rachel run in. Lafayette sent his cheese for her recovery, which Claire tells Denny can be used for a penicillin type poultice. Denny knocks Claire out and tells Jamie to pray.

This episode started with long, thoughtful conversations and you could feel the pace and the momentum pick up as the story unfolded. The scene before Claire is wounded reminded me again of Lexington and Concord. It started the same way, the two groups yelling at each other across the way until a random "shot heard round the world" was fired. Because men are boys. Until they bleed.

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Wee Cap Episode 714 Ye Dinna Get Used To It

We are told it is London 1775 and pre-Pirate LJG is in a home, talking to a British officer who turns out to be his brother, Hal. Hal has gout and cannot travel to America to be part of the war. Hal says he can send LJG back there a commissioned officer and we find out that he has as many names as JAMMF, with a Bertram Armstrong thrown in there. LJG tells him to knock it off but in a proper British way. They talk about how William wants a commission and Henry has one. LJG is hoping that the war would be over before it comes to that but Hal says "America is a son who has dishonored his father". Projecting there Hal? Countries are usually referred to in the feminine, but he doesn't even see America as a country... Oh but he will. Hal concedes that there could be peace but asks LJG for his word that he will never accept American independency and I feel like going into the city to dump some tea in the harbor for old times sake.

In Pennsylvania 1778, a Bertram Armstrong is swearing his allegiance to the colonies on a Bible Looks like LJG took a page from the JAMMF playbook when pretending to be someone not yourself but yet still yourself.

Jamie is helping Mrs. Figg hang a new lantern when an American officer knocks on the door to inspect the house. She isn't happy about his behavior. He wasn't aware General Fraser was there. GW is passing through and looking for a place to host a dinner for his generals...tonight! Mrs. Figg offers him an apron to help.

Ian is scouting and finds a British camp.

Claire is wandering through the market with a basket, texting while walking and not paying attention and bumps into an American officer who speaks French. She, of course, parlez- vous right back at him. We know this is the Marquis de Lafeyette because you either paid attention in 8th grade history or you have seen Hamilton six times. She's tickled at meeting yet another famous icon of the American Revolution. Unfortunately, I don't love this actor unless he's trying too hard to play someone whose first language is not English.

Later that night at the dinner, he gets Claire to try some eels that have been marinating in...does it matter, they are eels! Jamie is amused. Sidebar: Would Claire really have been allowed at this dinner in 1778?

GW gives Claire one of the first American flags as a thank you gift. She asks him if was true that he had a six-pointed star in mind but Betsy Ross told him 5-points would be easier to sew. They toast the new nation and to victory. It makes me proud of how we started and sad about the chaos of the next four years.

Back in modern times, Bree drives to the house. There's a note from the locksmith that he was there and will reschedule. She drives off.

Ian gets home late and tells Rachel is lying awake waiting for him. She's looking to scout his body and the beginning of another unsexy scene starts but we are spared the rest.

Jamie comes up to bed after a meeting with GW and a General Lee. They discuss how those two don't get along because Lee felt he should have been given the command. Claire says she's never heard of a General Lee in history but tells Jamie how famous Lafayette will be in the history books. Jamie tells her he got the list of the members of his battalion and he'll meet them the next day. He's worried that he'll have 300 people under his command.

At daybreak, Captain William notLordEllsmere Ransom, joins the British camp. He delivers a note from General Clinton to the commander who comments on this less than perfect dress. "You look like a groom from one of my father's estates". Ouch. A pissed off William waits for the reply note.

William goes to his tent to change into a clean uniform, mumbling in French. In walks Jane with a young girl, her sister Frances aka Fanny. She's a cutie. Jane asks for his protection and to make sure that Fanny doesn't end up in her line of work.

Bree goes hunting for wabbit with a shotgun, aka Rob Cameron. She hides in the woods near Lallybroch and waits. She says to herself "this is stupid" and starts to get up when a light comes on in the house. She sees "two fucking bastards" and again I wonder why almost all the dialogue they have written for her this year consist of mostly swearing. Fiona returns with the children and she runs to them while the two men leave from the FRONT DOOR? She fires at them while yelling to the children to get back in the FeeVan. Ernie can't start the van, the guys try to get in the van, Bree throws a Fraser punch and they drive off. This whole storyline needs to end soon, I beg you. They drive off as Cameron drives in, have a quick stare-off and then keep driving. Bree asks Fee why they came back and Fee says "listen bitch, you got us into this mess and Cameron was at OUR house now so we came back to keep your kids safe and rescue your sorry ass." OK, she really said something a lot nicer with a lot of rolled Rs but the attitude was the same.

William has hired Jane as his laundress but has to explain how it is all done. Fanny, who looks like she could play Amy in the next movie version of Little Women, tells William she doesn't know how to purchase what she needs.

Jamie and his aide inspect his troops. He is kind and smart with them and finds his new pair like Angus and Rupert or Lesley and Hayes, which means at least one of them is going to get killed. Claire is in the medical tent checking over sick soldiers. She is shocked to see LJG there. He surrenders to Jamie.

Claire brings him to the house to look at his eye and he is annoyed to see the stars and stripes hanging in the house. She says he can't move his eye because the eye muscle is trapped in the crack of his broken orbital bone. That's gotta hurt. Jamie walks in and his fingers are twitching as they always do when he's stressed. (Nice touch by Sam there to always remember that.) You can still see the animosity between the two men.

Claire tells LJG she has to grab and turn his eyeball and if it could move, it would have bulged out of his head in shock. Jamie holds his head and in a good camera move, they show him feeling the pain that LJG was feeling at that moment.

William wakes up to a naked Jane sitting on him, but he does not want her like that.

Ian stares at the fire and says he can feel his Dad there. He worries that his father is trying to tell him that he might die in battle but Rachel walks in and he feels that is a better sign. She helps him put on his battle paint.

The FeeVan breaks down again. Bree fixes it. Ernie thinks Roger is really in Boston. It seems Fee hasn't explained the whole time travel thing to him. Bree says they should go to Roger, but we know Roger is thinking of returning.

Jane does one load of laundry and then says they are going to New York. She explains that Captain Harkness tried to pay 20 pounds for Fanny's first time. Jane said she convinced Madam Ghislaine Maxwell to let her be there to keep Fanny quiet. She stabbed Harkness and they ran. William tells her he won't turn her in. Later, he is given an important letter to bring to the leader of the Hessions.

LJG is doing the follow my finger exercise with Claire and he's better. Jamie is arranging a prisoner exchange. Lafayette's aide (A Beauchamp but pronounced the French way) comes to the house, shocked to see LJG there. They are/were stepbrothers. Beauchamp (not his real name-he is a French spy) is there to warn LJG that Richardson is sending William into a trap. Claire knows that Richardson is a spy.

Jamie sends Ian and LJG to pretend that LJG is his prisoner. "Go, save our son." LJG jokes "I'm getting used to wearing irons" and Jamie cuts that snark off at the knees with "no, ye dinna get used to it."

William rides into the Hession camp where the Germans seem to speak perfect English. He delivers his message which is apparently written in code if you hold a Christmas tree stencil over it. The Hession invites him to stay for wiener schnitzel.

Credits roll with military music.

A lot happening in this episode as they continue to push the plotlines along to battle and the time travel intersection of Bree and Roger. Almost too many plot lines at once.

Once again, Sam and Cait have very little to do. I'd be bored with playing their characters at this point if I were them. The Ian/Rachel love scenes are just distracting. Best actress in the episode is the woman who plays Jane. David Berry has done a good job taking some of the refinement out of LJG as he goes through his arc. I usually like when they focus on characters but not when they are the secondary characters. I think the Jane/William story would be a lot more interesting if his wig was better. Battle episodes are always well done, so next week's episode should be a little more interesting.

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I’d been thinking that they hadn’t aged Jamie enough but this side by side shows that they definitely have.

Outlander Parallels | Jamie Fraser | 5x07 ~ 7x13

At least this time, it's the right color.

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Wee Cap Episode 713 Hello, Goodbye

We start in 1739 with Roger and Buck. They realize that where they are camped is near where the hydro-electric dam would be in present day. At least that's what I think they said, the brogues be thick between these two.

Briana is slapping and swearing a lot. (I'm not kidding, add up the words she's had this season and 25% are curse words.) She's trying to convince Cameron to tell her where Jem is. She checks in with Waze aka Mandy but she can't feel Jem. They head to the police station. Jemmy is shown in a location with dripping water, so we know he's not in the past because the dam was built in the 50's.

Back in Philadelphia, Ian is noticing that Rollo is getting old and a little tired. He and Jamie talk about his wedding and Ian is sad that his parents cannot be there. But Jamie reminds him his father wanted him to be with Rachel. Jamie has sent a message to Denny to see if he can get there too. Ian is concerned about Rachel being a virgin and Jamie tells him that he was the virgin on his wedding night. He tells Ian what Claire told him that night "Go slow, pay attention" but then is tickled to tell Ian that Claire wasn't gentle with him.

Claire is helping Rachel get ready in a plain, borrowed dress. I'm planning a wedding for one of my kids right now and I ask thee?. Where are the color-coded spreadsheets, links to portfolios, hold the date QR codes, planning table assignments so a rebel doesn't sit next to a redcoat? Does thee not realize that there is a 20% administration fee on every selection? I digress.

Mercy Woodcock asks if they can stay longer but Jamie and Ian have their orders to move out of Philadelphia. Rachel is worried about Ian going into battle and Claire/Mrs. Woodcock tell her how they cope.

Denny arrives in time as Jamie sets up in Mercy's living room. Henry is helping out and looking healthy. Denny tells him that John Grey was badly injured at the camp and that they meant to hang him but that he helped LJG escape. Jamie needs to sit down after that.

They sit in a circle as Denny brings Rachel, Ian is nervous. For whenever two or more of you are gathered in his name...there is love. They all must sit there with their eyes closed until the spirit moves them but Jamie (and Rollo) are getting restless. Jamie whispers to Claire but Denny tells him that the spirit seems to have moved him to speak so go ahead. Jamie tells about when Ian was born and how he grew up to be a good man.

Denny tells how he was put out of Quaker meeting when he joined the army, and he feels badly that Rachel followed him. He has felt guilty but now he realizes that it was because Rachel was meant to meet Ian.

So apparently they can marry themselves? Sort of like handfasting but permanent.

Jem is scared and wet but reminds himself "on your feet, soldier" as his Granny would say. He finds a hard hat with a light on it. He remembers his mother telling him about the breaker box. He hears his mother when she told them the story of her first day and let's just say Sophie should never try out for voiceover in a Disney movie.

Mandy feels Jem in the car. At the same time Roger and Buck are looking for stones where the dam now exists. They find them and a military survival kit. Roger yells for Jeremiah (both son and father). Jemmy finds the portal and hears his father. Mandy said signal's lost but Bree turns the car around and nearly hits Jem.

Roger sees a boy and they chase him. He has Jeremiah's military helmet and Big Buck lifts him off his feet to get the story. He said the man stole a lantern and the boy turned him in, so the man ran away.

It's the honeymoon and we're getting another unlacing scene. To be honest, they have spent too much time on this wedding. Rachel apparently found some instructions on what to do on the wedding night. They tried too hard to mimic the JC wedding night. The music was nice though.

In another room, Jamie can't sleep because he's worried about LJG and also the fact that they are in Claire's room where the deed was done. He's also worried about William. Guilt x 2.

This episode is crawling. Too much time on Rachel and Ian's wedding/honeymoon. I have zero desire to see these two consummate the wedding.

LJG is found in the woods by a rebel solider. He pretends to be a rebel too and kind of looks the part. He lies about his name, saying he is an Armstrong.

Bree returns to Lallybroch with the police. Jem is feeling guilty that Roger went through the stones. They go in the house to get Cameron but he's gone. The police are skeptical. They think Bree is having an affair. She can't explain the real reason why Cameron would want Jem or how to reach Roger. Sophie needs some Flonase.

Roger tells Buck what he knew about his father. Buck said he never met his real parents. Roger doesn't tell him that he met them the other day. They see a man in a bomber jacket and Roger yells for him not to run by calling him Jerry. He tells him they are like him, from a different time. Roger asks him if there's a cornfield nearby so they can have a catch.

They talk as Buck looks on with interest. Roger explains how the stones are a portal. Poooof.

Buck hears dogs coming and they run but Jeremiah falls and is injured so they drag him to the stones to go back. Roger tells him to think of his wife and Jeremiah is shocked that he knows her name. In the meantime, Buck is having pain again. Roger doesn't tell him who he is but does tell him they win the war. He pushes him to the stones with a whispered I love you. Twice in this episode, Roger had a chance to tell Buck and his father some important personal details, but didn't.

The next morning, Ian is fretting about what Denny said at the wedding about the violence Rachel walked into. Ian vows not to kill anyone unless he has to.

Brigadier General Red is looking resplendent in his new uniform (and a little like Thomas Jefferson) and Claire likes it. Jamie is grateful she understands why he must fight and she just wants it to be over so they can go back to the Ridge.

Fiona and her husband come to take the kids to their home. Bree still has no phone line and the locksmith is coming. She gives Fiona the box of letters for safekeeping. Bree is worried Roger will never know that Jem is not in the past. But Roger is talking to Buck and realizes that too. Credits roll.

This episode was uneven. The scenes with Roger and Buck were the best. Too much about Ian and Rachel. They are not what makes Outlander a good show. Very little JC and far too much Bree.

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Wee Cap Episode 712 Carnal Knowledge

We begin with Jamie still taking his "prisoner" through the streets of Philadelphia on what looks like the sunniest day Scotland saw all year. (then again, it's always sunny in Philadelphia...)

LJG is not a happy camper as Jamie shoves him along, especially every time British soldiers walk by. Jamie explains that they asked for papers upon his arrival and even though they were in order, they decided to search him and found something "I did not want them to discover".

LJG is cold so our rebel on the run offers him his overcoat while telling him he was anxious to see Claire because he knew she would have heard about his ship going down. They grab some horses and ride off into the woods. Jamie thanks LJG for helping him escape and for "taking care of Claire". Oh yes, Mac Dubh. He took care of Claire alright. Jamie is also worried about how William is and wants to find him. The whole time LJG is looking guiltier than the kid who told his mother he was studying at the library last night. Jamie notices.

Instead of starting his explanation of Claire being caught as a spy, et. he takes a deep breath and blurts out the famous line that matches the episode title. Jamie's response of Why? confuses him. Jamie is amused and doesn't seem to believe him. He basically answers, Dude, she's not that crazy and you like to sleep with other dudes.

This pisses LJG off and he yells the other famous line only to earn himself a good right hook.

Sinead invades my ear drums as the title picture is an apple falling from the tree which must be a reference to Wiliam.

Claire, oblivious to the rumble in the woods, is in her bedroom drinking brandy and smiling about the rise from the dead sex she's going to have that night. William stops by to talk to his stepmother squared. He says what should I call you?

He asks her to tell him how things came to be but seems to know that Geneva was reckless. He asks if his mother was raped because apparently, he's read all of Diana Gabaldon's novels and knows that's her fall back plot device but Claire assures him that was not the case.

William is angry and in tears. Charles does a really nice job here playing confused, angry and hurt at the same time. He feels that every person he loved lied to him his whole life. He runs out of the house, destroying a small table and some vases on the way down. He catches his reflection in the mirror and takes a swing which returns us to the woods as poor LJG is getting the same wrath from big Red. Fraser men don't hold in their anger well. Jamie is really beating him up when a small band of rebel army men on horses comes through the woods. Introductions take place and they are trying to figure out if LJG is a soldier. LJG is bloody and exhausted is having none of their attitude.

But Jamie can't prove he is Colonel Fraser so he lets them have LJG while he makes his way back to Colonel Morgan. The men find a commission paper in Jamie's jacket (now on LJG) that seems to reinstate his commission but of course LJG says "news to me!". They want to take him back to their camp to be hanged as a spy.

William is walking the streets of Philadelphia and he's not singing Bruce Springsteen. He mutters bastard when a young prostitute overhears him. She invites him into her room above the tavern. But he's still angry, accidentally knocks her glass out of her hand and she throws him out. Good for you girl.

Jamie catches up with Colonel Morgan and meets some dude who is on all the quarters in my purse. He has a rose on his desk (GW bred roses at Mount Vernon). Good casting job in terms of resemblance, although he pauses in weird places in his sentences and calls him Colonel Frasier. Then he calls him Brigadier General.

Ian and Rachel are riding in on horseback and see William. Ian tells him that they had hoped the Quakers would marry them, Rachel says they are betrothed and he decks Ian. William calls Ian cousin in disgust. Rachel is confused. William and Ian fight and the soldiers take Ian away for assaulting an officer. Rachel says screw Quaker code and smacks him. He kisses her and she is disgusted. William is the adult version of the spoiled boy at this point. His world is spiraling. And the foley artists must have worked overtime with all this punching and slapping for the entire episode.

Mrs. Figg and Claire survey the damage William has done. Mrs. Figg calls her Lady John/Mistress Fraser and the American Mrs. Fitz is concerned about the soldiers leaving the city and what that means for them. She's also worried about the missing LJG. He's in the rebel camp. The man they bring him to is someone LJG knew in London. LJG has no fucks to give at this point, since his last one got him beat up by JAMMF.

Ian is being marched by the soldiers when he sees his dead uncle riding by and the shock is all over both of their faces. Jamie sees Rachel who explains what happened and daddy goes to find pouty son. He tells William to get Ian released or he'll tell his Captain that Lord Ellsmere ain't no lord. William gives his word but not before he damns Jamie again. Damn you to hell. Jamie replies "no doubt." You know he wants to have a heart-to-heart but too much is going on at once right now and he still has to go see an unsuspecting Claire.

LJG is suffering and his medical assistance comes from Denny who inspects his now very bruised eye. LJG tells him he has a killer headache and Denny said the man who did this must have really been pissed. LJG also has a fractured orbital bone. Denny says he wishes "thy wife was here" and LJG just mocks that whole thought.

William gets Ian released. At least he can still tell soldiers what to do. William is in the tavern with some jerk-off solders bragging about the ways they take/abuse women. Captain Creep wants the same woman William met the previous night but William outbids him to apologize to her. Her working name is Arabella but her real name is Jane. William tells her to get a good night's sleep. But she likes him and invites him into bed. William thinks he is even unworthy of a whore's love at this point but Jane is kind.

The next morning, Denny brings pirate LJG some food and tells him that he must escape.

Jamie returns to the house, Claire is happy. Not so fast, Claire. They talk and Claire does her best to explain. It isn't pretty. She asks if he killed LJG. He gets too snarky with Claire and she slaps him. They disagree on how many thousands of times they have had sex and I'm a little envious... Braggarts

Claire tries to tell him it is like the Mary McNab situation but Jamie says the difference is that I'm jealous in this case.

As an aside, what's with Toni Graphia's obsession with buggery this episode? The actors are overcoming mediocre writing throughout this hour.

In an odd juxtaposition, Jamie and Claire have fully dressed sex while standing up for part of it and LJG tries to escape. He runs through the woods in the dark with soldiers and dogs chasing as we hear a gunshot and credits role.

Next week, the Jem is missing plot comes to a head and General Fraser dons his new uniform. LJG is still in trouble.

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Wee Cap Episode 711 A Hundredweight of Stone

Previously...A few reminders of Jamie and young William before we catch up with the last episode

Mawwage is what bwings us together this day.

Claire looks like she wants the ground to swallow her, LJG is being noble, William looks on with a WTF is happening. Geez, Padre that's a lot of vow to remember at once. "till death us do part" really hit hard. With this ring, I thee wed. But I ain't wearing this ring for long.

Once again LJG weds a woman to save and protect someone Jamie loves.

Ian prays in Gaelic over a makeshift grave. He and Rachel discuss whether there is a heaven and what Quakers believe. Poor Ian, he's lost his father and father-figure so closely together. And Rachel acknowledges this.

Back in 1739 Scotland, Roger tells Buck more about his father. RR either rides funny or his horse has a little hip action going on.

Back in modern times, Bree is just muddling through the day wondering what is happening with her husband and son. Don't worry Gastairfad, she only has one word.

Ian, a girl knows if/when you ask her to marry you. You know three languages and didn't use any of them. He tells her about Emily.

LJG has a stiff drink. William approaches him about why he married Claire. He's upset that his father married a rebel and risks his good name. LJG explains how he's supporting his good friend Jamie's wife.

Claire lies in bed and is just angry over her circumstances. (And once again, I lose volume in the middle of the episode and have to restart Starz.) She looks through her medical box for the best way to end it all and finds her scalpel. But as she prepares to slice her inner elbow, she hears Jamie's voice from the past "I canna think of you dead, Claire". She stops and just downs the good booze while screaming in guttural grief. LJG hears her downstairs as he too sits by the fire and pours a strong one with tears streaming down his face. He goes upstairs "I will not mourn him alone tonight." She gets even madder and in a montage, she slaps him and says "He is not yours to mourn."

Thankfully, they don't show any more until morning when they wake up rather embarrassed. They actually have a good conversation. David does such a lovely British accent. She asks him how long since he's been with a woman.

Bree is having some wine and is startled by Rob Cameron. Bree knocks him out after he threatens her but before she gets info on Jem's whereabouts. That wasn't too smart. Is she going to need Mandy's Jem-detector?

Ian goes to visit Claire and they grieve together. He tells her he and Rachel are going to Valley Forge to catch up with Denzel. He is wondering if Claire will go back to her own time. But she doesn't feel like the future is her time. I would have made a beeline back to my daughter and grandchildren. But she wants to make sure the Americans win the Revolution.

LJG and Claire go to visit Lord Henry and he's doing very well. Henry wants to remain in America to marry Mercy. LJG is like Huh? That's illegal. He returns in the carriage with Claire very pissed. Claire tries to get him to change his mind. Claire "Someday people will be free to marry whomever they choose." I don't know Claire. Have you met our Supreme Court? LJG reminds Claire, that like Henry and Mercy would face, he knows what it is like to have your love life be a crime and live in fear of discovery.

David has owned this episode.

LJG gives Claire a new dress for a dinner party that he is giving for General Howe. Claire is like NFW. LJG is like FFS Claire.

Roger and Buck find the tinker who had the dog tags, buy information and a gemstone. As they ride on, Buck sees a military uniform hanging from the ONE TREE on acres of farmland. The man who now has it won't give it up but once again, all they want is info. He's not talking. They are camping for the night and Roger worries about why his father gave up his jacket. Buck smartly says maybe for money or food. He also wonders why Roger is looking for old Jeremiah when they came to find wee Jeremiah. Roger thinks there's a red thread to it all.

At the dinner party, LJG greets his guests alone. Captain Richardson shows up and is sarcastic about his wedding congratulations. He says he must have misjudged Claire but I don't believe him. Claire decides to show up in her pretty blue dress and she put his ring back on for show. In the mingling, Claire stands with William and he brushes off a single lady while confessing to Claire that he's still pining for Rachel. Richardson wants to dance with Claire and not because he's feeling festive. He claims to be a rebel but I wouldn't trust him. She declines to spy.

That night, LJG comes with more invitations to dine with all the Bridgertons and Featheringtons. A scuffle in the hallway, a loud, urgent voice that we all recognize bursts through the door. I would have passed out, Claire just wants some smooches. But as usual, there are soldiers on their way. And LJG warns, Your son is on the way. Our Scottish Phoenix realizes they have to go, opens the door to find said son has been listening outside the door as his world falls apart.

Soldiers arrive, escapes are made and Claire is just too damn happy to be nervous about any of it.

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Wee Cap 710 Brotherly Love

On your left. Taught and practiced since they were boys.

Ian and Jamie sit and chat as adults. Ian has accepted Claire's story of being from the future. He confides in Jamie that he's not afraid of dying but the slow, painful cadence is what is hard.

Bring the tissues. I forgot and slobbered all over my hoodie and now I have mascara on the shirt cuff.

Jamie invites Jenny to return and live on the Ridge but she wisely said she'd wait until the war is over.

Claire and Ian have arrived in Philadelphia, which is now under control of the British. Ian is stopped and asked for his papers but Claire is not. Women aren't a threat. Yet.

Ian is wondering about his father's status and Claire tries to make him feel better. He asks about her own parents. Ian plans to head to Valley Forge to find Rachel.

Claire seeks out Lord John who has resigned his commission but still wears his uniform for intimidation and to protect Mercy Woodcock, a black woman who owns her home and is in favor of independence.

Roger and Buck in Scotland (which we confirm is 1739) are with Geillis to try and help Buck's travel belly and heart. Both Geillis and Buck feel like they know each other and as Roger thinks to himself "you should, he's your son". Roger warns Buck about who she really is and the threat she presents. Lotte does a good job bringing the crazy eyes. Roger is wondering what year she arrived and if she recognizes him. Buck is like "Bro, should I be drinking the tea my crazy mama is brewing?"

Claire examines poor Henry Grey who has been suffering greatly. Lord John tells her Denzel Hunter removed one of the musket balls but a second remains. Claire is surprised to learn Denzel is in Philadelphia as she assumed he was also in Valley Forge. Claire catches up with Denzel to learn more about the surgery.

"Thee's a rare breed, Claire". Dude, you have no idea.

Rachel and William are shopping in the market. Methinks we're about to have cousin rivalry. Rollo runs off and Rachel realizes who must be around. But more than one familiar face walks the market. <Play creepy music>

Geillis puts the move on Roger. Ewwww. Isn't she like his great, great grandmother? He kinds of calls her out and tests to see if she knows a Robert Cameron.

Another one of Roger's relatives shows up at the door. I am really loving Richard's voiceover.

Back in Philly, Denzel is blow away by painless surgery under ether. Lord John, does thee not like the sight of blood? Rachel and a worried William sit in the parlor during the surgery. I know Rachel is tiny, but it really shows the good casting of William because he just holds himself so tall even when sitting down, just like his bio-dad. Rachel reminds him that they are on opposite sides but they agree to always be friends. Girl, thee has two men pining for you and you know it.

Mercy and Claire speak after the surgery and Claire connects the dots that her husband was Walter, the man Claire met and helped at Fort Ticonderoga. She compassionately tells Mercy of her husband's death.

Ian finds Denzel but Rachel is not there. He sends Ian to the stables where Rachel is in trouble with someone from Ian's past. Lots of crazy and lots of valor ensue.

Ian, in a sling made from the Macy's Hotel Collection 1000 thread count pillowcase, confesses his love for Rachel in English this time. Rachel should apply for a job at Hallmark.

And for some reason my volume just cut out completely at this point and the only way to recover it was to get out of Starz and back in. Did Lionsgate not pay the last electric bill?

Claire receives a letter from Jamie telling her he went to France to see Joan at her convent and have meetings with Ben Franklin's friends. He is expected to arrive back in Philadelphia shortly. I wish they had mentioned that he visited Faith's grave.

Dougal gives Roger a charm with a name on it that looked like JW Makenzie and we're essentially living in about three different generations at the same time in this scene. (Roger has a small heart attack on the inside and Geillis clocks that.) Dougal puts the moves on Geillis and that's got to be a double ick for Roger. But he's so taken aback that the charm is actually dog tags that belonged to his presumed dead MIA father. And they are in Scotland in 1739.

I enjoyed the twists and turns in this episode with Roger. I have to say Richard has grown on me and he is doing very well with the Roger-heavy scenes. The lack of Jamie and Claire scenes can't be helped in this episode as it sets up the next plot.

Claire, Claire. Jamie would be upset with you for taking risks. Then again, when has that stopped you.

Claire gets the most horrible news and the director did a good job showing how you hear but you don't hear when you get bad news. Claire saying she would feel it reminded me of the scene in last week's Yellowstone. Cait does a great job of reacting and denying in this scene and my heart broke for Lord John who had to deliver the news and break her heart while his own has been split in two.

Turns out she wasn't as careful as she thought she was with her delivery of information. Lord John proposes a solution in more ways than one.

It's episodes like this one where I wish I had the joy of Season 1. I had not read the books and so every shock, surprise and plot twist was new to me. I think non-book lovers will love this episode whereas those of us who know the story can still appreciate the acting but it's one of anticipation rather than just going along with the story to see what happens next.

I never liked the Lord John/Claire plot in the short term, but it does lead to expanding William's story and the scene with Jamie and LJG afterwards will be worth it.

I hope all of our American shippers had a nice Thanksgiving.

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Wee Cap Episode 709  Unfinished Business

Wow, it feels like forever since I've written one of these. Reminder that wee caps are immediate impressions without much thought and trying to avoid major spoilers. Even though it's been 100 years since the end of the last season, they call this episode 9.

There’s a recap of where we left off for those who haven’t watched in awhile.   We begin with scenes from Simon’s funeral and the ride to Lallybroch with an overlay of Jamie reading a letter he’s written to Bree.  It’s been awhile since I’ve heard Sam’s deep brogue in my high def headphones but he’s digging deep with the low register and guttural sounds.   Lallybrocccchhhh

Unfortunately, we still have Sinead’s horrible Skye Boat version but thankfully there’s a skip intro feature.

Roger and Buck made it through the stones but it seemed to be physically more demanding on them.  Buck makes an interesting observation that if you die outside of your own time, is it like you never were?  (I enjoyed this actor in the last season, I’m glad to see him here.) While Buck catches his breath, Roger ponders that thought.  If he dies, would Roger exist?  They split up and Roger heads to Lallybroccccchhhh with his modern haircut.

Jamie, Claire and Ian arrive at Lallybroch.  New Jenny stands at the doorway and Ian doesn’t know what kind of reception he will get.  But mothers love their sons.  Some of the other children, now adults,  are there. One must wash his hair with black shoe polish.   I found it odd that nobody commented on Ian’s appearance and dress.  Older Ian is in the house, not looking very well, so Claire immediately goes into diagnosis mode.   (New Jenny brings none of the personality that Laura Donnelly did.  Kristin is a bit of flat actress, and her accent is weak.)

That night, settled into the Laird’s chamber, Jamie speaks about how he feels differently than he thought he would coming back to  his home.  

The Murray grandchildren are the ones curious about Ian’s look and poke and prod him.  Michael Fraser is there from Paris where he now runs the wine business.  He does a little exposition to let the audience know that we’re at the part of the war where France has sided with the Americans so Benjamin Franklin and John Adams have done their jobs.  Sam Adams stayed back in Boston to start a beer company.

Ian and  his dad have a heart-to-heart about Ian’s loss.  Ian shares a secret and also talks about Rachel, getting good fatherly advice along the way.  It was a long, touching scene between father and son and gave Steven Cree a chance to do something more than cough. Old Ian has very dark circles under his eyes, sort of how I will look on high def Teams calls at work today because I got up at the ass-crack of dawn to watch this episode.

Jamie must go and close his Unfinished Business with Leghair.  He arrives at her farm where a man with a limp is working the garden.  Laoghaire comes out and is annoyed but Jamie brings her up to speed on Marsali’s family status.   Jamie dismounts just like he did in Season 1, not bad for a middle-aged guy.  They have a very interesting scene that I thought was well done.   And it made Jamie think.

Claire has decided to share her own secret with the Murrays in  order to help save Michael Murray’s life.  But Jenny needs a miracle.

Joan!  I love this character and this actress, even when she was a wee lass in Season 3.  She’s in a pickle and seeks Jamie’s help.

Letters both arrive or are written at Lallybroch, which leave Claire and young Ian with a dilemma. Jamie will bring letters for Roger and Bree to Edinburgh so they can be delivered in 200 years.  Tough decisions are made, goodbyes are said and I must admit I shed a tear. 

In the parallel story, Roger is making the trek to Lallybroch, with voiceover about how he blames himself for what happened to Jemmy.  When he gets there, he realizes that he put the wrong information into the Standing Stones GPS.  Men are so terrible with directions. And did they CGI Jenny’s face? Side note: I like Rik's voiceover.

He connects again with Buck who is still having stone-travel chest pain and they seek to get some help only to run into yet another familiar face.

I thought the episode was a little slow in getting started but overall had some interesting one-on-one scenes with several different pairs of characters.  Kristin Atherton took me out of scenes a bit in the way Sophie does.

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My husband and daughter almost got Storrowed but he noticed the sign at the last minute and likely violated about ten traffic rules to avoid it. You forgot to mention that most rentals in Beacon Hill have old and narrow staircases that can’t fit a normal box spring. When you call a mattress company on September 1st, all you have to say is Beacon Hill and they ask you when you want your split box spring delivered. Oh and don’t get off the T at Fenway to go to a Red Sox game because that’s not the right stop for Fenway Park. In some parts of the city, you have to park so far underground that your cell phone is about as useless as a tin can and they would never find your body. I love that fuckin city (trademark Big Papi) but I’m also glad kid #2 went to college in Rhode Island. They just have bad drivers because every major intersection has six possibilities. My GPS gives up and takes me back to Boston.

It’s impossible to give directions in Boston. Nothing makes sense. There are inexplicable one way streets, there are streets that change their names as you move from one area to another. There’s a road in my area where the gps literally tells you to take TWO full right turns to “stay on” the same road which is at a right angle to the original. There’s like four different Massachusetts Avenues. Sometimes you have to be in the left lane to turn right. The gps can’t even get directions to my workplace correct; it tells me to take a left on a road where lefts are not allowed, and the only way to not have to go across the river and take 15 minutes to turn around is to remember this shit one block early and make the left THERE. Recently, they’ve restricted 1 of 2 lanes on each side of major thoroughfares to only allow bikes and buses, and the government officials seemed to genuinely believe that would somehow EASE traffic. Oh and don't try to drive on Memorial Drive on Sundays; they close it for pedestrians. Just because. And when you DO drive on Memorial, there's one exit that will make your gps lose its mind and start chanting random sequences of numbers for four minutes straight. You can't take a Uhaul on Storrow Drive because the bridges that go over it are too short, and every year some doofus college student ignores this rule and proceeds to "get Storrowed" when they shave off the top of the truck on the overpass and get stuck. I-93 turns into I-95 and makes a big circle around the city, so a lot of the time you'll be on I-95 north but driving east or west.

It’s not limited to driving either. The Arlington train station is not in Arlington, it’s in the middle of downtown. Harvard Square is not a square, it’s more like a pentagon. There are four different green line train routes, and they’re labeled B for Boston College, C for Cleveland Circle, D for… Riverside, and E for… Heath Street. The Silver line is listed on the train map but is entirely run on buses which have to be connected and disconnected from power lines every time you go through the route. The Blue line goes to (and I’m not joking) Wonderland. The two red lines are labeled for their southern points: Braintree line goes to Braintree, and the Ashmont line goes to… Mattapan. To be fair, the train itself stops in Ashmont and you continue to Mattapan on a trolley, but that doesn't make it better. South Station and North Station are 1 mile apart and the easiest way to get from one to the other is just to walk it because otherwise you have to travel through 4 or 5 train stops on two different lines. But make sure you memorize the route because there's a good chance your gps will lose signal in the Financial district because it can't get through the buildings. In Boston Commons there are two train stops within line of sight of each other, on the same street, and one of them screams. To get to the trains at Porter Square, you have to ride down escalators 105 feet below street level, or you could just take the 3 flights of stairs totaling 199 steps (presumably because the engineers had something against nice even numbers). The North End is south of East Boston. Castle Island is part of the mainland.

No matter where you're going or how you're getting there, it takes 45 minutes (no wrong turns) or an hour and a half (one wrong turn). It doesn't matter if you're going one stop on a train; it will take 45 minutes. If it's summer, there's a better than 50% chance you'll be in the train car that lost it's AC; if it's winter, you're guaranteed to be in the car where the heat has it up to 80 degrees and the inside of your winter coat will be a sauna. Check the Red Sox schedule before you go south of the river, or you'll be trapped in the waves of baseball fans flooding the streets and days will go by before you're found again. And just... don't go outside on September 1.

If you're thinking that this sounds eldritch as shit, you're right. The entire city is an arcane lock keeping the ghoulies and ghosties from haunting the rest of the nation. We charge it with every "fuck" we utter while we travel our labyrinthine paths and drink our Dunks. You're welcome.

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Thoughts on Cait’s interview with Kelly and Mark?

Didn’t even know she was going to be on, I am working 60 hours a week. I barely have time for a bathroom break which would be a better use of my time than stomaching Rippa. All I know is shows like that agree on the questions in advance with suggestions from the team. And from skimming here, sounds like the usual things were said or implied and the usual unmentioned things remained unmentioned,

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Sorry to disappoint you, anon. But I'm still here, checking a few times a week. Droughtlander is boring but in this case, there' s nothing more to prove on the SC front in my mind so why rehash anything. And others have successfully picked up the ball many of us had to carry for many years in terms of dealing with annoying gnats like you. I blocked without fear or favor in the last few years because my time and mindset are not worth dealing with low-intelligence pests whose pathetic idea of fun is trolling people who couldn't care less about them. I lose a few brain cells every time I have to respond to posts like this, yet you trolls never seemed to gain any.

Real life is more fun for me right now anyway as a senior executive making enough money to push us into a yet another new tax bracket, while we update the house to put on the market and deal with upcoming big family milestones and celebrations. My focus is on saving democracy while sending donations to Harris-Walz and several other Dems in key races and to World Center Kitchen for Hurricane Helene victims. Making a lot, serving a lot. That's another thing about shippers. Most are damn good people.

I'm looking forward to the new season. But I don't really care about the old nonsense.

As I write this, the coyotes out in the woods are yapping up a storm of gibberish. Much like your post.

You know what is the biggest proof for me, that SC aren’t in a relationship. Not what the angry Moo, nor the deranged and 🍆 addicted Purv and surely not what all the extreme Cait Stan’s say. It’s the fact, that all of you shippers (mama tumblrs, SHW, cb4tb, Gastairfad, Luhafraser, you) seem to have a little brain and logic, left silent and quite the fandome, because you don’t believe your SC fantasy anymore and you lost a lot of followers over the year. At the end it all plays out as simple as SC told us, they are just friend and nothing more.

Or maybe we are tired of dealing with nasty, angry and frustrated people who pop into our inbox on daily basis.

Besides that, all with SC has been said, seen and is here to read in the fandome, nothing new - it’s the same as usual, always a push and pull between shippers and haters - that’s quite boring!

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Hi! Could you summarize what is happening between Sam and Graham? I get the feeling that they are not as close as before. Anymore MIK?

Hi, I'm not really the best to answer as I haven't been paying attention to it.

I have always felt Graham was Mr. Coattails for years now. From going to conventions when his character was killed multiple seasons ago, to that one he tried to get off the ground that was basically a grift to MIK which would have had the same success with or without him. From what I can glean, the announcement of his own liquor may have been the last straw. Cree implied something worse at a Con recently, but again I have only been skimming these days. New big job with looonnggg hours.

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Hi, I hope you have a nice weekend. I would like to ask if you know if everything is alright with Mama Tumblz? I know a lot people have left the Fandome lately, but she was one of the kindest and I hope she is healthy and happy.

Mama T is around but like many of us is very busy and with so little going on except the same-old, same-old, there isn't much to keep people interested right now.

Right now, it's like watching a soap opera. You can miss it for months and when you come back, the same people have the same story.

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I didn't watch the reel but man, the double pursed lips. They went from having fun with tens of thousands of people at a concert to being reminded of the cage, and the zookeeper. Body language is a reflex and doesn't lie.

The leads of a long-running series, attending a very public and pre-announced event with the entire cast, shouldn't have to worry about taking a photo with a fan.

Greta's smile

For a flickering moment, that funny and fresh girl I so longed to see seems to be back:

[Source: the third Lauren of the week, but the only legit one: https://www.instagram.com/stories/laurenlyle7/3386613990920595818/?utm_source=ig_story_item_share&igsh=MW5nNHk3NnNtNG9tdQ%3D%3D]

and...

[Source, heh: https://x.com/displaceintime/status/1799779664141107252 - it is a reel, not a picture - for those who never get the concept of screenshot)

Oh, my: the Sibyl of Tydavnet can smile and even curse (wow! 👍). Best part? It looked organic. Could that be that they are reading us? I'd bet the farm and throw in Baby, the (adored family) Lab, on top. Sorry, naysayers - see for yourself: and yes, it must hurt AF to be wrong, right?

And yes, they clearly cannot stand each other anymore, right? Idiots will always be idiots, for sure.

[Source: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7_iZxQMiHI/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==]

I have watched this reel very carefully about ten times. Slowed it down. I think the fleeting moment speaks volumes about the real state of play.

Let's have a closer look: the fan asks for a pic, lips purse immediately, a bit uneasy/unsure how to act, because the bearded minder is immediately aware of the unplanned photo opportunity. And hovering like Juliet's Nurse (if you read, you know what I mean - if you don't, that's not my problem):

Lips are still pursed and I think that guy's look is everything. The least one can honestly say, it's that he is not pleased. Not pleased at ALL:

His arm is immediately over her shoulders. It is an old, protective gesture. A reflex. We have seen it a bajillion times, both in the series and real life. You know what I mean and even across the street they know what I mean - but it's an inconvenient truth. As fuck.

His arms goes lower, grabs her and she does not cringe or look repelled. Quite the contrary: she immediately relaxes and leans in (that first smile to the fan was a bit tense). The minder has lost that one and he shows his disappointment. If that is fan service, I am the Pope.

I think you should watch that reel, too. Because I think it is very telling: no matter the pressure, the idiocies and the crap they throw at us and each other, they always seem to find a way back. And that, my friends, is very, very good news. So good, in fact, that I might pour myself a gin tonic (always Tanqueray). Sláinte.

[cb4tb]

Hi! Do you have any information regarding how the MPC crowd is reacting to the SOHO pap walk? I would think that they would be very disappointed. I certainly am and I have been an Outlander/SC fan for years.

I am not a member of MPC so I have no idea. But I honestly don't care, because, at this point a week+ since it happened, I think a bored fandom is making too much of it. When something is that obviously staged, never take it at face value. I'm still feeling that push-me pull-you dynamic here between Sam and those around him.