Outlander –“Not in Scotland Anymore” Review. That Red Dress Though…

Season 2, Episode 2

Air Date: Saturday, April 16, 2016 at 9PM ET/PT on Starz

Rating: ★★★★★

“I told you that dress would bring us grief.” — Jamie Fraser

The infamous ‘red dress’ does not disappoint. Claire looks fierce!

I must say, this venture in Paris has brought Outlander into new territory. With political intrigue as the main storyline, the writers have stepped it up a notch to keep viewers grateful to see the Frasers aren’t in dire straits. If you asked me what happened in “Not in Scotland Anymore,” I’d probably say, ‘costumes?’ because … the costumes. All I can recall is everything that adorns the women and men in “Not in Scotland Anymore.” Kilts are few and far between; homespun dresses have all but vanished; and sheer elegance is the way Parisians roll. How fun it must be to play dress up on Outlander because I’m envious of every gown, hat, and pair of gloves I’ve seen so far. But how about that plotline?

All’s Fair in Court and High Society

Claire (Caitriona Balfe) may not be used to having servants waiting on her hand and foot but I think she’ll become acclimated soon enough. Heck, she deserves a little pampering after having suffered through so much turmoil since being thrust into this new world. I love how the writers remind us of Claire’s uniqueness with the turn of a phrase, use of profanity, and overall attitude. She is not from the 18^th century and that is one thing we don’t forget. Claire sometimes blends into her surroundings, but she isn’t the compliant, meek woman who she sometimes comes across in her adventures. I find it interesting to see how Claire fits in better with the women of Paris who are bold, outspoken, and comfortable in their sexuality. She doesn’t seem to make anyone bat an eye with her daringly fashionable red dress. Hello, cleavage! While I wasn’t expecting the dress to be so extravagant—it is sometimes difficult to get a costume to match an author’s vision—I’m overly impressed with how vibrant and eye-catching her gown is. As an aside, Murtagh (Duncan Lacroix) cleans up well in “Not in Scotland Anymore.” You can take the man out of the Highlands but you can’t take the Highlands out of the man because he doesn’t abandon his kilt. Back to the woman of the hour—Claire gives me pause at her first impressions with strangers and makes me wonder about her seemingly oblivious recklessness. I only hope the can of worms she opens up doesn’t amount to much. Claire needs to remember she isn’t a modern day woman in the 20^th century anymore. The rules in 18^th century Paris are different; she has to be a smarter player in this game.

Well, the King certainly knows how to make an entrance.

Captain “Black Jack” Randall (Tobias Menzies) haunts Jamie’s (Sam Heughan) dreams. Are you surprised though? The idea that Jamie has gotten over his rape is far from anyone’s mind. It’s going to stick with him for a while and I’m curious to see how he copes. With no rape survivor groups or psychiatrists for him to unload his thoughts and feelings on, he only has his loved ones to turn to. I sense he wants to talk about it with Claire but is finding it difficult to confide in her. How can he confess he’s seeing “Black Jack” when he looks at her? I have no idea how he will begin to move on from his trauma, but part of Jamie’s return to normalcy begins with Murtagh. Notice how the two go after one another when “practicing” their sword fighting. I love Murtagh’s brusqueness and his continual blind trust of Jamie. I’ve always thought Murtagh has Jamie’s best interests at heart and holds him in high regard. That kind of devotion cannot be bought. But even Murtagh can’t slay the beast that hides in Jamie’s mind. One day at a time, Jamie. One day at a time.

On Another Note

King Louis XV (Lionel Lingelser) and his mistress (Kimberley Smart) take the cake. I’ve obviously forgotten some of the intricacies author Diana Gabaldon wove into her novels, like the exposed breasts of the king’s mistress. Shocking, to say the least. I also cannot believe how overdone one of the scenes involving the king is. I don’t believe for a second that Lingelser is affecting the struggles of a constipated man. His portrayal comes across as more of a comical farce that isn’t funny or compelling. While this scene plays a pivotal role in Jamie’s introduction to the king, it is forgettable.

Claire is attacked by the little green monster when Annalise de Marillac (Margaux Chatelier) hangs all over her hubby. Ooh, do I love watching Jamie squirm while trying to come up with a good reason why Claire shouldn’t rip Annalise’s head from her shoulders. Though I don’t think it works like he hopes it does. What I love about this break from the dramatic overtones in “Not in Scotland Anymore” is Jamie wanting to prove to Claire he only has eyes for her. With Annalise being quite young, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out Claire might feel insecure about the age difference she and Jamie share. Plus, let’s not forget Jamie entered into a duel for Annalise in the past. Say it isn’t so, Jamie!

Speaking of young women running into Claire, do you think she’ll eventually realize who Mary Hawkins (Rosie Day) is and what part she plays in her future? It will be something when Claire figures out where she’s heard Mary’s name.

Quote

“He’s alive in my head. I can’t get him out.” What a frightening statement from Jamie about his nightmares of Black Jack Randall. I can only imagine what torment he continues to face with no hope of ever being free of it.

Overall

Jamie and Claire have to watch their backs around the Duke of Sandringham. He’s not a friend.

Again, the storyline in “Not in Scotland Anymore” leaves a bit to be desired as the political intrigue can be confusing. I found myself distracted by the beauty and extravagance of the costumes and locales, more so than the introduction of Prince Charles Edward Stuart (Andrew Gower) and the sleazy Duke of Sandringham (Simon Callow). I am leery of both and realize they have a part to play in what comes next for the Frasers. Kudos to Gower for his acute portrayal of the “bonny” Prince Charles. He comes across as a spoiled brat, so much so, I wanted to smack him. But with other fish to fry, Jamie and Claire have their work cut out for them. Here’s hoping they can avoid any major drama for at least a few more weeks.

Drop me a line in the comments section or tweet me @ellemoe to discuss “Not in Scotland Anymore.” Outlander airs Saturdays at 9PM ET/PT, only on Starz. For more on the show, visit the official site.

Follow Outlander on Twitter, using #Outlander and don’t forget the cast Sam Heughan – @SamHeughan, Caitriona Balfe – @caitrionambalfe, Tobias Menzies – @TobiasMenzies, Laura Donnelly – @donnellylaura1.

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Writer, mother, realist, cloud lover, daydreamer, dessert enthusiast, sweet tea addict, perfectionist, and lover of life and Christ, but not in that order. http://www.fanfiction.net/~vikingloverelle