Season 2, Episode 3

Air Date: Saturday, April 23, 2016 at 9PM ET/PT on Starz

Rating: ★★★★★

“Jesus wept.” — Murtagh Fitzgibbons

Well, that title says it all, doesn’t it? “Useful Occupations and Deceptions” finally gets things moving along a bit. We get more of an understanding of what the Frasers are dealing with in Paris; why what they are setting out to do is so important; and how it weighs on their relationship. Let’s not forget, Claire (Caitriona Balfe) and Jamie (Sam Heughan) are still in their honeymoon phase. These two lovebirds are now able to get to the good part of marriage, yet something is keeping the intimacy at bay. Outlander stays on top of its game with the costumes and intrigue that holds our attention hostage.

Of Note

This season of Outlander brings about a new day. The colors are bright, rich, and abundant. When the Frasers were in Scotland, all was drab and grey. The fabric colors blended in with the overcast background. They mirror the tone of what is taking place during Claire’s and Jamie’s journey. In Paris, everything is vibrant, full of life, and overwhelming in its vivacity. How interesting to see Jamie now has a better attitude about what he’s doing. He finally figures out something to make his journey to Paris worthwhile. His comment about Paris being a “godforsaken city” leads me to believe he isn’t as fond of it as he once was. Pissed off Jamie makes an appearance but not for long. The stress of what he and Claire are setting out to do is weighing heavily on him. His anger isn’t with Claire but with the situation they find themselves in. Claire discovers herself and returns to the woman she once was in the 20^th century, putting her skills to great use, making a name for herself in the city. “I need a purpose.” Now, whether that is a good name remains to be seen. Claire’s vitality and voraciousness for life bleed through her every word and action; she leaves no stone unturned when seeking to make herself useful.

Murtagh (Duncan Lacroix) is another story altogether. He has become Claire’s confidant, whether he wanted to or not. I do not believe Claire could have found a better person to trust with her deepest thoughts. “You’re keeping a secret to save his life.” I wonder when she’ll reveal her truth to Muragh and shock the man who seems to be unshaken by anything. How will he handle finding out Claire isn’t of his time? Will he easily believe her or think she’s trying to make a fool of him?

Captain “Black Jack” Randall (Tobias Menzies) is still providing woes for our favorite couple. Why in the world can’t he just disappear into the ether, never to be heard from again? Well, good villains are always difficult to vanquish. Not only does Black Jack haunt the subconscious but he finds his way into the physical realm of Claire and Jamie’s life as well. Though he isn’t in Paris, knowing he lives puts a damper on Claire’s plans for moving on with her life. Once Jamie finds out the man who tortured and raped him lives, he will be hard-pressed to go after Black Jack. What will that do for Claire and Jamie’s plans to overthrow the Jacobite rebellion?

Honorable Mentions

I always worry when Claire goes out alone.

I notice Claire has a bit of a belly bump when walking around in her nightgown. So why doesn’t she have the same size bump that when she returns to the 1940s? Any ideas as to what this might mean? How long has Claire been away, exactly?

“You don’t know about Frenchmen?” Mary Hawkins (Rosie Day) is hilarious without meaning to be. Her naïveté in the matters of men and women provides quite the bit of entertainment. “W-what they do in b-bed? My maid said that a Frenchmen’s thing, you know, they put it right between a lady’s legs and right up inside her.” The poor girl doesn’t realize all men “trouble” their wives in “that way.” How does one even plan to tell Mary about the birds and the bees? I’m sure Claire will find a way. And speaking of Mary, Claire now realizes how she knows her name. What a conundrum she finds herself in, thinking her future husband Frank Randall (Menzies) would not exist if Black Jack Randall were truly deceased. What does a woman do when faced with the knowledge of ending the existence of someone from her future?

For those of you who have read the Outlander novels, you’ll be just as excited as I am to see a few beloved characters make their appearance. Fergus (Romann Berrux) and his shenanigans are not well received by Claire. Talk about getting prepared to have a child in the home. Fergus is no baby, and Claire is no pushover, either. I can’t wait to see how he shakes up things in the Fraser household. I can’t forget about the cute and intelligent Bouton. He’s the kind of dog you can’t live without. No wonder Mother Hildegarde (Frances de la Tour) keeps him at her side. Claire’s time in the hospital will add substance to her life in Paris as her relationship with the nun flourishes.

Quote

Mary Hawkins: “Men don’t do things like that where I come from.”

Louise de Rohan: “And where is that? The moon?”

Must Louise (Claire Sermonne) be so cruel?

**

Duverney: “You know, James, if you desire my help, it would not be a bad idea to lose a game once in a while.”

Jamie: “I respect you too much to allow such a cheap victory.”

Duverney: “I give you permission to respect me … less.”

I love this exchange between Jamie and Duverney (Marc Duret) because it shows the minister of finance has some sense of humor.

**

Overall

I’m excited to see the story lines pick up in “Useful Occupations and Deceptions.” Things are certainly coming to a head and we will get to the good stuff soon enough. It’s about time! Drop me a line in the comments section or tweet me @ellemoe to discuss “Useful Occupations and Deceptions.” 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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Photo credit © 2016 Starz Entertainment, LLC. All rights reserved.

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Elle

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

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