tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379581147262228210.post7969716844090513320..comments2024-03-26T13:17:29.405-04:00Comments on Outlandish Observations: Episode 308: "First Wife" (SPOILERS!)Karen Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07635855088490793965noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379581147262228210.post-4913862369066778662022-12-29T10:19:13.937-05:002022-12-29T10:19:13.937-05:00A response to the question about Mr. Willoughby re...A response to the question about Mr. Willoughby referring to Claire as "first wife." It might seem to compromise the story line a bit. But I believe that in that period, in China, multiple wives (concubines) were pretty common at least for wealthy Chinese men. In addition, siblings are often referred to as "first sister" or "second sister," etc. in Mandarin. I interpreted the reference to "first wife" to come directly from his Chinese culture.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379581147262228210.post-89966393646486764922020-07-29T01:48:18.873-04:002020-07-29T01:48:18.873-04:00Jamie tried to tell Claire his other secret when t...Jamie tried to tell Claire his other secret when they were in bed in the brothel, but Claire said she only had one question: Did he fall in love with anyone else after she left? Maybe her one question should have been Did you marry anyone else. Or maybe she could have kept quiet and let Jamie tell her what he was so obviously struggling to say.<br /><br />Also, how was Young Ian supposed to get that box of jewels back to Jamie? Why didn't he take a rowboat?<br /><br />Loaghaire "will still be a lass when she's 50!" She proved it in this episode.Linda in Nevadahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03215699578789512902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379581147262228210.post-89645081228814363782017-11-15T08:52:07.872-05:002017-11-15T08:52:07.872-05:00Oh, the worst thing is Jenny deliberately summonin...Oh, the worst thing is Jenny deliberately summoning Loaghaire, hurting not only Claire and Jamie, but also Joanne and Marsali! She shouldn't interfere in her brother's affairs!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379581147262228210.post-20648116193245676762017-11-15T08:07:04.418-05:002017-11-15T08:07:04.418-05:00Oh, and how could Jenny summon Loaghaire, hurting ...Oh, and how could Jenny summon Loaghaire, hurting not only Claire but also Joannie and Marsali! She should not even be interfering in her brother's affairs!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379581147262228210.post-56764434203279198172017-11-15T07:44:28.214-05:002017-11-15T07:44:28.214-05:00Claire made huge sacrifices to come back to Jamie-...Claire made huge sacrifices to come back to Jamie- a successful career, and not least, leaving Brianna. At this point, she has only been back a matter of days, if not hours, and certainly unaware of large parts of Jamie's life in the last 20 years, unsure of who he has become. I can certainly understand her being angry withJamie for not telling her he has remarried (even though he was on the verge of telling her, she can't read his mind) , and to someone who tried to have her burnt as a witch! What a betrayal. Add to this her reception at Lallybroch, a place Claire considered her real home. How hurt would Claire have been when cold, angry, snippy Jenny treats her like dirt, calls her a Stray, introduces her to wee Jamie as 'someone who used to live here' , not even a bit of common courtesy, and Jamie did not speak up for her!<br />Don't blame Claire for wondering whether she has made a big mistake in coming back.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379581147262228210.post-25519459025795444992017-11-12T19:22:53.107-05:002017-11-12T19:22:53.107-05:00Why is cold angry Claire i.e. Frank's sniping ...Why is cold angry Claire i.e. Frank's sniping critical Claire so much in evidence here? It's a miracle the supposed love of her life survived his trials of Job and she made it through the stones to find him. Any obstacles are pretty tame (smuggling, hostile sister-in-law...pffft) compared to breaking in to Fort Wentworth or healing her husband after torture. What a weak sister older but not wiser? Claire is compared to her younger self when it comes to fighting for Jamie. Wish she had the same passion for him as for her patients including one who just tried to kill her. Don't get between Dr. Claire, Medicine Woman and a patient. Committed to Jamie? Not so much, still doubting and vacillating despite seeing him at risk of death twice since she returned by fire and bullet.lainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13284333589904951249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379581147262228210.post-6091796186287574602017-11-08T10:50:01.669-05:002017-11-08T10:50:01.669-05:00It was clever of the writers to have JOan join Mar...It was clever of the writers to have JOan join Marsali in breaking in on Jamie and Claire. As soon as CLaire saw that pretty little redhead calling Jamie Daddy, she would immediately believe that he was the father. In one of the later books, Joan is described as dark haired like her real father.TQhat little actress was irresistible. In the title card, Jenny is the person filling her plate with figs, do I assume that she told Joan to offer some to the big redhead hiding in the office. That Jenny.<br /><br />Laoghaire only said a few sentences when she confronted Claire and Jamie, but she managed to use about five bad words I front of her young daughters. Yikes. Hell hath no fury, no? I was surprised that she did not throw the pitcher. Jamie was the one who broke it instead of punching the armoire .♥Susanlynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379581147262228210.post-17619897249310373152017-11-07T13:25:07.958-05:002017-11-07T13:25:07.958-05:00Just because something is in the book does not mea...Just because something is in the book does not mean it's always in character. I think Jamie marrying Laoghaire and being a father to the girls is in character. Him abandoning them is not.<br /><br />Just as what happens with Claire towards the end of book 8 has always horrified me and I view it as totally out of character for her.<br /><br />For the sake of a WTF moment it's not worth sacrificing the honour of a beloved character imho.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379581147262228210.post-55862577664776552842017-11-07T12:46:47.301-05:002017-11-07T12:46:47.301-05:00Many thanks Karen for the wonderful recap of episo...Many thanks Karen for the wonderful recap of episode 8. This episode was definitely a redemption from episode 7. I do have a better appreciation for the progression of Jamie and Claire's reunion after 20 years with, after the initial emotional/physical reaction, then moving to the reality of what the 20 year separation involved for both of them which then came into play in episode 8. Can't praise the actors enough...the emotions they portray are so raw and real...when they cry, I cry. It took my breath away to watch Jamie, in a last ditch effort to convince Claire as she is walking away, declares to Claire that she was the only person he ever loved in his life. Loved seeing Ned Gowen and, after Laoghaire shoots Jamie, how Jenny opens up to accepting Claire. I also agree with others who have commented about the cliff scene. I do wish she was given the chance to affirm her love for him consummated by an embrace. Can't wait for episode 9! Debbinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379581147262228210.post-5914109740726072682017-11-06T23:01:19.822-05:002017-11-06T23:01:19.822-05:00Other Anonymous: I thought the exact same thing ab...Other Anonymous: I thought the exact same thing about being referred to as First Wife! How did she not pick up on that? I too just discovered the show, a month later than you though. It has completely taken over my life. Each day I either read or watch or both. My family thinks I’m crazy. The only person who can relate is my cousin. She has read all the books and is the one who encouraged me to read them. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379581147262228210.post-82236305948520208562017-11-06T19:49:21.344-05:002017-11-06T19:49:21.344-05:00Welcome back Sam's real hair. I dinna care for...Welcome back Sam's real hair. I dinna care for that wig. <br /><br />I get a kick out of the writers who say "the character would not do that. " well, yes he\she did..it is right there in the book ! Why change the original creation? If a writer has a nifty idea for a situation or something new a character could do, you would think that he\she would want to save the idea for his\her novel instead of adjusting Diana's creations which are just right the way she has written them. Why mess with success?♥Susanlynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379581147262228210.post-67967155187579349912017-11-06T19:11:50.899-05:002017-11-06T19:11:50.899-05:00Great recap as usual! Great recap as usual! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05783008449109301776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379581147262228210.post-6893941844919714092017-11-06T16:27:20.594-05:002017-11-06T16:27:20.594-05:00Seeing her cold and matter of fact while treating ...Seeing her cold and matter of fact while treating Jamie, reminded me of later when he is bit by the rattlesnake. He says that he knows he is going to be fine when she is matter of fact while treating him, its when she is nice that he is scared. Nicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12112397047244817341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379581147262228210.post-15463707512337762192017-11-06T14:56:33.510-05:002017-11-06T14:56:33.510-05:00Hi Karen this episode more than made up for the la...Hi Karen this episode more than made up for the last one , beginning with the Hogumany scene , when Jamie , Claire and Young Ian approach the house and see Jenny for the first time there is great tension between them all and the scenes with Young Ian great , Jenny and Older Ian have a perfect right to be furious at their son and Jamie both and loved seeing his father had Jamie the switch , but was glad to see Young Ian not whipped ,and made to work in the stables instead , good to see Young Jamie grow and even he knows nothing of Claire , loved Jenny telling Jamie how galling it was of him to tell her how to raise Young Ian when he hadn't yet told Claire about his marriage, liked seeing Jamie explain why he had to send Claire away , but Jenny doesn't really think the Claire she knew would really look for him . Great scene in which Jamie tells Claire about his escape to the Seals Isle and searching for her thinking her to be the white witch , and finding the MacKenzie Gold , The moment of truth comes when Joanie and Leohire appear and was just from the book and loved Claire's reation on hearing her call Jamie her husband and loved the way Jamie explains Claire to Young Joanie , can understand Claire's feelings of betrayal her she had always been honest with him and he wasn't about something so huge , love the fight scenes and it was so raw and real , wished they could have kissed a bit before Jenny tossed water on them a bit , more tension between Jenny and Claire Claire starts to leave and shows Jamie just how much he's hurt her then Lerry shows up, clearly meaning to shoot Claire , but shoots him instead love seeing Claire knock the gun out of the other woman's hand , then brings Jamie into the house to tend to his injury , Young Ian is impressed by the way she tends to his wounds , and stays by her side, Jamie heals but Claire is still frosty with him until he finally tells the whole story and like the flashback scenes , this part is very strong and very much like the book afterwards she 's more softer and liked her taking his hand , plus likes seeing Claire give Jamie the shot , right from the book , things are still tense between Jenny & Claire I felt when Claire reached out to her and told her how she still loved her and her brother and how she still wore his ring < Jenny should have given in a bit but she 's more stubbon than Jamie is , loved seeing Ned Gowen and how he was in the scene with Jamie and Claire , loved seeing how Jamie wanted to do the right things by the girls and agreed to the demands put on him . then loved telling Jenny he and Claire would both look after Young Ian in Paris , Back at the Seals' Isle , Claire is unsure she had made the right decision to come back to him loved seeing Jamie tell her they belong together and wished she had embraced him , before Young Ian's Kidnapping , very intense scenes and you can tell what's happening even from their distance , then pulling away from where Jamie and Claire were standing was a great way to end the episode , this is leading up to the adventures at sea, then another break into Thanksgiving then the next few will lead into the Holidays , so will watch as much as possible , you know how crazy the Holidays cam be , please post more soon. love being a fan of such a great show , sincerely .Mary Tormeynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379581147262228210.post-41040439246606232802017-11-06T14:02:05.392-05:002017-11-06T14:02:05.392-05:00Really liked this episode as well. The Frasers as...Really liked this episode as well. The Frasers as we know and love them. Blabbermouth Young Ian, Jamie smiling and laughing, Claire and Jamie fighting and kissing and Claire tending the Jamie's wounds. Jenny digging in her heals, Ian (brave man that he is) calling Jenny on her stubbornness. And, wee Joan was just adorable. What more could we ask for. Thank you to Joy Blake and Anne Kenney.KMChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11291803926737701495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379581147262228210.post-13944562385707724582017-11-06T12:50:32.266-05:002017-11-06T12:50:32.266-05:00I really appreciate this website because I don'...I really appreciate this website because I don't have RL friends who share my enthusiasm for the books and show. I found the books by way of the show. Truth be told, I'm vey new to the community, only since about July of 2017 I believe.<br /><br />I remember - in the book - Mr. Willoughby referring to Claire as "Honorable First Wife" and thinking "HellOOOO. No one refers to someone as first wife if they are the only wife. For all Claire's keen powers of observation, what happened here?<br /><br />At the risk of revealing myself to be a stick in the mud, I like Claire and Jamie best when they are in domestic bliss at Lallybroch. Obviously, without conflict there is no story - I just wish they could have a longer periods of happiness before the inevitable s&*#storm.<br /><br />I suppose it's great that there is such a committed community of book fans keeping the tv writers in check. I could not imagine one without the other. It helps my imagination greatly to picture the actors on the show as I listen to the books - which have been a constant companion - thanks to Audible.com for several months now.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379581147262228210.post-56932855722261605832017-11-06T11:48:38.680-05:002017-11-06T11:48:38.680-05:00I think reading the books ruined the show for me. ...I think reading the books ruined the show for me. I read Voyager a month ago and Drums of Autumn was just finished on Saturday. There is so much richness in the books that is difficult to bring to the screen. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE the show, if it wasn’t for the show, I would never have read the books and plan on continuing. They just seem watered down. <br /><br />Joan broke my heart, what a great little actress. Her sweetness stole the show. Part of me didn’t want him to leave her. But then I remembered Loargaire and changed my mind. I agree with the comment about Claire being too cold during their talk after he was shot. I wished they showed the scene of her fleeing and Ian chancing her down to go back. It wouldn’t have taken much airtime but I’m sure they had their reasons. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379581147262228210.post-75649765757253315062017-11-06T10:18:42.739-05:002017-11-06T10:18:42.739-05:00Far far superior to last weeks effort. This felt m...Far far superior to last weeks effort. This felt much more like Claire and Jamie again.<br /><br />The problem I have always had with Jamie marrying Laoghaire is that he was always an honourable man and having made up his mind to marry her and be a father to her two children I don't believe he would EVER have left her and gone to Edinburgh no matter how bad it was between them. This episode and his lovely interaction with Joanie reinforced this belief for me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379581147262228210.post-55693786429951854162017-11-06T07:03:38.613-05:002017-11-06T07:03:38.613-05:00Thank you, Karen, for another excellent, detailed ...Thank you, Karen, for another excellent, detailed review.<br /><br />I liked this episode. Terrific acting by all. I liked the change from the book to L's young lassies approaching Jamie for a dance! The little girl reminded me of my red haired seven year old granddaughter. In the book, Jamie's description of L sashaying up to him and asking him to dance with her always irked me. Cheeky tart. <br /><br />I did not like Claire still doubting coming back at the end! No, she didn't !WHat part of one true love does the show not get. ♥Susanlynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379581147262228210.post-46220920829288305502017-11-06T01:38:21.183-05:002017-11-06T01:38:21.183-05:00Much better episode this week. I'm happy again...Much better episode this week. I'm happy again. :)EbonyRaptorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02483546359869912858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379581147262228210.post-10700979500641832722017-11-05T23:05:54.817-05:002017-11-05T23:05:54.817-05:00About Jamie not being tone-deaf in the show - the ...About Jamie not being tone-deaf in the show - the show has dropped the entire plot line of Dougal’s axe attack and Jamie’s head injury just before he came back to Scotland and met with Claire. Apparently he had an average musical ability (our Jamie, average?) but the TBI wiped his musical perception clean. Personally I can stand behind this decision, as Jamie has has enough injuries to deal with. Plus, a TBI is not just something one gets over, like a sprained ankle, and Jamie needs every brain cell he has.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379581147262228210.post-58404158871419802392017-11-05T19:49:33.042-05:002017-11-05T19:49:33.042-05:00Thanks Karen! Still to watch here in Australia ton...Thanks Karen! Still to watch here in Australia tonight. Being VERY familar with the book, I have no objection to spoilers. Very satisfactory by the sounds of it. Very much looking forward to it. 👋🎈Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17300434306593748396noreply@blogger.com