The One Where They Did HERSELF Proud

Every word that Diana Gabaldon wrote was painted perfectly on to our television screens last night in ‘Wentworth Prison’ by every single member of the cast and crew of Outlander. I am just a simple gal from the Midwest who likes to about what appeals to me, and what I feel passion for. Outlander is just but one of those things.

I don’t know what the powers that be are looking for when deciding what earns an Emmy nomination and win but they need look no further than the episode of Outlander that aired last night. When I think about it now, I have chills and I am really close to crying all over again for it was simply a MASTERPIECE!

I witnessed one of the best moments in television history, despite it being one of the sickest things I have seen, and I watch Criminal Minds. For those who watch that show, it has pushed the envelope a bit in the freaky department.The reason ‘Wentworth Prison’ beats what I have seen on previous shows is how painstakingly raw everything was to the viewers.

I have never felt so many raw to the bone emotions all at once and from a single solitary episode. I read this scene in the book and it hit upon every emotional nerve in my body and what I experienced last night was tenfold.

It is one thing to read about it and picture it in your mind but to actually see it happen live (in a manner of speaking) was quite another altogether. I don’t think I moved much as I sat on the couch with the throw pillow on my lap. There are many reasons why this episode hit you where it hurts and I have to go through them all with you.

THE WRITING

I have tried to picture the writers of this show in the writer’s room talking about how they are going to break down the HUGE story that is Outlander into 16 episodes. When you think about it, 16 hours is not a lot of time to tell a story this BIG but guess what they have done it.

They managed to tell all the pertinent parts of the story (with a small amount of divergence) without losing site of the big picture. There are no crazy side stories or gimmicks to make the story more entertaining, they just simply take the words from one page and put them onto another.

What we get from there is a great bit of storytelling at its finest; to see written words transformed book to screen was quite magical. I knew watching Wentworth would be rough and was not sure I would be able to stand it but to see that play out and come to life was a beautiful thing. I am still in awe this morning and completely mesmerized. What started out as words on a page, written beautifully first by HERSELF and then re-envisioned by the amazing writing team was amazing. Thank you, Outlander Writers!

CAITRIONA BALFE

I did not watch a single promo for this video beyond the ‘next week on Outlander’ so that I could feel all the emotions for the first time while watching the episode. At first glance, Claire appears to be at ease while sitting in the warden’s office inquiring about her husband.

Once the warden left to retrieve Jamie’s things, her walls came tumbling down a bit and she was trying very hard not to lose it. It was at that moment that I knew that anything Cait delivered later was going to be high on the emotional meter.

Cait has the ability to go from extreme emotional pain to being very pissed off in less than 20 seconds and right back to that extreme pain again. Claire was bound and determined that she was going to do everything in her power to get her husband back, and we felt every bit of her emotions.

I know I would not have wanted to be in her shoes trying to play out any of those scenes. Cait put you in those moments of her despair and when the scene would go back and forth from the prison to her, you could tell that time was running out. It was like she knew what was going on inside that prison cell when she has no clue.

When she finally found Jamie, we all felt her joy and pain when she saw what happened to him. We felt her fear when Jamie mentioned BJR and then felt her horror when she saw his badly mangled hand. We already felt that horror once but to feel it again through her emotions was quite another way for we felt it from a wife’s point of view. In all her scenes as Claire in last night’s episode, the dungeon scenes were her best. Ms. Balfe put you in that moment and you will never forget it. I will give you an Emmy if they don’t!!

Favorite Line: After BJR tells her that he heard she had been on trial for accusations of being a witch, she replied in a very scary way:

“Yes. Witch I am, And I curse you. I curse you with knowledge, Jack Randall. I give you the hour of your death.”

Above gifs source: Voyager Sassenach

TOBIAS MENZIES

This man is brilliant beyond brilliant and I think my jaw is still dropped to the floor. You literally forget that Tobias plays dual characters on this show because Black Jack Randall fully takes up the screen. I think that is part by design and part Tobias loving to explore that darker side that is most likely in all of us.

The way he embodies this character to the fullest is amazing. The actor’s ability to make you loathe, fear, perhaps feel a tad bit sorry for him (just for a second or two) and respect his character at the same time is astounding. I thought I would be yelling at him through my TV screen but I was too mesmerized by the high quality acting I was receiving from him that I could not muster a word.

The soft confident way with which he was speaking to Jamie entranced me and I was sickened by how his words made me feel. The almost loving way in which he talked about his relationship with Jamie was so heartfelt; it was almost as if he was telling us of a great love that got away. It was oddly disturbing and beautiful at the same time. He made me want to give in to him as he said Jamie would, I felt I would really surrender to him.

HAUNTING LINE: After Jamie informed him “I prefer the noose to your company”

“Why? Do I make you uncomfortable? Do I haunt your dreams since Fort William? When you awake in the middle of the night, shaken and sweating, is my face the one you see in the darkness? Tell me, when you lie upon your wife, and her hands trace the scars on your back, do you ever think of me? I want you to admit to yourself that you escaped Fort William, but you did not escape me. Surrender this pride you hide behind. Admit that even now, you’re terrified.”

I may have been sitting cross-legged on the couch but with every syllable Tobias uttered, I felt as if I was sitting on the edge of my seat. I know this will sound redundant but it has to be said. Despite reading the book and knowing what was coming, I was still shocked and utterly frightened and that was all due to how Tobias played his role to the hilt.

CREEPY LINE: (Said as he runs his hands and lips over Jamie’s scarred back)

“How does it feel to be alive – and wear so much dead flesh? Shall we begin?

Bravo!! You really scare me Tobias and it’s because you have mad acting skills, emphasis on the MAD!! If you don’t get a Best Supporting Actor Emmy nod or win, something is wrong with the world!

SAM HEUGHAN

Jamie Fraser is a character that is loved by many and fans feel very protective of him. They also respect and fear him for he is a man of his word; He is the King of Men in the fictional world and maybe the real world as well. You would think casting him would have been hard but in truth this character was the easiest, thanks to the very talented Sam Heughan.

I am a big fan of the Hallmark channel and their Christmas movies and I must have seen A Princess for Christmas movie quite a few times. I may not remember the actor’s name but performances do stick with me. I did not remember his name but I remembered his face, character and performance.

I have taken to calling Sam a chameleon since he landed the role of Jamie Fraser because he really appears to take his characters in and literally become them. I made a blend of him as various characters he has played (one being Jamie) and the result is stunning.

Diana likes to say “I told you so” when a fan comments that Sam truly is Jamie Fraser and I cannot say I blame her! The fact that Sam IS Jamie was even more apparent in “Wentworth Prison”. He doesn’t even have to speak and you know every emotion he is feeling for it is written all over his face. Be it fear, anger, grief, pain, it all comes through in his face.

I am no actor so I don’t know where they have to go in order to bring out the best of them in a scene like the one we witnessed in that Wentworth dungeon but whatever it is, it sure as hell works. I also think he puts so much of himself into being Jamie that is comes naturally. Jamie Fraser is now his second skin and it shows!

I said Tobias gave me chills in his scenes but they are of a different variety if you know what I mean. Sam puts you in every moment and emotion he has and with mostly just a look so that when he speaks, you are completely with this character every step of the way.

It wasn’t just his hand that was mangled beyond recognition; it was our hand as well. You could see the moment that he made the choice (once again)to sacrifice himself for someone he loves very much, it was all written all over his face, the determination to see it through. Jamie Fraser is a man of his word and Sam Heughan owns that.

Once again, we see a single solitary tear run down his cheek and I was crying even more. Those three (and the writers) really know how to give a girl the feels! Well done Sam! If the peeps don’t honor you with an Emmy nod and a win, I will make you won! I will make all involved one!

Above Gif Source: Jamie Frassr

FINAL THOUGHTS

This episode was very much centered on Jamie, Claire and Blackjack Randall but I cannot forget the others involved. Duncan as Murtagh was once again the strong character that he needed to be. He was there for Claire and by extension Jamie. I love Murtagh so much. Angus and Rupert provided so much-needed comic relief and you could not help but laugh at their antics. Those antics led to a way for Claire to gain access to the prison.

Wentworth Prison is just one of the many episodes that prove Outlander is more than worthy of a quite a few Emmy’s and I will continue to shout that from the rooftops!! #EmmysForOutlander

From start to finish, this episode went well beyond my expectations and I think the whole cast and crew did indeed do HERSELF proud!

I give it FIVE Stars…what say ye? As usual, sound off below!!