Claire goes to extreme lengths in order to preserve the Randall family genealogy. Full recap of “Untimely Resurrection”, including new images and clips (first aired Saturday, May 7 at 9:00pm ET|PT on STARZ).
***SPOILER ALERT***
“Untimely Resurrection” opened with the aftermath of the dinner party brawl. The servants were cleaning up the remnants (turned over tables, chairs, vases, etc.), and in the background, Claire (who had changed into her nightgown and robe) stood by the window overlooking the courtyard. She told us that the fighting had ended when the police arrived and took everyone to the Bastille (French state prison), including Jamie, Murtagh, and Alex Randall.
Claire and Fergus stayed up all night waiting for Jamie to return, which he did in the early morning. Jamie took Fergus to bed, and later on, when he and Claire retired to their room, he told her more about what had happened and the Bastille. Monsieur Duverney had come to have Jamie and Murtagh released from jail. However, even though Jamie had friends in high place, Alex wasn’t so lucky. Mary’s Uncle Silas told the authorities that he saw Alex attacking Mary, so Alex remained behind in prison. Things got even worse because Jamie told Claire that, instead of helping Alex, Sandringham sent a message to Alex in jail firing him.The only thing that could free Alex was a sworn statement from Mary absolving him of the crime.
Jamie and Claire also talked about Sandringham’s perceptions of Prince Charles. Jamie was sure that the duke had seen Charles as a poor investment. This was good news, except that Claire saw Charles leaving with St. Germain. Nothing good could come from that alliance. Jamie planned to have Murtagh follow St. Germain and search for any evidence that could link Le Comte to Claire and Mary’s attack.
Claire told Jamie a little more about what happened in the alley…that the attackers spoke like aristocrats, wore fine clothes, and called her “La Dame Blanche”. This tidbit stood out to Jamie because, at Maison Elise, he had told Charles that Claire was a witch (la dame blanche). Jamie did this to dissuade Charles from sending him more courtesans. At first, Claire was upset: after the witch trial at Cranesmuir, it seemed irresponsible to joke about this. It was highly possible that gossip about Claire being la dame blanche spread through the brothel to other patrons. Did this mean their assailants were customers at Maison Elise? Could they follow the trail back to St. Germain?
Later on, while Jamie was working at the wine warehouse, Murtagh came to see him. Murtagh had been tracking St. Germain, but didn’t observe anything suspicious. He did learn that there was a gang of aristocrats, masked men called “Les Disciple” who would prowl the streets causing trouble. This was in line with how Claire had described the attackers. Murtagh also found out that “membership dues” to join the gang was to rape a virgin. (Mary!)
Jamie encourage Murtagh to go get some sleep, but Murtagh was clearly distressed. He felt so much guilt about what happened to Mary and what could have happened to Claire and the baby. Jamie tried to assuage Murtagh, afterall, he was severely outnumbered. But Murtagh couldn’t forgive himself. Then Jamie encouraged Murtagh to keep after St. Germain until they could find some evidence of his role in the attack. Murtagh promised to deliver Jamie his vengeance.
Later, Prince Charles came to see Jamie at the warehouse and brought good news. The English investors had bowed out, but Charles had a new plan. He had taken out a loan to go into a joint venture with Le Comte St. Germain to procure a large shipment of Portuguese Madeira. Once the wine was sold, they would split the profits, meaning Charles would have £10,000…enough to start assembling ships and weapons. Once Duverney heard about this, Charles was sure that King Louis could be convinced to invest. Jamie tried to dissuade the Prince by alluding to concerns about St. Germain’s dealings with heresy and the occult. But Charles refused to pay attention to those rumors, just like he ignored what was said about Claire being a witch. Charles expected Jamie to work with St. Germain to coordinate the plan. They would meet at Maison Elise to discuss the specifics.
That night, Jamie and St. Germain had a brief meeting. Neither wanted to be in the other’s presence. Le Comte talked about Claire’s “callous attempt” to ruin him (by announcing to all that his crew had smallpox). Jamie then talked about the recent attacks on Claire (with the being poisoned and attacked in the alley). St. Germain didn’t care about Jamie’s personal life. Le Comte said that he would secure the shipment by himself and would keep it in his warehouse until Jamie had his buyers lined up… and that was the only time St. Germain expected to hear from Jamie. Le Comte then tossed some coins on the table and left.
Elsewhere, Claire went to visit Mary. Uncle Silas wasn’t home so Claire was able to convince his wife to let her see Mary and provide some medical assistance. Mary was very happy to see her friend, especially since Silas was preventing her from leaving the house. He also insisted that Mary leave Paris as soon as she recovered.
When Claire asked Mary how she was feeling, Mary said she felt ashamed. She was also scared that she might be pregnant. Claire assured Mary that none of this was her fault and that since her attacker didn’t “finish” (ejaculate), it was unlikely that Mary would have a baby.
Claire gave Mary some herbs to help further the healing.
Mary had also written a letter providing an account of the attack and absolving Alex of responsibility. She asked Claire to deliver it to the Bastille so Alex could be released. Mary also hoped that Alex would still come to her and carry out their plans to be married, especially now that the engagement with Vicomte Marigny was broken.
However, Claire was concerned about this news. If Mary married Alex, this meant that Frank would never be born (since, according to the family genealogy Black Jack Randall fathered Frank’s direct ancestor). Should Claire leave Alex in the Bastille instead of freeing him with Mary’s letter?
Claire did deliver the letter to the Bastille and Alex was released. However, as they returned home, Claire spoke to Alex about her concerns about his relationship with Mary. Now that he had lost his position with Sandringham, could Alex really support Mary? Furthermore, Alex was ill (evidenced by his chronic cough). Mary shouldn’t be relegated to a life of poverty while being his nurse. Alex seemed to agree to break things off. Alex thanked Claire for her honesty and expressed how lucky Mary was to have a friend like her. (But we all know that Claire was breaking up this relationship to ensure that Mary would marry BJR… “Alex and Mary simply could not be, for Frank’s sake.”)
That evening, Jamie told Claire about the venture between Prince Charles and St. Germain. How could they sabotage this alliance? Claire speculated that there could be a way to make it seem like Le Comte’s crew was afflicted with smallpox again. This way, the wine shipment would be destroyed again. She would look into the possibility of herbs that could simulate the bumps/rashes.
Then Jamie presented Claire with a present: a set of Apostle spoons as a christening gift for the baby. The spoons had been in his family for generations. Jamie had written to Jenny about news of Claire’s pregnancy and had sent the spoons for them. Claire worried that she wouldn’t be a good mother, especially since she hardly remembered her own.
Claire: “Well, I’m a nurse. I know how to deliver a baby, how to feed one, how to take care of one when it’s ill, but that’s not being a mother.”
Jamie: “What you don’t ken, ye’ll learn. We’ll learn together.”
The next day Jamie and Claire went to Versailles. Jamie had agreed to meet Sandringham at the royal stables to help Sandringham purchase horses. As Jamie and Sandringham perused the horses, they also talked about the dinner party disaster. Sandringham had decided Prince Charles was an ass and wondered why Jamie would support him.
At the same time, Claire saw Annalise de Marillac (Jamie’s former girlfriend), who invited her to walk through the gardens. Annalise speculated that when she knew Jamie he was young and impetuous. But now, with Claire, Jamie was a man, bogged down with business, politics, and intrigue. Claire emphasized that Jamie still had all of these qualities…
…but their conversation was soon interrupted by a newcomer, BLACK JACK RANDALL. (*cue ominous music and slow motion*)
BJR seemed very happy to see Claire again. He introduced himself to Annalise and, when he had difficulty bowing to her, mentioned that he had been in an accident a while ago. Claire turned to leave, claiming she wasn’t feeling well, but Annalise insisted that she stay while she ran to fetch Jamie. BJR was enthused about the chance to see Jamie again.
Claire warned Black Jack to leave, saying that if Jamie saw him, he’d cut BJR’s throat. However, Black Jack knew that drawing a sword in front of the King was punishable by death. Claire tried to leave again, but BJR stood in her way: “This is unbelieveable. The fates are toying with us now, setting our feet on seemingly divergent paths that still somehow converge in the most unlikely of places.” (*shivers from disgust*)
Their heated exchange was cut short when King Louis and his entourage came upon them. Louis was pleased to see Claire again and asked to be introduced to BJR. Louis had a great time poking fun at Black Jack. He and his companions laughed at BJR’s French accent, his uniform, and the savageness of the English people. Jamie soon joined them and actually spoke cordially with Black Jack. Jamie asked about BJR’s wellbeing—
Jamie:“I hear you had an unfortunate encounter with some… sheep, was it?”
BJR: “Cattle, actually.”
(*SNORT*)
When Claire asked about why Black Jack was in Paris, he said that he had come on his brother Alex’s behalf, an errand of mercy. BJR wanted to ask Sandringham to consider bringing Alex back into his service. King Louis suggested that Black Jack beg, on his knees. BJR then dropped to his knees in front of everyone, until Louis laughed, saying that he didn’t mean for BJR to get on his knees now (“You English are so literal.” *CACKLES*)
Claire then excused herself to go rest and Jamie followed. When Louis left (after giving BJR permission to get up), Jamie hurried back to talk to Black Jack. It was a brief exchange, one that we and Claire couldn’t hear. At one point, BJR caressed Jamie’s chest (UGH!), before they bowed to one another. Jamie returned to Claire with a huge smile on his face. He had challenged Black Jack to a duel and he accepted. According to BJR, he owed Jamie a death (BJR’s promise to Jamie in Wentworth Prison to give him a clean and honorable death, in exchange for Jamie’s surrender).
When Jamie arrived back at their apartments, he and Murtagh prepared and strategized for the duel. However, Claire had gone to the Bastille. She made a sworn accusation that Black Jack Randall was the one who attacked her and Mary in the alley. Now he was locked away in prison and couldn’t duel. Jamie was outraged. At first, Claire said she did it to protect Jamie. Since dueling was outlawed in France, if he was caught, Jamie would be imprisoned. What about her and the baby? But then (after asking Murtagh to leave), she brought up how BJR’s link to Frank.
Claire: “If you kill Randall before the child is born, then it would be as if you’re killing Frank too. And he won’t exist and he must exist. It’s part of the future.”
Jamie: “I thought we were here to change the future.”
Jamie couldn’t believe that Claire would ask him to spare Black Jack’s life. Claire had a choice to make–either let this duel go on OR she could kill Jamie herself.
Claire begged for a one year delay. By that time, the BJR’s child with Mary would be conceived.
Claire: “You owe me that much James Fraser. I’ve saved your life, not once, but twice. You owe me a life!”
Jamie: “I see. And now you claim your debt…Jesus. God, Claire. You’d stop me taking vengeance on the man that made me play his whore. The man that lived in my nightmares and in our bed. Who almost drove me to take my own life.”
Jamie (VERY RELUCTANTLY) agreed to the one year delay. And when Claire reached for him, he rebuffed her touch.
If you missed tonight’s episode, you can watch “Untimely Resurrection” on STARZ Play online HERE or via the STARZ Play app.
Sassenachs… what did you think of the episode? Has Claire gone too far? Share your thoughts in comments!
