Despite an unexpected detour and kooky priest, Claire and Jamie reunite and plan the next steps to find Wee Ian. Still, there is time for a brief celebration. Full recap of “Uncharted,” including new clips (first aired Sunday, November 26 at 8pm ET|PT on STARZ).
BTW, I’m still really digging the Calypso-style “Skye Boat Song”! Every time I hear it, I do a little shimmy-shake to the hot beats! Anywho…
“Uncharted” begins with Claire in the Atlantic Ocean, passed out, but still able to cling to the little raft that Annekje put together. We watch as Claire sways, and, in truth, the water does carry her. Soon a wave comes and sweeps her off the raft, but Claire is able to swim to the shore. Once there, she collects her things (wrapped up in her skirts) and reflects on how she has no idea where she is. After jumping from the Porpoise, she floated for so long. How will she get to Jamie now? Claire shakes the sand out of her clothes and decides to make her way inland. The trek is a very difficult one in the hot sun, without water, food, proper shelter, or any assurances that she is headed towards help. Claire remembers the rule of three for surviving in the elements: human beings can go three minutes without air, three days without water, and three weeks without food. So time is of the essence, especially for water.
As Claire continues to walk, we see that the island seems uninhabited by human beings. If she can find a road, perhaps there’s a town and a port where she can buy passage to Jamaica. Claire is able to find a little bit of water that settled into some plant leaves (probably left over from some rain). But this doesn’t get anywhere near clenching Claire’s thirst. She does find some flint and that night, successfully makes a fire (thank you bum-roll!). Claire is able to go to sleep… but when she wakes the next morning, her legs are covered in fire ants. (YIKES!) Even though she’s startled, Claire is able to brush the ants off of her, but the damage is already done. Claire rips off part of her shirt to wrap around her legs, but you can tell that the itching is painful. She’s still without water… yet, Claire continues through the bush.
Eventually, she stumbles upon coconuts, but they’re all rotten. And Claire is unable to climb the tree to get more. She continues… that night, Claire sleeps against a tree, and wakes up the next morning to find a huge snake climbing over her. *SCREAMING* Claire stays very still, though you can see the fear in her eyes. Once the snake has slithered by, she immediately stands up and leaves. At one point, you wonder how Claire can go on. No water or food in days and the bumps from the ant stings are getting worse. Later Claire sees the skeleton of a large animal (maybe a crocodile?), so when might she be forced to confront this creature too? But she continues. Claire must think she’s delirious, because she then comes upon a man outside with his arms stretched out. But she’s so dehydrated, she passes out right there. A dog alerts the man to Claire’s presence.
The next time we see Claire, she’s waking up and she’s so sunburned. Claire notices a glass of water on the table next to her, but she can’t reach it because she’s strapped down to a bed. A Spanish-speaking woman enters the room, and though Claire doesn’t know what she’s saying, we do. The woman says she’s tied Claire up for her own good. Claire begs for water and the woman pours the water into Claire’s mouth. She actually starts to choke a little from it. Claire asks to be untied, but the woman says it’s the only way to keep her from scratching her legs (which are now covered in some type of green salve). The woman is much more interested in Claire’s clothes, and runs her fingers over the zipper in the corset. Claire goes back to sleep and the woman takes the pile of her clothes away.
When Claire awakens again, the man from before now sits over her on the bed and his dog (Ludo) is also in the room. Claire asks him where she is and he’s happy to hear that she’s an Englishwoman. He introduces himself as Father Fogden and welcomes her to his home, Hacienda de la Fuente. This time when Claire asks to be untied, Father Fogden does. He explains that Mamacita (the Spanish-speaking woman) did it to prevent Claire from scratching her legs raw. Father Fogden helps Claire sit up and offers her some water. When he warns that she shouldn’t drink too quickly, Claire says that she knows because she’s a doctor. Father Fogden is surprised that a woman would be in that profession, but Claire responds that it is more common in the American colonies, where she’s from. Fogden compares Claire to Saint Brigid, healer of the sick, because her arrival led to an auspicious event–the birth of a new goat, the first newborn in a long time.
He explains that she is on the island of Saint-Domingue (AKA Haiti). Claire realizes that she is to the east of Jamaica. She tells Fogden that she must meet her husband there. He tells her that she would be able to hitch a ride on a fishing boat at a nearby village that would carry her to the port at Cap-Hatien. From there, it’s a two days sail to Jamaica. Claire insists that she leave tomorrow to make it to Kingston in time, but Father Fogden says no. Why? Because Coco (literally, a coconut) has told him the trip is far too dangerous. She might come across Maroons, escaped slaves hiding in the hills, or even pirates. Instead, Claire must stay at Hacienda de la Fuente and rest. Interestingly, Coco is quite taken with Claire’s beauty too *SNORT*
Father Fogden calls for Mamacita to bring Claire clean clothes, perhaps one of Ermenegilda’s dresses? Mamacita is incensed: “No. Too small for that cow (meaning Claire!).” Instead, she suggests Claire wear Fogden’s old robe. Mamacita then tells Claire (in English!) that she stinks, but is kind enough to pour a small bath for Claire around back. Claire relishes the bath, but has to realize that she’s in a tough cookie of a situation. This hits home when Claire looks up to see a skeleton of a goat’s/ram’s head hanging above her.
Later, Claire joins Father Fogden and Mamacita for dinner. Claire compliments the chef, but it doesn’t endear her to Mamacita. When she asks about how Father Fogden ended up in Saint-Domingue, he tells his sad tale. 15 years ago, he was in Cuba as a missionary, but fell in love with Ermenegilda, a married noblewoman. They (and Mamacita, Ermenegilda’s mother) decided to run away together and made it to Saint-Domingue. Unfortunately, a couple years later Ermenegilda passed away from sickness. Fogden and Mamacita still mourn her. Father Fogden changes the conversation and offers Claire a hit of his pipe (marijuana?), but she declines. (Fogden is BONKERS!)
Claire tries again to convince Father Fogden that she must leave for Jamaica in the morning. Fogden promises to accompany Claire, but that given Coco’s warning, they really can’t leave until next week. Claire must rest before undertaking that journey. He becomes angry when Claire uses the Lord’s name in vain to emphasize her own ability to determine her fitness to travel. Mamacita then intervenes in the conversation: “That whore must go!” (WHAT?!) Apparently, Mamacita is concerned that Fogden wants to replace Ermenegilda with Claire and says “That jezebel could never replace my baby!”
Claire leaves the room during their argument and sits in the hallway. She’s determined to get to Jamaica, with or without Father Fogden’s help. While sitting, she notices a small mirror on the table next to her and pockets it. Fogden comes to Claire after Mamacita storms out of the house (saying she doesn’t want Claire in her home any longer). He points out Ermenegilda’s dress and then apologizes for Mamacita’s behavior. Ermenegilda was her only child and Mamacita fears Fogden would forget her. Claire sympathizes, saying she understands that grief of losing one’s daughter. She also knows what it is to love someone so much, she could never forget them–her husband. This is why it’s imperative that she makes it to Jamaica. It’s a matter of life and death. Fogden promises to help Claire… but he will consult with Coco in the morning to see if the time is right. *SIGH*
The next day, Claire wakes up to find that Mamacita has left her clothes, now clean and mended: “Clearly, Mamacita wanted me to go.” Claire decides that if she’s to get anywhere, she must play Fogden’s game. So she decides to consult with Coco herself. When Father Fogden enters the room, he finds Claire and Coco in conversation. She promises Coco that Fogden will take good care of her on the journey. They’re interrupted by Mamacita calling for Father Fogden. One of their goats, Arabella, was killed, skinned, and roasted by sailors on the show, one of which was Chinese. All that’s left of Arabella is her head. Father Fogden takes the goat’s head, says a prayer, and then pours a jar full of beetles on it. He explains that he got them from a sacred cave called Abandawe.
Annnnnnnnnd we all flash back to Claire meeting with Margaret and Archibald Campbell in Edinburgh (“Creme de Menthe”) and her premonition that “Abandawe will devour ye!” Hmmmm… Father Fogden says Abandawe is a place of great power on Jamaica where people disappear… like maybe people disappear at Craigh na Dun?!
Claire is distracted when Fogden translates what Mamacita says earlier, that a Chinese sailor killed Arabella. Could it be Yi Tien Cho and the Artemis?! When Mamacita realizes Claire is trying to leave, she points out the direction to where she saw the sailors and tells Claire to run.
Jamie, Fergus, and the remaining sailors are on the shore. They’ve washed up on Saint-Domingue after the Artemis sustained severe damage while navigating through the islands. Several sailors died, including Captain Raines. Fergus feels guilty because there were several times he wished Captain Raines dead, but to think of him lying at the bottom of the sea is disturbing. Jamie says that, even with impure thoughts, the Lord will see their pure hearts and forgive them. Now Jamie is in command of the Artemis. The sailors fix the foremast and the mainsail and make their way back to the Artemis
All the while, Claire is running for the shore in order to meet Jamie. She’s so focussed, not even a major cut on her arm (from swiping her arm on a tree branch) will stop her. By the time she gets to show, everyone is already on the Artemis and getting ready to make sail. Claire yells for Jamie, but he can’t hear her. She remembers she has the small mirror in her pocket and uses it to refract the sunlight. Jamie notices and asks for a spyglass to see what’s going on. He immediately recognizes his Sassenach! Jamie and a contingent of men sail back to shore and Jamie and Claire run to each other! The reunion is glorious. Jamie and Claire hug and kiss and *swoony sigh*
Of course Jamie notices that Claire’s arm is bleeding terribly, so he has Yi Tien Cho stitch her up. (There’s a brief interlude where Hayes and Lesley mention how Mac Dubh’s wife tends to turn up in the most unlikely places, like she drops out of the air, LOL.)
Meanwhile, Claire tells Jamie everything about Sir Percival finding Barton in the creme de menthe, the warrants out for his arrest, and Leonard’s plan to arrest him in Jamaica. But Jamie is much more concerned about finding Wee Ian. Besides, he’s used to be a wanted man. Jamie wants to get to Jamaica before Leonard does.
Jamie tells Claire about giving his blessing to Fergus and Marsali: “He loves her as I do you, Sassenach.”
Given all the death and loss, he wants to give the crew something to celebrate, like a wedding! And Claire knows a priest who can help (even if he’s disgraced). But first, Yi Tien Cho must make amends for killing Arabella. He, Claire, and Jamie return to Hacienda de la Fuente and Yi Tien Cho apologizes for his ignorance. He also offers a rooster as a gift. Father Fogden accepts the apology, saying the he knows what it’s like to be a stranger in a strange land. He then offers Yi Tien Cho some of his pipe.
That night, Marsali is getting dressed for the wedding and reluctantly accepts Claire’s help. When Claire asks, Marsali says she isn’t nervous, but does ask a question about preventing conception. Marsali does want children someday, but for now, she just wants to enjoy her time with Fergus. Marsali is also nervous about being intimate with Fergus because of witnessing her mother’s with Jamie and how she cringed from his touch. But Marsali knows it’s different for Jamie with Claire and that’s what she wants for herself and Fergus. Claire promises that they’ll talk more when they get back to the ship. “Maybe you’re no’ the devil after all.” (Awwwwww 🙂 )
Outside, Father Fogden performs the wedding. He’s clearly outside of his mind, because he begins to ask another man (not Fergus) to recite the vows. Fogden doesn’t understand why Marsali would want to marry Fergus since he only has one hand. Will she reconsider? She will not! Well, Fogden thinks it’ll be OK as long as Fergus hasn’t lost his cock. (WHATTTTTT?!) Marsali tells Fogden to hurry up so she can find out: “Ye know I’ve been waiting to bed you for months.” Marsali and Fergus share a laugh. Father Fogden asks for Marsali’s full name (and takes some extended and creepy joy in saying it over and over again). He takes forever to recite the vows and Marsali cuts him off by saying “I will.” When Fogden asks for Fergus’ full name, Fergus responds that he’s just Fergus. Fogden says he can’t marry then without at least a surname and Jamie intervene: “His name is Fergus Claudel Fraser.” *FEEEEEEELS*
The ceremony continues and Fergus gives Marsali a wedding band. Father Fogden blesses the marriage and blesses Jamie’s and Claire’s union too.
Back on the Artemis, Claire is enjoying some soup in the Captain’s quarters, now Jamie’s quarters. When Jamie brings her penicillin pouch, he notices that she’s quite loopy and running a fever. Claire struggles to assemble the injection and Jamie ends up having to extract the penicillin from the bottle. But when it comes for Jamie to inject Claire in her arse (some payback) he finds he can’t do it. Claire injects herself and is pretty savage about it. But it’s done. Claire goes back to her soup, turtle soup, specially prepared by Yi Tien Cho. When Claire shares that turtle is an aphrodisiac, Jamie says that her ardor is likely the result of Yi Tien Cho using a whole bottle of sherry for the soup! It isn’t respectable for Claire to behave like this:
“What do you mean? I’m respectable!”
“Are ye now? Sitting there, wi’ your hair loose and your nipples staring me in the eye, the size of cherries.”
“Well, it’s nothing you haven’t seen before.”
Then Claire climbs on top of the table and tells Jamie to bolt the door! Ohhhh, sookie sookie now!
Jamie tries to resist Claire because he doesn’t want to take advantage of her, with her arm wounded, with fever, and drunk. Well, wasn’t it Jamie that once said that you can’t be drunk if you’re standing up? *giggles*
Claire is determined to have these sexy times and Jamie gives in:
“This must be what it’s like making love in hell. With a burning she-devil.”
They’re getting it on when Yi Tien Cho comes by to ask how Claire liked the soup. (Thank goodness they bolted that door!) Jamie covers Claire’s mouth to keep her moaning and laughing quiet. He responds that Claire did like the soup. When Yi Tien Cho proceeds to offer more, Jamie declines and tells him goodnight. Yi Tien Cho walks away with a smile on his face, knowing exactly what Jamie and Honorable Wife are up to… 😉
Is Mamacita really a bitch? What exactly does Yi Tien Cho put in his turtle soup? ?? We discuss this and lots more in our weekly episode review, now live on YouTube (below):
If you missed tonight’s episode, you can watch (or rewatch) “Uncharted” on STARZ Play online HEREor via the STARZ Play app.
Sassenachs, tonight’s Outlander was fantastic! Thank goodness for Jamie/Claire reunions and turtle soup 😉 It was also nice to see other representations of love, from Father Fogden and Ermenegilda, to Fergus and Marsali finally getting married. But now we’re off to Jamaica… Share your thoughts about “Uncharted” with us in comments!
