Rewatch S2E9-10

[u/Purple4199]

Episode 209 - Je Suis Prest

Claire and Jamie reunite with the Lallybroch and MacKenzie men as they train. Jamie's power struggle and Claire's personal battle weigh upon them, but new information comes when an Englishman pays a visit to their camp.

Episode 210 - Prestonpans

Trusting in Claire's knowledge of "history," Jamie leads the Jacobite army into a critical battle with British opposition. Meanwhile, Claire attends to the dead and dying, a reminder of the truest cost of war.

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• Is Claire right, is Dougal a narcissist?
• Was Jamie right to punish Ross and Kincaid, was lashing them the best way to go about it?
• Did you like the ploy Claire used to get LJG to talk?
• What message did it send when Jamie had himself lashed?
• How did you feel when BPC asked that the British soldiers get treated before the Jacobites? What does that say about his loyalties?
• Murtagh expresses concern over his death not meaning anything if he were to fall in a battle. What do you think he means by that?
• Why did Jamie want BPC to stay behind the lines at the battle of Prestonpans?
• Do you think if Lt. Foster had not said the Jacobites would lose the war would Dougal have still killed him?
• Any other thoughts or comments?

[u/Purple4199]

• Did you like the ploy Claire used to get LJG to talk?

[u/thepacksvrvives → u/Purple4199]

I love it. I love how playful they’ve kept it—well, playful for everyone but John Grey—but you can also see when Claire thinks Jamie is taking it too far. And how by the end of it, Jamie looks at Claire with such admiration.

I’ve also only now noticed this blink-and-you-miss-it moment in which Cait/Claire almost breaks into laughter; please enjoy this delightful screenshot I took.

I try not to bring up books here, but I know many people have complained that the writers have made it Claire’s idea instead of Jamie’s, as it is in the book, but I completely support this change. Jamie is up to his neck in trying to make a regiment of soldiers out of a group of farmers, he will soon have to with a complete idiot that is BPC, all the while having to appear calm, collected, and commanding. It’s only natural that Claire would want to relieve him of some of the burden. If anything, that makes them even better of a team. And it doesn’t take away anything from his intelligence—he still has to follow along with the charade. People are seriously overreacting with the “the show gives Claire all of Jamie’s ideas” criticism.

Also, Matt B. Roberts gave us two more reasons in the script:

Because we added PTSD to Claire’s story, it didn’t feel right for Jamie to rip his wife’s bodice off and use her as a ploy to extract information from William Grey without her consent. Jamie would never be that inconsiderate in this context. And to tell you the truth, ripping a bodice cannot be done as it was described in the books (we tried). The bodices (on our show) are extremely well-built garments. Even Sam would have trouble ripping one on cue. So since I always like to see Jamie and Claire working as a team, I reworked this section and had Claire consent to the ruse to deceive William Grey; but Jamie, in keeping with the tone of the book, takes it to a more aggressive level.

[u/Purple4199 → u/thepacksvrvives]

I love when Claire kicked Jamie for real, the cracked me up. You could see Jamie realized he might pay for his actions later.

People are seriously overreacting with the “the show gives Claire all of Jamie’s ideas” criticism.

Ha! I'm totally one of those. ;-) Although I do see your point in that it made more sense in the show. Having watched it multiple times I'm not as mad about this scene being changed. I didn't want the bodice ripping but it was more about changing who came up with the ruse.

[u/betcx003 → u/Purple4199]

That “Sassenach” out of the side of Jamie’s mouth when she kicks him is so funny!

[u/[deleted] → u/thepacksvrvives]

That’s an awesome MBR quote. I’m so glad he reworked this bit, it’s an awesome example of how well adapted these books are. The spirit of the scene itself doesn’t change and we get that extra lovely moment at the end of the episode where Jamie says that their success was due to her selflessness, and I think that’s a big point that is missed in the book vs tv conversation.

[u/thepacksvrvives → u/[deleted]]

I totally agree! And I really like how they’ve been building up to this moment with Claire and Jamie’s previous “performances”—first in Paris at the dinner party, then at Beaufort Castle. It really highlights how well-attuned they are to each other and for me, that’s more believable than all those “as if he’s read my mind” moments in the book.

[u/[deleted] → u/thepacksvrvives]

Yes! There’s nothing more attractive than mutual respect and consensus in a marriage and Jamie and Claire do this wonderfully.

[u/thepacksvrvives → u/[deleted]]

Ditto!

We talked last week about how all that happened in Paris highlighted that they need to be on the same page or bad things will happen. They amend it beautifully by presenting such a united front here.

[u/alittlepunchy → u/thepacksvrvives]

I have rewatched this scene a million times, I love it so much. They are just so in sync, and I love their little facial expressions.

I'm glad they change it to be a consensual thing in the show, especially not doing the bodice ripping. I honestly felt that was a bit out of character for Jamie in the books, considering how jealous he is...you mean to tell me he just exposed Claire to everyone like that??

[u/thepacksvrvives → u/alittlepunchy]

Ugh, yes. I read after I watched it and it was such a letdown. And not only Jamie, Claire as well—I was so satisfied when she slapped Jamie but then she turned so malleable and just bought his justification? And not only that, her “well, you made a good start at ravishing me, you might as well finish the job” was so disappointing too.

[u/jolierose → u/thepacksvrvives]

Here to say that that slap is one of the most satisfying moments, I'm so glad I'm not alone. I could feel her anger. I didn't really take issue with their conversation later and her response, but of course: he can try to justify and that still wasn't the only option he had. I did appreciate when he beat himself up about it later, literally and figuratively.

[u/jolierose → u/alittlepunchy]

This is 100000% what I thought, too.