Claire and Geillis are on trial for their lives! Get a recap of last week’s Outlander (“By the Pricking of My Thumbs”) and preview the upcoming episode “The Devil’s Mark” with video clips and photo stills. The new show airs this Saturday at 9:00pm ET|PT on STARZ.
“By the Pricking of My Thumbs” began much in the same way “The Reckoning” ended: Claire (Caitriona Balfe) and Jamie (Sam Heughan) were engaged in some passionately HOT sexy times and refusing to come up for air (quite literally 😉 ). Unfortunately for them (and us), Murtagh (Duncan Lacroix) interrupted to pass on the information that the Duke of Sandringham (Simon Callow) had arrived to meet with Colum (Gary Lewis). This was Jamie’s chance to appeal his case and finally get the bounty on his head lifted. Apparently the Duke had always been partial to Jamie—they met some years ago during another visit to Leoch. Jamie also knew about the Duke’s sexual preference for men and wasn’t inclined to “offer up [his] hindquarters”; however, perhaps it was possible to convince Sandringham some other way? With that said, Claire cautioned Jamie: she knew that Sandringham and Black Jack Randall (Tobias Menzies) were allies, and any friend of BJR would likely not be a friend of there’s.
Jamie and Murtagh went to Ned Gowan (Bill Paterson) for some advice about how to proceed. Ned suggested that they bring a petition to Sandringham citing BJR’s crimes against the Scottish people, including Claire. If the Duke accepted the complaint and passed it on, BJR could be reassigned or court-martialed. In this case, Ned could take Jamie’s case to court and obtain his pardon.
Elsewhere, Claireconfronted Laoghaire (Nell Hudson) in the kitchens with the ill-wish. She might have fooled Mrs. Fitz (Annette Badland) into thinking she was a good granddaughter, but Laoghaire was anything but nice. As far as she was concerned, Jamie Fraser was hers and Claire was just the “cold English bitch” that he was trapped with. Claire didn’t like the accusation and slapped Laoghaire. Claire quickly apologized, but perhaps it wasn’t genuine. After Laoghaire said that Geillis (Lotte Verbeek) knew who the ill-wish was for, Claire warned Laoghaire to stay away from her and her husband.
Next, Claire went to find Geillis, but she wasn’t at home, much to the Arthur Duncan’s (John Sessions) dismay (he was having tummy issues and his wife wasn’t there to help). The Duncan maid said that, since it was a full moon, Geillis would be in the woods at dawn. And, in a gloriously filmed full circle moment, Claire once again observed a ritual that perhaps she shouldn’t have seen. Like the Craigh na Dun druids, Geillis was dancing, chanting, and making a request of the goddess. This was when we found out that Geillis was pregnant…and she wasn’t shy about sharing that Dougal (Graham McTavish) was her baby’s daddy (WHOA!). In fact this was the source of her request—a summoning of Mother Nature to free both Geillis and Dougal from their marriages so they could be together.
Claire promised to keep their secret and at this point, they affirmed their friendship. Geillis said that she wouldn’t have made the ill-wish for Laoghaire if she knew it was meant for Claire. Geillis also talked about the close relationship between Dougal and the Duke of Sandringham. Via a quick flashback to a conversation between Frank and Reverend Wakefield (James Fleet), Claire remembered that Sandringham was likely a Jacobite. As they continued home, Claire heard a baby crying somewhere in the forest. She wanted to go to the child, but Geillis stopped her. It was a changeling and the parents purposefully left the baby on the hill so the the fairies would return the one they stole. Claire didn’t believe the superstitions, and went searching for the child (by herself). Unfortunately, by the time she got there, it had died.
Claire was distraught and didn’t understand why anyone would do this to a defenseless baby. She stayed there until Jamie came to get her (Geillis had told him where Claire was). He tried to offer Claire some solace—though he might not believe in fairies and changelings, he couldn’t begrudge the parents of taking comfort in thinking their real child was living forever with the fae folk. When they arrived home, Jamie presented Claire with the petition against BJR. She was hesitant (probably because she didn’t trust Sandringham), but for Jamie’s sake and the chance at a life in Lallybroch, she signed (Claire Elizabeth Fraser…EEP!).
Maybe in an effort to cover her bases, Claire went to have an audience with Sandringham, without Jamie’s knowledge. She wanted to encourage the Duke to accept the forthcoming complaint, even though BJR was his friend. Sandringham denied a relationship with Black Jack, but still wasn’t willing to accept a petition that was probably libelous. However, Claire played her trump card—she accused the Duke of being a Jacobite and accepting gold from Dougal. In exchange for keeping his secret, Claire expected Sandringham to hear Jamie’s complaint. After a veiled threat to Claire’s pretty neck, the Duke agreed to help Jamie in anyway he could.
When Claire got back to Leoch, she found Dougal in a rage. He just learned his wife had died and was lashing out—shouting, attacking others with his sword, crying, and blaming himself. Angus (Stephen Walters) and Claire tricked Dougal into drinking a sedative, and he was promptly knocked out and carried to his room. (*sidenote* Graham McTavish was AMAZEBALLS in this scene…scary and just sad too.) Later, Claire came across Geillis in the market and, as you can imagine, she was celebrating. Geillis’ prayer had been answered…Dougal’s wife was gone. And the mention of Geillis still being married didn’t seem to be a concern.
Meanwhile, Jamie (wearing pants!) and Murtagh met with Sandringham at Merlewood House and presented their petition. The Duke agreed to help expose BJR; however, he needed a favor from Jamie. The MacDonalds had challenged him to a duel as a result of an unpaid debt and he wanted Jamie to stand as his second.
That evening, Sandringham came to a dinner in his honor at Leoch. Claire “met” the Duke (for the first time, as far as Jamie knew) and expressed her dissatisfaction that Sandringham would endanger her husband by asking him to participate in a duel. But in a more serious development, Arthur Duncan died! In the middle of dinner he fell from his chair and seemed to choke to death. Claire tried to help, but it was too late. She looked up at her friend (perhaps to offer support), but Geillis was engaged in super intense eye contact with Dougal…both smiling at each other. She eventually ran to her husband, crying and screaming, but both Claire (and Colum!!!) knew the truth. Arthur Duncan had been poisoned so Geillis and Dougal could be together.
The next day, at the duel, everything seemingly went according to plan. Sandringham and Andrew MacDonald (Jim Sweeney) fired their pistols into the air and agreed that, as a matter of honor, things were settled between them. However, MacDonald’s sons weren’t mollified. They exchanged insults with Jamie (Jamie had some hilarious yo’ mama jokes) and a fight ensued. Jamie bested the three men, but was also hurt…a cut in his side. Sandringham essentially left Jamie on the field, asked Jamie to tell Claire this wasn’t his fault, but did take the petition.
Later on, as Claire was patching Jamie up, she was clearly livid. They were interrupted by Colum, who was more angry. The Laird had no intention of letting Dougal be with Geillis, even if she was pregnant and he loved her. Colum banished Dougal to his own home where he’d attend his wife’s funeral. Jamie would go with Dougal, also as punishment. Colum didn’t like that he’d make a deal with Sandringham and spilled MacDonald blood without his permission. However, Claire would stay at Leoch. (EPIC Laird power-trip!)
Before Jamie left, he exchanged kisses with Claire and offered strict instructions—she needed to stay away from Geillis Duncan. Colum was on a warpath and she would be the next target. Now that Arthur Duncan was dead and Colum banished, there was no one protect Geillis from her reputation (as a witch). However, as soon as Jamie left, Claire received a note from Geillis asking her to come to her. She went, but once Claire arrived, Geillis said she hadn’t written a letter. Claire encouraged her friend to leave the village ASAP, but Geillis refused: Dougal wouldn’t let anything happen to them. Within moments, the town wardens arrived and arrested both Geillis and Claire of them for witchcraft. As they were led away,a smirking Laoghaire revealed herself and watched Claire being carted off to the thieves’ hole. She clearly had a role in this…
In Saturday’s episode “The Devil’s Mark”, written by Toni Graphia and directed by Mike Barker:
The crowds have gathered around the thieves hole, and it is time for the accused to take the stand. Claire and Geillis are on trial for witchcraft. Jamie manages to rescue Claire, but not before she discovers a secret about Geillis’s past. (via STARZ)
This is certainly one of the most anticipated episodes of the season! Those of us who are familiar with the book series know that secrets and lies will be revealed and BIG decisions ade. In other words, the upcoming show is a game-changer, especially for Jamie and Claire’s relationship!
Take look at two clips from “The Devil’s Mark”: in the first sneak peek, Claire and Geillis are being held in the thieve’s hole. Geillis is confident that Dougal will come and help them; however, Claire is extremely doubtful. And in the second video, their conversation continues with Geillis blaming Claire for their arrest:
UGH, what an incredibly dismal situation. You can see how agitated both Claire and Geillis are. And then, of course, things get even more intense when the actual trial commences.
What do you think of the summary and sneak peeks? What are you most looking forward to (or dreading) seeing in Saturday’s episode? Share your thoughts in comments!
Check out these photo stills from “The Devil’s Mark” and make sure to tune into STARZ at 9:00pm ET|PT for the new Outlander. I’ll be live tweeting, so come join me on twitter as we watch the #OutlanderTrial unfold!
