Hosts Mary and Blake discuss the sixth episode of “Outlander,” entitled, “The Garrison Commander.” In this episode you’ll learn all about the intricacies of directing, Justin Bieber (again), the way to Blake’s heart, Mean Girls and The Plastics, The Rise of BJR, Silence of the Lambs, why every woman’s pants have fallen and why Crazy Cat Ladies are suffering everywhere..
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Claire goes back upstairs to the diningroom because she expects to find the rest of the soldiers there and she still thinks she can find a way to getting an escort to Craigh Na Dun. Also, she is literally being held for questioning by an English garrison. She cannot leave without their say so. And if she tried to run she'd be easily caught and bring even more suspicion on her than she already has at this point. She walks into the room still thinking Lord Thomas is somewhere near. But then she sees the razor and starts having memories of Frank which make it hard for her to not look for good qualities in BJR.
Also, as for Claire outting Jamie, she actually didn't. She never said Jamie was at Leoch. She only said she heard a story about a boy who was flogged by him while she was at Castle Leoch. She doesn't even mention his name, so it is believable that she's never actually met this boy. Of course BJR could have seen right through that, but Claire did NOT tell BJR that Jamie was at Leoch.
Also, please stop grouping all the book readers together and all the non-book readers together. Everyone is entitled to an INDIVIDUAL opinion. I have read the books and completely disagree with Fern's opinion of the episode. I do not want to "hurry up and get to the wedding." I always thought BJR was a rather flat character in the books. He was just there to be the bad bay guy and create conflict in the story but he was very one-dimensional and cartoonish. He was basically your moustache-twirling evil guy with no real insight into why he was this way. I VERY much appreciated the series taking the time to flesh out this character and and make him a more fully dimensional part of the story. I thought it was brilliant to have BJR recount the story of the flogging rather than Dougal, as it was in the books. It was way more personal and you really got to see the 'crazy' as he relished the recount of the tale.
True, but she did refer to the boy. Which admits knowledge of the boy and also alludes to his presence at Castle Leoch. How else would she know the intimate details? Also, it's the boy that BJR flogged, and BJR surely knows that the same boy has a price on his head now as it's the English who put it there. I firmly believe BJR can easily put 2 and 2 together to come to his conclusion if he chose to pay attention to the details of Claire's story.
This is an extremely valid recommendation. It is not fair to clump and segregate the readers from the non readers. Indeed everyone has their own opinion. Thank you for pointing this out and we will do a better job making sure we don't do it again.
Mary and Blake, just listened to your podcast for the Garrison Commander. I was going to call in, but my back my seized up probably due to Outlander Tension and Stress. Hey, that could be a new syndrome, OTS. Anyhow, I was sooooo ready to despite Black Jack Randall (BJR). When I first saw BJR at the stream in the first episode I was sure it was really the River Styx. This episode was so well written that I can’t stop saying it enough. When BJR first came on the scene entering the dining room and the prissy commander was so worried about the Claret, then BJR goes back out and brushes off as much dust as he can to show his disrespect – it was hilarious and made me think that I might kinda like him a little bit. Of course, BJR soon blew that out of the water. When BLR and Claire first lock eyes I think she was expecting him to actually remember her in the future (if there is such a thing).
Why, oh why, do they keep giving her wine?? I know they are salivating about having a pretty, proper English lady in their presence, but they could have up the tongues and glares. BJR knows how to push Claire’s buttons and is use to playing mind games, especially when he alludes to Claire being a hoor with Dougal and she loses it defending the Scotts. Rut Roe!
The write-in of BJR sketching her face after her totally stupid fake confession (didn’t future Frank teach her anything???) was brilliant and sets her at ease, as did his apologizing for their first encounter at the River Styx. Then he begins speaking about the flogging, and that he’s not the man he used to be and that being here has changed him, do think there is hope for me? It was like in the movie, “True Lies” where Arnold Shwarzenegger tells his wife that yes he's killed people, “but they were all bad.” – throw, cast, and reel her in. OMG she swallowed the whole thing hook, line and sinker. I like BJR telling her the flogging story instead of Dougal and also the tie-in of the razor. When he spoke of the flogging, gleam in his beady eyes, talking about them creating a beautiful canvas I was waiting for him to talk about fava beans.
I knew he would punch her in the stomach, but not the kicking. I think that was put in to drive home his total badness, evilness, unsavability (sp) and darkness. Tobias Menzies did an Oscar worthy performance, but I swear he was chewing gum when he first entered the room! Of course, the "grinding your corn” phrase needs no comment. I would have just liked to have seen Claire’s face when he said it and any other phrases he used.
Blake – you will be walking, no running away from Team Frank sooner than you think. Oh, and don’t forget the cannolis.
Absolutely true. BJR is no "utter arse." But I think Claire gets a break on this one. She didn't outright give Jamie away and could have heard the story second hand.
P.S. Don't you just love debating about fictional characters!
Deana – Oh man, I think it's going to take a lot for me to run away from Team Frank. I love your thoughts on BJR and Tobias' portrayal. He was sooo good. Do you find BJR as fascinating character as I?
P.S. I always take the cannolis.
I also don't think Claire outed Jamie being at Leoch. Again, she said that she heard about a "poor Highlander boy" who was flogged and since Dougal was present at the flogging, it's believable that he told her about it and not the "boy" himself.
Keep up the good work on the podcast! 🙂
BJR is much more fascinating in this episode, especially with Tobias and his Oscar-worthy performance. In the book you just flat out hate him and the bus he rode in on. Blake, Blake, Blake – you will run away from Team Frank so fast – like your hair was on fire!! And will most likely "foget da cannolis and yo wif will kill yous." And then no one can find you because of your Frank shame, Mary will say as Mr. Hogwallup said about Mrs. Hogwallup in 'Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?', "He done R-U-N-N-O-F-T."
Okay, I just left a voice mail and I probably sounded like a hick, but i'll blame it on the muscle relaxers and pain pills. Can't wait for The Wedding! Let's all ride the sin wagon together with Claire and Jamie – Whoo Hoo.
The Harry Potter references warm the cockles of my nerdy Potterhead lovin' heart. <3
Me too. Every time they reference Harry Potter, it's like – wait for it … "yer a wizard, Harry." lol It makes me smile. 🙂
Hi Mary and Blake,
Just listening to the podcast for episode. I have to stick up for Lt. Jeremy Foster here. No Gaston here at all. What I saw was a British Officer conducting himself with dignity. His inquiry to Claire's well being was genuine and I he held his own with Dougal. As TV character only I sure hope we get to see him again. There is alway season 2. British actor Tom Brittney did a wonderful job with this character for the small amount of screen time he got…. Okay, I will continue listening…
……..the intensity of the flogging scene was truly terrifying in the perversion of BJR. But, it also shows the character of Jamie. What BJR fears about Jamie is that he can unite a country in Rebellion against the English. BJR also sees his equal in Jamie.
JUST found Outlander Cast this week via The Scot and the Sassenach. I'm binge-listening and loving you both — your interaction, your insights! Keep up the good work! In my dreams Blake and Alastair would do a co-podcast on Jacobite history. Wouldn't that be something! By the end of that podcast Blake would sound Scottish and Alastair would sound like he'd just arrived from Southy!
I wanted to make two comments about the Dougal/Claire dynamic and point something out about Tobias Menzies' performance.
First, it took me awhile to figure out why Dougal is so protective of Claire especially in this episode and the next. Why doesn't he just let BJR keep her? He doesn't trust her. Wouldn't it be better to get her off his hands. I think it's complicated: He feels a certain ownership in Claire. He's a little affectionate and probably a lot hot for her. But finally I realized, Claire has seen things on the road that could find Dougal & Co. with nooses around their necks. If Claire spills her guts, they'll all be proven traitors, so he MUST try to keep her from BJR.
Now, as to why Claire doesn't spill her guts, especially when BJR hints he'll send her to Inverness if she tells him what he wants to know — I'm not quite sure. I think she's grown to care about the Highlanders. And as much as she wants to go back to 1945, she won't do it at the expense of their lives. It's sort of an "I'm not a tattle-tale." reason. Maybe it's the reversal of the Murtagh explanation: SHE can be irked at the Scots, but she won't let the English have them.
Second, I wanted to address the Dougal line, "It would tickle me to grind yer corn …" When I first heard that I thought he was just being crude. But then I remembered a song he was leading in RENT. As they ride along he's doing sort of a call-and-response song about a maid bringing her corn to the miller to be ground. It's a wonderfully bawdy song full of double entendres. So Dougal's line in THE GARRISON COMMANDER harks back to that song. Here's a link to the lyrics. If you read them, then watch the scene in RENT, you'll see what I mean:
http://sangstories.webs.com/maidgaedtaethemill.htm
In regard to Tobias Menzies, Blake is spot-on. Menzies' is one of the best television performances EVER, especially given that he's playing two characters IN THE SAME SHOW. Here's what I wanted to share: Remember in the Castle Leoch episode where Jamie is telling Claire about the day BJR came to his home and attacked Jenny? BJR is holding Jenny by the hair. He licks his thumb and uses it to rub some schmutz off her cheek. THAT WAS NOT IN THE SCRIPT! The thumb-licking/cheek rubbing was something Tobias added. He was quoted as saying that it just seemed like something BJR would do. Wow — contemptuous, proprietary, disrespectful, dastardly — he NAILED it!
Dorothy – thanks for listening! We're glad to have you aboard. Doing a 'cast with Alastair would be an absolute privilege. If our schedules can line up, I think it's something I would LOVE to do. But my Scottish accent is so terrible that I don't think you would want to hear it 🙂
But great analysis on Dougal/Claire relationship. I think the term "ownership" is an extremely good term to use when it comes to Dougal's feelings on Claire. I think she is his property in his eyes. Thus, all the forward interactions between the two and Dougal not really thinking twice about how crappy he is being towards her.
As it relates to BJR – I didn't know that wasn't in the script! Holy crap that is an inspired bit of acting. Love everything about it. Great find. 🙂
Rebecca
Blake, your laugh is the best. Thank you. (: Your Claire voice is the best too.
“Lord Farquaad.” ?? Thank you so much for that, Mary. It’s true!! ???
Okay, now onto continuing the episode. Just needed to tell you that. Haha (:
Rebecca
I loved this episode on the show…Loved this podcast episode too. I laughed so hard…Literally, hearing Jamie say he was a virgin was what got me to WANT to CONTINUE the show. I had never heard/seen anything like this on television before. It literally shocked me to see a MAN be a virgin. Yes, the character Jamie was 22-23, but he was a man. Blew my mind.
I agree with you Blake. This was one of the better episodes in season one! Tobias did amazing!! Loved it all. BJR..WOW!!
Loved it. Loved it all. Thank you both! (:
Check out Mary & Blake's new podcast dedicated to This Is Us on NBC!
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