War, Politics, Faith, Love and Tragedy – The Ultimate Ranking of Outlander Season 2 Episodes

Even though this episode is last on my list, it holds a special place in my heart. I watched it when it aired the first time while visiting Scotland and staying at the home of friends who live only a mile and a half from the location that served as the Old Fox’s castle – Dean Castle and Country Park. Outlander filming at Dean Castle in Kilmarnock was the subject of a blog post of mine way back in December 2015. It was an amazing place to visit, and in the same day be able to watch the screen treatment of the location while just up the wee road. I’ll never forget that.

#12 – Episode 2.12 “The Hail Mary”

This is a tough one to rank for me, because there are some memorable moments and performances from some of my favorite characters – notably, Graham McTavish during his soliloquy at Colum’s death bed. Then there is the evolution of Miss Mary Hawkins. It’s amazing to watch this youthful actress transform her role from whimpering child to mature woman who’s seen and experienced much in such a short amount of time. There is also the performance of Tobias Menzies. His shocking return and even more shocking range of actual emotions he displays makes Black Jack Randall – gasp – somewhat sympathetic. Could that be? Menzies’ scenes with Caitriona Balfe make the hair on the back of my neck stand up. The tension these two create every time they share the screen is epic.

And, of course, who didn’t LOVE when Murtagh proffered the idea of marrying Mary Hawkins to save her from Randall? It’s why I am so torn about this episode and why, ironically, it ends up so low on my ranking. While I love any and all scenes with Murtagh, in this case, Murtagh’s expanded role came at the expense of Jamie Fraser. We hardly saw the man in most of the episode. Now, I am not one to complain about books vs. show; it’s just isn’t my style, generally speaking. I take them both at face value and find enjoyment in both, while often finding how they complement each other. However, in the case of Episode 2.12, it was not one of my favorite adaptations to see Murtagh fill in for Jamie when Claire was busy interacting with Black Jack throughout much of the episode. This is especially true when Murtagh – instead of Jamie – was witness to the Black Jack-Hawkins marriage vows.

 I have evolved on this point. At first viewing I remember thinking – thank GOD, they made this change from the book and Jamie is not in that room, with Black Jack, having to stand there in that horrible man’s presence knowing what he had done to him but not being able to do anything about it. But, on further reflection, I think the writers missed the boat. Staying true to the book version would have provided more exposition into Jamie’s strength of character and his healing since Wentworth. It was a key turning point in the novel for Jamie to be present during that wedding ceremony and to stand there with strength and depth and all the integrity that we know him to have, yet not react violently. In the book scene, we can feel how uncomfortable he felt being in that room and with his torturer, yet he displayed a humanity and a compassion for the situation that showed us how far he had come since the end of the first novel when he was so broken. It really should have been Jamie’s scene. However, the TV show is the TV show, and the TV show seems to generally lean toward more screen time for Tobias Menzies. No judgment. But, in this particular case, I think it was a misstep and it’s why, for me, Episode 2.12 brings up the rear in my rankings.

#11 – Episode 2.04 “La Dame Blanche”

I LOVE the fight between Jamie and Claire in this episode when Jamie returns from the brothel and regales Claire with stories of soixante neuf, while displaying evidence of an encounter with a toothy whooor. Sam Heughan plays this scene to the hilt, as does Balfe. It was an iconic book scene that fulfilled my every expectation. But, this was, sadly, the highlight of this episode. Not even the first Jamie-and-Claire-sex-scene-of-season-2 could salvage the episode, in my view.

It was also very disappointing and, frankly – anti-climactic – when Jamie learned that Black Jack lived. This scene fell flat and seemed completely abrupt given Jamie’s demeanor and struggle with PTSD in the first three episodes. I guess the writers decided it was time for him to get over his issues and get back to being the King of Men. That’s fine, but it was jarring and could have been done better. And then there is that dinner party. . .

My glass-half-full acknowledgment here, though, is to recognize Set Designer Jon Gary Steele and Costume Designer Terry Dresbach. The meticulous attention to detail at that dinner table and the characters’ costumes, as well as the blocking of the scene in general, was brilliant. Unfortunately, the narrative content and dialogue was sorely lacking. And, the melee that broke out at the end of the party was just silly. It was indeed nice to see Claire and Jamie come back together and find their passion for each other again, but the episode as a whole was unsatisfying for me in every other way. There was just too much plot crowding out character exposition once again.

#10 – Episode 2.02 “Not in Scotland Anymore”

Again, this episode is difficult for me to rank. If the intention was to jolt us into realizing that the Scottish Highlands remained firmly in the rear view mirror, then mission accomplished. You can’t get further from Castle Leoch then the lavish gold fixtures of Versailles. In this regard, the episode reflected its title well.

On the positive side, I really love and appreciate the lavish costumes, Versailles goings-on and overall depiction of the decadent Paris lifestyle. We are also introduced to some fantastic new characters, including Louise de Rohan, King Louis and Mary Hawkins. The Duke of Sandringham reappears in a fabulous new wig, seemingly having gotten more evil and calculating than when we last left him in Scotland. Who doesn’t just squirm with delight when Simon Callow is on screen as the Duke? And the reveal of the Red Dress was spectacular and included a sweet scene between Claire, Jamie and Murtagh and that amazing staircase. I just wish Starz PR hadn’t used the dress in its season 2 marketing campaign because, by the time it showed up on screen, the anticipation had waned. That said, another shout-out to the brilliant Terry Dresbach.

And, yes – the honeypot scene. I remain an island unto myself regarding my thinking on this one, but I really enjoyed the screen treatment of this iconic book scene. Given Jamie was still suffering from full-fledged PTSD, it was a clever way to include the scene, yet work in the conflict that loomed large between Jamie and Claire – Jamie’s inability to be intimate. We had some very light moments between the two, but the scene overall exposed Jamie’s deeply held trauma. We laughed through our tears and our hearts ached for Jamie – and for Claire, who was becoming increasingly more desperate to bring her man back to her heart and her bed.

Most of the scenes, however, jumped around and the episode overall didn’t seem cohesive to me. The King’s toilette, while amusing, took up too much valuable screen time. The faux male appendages displayed at Maison Elise’s was bizarre to say the least and again, why so much time on this? It was not one of writer Ira Steven Behr’s best episodes. I know he can do better. Perhaps it was by design that the episode was rocky and unsettling in order to prove the point that, in fact, we were NOT in Scotland anymore. I can live with that as an explanation, but I don’t have to like it.

#9 – Episode 2.01 “Through a Glass Darkly”

There has been a lot of discussion about the framing device used in this episode – the flash forward, cold open, Claire at the stones in 1948 and subsequent reunion with Frank. It was meant to provide the same jolt that book readers got in the opening pages of “Dragonfly in Amber.” I go back and forth on this and whether or not it was a change that needed to be made for the benefit of the television audience. While I enjoyed the episode at the time, now looking at it in the context of the whole season, I think adding the 1948 piece had serious negative ripple effects throughout the rest of season 2. Confirming that Culloden was a failure in the opening 35 minutes of Episode 2.01 essentially destroyed the tension of the rest of the season – in particular, Jamie and Claire’s machinations in Paris. It’s no wonder viewers – especially non-book readers – felt so short-changed with the Paris episodes. The story of the Bonnie Prince and the march toward Culloden would have been so much different if the viewing audience didn’t already know that the Jacobites were doomed to lose at Culloden.

When Jamie said to Claire in Episode 2.06 “You must promise me you will go back to Frank”, the audience already knew that was going to happen. If 2.01 had NOT opened in 1948, the drama with that one foreshadowing line would have been much more ominous. But, instead – viewers had already seen that Claire did, indeed, go back. Or, how about when Master Raymond predicted that Claire would see Frank again? Viewers already knew that, but if viewers had not known, it would have been a nice portentous moment with the audience thinking, “oh no, she would never do that…or would she?”

And then there’s Bonnie Prince Charlie’s tom-foolery, which looked even more buffoonish knowing that it was all for naught and the Jacobites would decisively lose at Culloden. Perhaps if the viewers did not know the outcome of the battle, they would have been more focused on the dynamics of the War Council and less on what an idiot Charles was. Because in the actual history books, Charles was influenced greatly by his War Council and, while young and immature, he was much smarter and cannier then most season 2 Outlander viewers perceive him to be. Spending 35 minutes in 1948, however, essentially changed – and not in a good way – how the rest of the season was discerned.

In hindsight and in context of the whole season, I think the construction of Episode 2.01 was a misstep and, therefore, sits in the back half of my episode rankings.  I will heap praise, however, on Catriona Balfe and Tobias Menzies for the incredible acting in that first 35 minutes.  It was heartbreakingly good work, especially when you add in the other bright spot for this episode – Bear McCreary’s score. But, as a season opener, the episode was not what we needed, whether we knew it at the time or not.

#8 – Episode 2.09 “Je Suis Prest”

We get it. The Highlanders are preparing for war and it’s a slog. But, just how many scenes do we need of rumpled, overweight and unprepared cotters, tacksmen and smiths flailing away with their homemade garden tools doubling as bayonets? And while Claire’s PTSD storyline was interesting, it seemed to come out of nowhere and then, just as suddenly, disappear in all subsequent episodes. As a “filler”, it was fine. . . but I expect more from the writers and producers of Outlander, who have shown themselves to be better storytellers than that.

Positives of the episode include the return of the “Wolf Pack” – Angus, Rupert and Dougal – and, once again, the brilliant compositions and adaptations of traditional Highland folk music from the one and only Bear McCreary. Bear saves the day – again. Also, the scene where we meet Lord John Grey as a young man was amusingly acted although, not every good idea has to be Claire’s, right? Claire/Caitriona hijacked this scene from Jamie/Sam who was left to follow-along – albeit convincingly. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the interaction and the stage-craft and it was a fun bit to see young William Grey, knowing – as a book reader – what an important role he will play in future seasons.

#7 – Episode 2.03 “Useful Occupations and Deceptions

I liked this episode overall, but it lacked any marked action or intrigue. Instead, we got more Jamie and Claire angst which, at this point in the season, I was beginning to tire of. Arguably, their fight about Claire working at L’Hôpital des Anges was the worst row they have had since the fight at the river in Episode 1.09. I liked that the fight reflected the chasm that still existed between our couple over issues of control and the proper place for a wife, the role of the man, and the appropriateness of certain types of “work” for women in this time. I am sure Claire was thinking that all this had been resolved that post-spanking night in Leoch (during epic make-up sex) when it was decided that the rules needed to be different for these two. But apparently, Jamie had forgot all about that and was more focused on his troubles.

Can’t we all relate, ladies? In fact, book readers recall that Book Jamie was MUCH more upset about Claire’s L’Hôpital work and his anger dragged out for many pages. But given that we didn’t have time for that, I think the scene, as portrayed, accurately revealed how Jamie and Claire still struggle from time to time to find that balance in a relationship where one of them possesses sensibilities centuries removed from the 18th century – literally.

That said, the episode was saved by the long-awaited appearance of Mother Hildegarde and her beloved Bouton, and our introduction to the little French pick-pocket and soon-to-become surrogate son to Jamie and Claire, Claudel – a.k.a., Fergus. This, again, displayed more brilliantly spot-on casting from Casting Director Suzanne Smith and the good folks at Outlander.

#6 – Episode 2.11 “Vengeance is Mine”

When I first heard that Outlander series author Diana Gabaldon would be penning a script for season 2, I swooned. What could be better than this brilliant woman, who created this obsessive series and these amazing characters, actually having the chance to write for those characters on the small screen? It was easily my most anticipated episode of season 2 – more than the premiere and even more than the finale.

My expectations paid off – I was not disappointed in Diana’s work and was also impressed by her willingness to share so much of the process that goes into writing a script for television. She was humble enough to admit that much of what she wrote (nearly 50%) was changed in some way and that some of what she loved about her original script had to be changed and/or eliminated because of issues to do with production and a certain actor that went missing in action. Diana could have taken credit for it all and, of course, we would have believed her. But, her self-effacing candor and honesty about the challenge this medium presented her was refreshing amidst the sea of egos in Hollywood. 50 percent or no 50 percent, I could feel and hear Diana’s voice all throughout this episode.  There were the subtle bits of humor throughout and the carefully cultivated character development we saw via Mary Hawkins ongoing evolution, Claire’s scenes with the Duke of Sandringham and Jamie’s internal agony over having to let Claire be taken away by the Red Coats.  All of this amounted to an episode full of exquisitely drawn characters standing confidently alongside the narrative plot. The episode moved fast and furious from Dougal’s head-first ride through the woods to save Rupert, to the sudden appearance of torch-carrying Red Coats. Shout out to the lighting and cinematography crew for the scene in the church when the Red Coats appear outside and we see one torch suddenly turn into dozens. It was gasp-inducing and you could feel the tension rising.

And then, we see our beloved Murtagh take his revenge in such a brutal-yet-poetic way. I was on the edge of my seat for most of the episode, and this is where I want to be when it comes to Outlander-TV-land! All the intrigue and relationships and characters are what make Outlander, Outlander… It was clear to me that the person who knows these characters better than anyone else (because they are all HER) had a strong hand in Episode 2.11, despite her deferential protestations to the writing crew and Producer Anne Kenney. The characters drove this episode’s plot and it came together gloriously.

#5 – Episode 2.05 “Untimely Resurrection”

The return of Black Jack and the circumstances surrounding that return – as well as the aftermath -– made for a heart-pounding hour of television.  Richard “The Kid” Kahan scripted this episode – his first script written for television, ever!  Mentor Steven Ira Behr must have felt very proud of his protégé as Richard succeeded admirably in creating a rich canvas for Tobias Menzies as Black Jack to titillate, tantalize and tease us with his cat-and-mouse game with both Claire and Jamie.  The air in the manicured gardens of Versailles was so thick you could feel Claire’s breath be sucked away when Randall appeared, walking confidently toward her in all his slow-motion glory.  It was a brilliant on-screen return for our resident villain made even more satisfying when King Louis throws a bit of karma Jack’s way, forcing him to kneel and beg before the King and the Frasers.  How many of us cheered at that scene??!!

Of course, this was a set-up for Claire’s impossible ask of Jamie and their ensuing argument.  As a general matter, I am not one to notice scene blocking BUT, how the confrontation scene between Jamie and Claire was stage-managed was truly outstanding.  Jamie’s thrusting the handle of his dirk into Claire’s hands – blade pointed at his chest – and how Claire took the blade and dropped it clanging on the stone floor. . . Jamie kissing the hilt of his sword as he pledges to honor Claire’s request and then the two of them standing at opposite ends of the room as the screen fades to credits, symbolizing the huge chasm that exists between them given Claire’s unthinkable request. Exceedingly well done and one of Sam Heughan’s best, most evocative scenes, which is why episode 2.05 rises near the top of my favorite episodes in season 2.

#4 – Episode 2.06 “Best Laid Schemes”

I watched this episode via the Starz app at the crack of dawn Saturday morning while huddled in my Edinburgh hotel room.  Thank God the VPN service I had purchased for my trip to Scotland worked like a dream so that I could enjoy this episode in somewhat real-time – still taking advantage of the early showing.  However, what I didn’t realize is that I needed a defibrillator on-hand to resuscitate me at the episode’s end when my heart rate and blood pressure shot up to dangerous levels.  Seriously, I had NEVER had a television show affect me physically in quite the same way before, or since.

Claire’s realization that Jamie had broken his promise and gone off to fight Black Jack and her subsequent head-long jolting carriage ride through the streets of Paris into the Bois de Boulogne was electrifying.  The duel itself – while not quite as dramatic as I would have hoped for – was, when viewed through Claire’s eyes, heart-stopping.  And poor Magnus, the caring servant, who was helpless to protect his Lady from the harm that came rushing from her womb and could only mean one grave, agonizing thing.  And, Jamie flown into such a rage as we had never seen when he realized the atrocity being inflicted on poor Fergus at the hands of the black-hearted, depraved Randall.  Lastly, when we see Jamie, having exacted a mortal (or so we thought) wound to Black Jack, realize Claire was near and we see (but don’t hear him) call out to Claire in despair as he is led away by the Gendarmes.  Again with the slow motion!  Used so effectively, we hear in our mind Jamie’s agonizing “Claaaaire!”  This back half of Episode 2.06 is what I loved most.

The front half?  Not as much.  It seemed so incongruous to open the episode on our tranquil couple, with Jamie seemingly over the upset from Claire’s impossible plea for Black Jack’s life.  It was such a disconnect from the previous episode.  But besides this, I loved and was thrilled by this episode.  Defibrillator notwithstanding, it took me more than 15 minutes to get my respiration under control.  Fortunately, I didn’t have to explain myself to my Scottish friends who picked me up shortly after I finished watching.  I could only imagine what they would have thought!

#3 – Episode 2.07 “Faith”

To say that Caitriona Balfe delivered a career-altering performance throughout this episode would be a major understatement. Caitriona’s portrayal of the loss and the unspeakable grief Claire felt at learning of her baby’s death touched hearts, if only for the restraint shown in the breadth of the emotions she displayed. Alone, lost, bereaved and deathly ill, Claire fights back with the help of Mother Hildegard, the enigmatic Master Raymond and, surprisingly, her loyal servants.

It’s the quiet dignity and haunting demeanor of Claire as she tries to move on from both her anger at Jamie and the heartbreak of her loss that troubles the viewer as we try to imagine the deep, deep ocean in which Claire finds herself drowning. And, we wonder how Claire summons the strength to approach King Louis to beg for Jamie’s release only to find herself in some bizarre witch trial. . . again. Yet, this time she doesn’t stand accused, but serves as the King’s executioner. Hands-down my favorite Jon Gary Steele set of season 2 was the magnificent Star Chamber at Versailles – such an incredible back-drop for as intense a scene as we have ever seen!

When we finally hear Le Comte speak English for the first time, it’s part of his final damning monologue before he seemingly falls dead at the hands of La Dame Blanche and the mysterious Master Raymond. And, when our lovers are finally reunited, it’s not as we expect – no sweeping, romantic embrace, but instead a quiet re-telling of Claire’s heartbreak while Jamie looks on in shocked silence. Scene additions of Claire rocking her dead baby and Louise de Rohan begging Claire to allow the child to be put to rest were sob-inducing. I’ll just go ahead and say it – you don’t have a heart if you watched those scenes and didn’t dissolve into a messy puddle. Again, no words can describe Caitriona Balfe’s tour-de-force performance in this episode. It was a near-perfect hour of television and absolutely deserves its spot in my top three episodes of season 2.

#1 – Episode 2.10 “Prestonpans”

I declared this my favorite episode the minute it concluded and, even after watching and re-watching all the episodes, I haven’t wavered since. THIS is Outlander. It combines everything I love about this series – adventure, intrigue, history, deep, deep love and intimacy and incredible character depiction.

The Battle of Prestonpans was a very decisive victory for the Jacobites and, accordingly, it covers one entire long chapter in Gabaldon’s novel, “Dragonfly in Amber.” It’s a significant battle as it further emboldened the Jacobite Army and Prince Charles and proved that the “Highland Charge” was an effective tool of war. Jamie is embracing his role as a leader when we see the subtle manipulation of Dougal, appealing to the War Chief’s ego to “test the ground” of the moor that separate the two armies. This was not just one of my favorite scenes in this episode, but also was probably my very favorite Dougal scene of all of Outlander – season 1 and season 2. I barely breathed as Dougal made his way straight toward the barrels of the English muskets across the moor, arms outstretched as if to say “I dare you!” This was truly Dougal MacKenzie at his best and the personification of how Graham McTavish has chosen to brilliantly bring this character to life.

From Claire prepping the field hospital and trying to reassure the ladies to the tense scuffle between Angus and Kincaid, viewers feel the anxiety building within the camp. And, in the midst of it we see relationships between characters – particularly the Lallybroch men and Jamie and Dougal, and further exposition of the close bond between Jamie and Murtagh. And, we really see more fully Claire’s maternal instinct toward young Fergus, even as she takes on the role of leader within her own realm of the hospital surgery. The embrace between Claire and Jamie before he heads off to the battle was so full of emotion, desire, passion and enabled us to remember the Jamie and Claire that we love so very much. It wasn’t the passionate sex scene many have been hoping for all season but, for me, it was so. much. better. than that. The connection between these two – the love and the respect, the longing and yet the total sense of self that they both display – is WHY I LOVE OUTLANDER! Jamie’s chivalrous bow to his Lady on the way out the door was just the icing on the cake. Top that off with Claire’s goodbye to Rupert, Angus and Murtagh and we see how far these men have come with their relationship with Claire.

Of course, the end of the episode contains some of the most poignant scenes thus far in season 2. It’s because we have been allowed to see inside these characters that we so deeply feel Rupert’s wounding, Fergus’ trauma, and the horror of Angus’ surprising death. To me, this episode is one of the finest hours of Outlander we have seen to date and reminds me of some of similar outstanding episodes from season 1.

It easily tops my rankings as the #1 Best Episode of Outlander Season 2!