Outlander Cast: The Doldrums – Episode 103

Posted by Blake Larsen

Outlander Podcast Hosts Mary & Blake discuss Outlander Season 3 episode 9: The Doldrums.

In this episode, we chat: why we love Yi Tien Cho, wanting a little more of characterization from some of the new additions, Jamie and Claire talking goodnight moon and bunnies, Blackjack(?) Sparrow, investing in Fergus and Marsali, and much more!

Episode 103 of Outlander Cast is brought to you by Crafty Flutterby Creations – Please visit www.craftyflutterbycreations.com and use the coupon code OutlanderCAST for 15% off yournext purchase.

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Anne Gavin, Peg Cumbie, Bobbi Franchella

Lisa Margulies, Meredith Bustillo, Amy Bryant, Christina Kotsis, Sue Bellows, Keelin Dawe, Meredith Greenberg, Liz Turner, Dana Mott-Bronson, Nikki Gastineau

Michelle Osteria, Tara Benton, Jennifer Wilson-Veil, Lauren Hutton, Heather Mohr, Marilyn Neenan.

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11 Comments

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Rosemary Knight
· Reply

November 14, 2017 at 2:11 PM

I would rate this episode 4.5 kilts. There was definitely a lot I loved about the episode. I loved everything about Mr. Willoughby. His story was amazing and heartbreaking. I loved Fergus’ interactions with Jaime, especially when he was calling Jaime out on his hypocrisy! I loved Marsali. She’s got a lot of spunk and will definitely keep everyone on their toes. And, I loved all the Jaime and Claire moments. It was great seeing these two connect with each other, and all their moments were real gems. I cried during “Good Night Moon.” It was a great callback to when Jaime was dying at Culloden, and the moonlight shone bright on him as a bunny appeared. But, I also had issues with the episode – some of the same issues I had with 307. I loved the first 5 episodes of the season because they explored the relationships and struggles that our couple experienced during their years apart. When Outlander focuses on these human dramas, it is at its best. However, since the couple has been reunited, the show has become more plot-driven. There was plenty of plot in the pre-reunion episodes, but those plot points served to highlight the relationship and struggles. In contract, 307 and 309, in particular, have focused primarily on plot lines that really don’t move the story along, while the relationship moments have been almost extraneous to the plot. I liked the superstition plot line, but why focus so heavily on it? Did Claire really need to have two separate dinners with the captain to discuss superstitions? And, I know they are trying to turn Leslie and Hayes into Rupert and Angus, but we really don’t need to spend this much time with them. We only saw Rupert and Angus when they were interacting with our main couple, not just with each other. I would have preferred the show spend more time on the inter-relationships of the Fraser family. How can I be invested in Fergus and Marsali as a couple when I’ve barely seen them interact with each other? Claire was a mother to Fergus, yet they haven’t spoken two words to each other since they reunited in “A Malcolm.” And, I wanted to see Claire and Marsali interact as they are forced to spend months cooped up together. I am also becoming increasingly frustrated that Jaime rarely talks about Bree. And, that’s a problem with editing because Jaime was given some beautiful dialogue regarding Bree in the final script of this episode that was ultimately edited out. I understand that Voyager was a big book with a lot of plot. I am not a book purist, so I don’t mind changes and plot eliminations. In fact, I’ve liked a lot of the changes. But, I do mind the show dedicating entire episodes to made-up plot lines that take away from the character and relationship dynamics that made the show great in the first place.
- Lydia Milnar
  · Reply
  
  November 15, 2017 at 1:56 AM
  
  Totally agree
Michelle Osteria
· Reply

November 14, 2017 at 3:50 PM

I loved this episode and give it a 4.6 kilt rating.

My GBG:

The Good: I really enjoyed the opening credits with the tropical flare now part of the theme and I loved the visuals that are now part of the opening credits. I saw a lot happening within the minute it was on. I was a huge fan of Black Sails so I loved the time they were on the ship and its great that they are using some of the ships from Black Sails. They really captured the feel of the ship’s voyage.

The Bad: Not being a book reader I don’t know what I may or may not be missing from the story. Which is fine with me. But, based on what I have heard in general Voyager is a great book with A LOT of story to tell. We only have 4 episodes left, 4 hours doesn’t seem like a lot of time tie up everything. While I loved this episode I kinda wished they had made it to Jamaica and that part of the adventure was underway.

The Great: First “Great” – “Mini Me “Laoghaire” Marsali!! I loved her. I think she was awesome, her snappy, snide bratty comments were great and I loved the way Claire reacted to them and Jamie yet again not really catching on to the “parenting role” he has had over the last twenty years – with Wee Ian being kidnapped, Fergus now on board with his stow away bride and Marsali not listening to a lick he has to say. She is so much like her mother with a “bitchy” attitude, but with Laoghaire she was just mean and bitchy because she was jealous of Claire. Marsali is just bitchy because I assume her mother has told her about Claire and how Claire took “daddy” away from her mother the first time. But, Marsali’s fire to me mirror’s Claire’s fire and I predict they are going to be great friends. Great casting. Second “Great” – Gary Young’s Willoughby’s reading made me tear up. At first I thought it would going to be some type of comic relief but when he was center stage this amazingly beautiful story was told giving a heartbreaking glimpse into his life. I hope they give us more back story about Willoughby.
broughps
· Reply

November 14, 2017 at 7:30 PM

It only took two to three months for a ship to get from Scotland to the Caribbean.

Claire didn’t say that someone had walked on the moon by the time she had left, because they hadn’t. Men didn’t walk on the moon until July of 1969.

The thing is the captain could have flogged anyone he wanted to. Flogging wasn’t limited to naval ships.

Nin Nah Vah.

Yi Tien Cho was giving up his “life” for Hayes.

Agreed there should have been more time with Marsali and Fergus.
Lydia Milnar
· Reply

November 15, 2017 at 2:05 AM

Didn’t care for the lack of communication between Fergus and Claire considering he hasn’t seen her in 20 years. Also would have liked some dialogue between Fergus and Marsali regarding Claire. Story didn’t move the whole hour except at the end when Claire is taken on the porpoise Love willoughbys character but what seaman would have listened to that story that had nothing to do with the wind ( I knew it did but I doubt the men did ) also when Jamie asks Claire if she wants to go back to the stones instead of Claire stating she us here with him for good she claims Isn us what’s important. She’s rarely verbally returns his love
Sandlynn
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November 15, 2017 at 1:02 PM

Just wanted to respond to the comment that Jamie should’ve accompanied Claire to the Porpoise. He couldn’t since he is not inoculated against Typhoid Fever. He would be in danger of catching it on that infectious ship. Plus, since they’re trying to find Ian and they’re both headed to Jamaica, better to be on different ships so that at least one of them will get there. (I know that sounds awful, like one is expecting disaster, but as we know, traveling on ship across the ocean back then was dangerous stuff and at least dividing up — instead of putting all your eggs in one basket — doubles the chances for success.)
Allyburu
· Reply

November 15, 2017 at 2:55 PM

I actually really liked this episode, it took much of the necessary content from the book, whittled it down to some essential bits that they then took and reworked to create the meat of the show. Due to time constraints, there’s no way to fit this book onto 13 episodes, but I think they’ve done a fine Adaptation….I give this episode a solid 4.5 kilts, it did the job, and fixed a big problem from the book in a beautiful way(I’ll get to that in a minute)
GBG
My Good is Marsali and that Attitude, holy moly is she her mother’s daughter!! I love the sass, and the agency she has. Nobody, not even Big Daddy Jamie is gonna tell her who she can marry, and I adore the delivery the actress gives when she says she’ll tell everyone Fergus has bedded her…he hasn’t, but she’ll tell everyone anyway…marvelous!!
My Bad is we don’t get to Claire interacting with Murphy, the ships cantankerous Irish chef…I loved that relationship in the book, and missed it.
My Great is Yi Tien Cho!! I always liked him in the book, but found I had to whistle past A LOT of pretty unfortunate characterizations and tropes that make him a difficult character for modern readers. In the show, he’s by no means flawless , but they’ve given him the dignity, respect, and agency only hinted at in the book, and I thank them for that…he takes control of the Jonah situation in the most selfless, interesting way, and his use of the acupuncture shows his skill as a fellow healer alongside Claire…I just love it…
My Other Great is the new opening song!! I was skipping through it at first, but then saw the new imagery and caught a bit of drums, and went all the way back to the beginning to watch it through…what an amazing change, it captures the beauty and Scottish essence of the original, and then gives it such a new, tropical, vibrant spirit that takes you to a new place entirely…it gave me goosebumps!! Well done, Bear, you outdid yourself with this new composition… 🙂
Last12C
· Reply

November 16, 2017 at 12:47 AM

I give the episode a 4.8 kilt rating.

My Good is Marsali’s snark and eyerolling and all of the quiet bonding between Jamie and Claire. What we did get of these character-driven moments was very good, BUT…
My Bad was the final editing. I wanted the superstition storyline to fade a bit into the background, enough to be there in order to drive the momentum of the episode but not take center stage. If they had edited out the first dinner with the captain and the naughty ditty scene and used that time for some of the stuff that was in the script but was edited out for time I would have been happier: the expanded scene between Jamie and Fergus that clarified Jamie’s concern and the expanded scene between Jamie and Claire in the Moonlight where they talk more about Bree (he actually whips out her photos!). He also tells her about Lord John and Willie, but I think we can leave that for a bit later.
My Great: Like many others I loved the Yi Tien Cho storyline! His painting on the deck to monitor the humidity in the air throughout the episode, the telling of his life story, the release of the pages into the wind – it was all so wonderfully scripted! Just beautiful!
- Rosemary Knight
  · Reply
  
  November 16, 2017 at 8:23 AM
  
  Definitely didn’t need two captain dinners. And, I forgot about the song — it was totally not necessary! I would have rather had Bree talk rather than the song!
Debbie Hansen
· Reply

November 16, 2017 at 10:48 AM

I am going to give this episode after further thought a 4 kilt rating. I still think this season is spending to much time wasted on needless plot i.e. two dinners with the Captain to discuss superstitions of the crew would rather have seen some interaction between Claire and the Ship Cook…. and what about some time with Fergus……Claire was like a mother to him but there has been pretty much zero interaction…and how about Marsali……those are areas where more time should be spent in my opinion…..I get throwing in a few things that were not in the book but would much rather see more interaction with the characters that going forward are a huge part of the story. I did love Yi Tien Cho parts and the “Goodnight Moon” made me cry …however one more disturbing part that I really don’t get is Jamie’s lack of interest I think in Bree….it just seems very out of character for Jamie…..not wanting to learn everything he can about her. I also liked the quickie in the closet..(come on now I am sure I am not alone here)..the looks they exchanged with each other prior to that happening seemed very real and showed I think that they are slowly finding their way back to each other….. I also LOVED the new Opening song changes… WOW! Bear is simply amazing…..hard to believe that we are unfortunately on the downhill slide to the end of the season. No matter the hit or misses I still love the show and truly appreciate the fine acting from all involved! Can’t wait to see wee Ian back in the picture! and meet the new characters Jocasta and Capt Bonnet and going into next season Rollo!!!! Casting thus far in my eyes has been dead on!!!!
Karen Guittar
· Reply

December 17, 2019 at 1:42 PM

The more I have re-watched this episode, the better I like it. The scene of Jamie and Claire making love in the storage room – the passion, the need – really a beautiful scene.

re: Jamie not going with Claire to The Porpoise: Jamie didn’t have the immunity from the disease that Claire had – they couldn’t risk him going with her. And he also was responsible for the cargo on The Artemis..he couldn’t just blow that off, either.

And I agree with you, Mary – that it would be fun to have our own Outlandish theory, but I also agree with Blake, that it’s fun to hear someone guess and get it right or wrong and be able to intone “Interseting!”

Thanks to you both!