Outlander Cast: Do No Harm

Posted by Blake Larsen

Outlander Podcast Hosts Mary & Blake discuss Outlander episode 4.02, “Do No Harm”.

In this episode, we chat why there is a lot of undue criticism for this episode, being a spiritual cousin to Creme de Menthe, and having a scratch and sniff option…

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8 Comments

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Allison Indaburu
· Reply

November 13, 2018 at 2:18 PM

This episode may not sit very well with everyone, and I understand their reasoning. Each of us has a perspective, a frame of reference, and a history. I think for most of us, the majority of our history is to be looked on with a warm glow, with so many happy memories. Other parts we may choose to look away from, the sadness, sorrow, cruelty, or violence we would otherwise like to forget. But one thing is true. History happened, and it was Brutal. We must acknowledge it, and comprehend the full spectrum of its atrocities. This is not easy. It shouldn’t be. But it must be done. To glaze over history would be a disservice and a mistake, to dishobor those who were sacrificed and died on the alter of progress. My words here are somber, and ring with no joy, but hopefully I can find a way to bring some levity in. My Kilt Rating is a 4.6. This part of the story is not an easy one to translate to the screen, but I feel they did a good job. We are shown the truth of the situation, whereas many of us would think, like Claire, that we may just free these slaves where we are, do what we can. But the Law is harsh. Slavery only works when everyone in power is on board, and all agree to the System. Dissension in the ranks leads to Revolution, as History would later show. But at River Run, though Jocasta may serve as a benevolent Master, she is MASTER nonetheless, and she is subject to the Law. It is important to show why exactly, with no question, Claire and Jamie cannot stay at River Run. I think the show does that succinctly. My Good was John Quincy Meyers and Ian. They made me smile, and I loved their male bonding over beards and bollocks. My Bad was the snide chiding of Lieutenant Wolfe, as Ian defended the Natives. “How charmingly naïve”… I just wanna smack him in the face, and I’m sure that was the intent of the show, so well done, mission accomplished. My GREAT was the Clock in the Title Card. At first I was querisome about why they would choose that particular imagery, but after watching the episode, I got it on two fronts. One, obviously, was the reference to the time granted to Jamie to deliver poor Rufus to the men. The other, slightly more subtle reference, was that Claire needs to remember what Time she is in. Remember where you are, and remember that you can’t change things the way you want to. Time is it’s own entity, and will not be changed, no matter the wishes of us mortals. This episode really hit home for me in several ways. On Thursday, November 8th, my parents, in-laws, cousins, aunt, uncle, a multitude of friends, and thousands of neighbors were rendered homeless by the Camp Fire still burning in Paradise, CA, and surrounding communities. My childhood home is gone, my place in the world has forever changed, and the place that I always went back to for family gatherings is no more. Like Jamie and Claire after the attack by Bonnet, I’m reeling from tragedy, and trying to find my foothold in a world made uncertain. Also, like Claire, I wish to change time, to set right the events and tragedies that have so suddenly befallen an entire population. To be unmoored, and set adrift in the world is terrifying, and sobering. But, like Jamie and Claire, we will carry on, find our bearings, and rebuild our lives. Though we can never bring back the 40+ people who have lost their lives, we can live on. And we will. One thing Outlander has is the Spirit of Survival and Perseverance through seemingly insurmountable odds. But they survive. May we find inspiration in their journey, and never bow to circumstances that seek to break us. Thank you all for being a safe haven to me, as the whole world seems to have shattered beneath me and my community. But hopefully, we can make a marvelous mosaic from the pieces. Love to you all.
- Karen D. Lane
  · Reply
  
  November 13, 2018 at 9:43 PM
  
  Allison, you wrote everything I am feel and more. I feel so sorry for your lose and those of your family and my family and friends in California.
  
  I would like to add that to turns one’s back on the moral and cultural issues about slavery, is to forget that the United States remains as divided today on the issue of racism as in 1767. Instead of lynchings, we have young black men being shot on streets and in their cars for listening to music that is too loud or for just knocking on the wrong door. Instead of poll taxes, we have voter suppression of minority communities throughout the former confederacy; We have just witnessed the loss of the right to vote by Native Americans in North Dakota, because culturally on their sovereign reservations they do not use street addresses. We have just witnessed the brutal slaying of Jewish American praying on the Sabbath in Pittsburgh. If more people had acted as defiant and vocal as Claire against slavery and for the abolition of slavery as well as the wholesale slaughter of the native american population of the colonies in 1767, maybe, just maybe, slavery in the colonies and in half of the 13 original states, would have ended sooner as it did in England.
  
  Oh beautiful, for heroes proved
  In liberating strife
  Who more than self, our country loved
  And mercy more than life
  America, America, may God thy gold refine
  Till all success be nobleness
  And every gain devined . . .
  Ray Charles opening refrain of America the Beautiful
Anna Caulfield
· Reply

November 13, 2018 at 3:48 PM

I thought all in all it was well-done and stayed true to the spirit of the original. My only complaint is Jamie’s hair–it looks ridiculous.
- Kathie Snyders
  · Reply
  
  November 15, 2018 at 10:54 AM
  
  Hmm funny. I like Jamie’s hair. He looks more like “my Jamie” – how I envisioned him from the books.
Arne Cröll
· Reply

November 13, 2018 at 7:32 PM

Hi Mary and Blake, Arne Cröll from Huntsville, AL here.
That podcast was a great analysis. I agree completely with it. Two little factual tidbits:
1. Claire did not use Arsenic for Rufus‘ tea, it was Aconite (Monkshood). Arsenic (arsenic oxide, As2O3)poison does not work that fast. If you look closely, it says Aconite on the bottle. That is actually a callback to ep. 203, when Claire sees a bottle of Aconite in Master Raymond’s shop and asks him why he has it and that she is not aware of any medicinal use, it is a poison. Raymond seconds that and then discusses the bitter Cascara. Of course that leaves the question why it is in Claire‘s medical box now!?
2. You are probably aware of it, the feud between the Campbells and MacDonalds goes back to another really dark episode of Scottish history, the Glencoe massacre.
Dawn
· Reply

November 15, 2018 at 5:03 PM

Hi Mary and Blake, welcome back. It’s Dawn from New Jersey here, and I’m so thrilled to be back in the Outlander Universe.

Unfortunately, it isn’t the delightful world of seasons past.

I am sorry, I agree. I didn’t care for this episode.

Blake I am so glad you mentioned that the writer of this episode also wrote “Creme De Menthe”: “Do No Harm” reminded me so much of “Creme De Menthe”, that it was almost formulaic.

The brutal theme of slavery carried through the whole piece–It not only resonated the horrors of the past, but also the frightening forshadowings of the future for me.

It was not a surprise though, the minute I heard that Jamie and Claire were going to settle in the south, my mind jumped to the issue of slavery: We knew from the Jamaican slave market in the finale of last season, that Claire was rightly appalled, so I was expecting the issue to echo this season.

I can only hope though, that the issues of slavery, and barbarism in America are not repeated every episode of Outlander this season (this was my complaint with the continuous issues of rape in past seasons as well) Yes, the brutality existed, but I hope the show does not rely too heavily on that.

Yes, River Run was stunning in its sets and ornamental beauty, but even that made me uncomfortable. Underneath that grandeur was rot. Even though she considered herself a benevolent master, the idea that Aunt Jocasta lived like that when others were suffering was appalling.

It reminded me of Jamie’s grand meals with John Grey at the prison: They were dining on pheasant when his poor comrades were in prison trying to catch rats to eat for their dinner.

Aunt Jocasta…now just by her name alone, I am suspicious of this woman. In the Greek Myths Jocasta slept with her son: I suspect there’s something not quite benign about Jamie’s aunt( yep, I do think she pulled a Gellis, killing her husbands)

The idea that this woman fled Scotland to America just to own slaves made me sick (Scotland after all wanted their freedom from England–they did not want to be owned)

Correct me if I am wrong: Isn’t there a Scottish philosophy that no man is another man’s servant?

Aunt Jocasta forgot that in a hurry. (If I am wrong, I apologize)

The last name of Campbell is interesting to me. Wasn’t that the last name of the brother and sister from last season? She was a psychic.

I am just a show watcher, so I am just throwing out ideas.

What I did love was John Bell as Ian. He’s so adorable, and I just love seeing him with his dog. That description of the skunk cracked me up!

All in all, this episode is pretty skip worthy.

Can’t wait for next week.

Dawn
Kathie Snyders
· Reply

November 16, 2018 at 12:09 AM

Hmm funny. I like Jamie’s hair. He looks more like “my Jamie” – how I envisioned him from the books.
Rebecca
· Reply

December 28, 2018 at 6:30 PM

Hi Mary and Blake!

Rebecca from the states. (:

I really loved this episode, even if it WAS intense and I didn’t really like how everything went down at the end. I think I give it 4 Kilts. It was done very well.

I agree with both of you, with Blake, and what you said about the ending – Claire seeing how her choices effected everybody. So sad, but I liked what you all said about that. She needs to see more often how her choices effect people.

I liked Jamie’s auntie a lot. I loved what you said about her being a woman of her time. I agree, Claire has had a lot thrown at her, but I still think she came off disrespectful toward Jamie’s auntie in this episode. I TOTALLY GET Claire, really. I have just as much of a “Justice Button” and feel things just as strongly as she does. I really don’t know how I would handle seeing slavery in action, probably cry, but I WOULD HAVE TRIED to be as respectful as possible, because Jamie’s aunt WAS helping them…It seemed like she didn’t even try. Ugh. 🙁

Loved Ian in this episode. ha ha That was so funny with the skunk. Can’t wait to see more of John Quincy Meyers. He seems interesting.

That Outlandish theory was crazzzy!!! Wow!!! That will be interesting to see if it’s true!! Wow!!! I can’t wait until we see her again and SEE what happens in THAT episode, or in those episodes. (:

The music really IS great in this show. lol LOOOVVE IT!! ?

Thank you for the podcast! Always peaks my interest/GIVES me things to think about, even if I don’t agree with both of you what seems like a good chunk of the time (??). I enjoy your podcast a lot. Again, thank you.