'Outlander' Episode 7: Mandi and Michelle share their takes
Mandi: This episode is called The Wedding, but a more appropriate title is The Wedding Night. I ditched the popcorn this time for a bottle of wine, because Jamie losing his virginity deserves to be celebrated. We get an entire episode dpevoted to the union of Jamie and Claire. To recap, Claire is strongly urged to marry Jamie, to keep her out of the evil clutches of Black Jack. Jamie is strongly urged to marry Claire because, well, Dougal told him to. After forcefully making a priest perform the ceremony (with a bribe to top it all off), the wedding festivities begin.
The episode starts somewhat abruptly as it opens with the very end of the wedding. We head right to the bedroom (hey, I'm not complaining!) and begin the somewhat awkward process of consummating the marriage. Jamie is a virgin and Claire can't stop thinking about future Frank, so they don't enthusiastically just jump in the sack. Claire wants to get her buzz on before disrobing so she asks Jamie all about his family, which seems to last a long time. Finally, it's time and it's all over pretty quick. For the rest of the episode, Jamie walks around with no kilt on and I have to say, I approve of this look.
I thought this episode was going to be a bit of a letdown due to the fact we start the show at the very end of the actual wedding, and we have the one clumsy sex scene, but I was mistaken. We get flashbacks to events preceding the wedding and the actual wedding itself. This made me very happy, as I needed to see the emotional journey of Claire joining Jamie at the altar. And, back in the honeymoon suite, Claire has a moment where she starts to fall for Jamie. And she decides to school Mr. Fraser in a little seduction and oh my, my. My husband dared tried to talk during this scene, and I quickly put an end to that! A very sensual and simply naked scene unfolds and I think I need to watch it again. A kilt-less Jamie is a fine thing indeed.
I'm sad there is only one episode left, but with a second season already approved, we can all anticipate it together. Don't erase this one from your DVRs! We might need to sneak a peek under Jamie's kilt every now and again to make the wait for the second season bearable.
Michelle: I watched. Took hours for all systems to return to normal. Then wrote my thoughts: Oh, snap! Wedding Night was a gift.
Each episode is 59 minutes. For this one, I smiled from beginning to end. A giggle may have erupted here and there, but I was in truly a higher plane of consciousness. I had to hit the fan at the bedside as things got hawt! Oh dear sweet Jamie. Dreamy sigh.
Dougal, bless his heart. He manages to screw things up with Claire on a consistent basis. Down, man. Though you may have played wedding arranger, you can't have her. Poor Rupert paid the price for Dougal's testosterone rage. Go walk it off, my man.
Like Mandi mentioned about the wedding flashbacks, it worked to remind us why they are together, why in this world, they belong with each other. The three conditions highlight the sensitive side to Jamie. In his heart, despite the brutal circumstances that is his existence, he cherishes certain considerations for the moment of his marriage and his bride. Loved that he was ready to face off with Dougal to get what he wanted in this instance.
With touches of humor, we see the burly male entourage set out to make sure that conditions are met, by any means necessary. A quick stop in an establishment of ill repute — I mean it's for God and country — Claire has a fine wedding dress. Although the arrangements are hastily put together out of necessity (let's not forget Black Jack as the reason), the wedding was attended to with a thoughtfulness and air of romanticism to make us all sigh with joy for the couple.
My takeaways from this episode:
1) Costume designer and team, you get an A+ and because that wedding dress was gorgeous, an extra +. Whatever branch of TV awards handles costumes, I nominate you.
2) Rupert and Angus, silly, disgusting men. I continue to love 'em.
3) Jamie's post-rapture face was priceless. I'm glad Claire also saw the funny side to his smile and expression of utter satisfaction.
4) I'm never good with names. Really. I can be introduced and seconds later, I'm in full mental distress as I try to recall. However, I will never forget James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser.
See you next week for the final episode of the year. *sniff*
Mandi Schreiner started romance review blog Smexy Books in 2009. She is obsessed with reading romance novels and collecting fictional boyfriends.
Michelle Monkou celebrates her upcoming digital release in Evernight Publishing's Executive Assistant anthology, writing as Michelle Rhys. Her website is michellemonkou.com. You can also connect with her on Facebook.