'Outlander' midseason finale: Mandi and Michelle share their takes

Mandi: We have made it to the midseason finale. Claire and Jamie are in the newlywed phase with long gazes and lots of hand-holding. Jamie, now proud to call himself not a virgin, asks Claire if it's always this good between two people, and after hesitation Claire is honest and says no. What they have together is something truly special. But then Claire runs away, so apparently she is still feeling torn between Frank and Jamie! Darn it, Sassenach! We'll get to that more in a minute.

This episode added a little something extra to what the book presents — Frank's point of view while he searches for his missing wife. His frustration is intense with the police department and the constant rumor that Claire probably ran off with that Highlander guy who was outside her window the night before her disappearance. And finally, hearing a story about how people have disappeared at the stones of Craigh na Dun, and racing up there to see if he is totally crazy in believing it could happen.

But who cares about Frank, because Claire has massive drama in this episode. It's not all kisses and fluttery eyes. While Claire and Jamie are having a little afternoon delight in the grass, they are surprised by two English soldiers. While one has a gun to Jamie's head, the other wants to sexually assault Claire — but, thankfully, her recent knife lesson has taught her she can aim for the kidney, saving both her and Jamie.

In shock, this leads her to eventually run back to Craigh na Dun when Jamie and the guys go off to meet someone who may help Jamie get the price off his head. Before she makes it to the stones, she ends up in the evil clutches of Black Jack's men. Oh, Claire ... what have you gotten yourself into now?

Claire thinks she can outsmart Captain Randall with bringing up the name of a duke who Frank once told her was helping his relative, but Randall is too smart, and again, Claire finds herself on the verge of sexual assault. This scene was truly hard to watch. I knew the outcome, yet I still held my breath and felt dread in my stomach. This all leads to one of my favorite quotes in the book:

"I'll thank ye," said a cool, level voice, "to take ye hands off my wife."

And now we have to wait until April to continue this journey. The first eight episodes have exceeded my expectations, and I can't wait for more!

Michelle: It's that time to bid Outlander hasta la vista. Not goodbye, simply an anticipation for that special time when we will meet again in 2015 (on April 4, to be exact, Starz has announced). I'm not sure what were the goals for this project. Was the bar comfortably set, just in case, it didn't connect with audiences? Or did the director and his crew have that foresight, after dancing at a stone circle, that this series was going to be elevated to a must-see every Saturday event? To be honest, I had no expectation. I planned for a period piece with a weak attempt at following the story. Maybe only the titles of the series and the book would be the common denominator and everything else would be open to directorial license.

But the series reawakened the special place Outlander had in my heart when I read it during its first release. The strength and classic nature of the story reminded me of when Diana Gabaldon attended a Washington Romance Writers event in Washington, D.C., many moons ago to talk about the book. She was a trendsetter with this historical fiction, among the world of historical romances.

Now, here we are at the final episode for the first half of the season and it's a neat wrap-up, but also ends with a built-in liftoff for intense times ahead.

Dear Frank, I have been neglectful of your feelings. Yes, I acted as if you didn't exist, or that you didn't matter. Chalk it up to comparing you to Jamie. I've been duly checked on my attitude with this episode's focus on your point of view. Your frustration, anger, anguish, then resolution hit me right in the heart. You are a husband grieving for his wife. No matter the problems between you and Claire, you didn't deserve this.

But darn it, then I get flashes of Jamie and Claire, together — all tender-like. I can't help but say that there is chemistry between them. You'd be slightly appeased that Claire is torn and is trying to get back to the stones.

What a beautiful interwoven scene of Claire running toward Frank, and their calls to each other crossing through time. How can you not believe in time travel?

So, Frank, you have a tender spot in my heart.

My takeaways from this episode:

1) Frank and Black Jack were doing a dangerous dance with women whom they believed deceived them. The savagery isn't that far below the surface. Basically, don't ever mess with the Randalls.

2) Black Jack has these lines that seem beautiful, but his sadistic soul colors his speech with the terrifying probability of violence: "In this hour, our third encounter." That means, Claire, run for the hills.

3) Why doesn't Claire ever feel the noose being lowered around that slender neck and its tightening as she has verbal diarrhea? Stop trying to outwit Black Jack.

4) My closing wish: Enjoy your break, Outlander team. You have earned it and then some. I have mad love and respect for you.

Until we meet again.

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.