Outlander Episode 5 Recap: Where It Was Basically a Musical

I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that the title of this week’s episode (“Rent”) is also the title of a very well-known late twentieth-century musical written by Jonathan Larson. While this episode was not a musical, strictly speaking, it adhered to some tropes found in classical theatre. These included moments such as Claire peeing into a bucket and bonding with an aged lawyer over which herbs to smoke to cure his asthma.
Okay. I admit defeat. Those are not theatrical tropes. My MFA in theatre would allow me to perpetuate that farce not one moment longer. The only thing this episode had in common with a musical was the singing of one song, and the use of that song to move the narrative forward.
Claire has officially left Castle Leoch behind her and hopes to journey back to Craig Na Dun and into the “I-Say” worthy arms of her stodgy husband Frank “I Totally Killed Caesar In HBO’S Rome” Randall. Now, I’m not saying I’d abandon my partner to the past and hike up my skirt a little more (in the immortal words of Dave Matthews) immediately upon locking eyes with Jamie Fraser, but I’d be tempted. And in this episode, Claire and Jamie’s bond grows. When the rest of the gang decides to make fun of her and not let her join them in any of their Highland games, Jamie is all #Itgetsbetter, thus proving himself to be foxiest ginger that ever was. If that weren’t enough to cement their bond, he sleeps at the foot of her door all night to protect her from rapists. Because nothing says “I wanna be on you” like protecting you from violent sexual assault.
Jamie isn’t the only one with whom Claire bonds this week; she also smooths things over with her bodyguard Angus (who could be re-cast with a mildly irritated King Charles Spaniel without anyone knowing) and earns the respect of the crew when she makes a hilarious joke about masturbation. These dudes aren’t used to a lady who can heal wounds, swear like a sailor, and discuss genitals in a way that is amusing. They are warming to her, and to prove their affectation they brutalize some drunkards who are calling Claire a whore. Angus basically quoted Mean Girls when he explained his reason for defending Claire’s honor: “That’s only okay when I say it!”
Claire spends a good portion of this episode feeling self-righteous because she assumed Dougal and his minions were collecting money to line their own pockets. (I like that in Claire’s mind, stripping Jamie Fraser naked night after night is some sort of peep show worth paying for.) In fact, Dougal is raising money for Jacobite rebellion. Claire, in turn, is all “Look, I’m not saying I’m some sort of ‘time traveling witch from the future’ here, but this rebellion is a terrible idea.” Naturally, no one listens to her, leaving her all, “OMG Scottish men, not listening to a harbinger of misfortune! Typical! Amiright?”
At the episode’s end Claire has to make a choice. Those of us who’ve read the books have a fair idea what this choice might be. Sadly, because this is television, that confidence was undermined by a cliff-hanger ending. Please remember, I’ve read all of these books, and yet when the final shot was Claire’s lip quivering uncertainly I still hurled an entire bowl of Tostitos at the ceiling in an agony of suspense.
Until next week, may your days be wool waulking, and your nights filled with thoughts of what’s under Jamie’s kilt.
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