Episode 113,“The Watch,” Written by Toni Graphia, Directed by Metin Hüseyin
Recap: A man stands with his pistol pointed at Jamie, who turns to face the barrel as Claire moves down the stairs. The tension is broken by Jenny, who orders the man to put his gun down. The man does not immediately lower his weapon as Jenny introduces Jamie as her cousin and he calls himself Jamie McTavish, the name he once used at Castle Leoch. He finally lowers his weapon, apologizing for the confusion. Jenny continues her story, littering it with some truth, including his marriage to Claire. The man finally introduces himself as Taran MacQuarrie as Ian joins the rest and delivers Taran’s refinished sword to him. Dinner is requested and Jenny takes off for the kitchen with Jamie right on her heels.
Catching up to her, Jamie reprimands his sister for allowing the Watch into their home. Ian and Claire soon join the others in the kitchen and Ian assures Jamie they will only be a few days. Jamie’s anger is not assuaged, even though Ian tells him Taran and his men are not all bad and keep them safe from the redcoats and other raiding clans. Jamie worries about the Watch knowing about the price on his head, but Jenny tells him they will be fine if Jamie can keep his wits about him. This particular group of men have been coming to Lallybroch every few months over the last two years and Jamie shouts at Jenny that he would never have allowed this to happen. Not backing down, Jenny throws it in his face that Jamie was not around, but Claire cuts in before it can escalate further, urging the siblings to keep their voices down so the Watch does not hear them. The pair break apart and stand in silence until Ian assures Jamie that, although they allow the Watch to come to their home, it has taken its toll on them, but something they had to do. He is open to hearing a better solution from Jamie, who offers nothing in return.
Jenny suddenly cries out in pain and Claire rushes to her side and tries to get Jenny to sit down, but she continues to prepare dinner for the men. Claire then urges Jamie to listen to his sister and to not provoke the men of the Watch.
Gathered for dinner, Taran asks more about Jamie and Claire reveals he fought in the French army with Ian. Taran also served in the French army, but in Austria, while Ian and Jamie were in Spain. The trio revel in some of their old war stories, but Taran is suspicious since Ian has never mentioned Jamie in any of his stories. After Taran raises his glass for a toast, Claire wonders how long the men are staying. Taran reveals they will only be there a few days, but that a few more men will be joining their company tomorrow since they have a plan in the works. When Taran asks to see the smithy in the morning for his horse, Jamie offers his services. Taran accepts and praises the cook before he and his men take their leave after dinner.
The men of the Watch gather the next day as Jamie tends to Taran’s horse, but cause chaos as one man sets fire to a wagon of hay as the others stand back and laugh. Jamie and others rush to put out the fire, and when they do, Jamie turns his anger on the men of the Watch. One draws his pistol and points it at Jamie, who attacks and fights off the other men as they become the aggressors. Taran approaches and orders the men to stand down, and offers his apologizes to Jamie. He also tries to wrangle Jamie into joining the company, but James concedes that he is done with fighting. Jamie is drawn back to the house by the sounds of the dogs barking. As he approaches, he sees the additional members of the Watch and is surprised by the appearance of Horrocks. Recognition registers on Horrocks’ face, but when Taran inquires, Horrocks brushes it off before heading into the house.
Secluded in a room with Claire, Jamie tells her of Horrocks’ arrival and his worry that the man will not keep what he knows about Jamie to himself for long. Jamie, who thought Lallybroch would be a safe haven for them, believes they should not have come back at all, but Claire is quick to cut down his sentiments, knowing they can handle whatever trouble crops up.
Jamie walks through the house and comes upon Horrocks explaining a potential ambush to the other men of the Watch. He pauses for a moment before quietly turning away. Outside, Jenny and Claire tend to the laundry with the help of young Jamie, before he is sent away for splashing water on Claire. When the pair are left alone, their talk turns to Jenny’s pregnancy and her belief she is carrying another boy. Claire reveals to Jenny that she is an only child and Jenny tells Claire about their brother Willie, who died when Jamie was only eight, and how Ian became like a brother to him after. While walking more clothes to the line, Jenny doubles over in pain and reveals her water has broken. Claire moves into action and takes Jenny into the house.
Inside the bedroom, Claire examines Jenny and discovers the baby is breech. Claire attempts to turn the baby, but is unsuccessful in her endeavors. When Claire suggests she goes to get Ian, Jenny is adamant that he is only told that the baby is coming and nothing else.
Jamie spots Horrocks on his own in the house and moves to confront the man. Horrocks wondered when Jamie would seek him out and after the man rambles a bit, Jamie demands to know what he wants. Horrocks wishes to sail to the colonies, specifically Boston, but lacks the funds for the journey, even with the money he will collect from the upcoming raid. The man swears Jamie will never see him again if he gives him the money and Jamie simply wonders how much.
Claire returns to Jenny, who is now pacing the floor. Claire asks Jenny to tell her what it is like being pregnant as she continues to cross the length of the room. Jenny tells her that in the beginning it is like wind in your belly, but later, when the child begins to move it is like a fish tugging on a line. There is also fear when they stop moving, for fear they have died. And finally, towards the end, when the child is restless, Jenny compares it to a man pouring himself inside you. The pair are soon informed the midwife is unable to come and Claire assures Jenny they will be alright on their own.
Jamie and Ian tend to the scorched hay wagon and Ian reprimands his friend for provoking the men of the Watch. Jamie wonders why Ian is not more upset by their presence and he informs him that Taran has been easy on them and not taken as much as he has from others. Ian also tells Jamie that he sometimes looks forward to Taran’s visits since he does not look down on Ian. He is also grateful that they keep the redcoats at bay since Ian is determined to not let what happened between Jenny and Randall ever happen again. Jamie is still uneasy and when Ian inquires, Jamie informs him that Horrocks knows about the price on Jamie’s head and wants money. Ian tells Jamie about a sum of money from his and Jenny’s father, but Jamie is hesitant to take it and does not want his sister to know about Horrocks’ threats. Jamie refuses the money, but Ian assures him that it is what Jenny would want and what Ian wants for him too.
Back in their bedroom, Jamie tells Claire the money was meant for her and their children. Claire grows worried at the mention of children, and though Jamie believes he has let her down, she feels just the opposite. Holding back her tears, Claire confesses to Jamie that she does not believe she can have children, since she was unable to conceive while married to Frank. Claire knows she should have told him prior to their marriage, but she did not count on falling in love with him or wanting a family with him. She apologizes, but he comforts her with the thought that it may be for the best since he could not bear seeing her in pain. The pair break from their embrace as Claire leaves to return to Jenny.
Jamie walks towards the spot where he is to meet Horrocks, concealing a pistol on the way. Horrocks whistles, revealing himself to Jamie on the high ground. Jamie walks to him and tosses the bag of money to the man. As he turns to walk away, Horrocks stops him and demands more money, which is something Jamie does not have. Horrocks threatens Jamie and his family as he draws his pistol. The man has no time to make another threat as an unknown assailant runs a sword through his chest. Jamie is startled by the attack, but relieved when Horrock’s body falls to reveal Ian. Jamie is grateful to Ian and the pair prepare to dispose of the body.
Later that night, Jenny’s cries reverberate through the room as Claire prepares a birthing area. Jenny removes her wedding ring and hands it to Claire to put away. In the jewelry box, Claire finds a carved snake figure Willie made for Jamie’s fifth birthday. During their talk, Jenny also reveals their mother died while in childbirth and asks Claire to give the snake to Jamie for her. Understanding her meaning, Claire tells Jenny to give it to her brother herself.
Jenny’s cries carry through the house and one of the men call for her to stop howling. Ian pushes past and makes his way to his wife upstairs, leaving Jamie alone with the Watch. Taran offers Jamie a bag of coins for the burned hay before wondering about Horrocks’ whereabouts. Jamie gives nothing away and is pleased to hear they will be moving on the next day.
Ian and Jamie join Taran for breakfast, who tries to deduce what happened to Horrocks. Tarim flat out asks Jame why he killed Horrocks and, before Ian can interject, Jamie confesses he is a wanted man and Horrocks tried to blackmail him, which led to his death. Tarim is surprisingly pleased by the news and uses what he now knows about Jamie to get him to agree to ride with the Watch. Jamie swiftly agrees to joining them this once and Ian stands to join Jamie.
Claire warns Jamie to be on guard since they could still turn him in after he has severed his purpose. Ian believes Jamie will be fine, but is still determined to go with him. Claire urges Ian to stay with Jenny, but she too wishes Ian to accompany her brother. Claire stands aside to let Ian pass to say his goodbyes to his wife. Claire motions for Jamie to follow her into the hall. She pulls out the snake figure and presents it to Jamie. Claire repeats Jenny’s orders for Jamie to hurry back before they kiss goodbye.
Ian and Jamie ride alongside the Watch. Jamie questions Tarim about his choice to live on the road and be part of the Watch. The man tries to convince Jamie to take up with them, but Jamie confesses Claire is reason enough to be settled. Jamie wonders is Tarim has plans to turn him over once the raid is over, but Tarim assures him he will not since he too knows what it is like in prison.
As Jenny’s labor progresses, she makes Claire promise to take care of Ian, but Claire assures her there will be no need for that. Jenny is finally ready to push and positions herself on the bed of hay Claire has arranged in the bedroom.
Back with the Watch, the company approaches the area Horrocks told them about to stage the ambush. Jamie agrees the area is ideal, but becomes suspicious as he looks around the area and realizes there is no way out for them. A group of red coats reveal themselves and attack the men, gunfire ringing.
Claire swaddles the child and hands Jenny her baby girl. A few days later, Claire stands just outside the front door of the house holding baby Margaret, looking longingly at the road for Jamie and Ian to return. Jenny takes the baby from Claire and sends her inside for a nap before joining her on the steps. Jenny tries to reassure Claire that Jamie will return since she too stared at the road waiting for him to return all those years and he finally did. After a moment, Jenny reaches into her pocket and retrieves two large ivory bracelets belonging to her mother, giving them to Claire, who is now the Lady of Lallybroch. Jenny also reveals they were given to her mother as a wedding present from an admirer. Claire attempts to show Jenny a bit of affection with a kiss on the cheek, but the other woman is startled by her actions. The dogs’ barking draws the pair’s attentions as two men stumble up the road. Claire and Jenny run to meet whoever is approaching, which is revealed to be Ian and another man from the Watch. Claire wonders where Jamie is and Ian tells them of the ambush orchestrated by Horrocks and the redcoats, which left the rest of the men dead and Jamie captured by the redcoats.
As Sarah pointed out in her review of Lallybroch, Jenny’s hostility towards Claire in the episode was a bit off putting and it is nice to see the growth in their relationship in “The Watch.” No, they are not skipping along and singing cheery songs with one another, but there seems to be a mutual respect and trust that has emerged between them. Although Jenny was not entirely receptive of Claire’s outward expression of affection towards the end of the episode, it was lovely to see Jenny present Claire with her mother’s bracelets and for Claire to attempt a bit of sisterly affection in return.
Outlander continues to deviate from the novel, this time with the reappearance of Horrocks and the role he plays in Jamie’s capture by the redcoats. His reintroduction into the story adds a bit of tension to the episode since he is a liability to keeping Jamie’s secret, but it is slightly disappointing to see him reduced to a predictable blackmail scheme. Since the Ronald MacNab (who betrayed Jamie in the novel) and his son were featured in “Lallybroch,” it may have been better to build on that animosity since the Murrays and Frasers believed their tenants would not betray Jamie. The change is in no way a detriment to the episode, but a missed opportunity to make more of an impact leading into the next few episodes.
