I think it is a matter of human nature to reject stories like this. When faced with bone chilling evil, with actions so cruel they defy human expectation, you want to turn away, you want to shy away from it. There is a reason why antagonists are often portrayed as cartoonish, over-the-top, caricatures. I can see why some people would watch an episode like this and never want to watch another one again.
But what makes the Outlander series one of the best I have watched, and what makes Sam, Tobias and Caitriona's performance so memorable is the ability to bring characters to life, to display such a depth of human emotion that normal people don't see in real life. What you see in this episode, and earlier in Garrison Commander is the true nature of evil in the form of Jack Randall. He's not over-the-top, he's not a caricature; every move he makes is rational, calculated, and reasonable. His speech and mannerisms are completely controlled. He's not what we normally see in a disgusting villain. He's not crazy, he knows exactly who he is, he knows exactly what he's doing, but he doesn't care. You see a monster who has truly embraced the darkness, who is obsessed with a single vile goal, and that what makes it such a masterpiece. Most other programs shy away from this. Outlander leans into it, and forces you to come to terms with evil like this.
And what truly makes the episode harder to watch, (as if it wasn't hard enough to watch) are the performances of Sam and Cait, who have done such an incredible job providing emotional depth to these characters. At this point in the series, you know who these people are, you know what makes them tick, their fears, their desires, their passions. Which is why it is so harrowing to see them overcome by Randall. The episode hurts so much because it's not supposed to happen this way. Good is supposed to overcome evil, and both Sam and Cait display such a wide range of emotions in this episode. It's amazing the range of their talent, how in a single scene, their characters can show anger, resolve, and terror at the same time. It's heartbreaking when Jaime and Claire's resolve begins to break, when Claire's defiance turns to pure agony over her husband's torture, when Jamie's resolve turns to pure terror as Randall begins to assault him.
It's a truly terrifying episode, a sickening reminder of the sinister nature of evil. What makes this episode so gutwrenching for me is not the violence, or the gore, or the disgusting acts of sexual violence that you know are coming, its that everything that has been a strength for the heroes to this point, everything that makes us want these characters to succeed is twisted into weakness. Everything that has made the heroes so compelling is weaponized by Randall. Claire's devotion to save her husband, her resourcefulness and fearlessness that makes her such a powerful character results in her falling into Randall's grasp. Jaime devotion to Claire, his loyalty and willingness to keep her safe acts as the catalyst for Randall overcoming his will.
It's horrifying to think that the best qualities of yourself can be used against you by people that want to do you harm. The showrunners deserve praise for having the courage to tell such a story, as disgusting and brutal as it is.
But what makes the Outlander series one of the best I have watched, and what makes Sam, Tobias and Caitriona's performance so memorable is the ability to bring characters to life, to display such a depth of human emotion that normal people don't see in real life. What you see in this episode, and earlier in Garrison Commander is the true nature of evil in the form of Jack Randall. He's not over-the-top, he's not a caricature; every move he makes is rational, calculated, and reasonable. His speech and mannerisms are completely controlled. He's not what we normally see in a disgusting villain. He's not crazy, he knows exactly who he is, he knows exactly what he's doing, but he doesn't care. You see a monster who has truly embraced the darkness, who is obsessed with a single vile goal, and that what makes it such a masterpiece. Most other programs shy away from this. Outlander leans into it, and forces you to come to terms with evil like this.
And what truly makes the episode harder to watch, (as if it wasn't hard enough to watch) are the performances of Sam and Cait, who have done such an incredible job providing emotional depth to these characters. At this point in the series, you know who these people are, you know what makes them tick, their fears, their desires, their passions. Which is why it is so harrowing to see them overcome by Randall. The episode hurts so much because it's not supposed to happen this way. Good is supposed to overcome evil, and both Sam and Cait display such a wide range of emotions in this episode. It's amazing the range of their talent, how in a single scene, their characters can show anger, resolve, and terror at the same time. It's heartbreaking when Jaime and Claire's resolve begins to break, when Claire's defiance turns to pure agony over her husband's torture, when Jamie's resolve turns to pure terror as Randall begins to assault him.
It's a truly terrifying episode, a sickening reminder of the sinister nature of evil. What makes this episode so gutwrenching for me is not the violence, or the gore, or the disgusting acts of sexual violence that you know are coming, its that everything that has been a strength for the heroes to this point, everything that makes us want these characters to succeed is twisted into weakness. Everything that has made the heroes so compelling is weaponized by Randall. Claire's devotion to save her husband, her resourcefulness and fearlessness that makes her such a powerful character results in her falling into Randall's grasp. Jaime devotion to Claire, his loyalty and willingness to keep her safe acts as the catalyst for Randall overcoming his will.
It's horrifying to think that the best qualities of yourself can be used against you by people that want to do you harm. The showrunners deserve praise for having the courage to tell such a story, as disgusting and brutal as it is.
