The Fox's Lair will never be mistaken for an Outlander episode of the highest quality. But after the grueling ordeal that was Faith, The Fox's Lair provides an entertaining respite that sets us the start of the war arc.
The emotional weight of the episode is really confined to the start, where the Frasers find themselves faced with a big decision, to either fight to try to alter the Rising in the Jacobites favor or leave Scotland to its fate. You can see how the Paris arc has affected them; they are not just worried about what should be done, they are worried about what decision is right, what they can live with, and how their decision will reflect those around them. It's a stark contrast to the consequences be damned attitude that the pair had when they arrived in Paris. And there is something nice about a program spending some time to reflect upon a character's decision to go to war. Most of the time, the reasoning and decision to go to war gets largely ignored, and the focus is placed upon the war itself or the preparations for going into battle.
Though, what makes this episode fun to watch are the interactions between Lord Lovat, and Jaime particularly, but also between the Frasers and Colum as well. Sam Heughan and Clive Russell have such good chemistry in this episode, and there's just something entertaining about Jaime and his Grandfather hurling insults and threats at each other. My personal favorite line from Jamie, after Lovat threatens to have Claire raped, "Go ahead, ravage my wife. When she's done with you I'll have you maid come in and sweep up your remains."
The writers were very clever in taking some of the best parts of the Paris arc and incorporation them here. It's fun to watch Jaime and Claire scheme together to get the best of their adversaries. The difference is, unlike in Paris, you can see that they really are on the same page, working as a single unit, using the legend of La Dame Blanche to their benefit. You can see how Paris has had a profound impact.
The only other observation is that seeing Colum again was a welcome sight. He's such an interesting character, an anomaly in a world where it seems like someone is either an ally or enemy of the Frasers. You get the sense that Colum is genuinely happy to see Clare, but she's unsure, believing he had a part in the witch trial. Colum is against Jaime's plan to fight in the war, but you really do get a sense that he cares about his nephew, in a way that Dougal never has. Remember, Colum allowed Jaime to live after he refused to swear fealty to him.
This episode probably doesn't deserve so high a rating, but I just thought it was a relatively entertaining introductory episode to the war act and added some needed dark levity after the grueling final episodes in Paris.
The emotional weight of the episode is really confined to the start, where the Frasers find themselves faced with a big decision, to either fight to try to alter the Rising in the Jacobites favor or leave Scotland to its fate. You can see how the Paris arc has affected them; they are not just worried about what should be done, they are worried about what decision is right, what they can live with, and how their decision will reflect those around them. It's a stark contrast to the consequences be damned attitude that the pair had when they arrived in Paris. And there is something nice about a program spending some time to reflect upon a character's decision to go to war. Most of the time, the reasoning and decision to go to war gets largely ignored, and the focus is placed upon the war itself or the preparations for going into battle.
Though, what makes this episode fun to watch are the interactions between Lord Lovat, and Jaime particularly, but also between the Frasers and Colum as well. Sam Heughan and Clive Russell have such good chemistry in this episode, and there's just something entertaining about Jaime and his Grandfather hurling insults and threats at each other. My personal favorite line from Jamie, after Lovat threatens to have Claire raped, "Go ahead, ravage my wife. When she's done with you I'll have you maid come in and sweep up your remains."
The writers were very clever in taking some of the best parts of the Paris arc and incorporation them here. It's fun to watch Jaime and Claire scheme together to get the best of their adversaries. The difference is, unlike in Paris, you can see that they really are on the same page, working as a single unit, using the legend of La Dame Blanche to their benefit. You can see how Paris has had a profound impact.
The only other observation is that seeing Colum again was a welcome sight. He's such an interesting character, an anomaly in a world where it seems like someone is either an ally or enemy of the Frasers. You get the sense that Colum is genuinely happy to see Clare, but she's unsure, believing he had a part in the witch trial. Colum is against Jaime's plan to fight in the war, but you really do get a sense that he cares about his nephew, in a way that Dougal never has. Remember, Colum allowed Jaime to live after he refused to swear fealty to him.
This episode probably doesn't deserve so high a rating, but I just thought it was a relatively entertaining introductory episode to the war act and added some needed dark levity after the grueling final episodes in Paris.
