Outlander season 2, episode 2 showed off the glory and eccentricities of the court of Louis XV. Claire and Jamie are certainly not in Scotland anymore. They are completely out of their element, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Fabulous 18th century facts
We are now in a world where Jamie (Sam Heughan) is as much of an outsider as is Claire (Caitriona Balfe). Both put up a good front of tying to adapt, and neither quite manages it seamlessly. Murtagh (Duncan Lacroix)is the voice of discontent. His demeanor is almost that of the teenager forced to go on an unwanted vacation with mom and dad. He’s putting up with this adventure because he has to, but it doesn’t mean that he’s going to like it.
Poor Murtagh has his hands full with all the rules. There is no privacy to be had in training Jamie how to fight with his wounded hand. Their public sparring garners interest because dueling is illegal in Paris. Later on, Murtagh can’t exact any revenge upon the Duke of Sandrinham because it’s death to draw a sword in the presence of the king, even if the king is not within stabbing distance and in immediate danger.
Best Jamie and Claire moment
Despite the change of surroundings, the one thing that remains constant is Jamie and Claire’s love and devotion to each other. Claire unflaggingly supports Jamie as he continues to struggle with the after effects of his rape at the hands of Black Jack Randall (Tobias Menzies).
Even though the specter of Randall is haunting their bedroom, Claire does her best to provide distraction. In a terrific moment that is adapted from the novels, Claire removes most of her body hair to Jamie’s confusion and eventual erotic delight.
Best scene
In this new world everyone needs a friend. Claire finds one in Master Raymond (Dominique Pinon). Raymond is at once enigmatic, charming, and wise. He is what Claire needs. He’s perhaps the only person Claire has met in the 18th century who immediately appreciates and respects her intelligence.
Claire is duly cautious when she discovers that Raymond knows the Compte St. Germain (Stanley Weber). She questions whether the two gentlemen are friends, to which Raymond replies, “Au contraire, you may call us rivals. A pleasant term for enemies is it not? And since he’s your enemy as well, we must be in point of fact be friends.”
This new friend shows Claire his shop, and gives medicinal advice. Sadly she must leave Raymond’s shop when their business concludes. We instantly want Claire to return because we are sure that Raymond is a treasure chest of information.
Book lovers squee
Louise de Rohan (Claire Sermonne) is everything one imagines a lady of the French court to be: elegant, frivolous, and schooled in gossip. Louise carrying on all manner of conversation as she has her hair removed from her most intimate regions, made what could have been otherwise dull exposition hilarious.
Louise’s foil is Mary Hawkins. A young, English girl who claims to be naked standing in her under clothes. If Claire was from the 18th century, would she have been as straitlaced as Mary, or perhaps more reserved than she currently is? Mary is a great reminder that Claire will not exactly blend in in any location in this century.
Best vista
Without question the best vistas of the episode were that of Versailles. It was hard to know where to look first. It was a feast for the senses. The gowns designed by Terry Dresbach positively stole the show.
Claire managed to hold her own in the French court in a dress, though revealing, was tame in compared to the topless, swan dress of Louis XV’s mistress. A lesser woman would have succumbed to petty jealously upon being introduced to her husband’s former crush, Claire manages to to carry the scene off with wry bemusement.
Claire also manages to hold her tongue with some of the nastier gossips, no mean task for Claire. When she exits to get air, the minister of finance follows her, and after an amorous misunderstanding, he ends up in the fountain. Fortunately, all is forgiven, and he and Jamie make plans to meet again over chess.
Best LOL
As hilarious as it was to watch the minister of finance come out of the fountain dripping wet, and then proceed to put his mangled wig on, looking like a refugee from Wayne’s’ World; noting was going to top thirty nobles amassed to watch Louis XV get dressed and move his bowels. Murtagh summed it up quite nicely, “Only in France does a King need an audience to shit.”
Despite the king stating, that “The king has never acquired a tests from peasant foods.” Jamie’s suggestion of porridge must have worked, because a functioning Lous XV eventually is able to make the rounds of his court.
Best clash of cultures
Interestingly enough, for its semi-naked mistresses promenaded in public, and constipated kings, Versailles didn’t provide the most interesting clash of cultures of the evening. The largest clash of cultures came upon Jamie’s getting to meet Prince Charles (Andrew Gower). The prince was at once demanding, immature, petulant, and sniveling as he held court in a brothel while dildos were passed about like door prizes.
Charles rants about the his divine right to sit upon the throne, and not wanting to be surrounded by sycophants. Yet, that’s exactly what he wants; he wants yes men to tell him how right he is, and what he deserves. Charles is not too keen on Jamie and Murtagh’s honest assessment of the guns of the British army, or the petty squabbling of the Scottish clan chiefs. It would seem that the narcissistic ratings of someone with delusions of grandeur are just as dangerous in 21st century politics as they are in 18th century politics.
Unfortunately, despite his shortcomings, Charles is also charismatic. What will happen if everything aligns and he comes to power? Murtagh later tells Claire, “The man is a blockhead, and a dangerous one at that. I wouldn’t trust him with Lallybrooks’ vegetable patch.”
Cliffhanger
Black Jack Randall is alive. Not only that, the Duke of Sandringham is about, and Jack’s brother seems to be his personal assistant. No doubt Jamie will find out. What will happen when he does?
Outlander airs on Starz on Saturday at 9:00.
Do you need to talk about Outlander with other fans? Don’t miss our weekly, post-show, Outlander Google Hangout called Hangoutlander. Hypable’s Laura and Kyle join the crew from That’s Normal, where we talk about the recent episode in a lively, fun, funny, and slightly irreverent way. If you missed last week’s episode, you can catch the recording here. You can sign up for this week’s episode here.