It’s been two weeks, are you ready for episode 607 Sticks and Stones? Tongues sharpened like knives are out as The Ridge turns on the Fraser’s, and anyone else they think could have killed Malva. Watch Sunday, April 24, 2022, at 9 PM central on Starz®.
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Claire’s hair has grown and Roger’s is short! Outlander Tours has done it again, finding that one rare sunny day of filming this week in the Dunbar region of Scotlands Nort East Coast. Stunt doubles and camp followers, walking the beaches and trails, rowing. John Muir Country Park.
Check out Outlandish Journeys as they are in action this season, here’s hoping you can get to Scotland while Season 7 is in full swing filming. Also, check out their YouTube Channel for all seasons BTS they have caught.
In pictures: Outlander stars join filming in East Lothian country park
Sophie Skelton and Richard Rankin are at the base caravans for Season 7 of Outlander. Season 7 based on the book, An Echo in The Bone, is underway. Take the as a sign that some things may be getting back to normal. Start rereading again!
A war is forming around Fraser’s Ridge, a slow-burn build-up to a revolution that Claire (Caitriona Balfe), Brianna (Sophie Skelton), Roger (Richard Rankin), and now Jamie (Sam Heughan) know is coming. But many of The Ridge have experienced conflict in their own country of Scotland, and suspicions and superstitions always are inflamed prior to a conflict. So begins episode 606 “The World Turned Upside Down”, with Roger Mac giving a sermon in which he tries to use the bible to illustrate how people should not allow fear and superstitions to cloud their good judgment. Of course, we know that this will be ignored for the most part, as especially the fisher-folk are very superstitious and look to Tom Christie as their leader.
After the sermon, Roger remarks ” Has anyone seen the MacNeill’s lately?” It’s not like them to miss a Sunday service. Claire remarks that she and Brianna can look in on them to see if a health issue is keeping them away. Brianna remarks that it shouldn’t be a problem getting Malva to come, she rarely leaves Claire’s side. Claire admits to missing Marsali as her assistant and hopes that her and Fergus’ new life in New Bern as printers is working out for them. Jamie is remorseful for not seeing the solution sooner, Fergus needed to provide for his family.
Lizzie, Claire, Brianna, and Malva arrive at the MacNeill’s cabin and see the yard in disarray. There are Corbies on the roof and as Lizzie remarks, ” There’s something dead nearby.” helpful as always, there is a stench of death on the wind. Claire whips her troops into action, barking out orders as they enter the fetid cabin and open all the windows to get the light in. They discover several children, Mr. and Mrs. MacNeill are all ill. Mr. MacNeill tells Claire it’s the Bloody Flux. Malva takes the baby out of the crib and tries to revive the baby (hint: very un- characteristic for her since she is never really seen with any of the children on the settlement), Claire orders the boiling of water. Mrs. MacNeill dies after Malva cries out that the baby is dead.
Later, Claire shows Malva an amoeba under the microscope that is the culprit. She is determined to find the source and how it got into the water supply for the cabin. Malva is all too eager to assist. Over the course of the next few weeks, there are many cases on The Ridge, and during a burial service, Claire, Jamie, Brianna, and Roger, who is comforting the families. Claire becomes weak and faints in Jamie’s arms.
Claire falls very ill with all family members, and Malva never leaves her side, even refusing to go home when it is late and her brother comes to fetch her. In Claire’s delirium she sees Malva and Jamie together, in intimacy, visions of stormclouds, the amoeba under the microscope, holding her beating heart in her hand, and a snake (Eastern Kingsnake). We can guess much of the meaning. She finally awakens to Roger sitting by her and discovers that Malva and Mrs. Bug have cut her hair off, claiming it would help with the fever.
Claire recovers slowly, and after discussing her symptoms with Jamie, tells him that her illness was not the same amoebic dysentery that struck The Ridge. She learns that Tom Christie is still ill, and when no one is around, Claire sneaks off to check on her patient. Tom is shocked she is out of bed, and she sarcastically mentions that he should approve of her shorn head. They discuss their symptoms of severe headache, delirium, and disturbing dreams. Claire and Tom discuss how could they have gotten sick when neither has seen each other for weeks. Claire suspects poisoning, but who and how?
The Christies arrive in a wagon, full speed and anger. They arrive at the big house and Claire and Jamie meet with them. It is announced by Tom that Malva is with child. Allan tries to attack Jamie unsuccessfully and has just been awaiting his revenge for being publicly humiliated by Jamie in front of The Committee of Safety. Please keep that in mind. Malva puts on a fine performance as the innocent woman trying to comfort and care for a distraught Jamie, that she and Jamie had lain together more than a dozen times, and keeps imploring Jamie to admit to it. While Jamie knows that she has been seen with several men, as he had warned her to be careful of, he denies it is his child. Tom demands support for Malva.
Claire is furious, and while she doesn’t believe any of it, she is betrayed after taking Malva under her wing. She slaps Malva and stocks to the stables. Jamie finds her there and asks if she could possibly believe this. Claire admits that she doesn’t think it happened, but the rage and fear that has built up, and her recurring fears and hauntings by Lionel Brown’s ghost, bring to a head her feelings. She sacrificed everything to come back in time to find him. Brianna, Roger, and young Jemmy, shouldn’t be there.
Despite the rumors and accusations on Fraser’s Ridge over the next weeks, Jamie and Roger the historian, are off to the Continental Congress. It’s a historic event that Roger in his geekiness must see and hear, and Jamie hopes to become a part of The Sons of Liberty.
Claire walks unsteadily to the Christies to try to reason with Malva and find the true father of her child. She has already had Young Ian admit to having Malva once, and offer to marry her if it would take the heat off of uncle Jamie. Claire implores Malva, who she has taken under her wing and teaching her, to admit the truth about the baby. Malva seems on the verge of admitting what is going on when Allan rushes out of the cabin. Allan accuses Claire of being a witch. Malva then turns on Claire as well.
Jamie and Roger return and Jamie tells Claire that the Provincial Congress did not pick him as a delegate to go to Philadelphia, it appears the rumors of his begetting Malva with a child even reached the Provincial Congress. Jamie is disappointed to not be part of the Continental Congress meeting.
After Claire has another ghostly encounter with Lionel, who haunts her surgery regularly, Claire sees Malva heading for the surgery through the window and grabs the leather ether mask. She retreats to hide with ether taking away the pain and frustration. In her groggy state, Malva confronts her and says how she is going to take away everything that belongs to Claire, especially Jamie. She threatens to kill Malva. When she wakes again, she is disturbed and staggering. She decides to go out for fresh air and goes to her garden to weed and gather. She comes to her senses and knows that something isn’t right. She looks past her garden, standing, then finds Malva with her throat cut lying just outside of the garden. Going into Claire the surgeon mode, she tries to remove the child that is near to term to rescue it. Alas, Claire finds herself cradling another dead child. We’ve been here before with Claire, and know where it leads.
Remember, the person who accuses the most, has to most to gain by the destruction of the other. Who really is the father of Malva’s baby? The rumors fly in the next episode.
The BTS on the accusation scene gives insight into betrayal and where all the characters and actors are coming from.
Thoughts on:
Malva and Mrs. Bug are co-conspirators in cutting off Claire’s hair. Why you may ask? Simply both women see Claire as being better than they are, one who covets her property, skills, and Jamie. The other, spoiler’s here, has another beef to settle with Jamie. Claire’s glory, and Jamie’s, was her curly hair, and cutting that hair was symbolic in taking Claire’s power away, think Biblical again, as she was also held suspicious for her medical practices.
Alas, it’s a two-week mini Droughtlander. Rumors abound on Fraser’s Ridge. Who killed Malva? The Committee of Safety come back, and guess who for? Catch Episode 607, Sticks and Stones on Starz® Sunday, April 24
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Claire discovers dysentery on Fraser’s Ridge and is struck by illness herself.
Tune in on the Starz® app tonight, and Sunday on Starz®
Mark me, dear Flora, your kindness will not go unremembered
As always, this contains spoilers.
In Episode 605 “Give Me Liberty”, we step back in time to just after Culloden and a defeated Bonnie Prince Charlie (Andrew Gower Cameo), being rescued by Flora MacDonald (Shauna MacDonald), dressed as an elderly and simple woman. Flora uses her guile and is able to convince the army officers that the prince is an elderly woman of no consequence.
Lord John Grey finds himself a guest of Governor Josiah Martin, who reads out the letter of resignation as Indian Agent from Jamie Fraser and asks Lord John bluntly, is it a letter of resignation or a declaration of a rebel. Lord John assures Martin that his good friend Jamie Fraser is loyal, and finds himself asked to attend the Flora MacDonald event to ascertain the loyalties of Jamie and other former Jacobites. This puts Lord john in a rather tight spot, as good friends they may be, but he is always loyal to The Crown.
This true recount, otherwise known as, where that Skye Boat Song came from, is what makes the celebrated Flora MacDonald of the Jacobites a big draw at Willmington, where Claire (Caitriona Balfe) and Jamie (Sam Heughan) have come to meet up with Aunt Jocasta (Maria Doyle Kennedy) and her 4th husband, Duncan Innes (Alistair Findley). The Crown, Governor Martin (Eugene O’Hare), and Major MacDonald (Robin Laing) have produced this gathering to use Flora to rally the Scots who were once rebels, to side with The Crown and keep their loyalty, lands, and business by not joining the rebels in the colonies.
Jamie and Claire must keep up appearances, however, they will find ways to keep their new allegiance to the new rebellion by walking a fine line. Here history repeats itself as Claire and Jamie begin another subterfuge of appearing to be on the side of The Crown while seeking out information about the rebellion. Claire, Brianna, and Roger have all told Jamie that the American Colonies will unite and win the war, but that is still in the future for Jamie. Jamie doesn’t wish to be on the losing side again.
To do right by my conscience, and right by my brothers.
While at the inn in Wilmington, Jamie tells Claire of an appointment in the Inn’s pub, where Cornelius Harnett ( James Weber Brown), a member of one of the Committees of Correspondence, wants to meet with him. Jamie meets with Cornelius and recognizes his Masonic ring. He gives him the Masonic handshake under the table and begins a discussion of brotherhood when asked why he is seeking to join The Sons of Liberty. Cornelius is suspicious, as it is all treasonous to meet. Can he trust Jamie? Jamie seeks to convince him that he is a brother of like mind, seeking a path that avoids conflict and uses reason. Jamie is invited to a Sons of Liberty meeting.
After Flora MacDonald’s speech, Aunt Jocasta takes a turn with her health and has a severe headache. Claire, who has long suspected that Jocasta is suffering from Glaucoma, asks if Jocasta would like some help with the pain, and takes Flora with them to the pergola. She produces a pipe and when asked, tells the ladies it is hemp flower. It is remarked that they are like a gentlemen’s society and as everyone gets a bit more philosophical, Claire points out that they should be toasting Flora, for she is brave to have rescued Prince Charlie, who she informs with her “powers of the future” is drinking himself to death in Italy. Mark me, was it 4:20?
Here’s that scene again
While dining after the Flora MacDonald speech, Mary (Mercy Ojelade), Aunt Jocasta’s slave, comes to beg the assistance of the men, a printer down the street is being threatened by rebels for printing the Flora MacDonald broadsheets publicizing the Loyalist speech. Lord John and Jamie rush to aid the printer.
Jamie always has an affinity for printers and Lord John Grey for justice, quickly runs to the aid of the printer, with a mop of tar as a defense weapon. Lord John is a crafty one. While Jamie may or may not agree with the printer’s political views, he views mob violence as wrong. Lord John is conveniently somewhat convinced of Jamie’s loyalty until he sees that glint in Jamie’s eyes after reading the publication. Jamie mentions his conscience and how he cannot support the over-taxation and the might of The Government against the colonists. Lord John finally sees the truth and asks him if he will be at the meeting that the army will be raiding that night, a meeting of The Sons of Liberty. However, Ainsley Beeston (Freddie Stevenson) has seen Jamie with Lord John, the known Loyalist, rescuing the printer.
Lord John, out of friendship, tells Jamie he will delay the military as long as he can, giving Jamie time to worn Harnett and Beeston. However, they are not convinced Jamie is not a Loyalist, they have doubts. Jamie must quickly tell them he is there to warn them. The army arrives with torches. The men escape out the back of the inn.
The MacKenzies have been left in charge of Fraser’s Ridge again in the absence of Jamie and Claire. When the parents are away, there always seems to be trouble brewing back home. If they only knew how much. While walking with Lizzie, Malva and Marsali, they come across a burnt-out space with bones by the path, that Marsali identifies as looking like a love charm.
Roger (Richard Rankin) has been helping Amy McCallum, again. This of course leads to trouble. While visiting Marsali and hearing about the preparations for moving to meet with Fergus, Marsali guesses that Brianna is “with child” again, and teases her for not telling her sister. Brianna tells her she hasn’t even told Roger yet. Later, after hearing of gossip on The Ridge about how much time Roger is spending with the young widow McCallum, Brianna calls Roger out on it.
Roger admits that he is trying to help her, as Amy views him as a minister of sorts, and he has a weakness for widows, having lost his own father in the war. Brianna understands that he loves her, and is trying to be kind, however, tongues are wagging. Roger admits that he feels a little useless at home, with brilliant Brianna plotting to bring indoor plumbing to the people of The Ridge, that he is helping someone less fortunate. Roger agrees that his place is with his own wife and child. He will look for a solution.
Brianna (Sophie Skelton) must also step in while Claire the healer is not in residence. While walking with Lizzie and some of the other women of the Ridge (Marsali, Lizzie, and Malva), Lizzie has a fainting spell. She quickly deduces that Lizzie is having trouble with malaria again. Okay, so if you are a fan of the books, you know about the malaria problems, in great detail, that Lizzie has. When did they ever mention this in the last two seasons?
Anyway, as quickly explained by Brianna, malaria must be causing the ailment. The Beardsley twins Josiah and Kezzie turn up very concerned over Lizzie’s health. Brianna hands them a jar of liniment and explains they must seek a plant to help with Lizzie’s ailment. While this is another dear moment from the book, it’s rather hurriedly thrown in.
Roger, accompanied by Tom and Allan Christie, hauls a large bell up the hill to the newly built meeting house. Tom tells Roger to go inside and get some rope and tackle to help lift the bell up to the belltower. He runs inside and finds Malva Christie going at it with Obidiah Henderson. He stops them and tells Malva her father is right outside. She rounds on Roger and threatens him, telling him if he breathes a word that she will tell everyone on The Ridge that he is doing more than mending Amy McCallum’s chimney. Quickly Roger brings Obidiah out with him to help put up the bell, while Malva sneaks out the back.
Roger comes to a solution with “the Amy McCallum situation”, and tells Obidiah to help with mending and fixing things at her place. This way an unmarried man is helping, and maybe staying away from Malva. Smells like more trouble is brewing.
Claire and Jamie are packing up to leave Willmington. While getting the wagon loaded and about to start off, Claire hears a faint tune she remembers, whistling on the wind. It’s not from the 18th century, it’s a tune from WWI. You may know it as The Bridge on the River Kwai March, however, it is Colonel Bogey March. This makes Claire jolt a bit. When Jamie asks, “What’s wrong, Sassanch?”, she infers it is nothing.
However, in the Willmington goal, a figure behind bars is whistling the tune. Windigo Donner is back.
Tune in tonight on the Starz® App at Midnight for Episode 606, “The World Turned Upside Down”, and Sunday at 9 PM CST on Starz®
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Andrew Gower talks about how difficult mucking about in women’s garb is and some BTS fun.
Inside Flora’s Party at Aunt Jocosta’s. Outlander really throws a party.
Actor Braeden Clark, who plays Kaheroton takes you on a Behind The Scenes, 360 degree trip, forgets which season he’s filming, forgets his fellow horse stars’ names, the drama, and all that goes on. He is not sure he is in this scene or not? Yikes. Comedian.
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Robin Laing talks about his role as Major MacDonald, shares how great the actors and crew are, and how glad he finally got on Outlander.
Episode 604 “Hour of the Wolf” gives fans the backstory of what happened to Ian during his year with the Mowhawk tribe when he traded himself for Roger Mac. It’s the time many Young Ian fans have been waiting for, the “What happened with Ian in the year of the Mohawk,” episode. While book readers know the backstory of Ian’s life with the Mohawk. Series fans have seen a brooding Young Ian who has come back as half the man of worth he thought he was when he sacrificed himself for Roger. We open with the elaborate ritual of how he was cleansed of his whiteness, became a Mohawk, and was adopted into the tribe. We also see the deep pain he experienced when his wife Emily/She-Who-Works-With-Her-Hands, leaves him for his friend.
John Hunter Bell is really coming into himself as an actor, and brings a lot of emotion showing the real Ian, and that he can be a man of two people, one Mowhawk and a Fraser-Murray. Rather than going through the whole summary, check out this BTS where Sam Heughan and John Hunter Bell discuss Ian’s transformation from “pure joy to a devastating loss”.
Claire trains the ever-fixated Malva on administering ether, testing it on Lizzie and Josiah Beardsley in turns. Malva becomes more fascinated with the power behind the ether and its being “Devil’s Work”. She also asks Claire about her writing in the book for medical notes. Claire explains it’s to share knowledge to help others who may come after her. Perhaps a little foreshadowing with the book, Dr. Rawlings original medical journal. Will get her in trouble or Malva will gain some knowledge she shouldn’t.
Also, it was very hard not to think that Claire was creating a co-conspirators club with the young people of The Ridge, and we just won’t go into the ethics. Because we know Claire is just going to step into it big time very soon.
Jamie and Young Ian deliver the much-debated long rifles and muskets to Peace Chief Bird-Who-Sings-In-The-Morning of the Snowbird Cherokee. Jamie meets another Indian Agent and fellow Scott, called Scotchie by the tribe. The two could not be more different, as Scotchie proves to be trouble and drunk on Jamie’s whiskey, challenges Ian’s former Mowhawk friend to a duel.
Before Jamie and Ian leave, Jamie feels that the information Brianna has shared with him about the Cherokee and The Trail of Tears coming in 60 years, needs to be given to Bird-Who-Sings-In-The-Morning. He tries to explain as best he can that his wife and daughters can see the future and warns Bird-Who-Sings-In-The-Morning that he should pass along the information to the next generations.
After Ian has told Jamie about the loss of his children, in which Jamie shares the loss of his daughter Faith, and sees how other Indian Agents abuse the position, he makes a decision upon returning to Fraser’s Ridge. It’s time for Jamie to set aside the Indian Agent role, and come to terms with the fact he has been pretending to be a Loyalist when he is really a rebel. Of course, he and Claire must get it on in the tack room, not knowing that Malva is upping her voyeurism skills.
Lord John Grey and Auntie Jocasta are back, and trouble is brewing for Briana and the ever-helpful Roger. Really Roger, must you get into trouble in every episode?
Outlander Episode 605 “Give Me Liberty” Claire and Jamie attend a Loyalist event in Wilmington to honor Flora MacDonald, the woman who saved Bonnie Prince Charlie.
Watch tonight on the Starz® App at midnight, and 9 pm EST Starz Sunday, March 3, 2022
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Villans come in all forms, and none seemingly so innocent as Malva Christie, played by Jessica Reynolds. However, for those that are wise to such things Outlander, a darkly pretty smile can hide many things. Is Malva Christie a Geillis Duncan in the making? Does she pose a future Laoghaire? I say a combination or conflagration of these characters comes to mind. For what turns a young woman into such a foe? Women had very little power in the 18th century, as Claire and Brianna are constantly up against, trying to not draw attention to themselves, but they just cannot shake off their 20th-century selves. So how does a poor young woman gain power and status in these times? Just watch Malva’s moves.
When I first read “A Breath of Snow and Ashes” by Diana Gabaldon, my first reflection on Malva is that she reminded me of some of the young girls from the Salem Witch Trials, the young girls who acted as if they saw spirits and familiars, devils, and pointed a finger at older women. However, much of this was put down to mold in the rye as a hallucinogen, along with other political colonial issues. Note: Political Colonial Issues and superstition. If you are familiar with the stories, it was the one side of the river pointing at another, it was sanctioned land grabs in others, it was superstition and fears. But what it really was, was a situation where a much younger girl, with very little power in the household, could control someone else’s fate. The young girls felt their power over adults, manipulating them into doing their bidding by acting possessed.
Whether it was a combination of all things, Outlander is always dealing with superstitions and fear in the fact that the Scottish are always a superstitious lot.
Malva lives with her self-righteous father, which as the Fraser’s noted, there was some question as to Malva being Tom’s child, and a brother already known to be a thief and harboring a grudge against Jamie Fraser. She is interested, starving for something of a better life. She latches on to Claire’s knowledge of healing and plants, and in becoming an apprentice to Claire, she can be in defiance of Tom, who takes a strap to her for being wicked, daily.
Malva notices her growing power over men, her beauty and guile soon have many men of Fraser’s Ridges who do not have wives, and some that do, very interested in taking a stroll with Malva. She is also learning about herbs and medicinals from Claire, and as we see, she wants to be Claire. Watch out for Malva to see just how much more power she will grab. We see her walking with Young Ian, and giving clues to her past. We also see Jamie taking a walk with her. How many more men will Malva wrap around her fingers before she strikes?
Find out in Episodes 4 “Hour of the Wolf” and 5 “Give Me Liberty” of Outlander Season 6. Now on the Starz® App and at 9pm CST on Starz®. 
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An Outlander Muse 