Outlander Season 2 Episode 3 Cross Purposes, Potions and Poultices...GOT Season 6 Episode 1

Cross Purposes, Potions and Poultices

Can we just say, pooor Mary Hawkins, to be destined to marry a Frenchman. And Claire, is the gentle teacher. The look when Mary utters her place of origin as Sussex, Claire's face freezes as she reels in internal horror that BJR must be alive, otherwise her sometime beloved pre-husband Frank would never be born.

Meow! Pft! Pft! Claire is balancing all those pregnancy hormones, prone to sudden outbursts.

Although I often think of a phoenix as a positive creature, the resurrection of Black Jack Randall creates another layer of tension for our hero Jamie.

And it looks like Murtaugh has found another set of baubles, "frolicking in the middle of the day" with the lady's maid. Even Claire's uneven pregnancy hormones don't keep him from finishing his business.

Keeping the new of BJR from Jamie throws back the line from the novel, "secrets but not lies". Murtaugh and Claire agree to keep the news a "secret". Although Jamie owns the aforementioned quote, I imagine he won't enjoy this secret.

Sam Heughan's deliver of James Fraser as always is just excellent. He has just the edge of humor in his voice, keeping the main conflict of the story a little lighter. Now, if you commit treason, you will spend a very long time incarcerated. Treason in the 18th century would cost you your life, your land and goods. And losing your life would not be a pretty thing, most likely hanged or quartered or both.

Love the line by the Duke, “respect me a bit less”, allow him to win at least one round of chess. More secrets...or lies...

We meet again the Comte Saint Germain at the apothecary of Master Raymond. Again, the set is stunning in detail, Gary Jon Steele is truly a master. Another master is of course Terry Dresbach, the primary costumer for the show. Claire has the most beautiful dresses. it is difficult to express just how beautiful they are carried by Caitriona Balfe. Psst, the Comte is all eye candy.

Of course, we must meet Bouton! And see his extraordinary skills! Oh if only there was a dog such as this! I find the use of Bouton a much healthier course than the tasting of urine to diagnose a patient. A certain Yuck! 

Along with Bouton we meet Sister Angelique and Mother Hildegard! Claire always feels centered when she is performing her gift, the gift of healing. I like that the episode exposes the need for married couples to have purpose outside of their Marriage. Jamie and Claire exchange words and of course, Jamie soaks his sorrows alone in a brothel? Not so sure why the writers delivered the arrival of Claudel aka Fergus in this scene, it will be interesting to see how this all plays out in later episodes.

Claire hears a disturbance and of course rushes out to investigate. Fergus is sitting at the table eating a chicken leg. He is a doll. He will become a member of this odd fellowship, a Scot with a price on his head, his loving godfather, an English woman who is fearless and has the uncanny ability to diagnose conditions by tasting urine. This reminds me of the episode in Season 1 with the wool waulking, using urine to set the  color. Apparently before the modern sanitation system, your urine could be upcycled, how lovely. And a dog smelling your hinder parts can also diagnose secondary infections. How useful!

When Mother Hildegard sits to play the minuet and pulls out music from Bach, I thoroughly expected her to play Beethoven's Fifth as well but he had not been born yet.

Thoroughly enjoyed the joint utterance of "Sandringham". Murtaugh often plays the part of the soothsayer. Jamie acknowledges Claire's support, a turn about from an earlier scene.

With the secret of BJR brewing, it will fester like a secondary infection.

Dont forget the opulence, quite impressed by the ownership of Jared of a mantle clock. A clock would be prized like a minuet or a fine carriage.

An excellent weekend of TV viewing – Outlander, Call the Midwife, Grantchester and Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones returns also, with the opening scene of the death of a very beloved Jon Snow.

I am not sure if Ramsay is the most hated character on television but I'm sure he's in a close race with BJR from Outlander. He has sent his best trackers to hunt down Theon of the Iron Islands and Sansa Stark, heir to House Stark who have escaped.

Theon convinces Sansa to enter a freezing river to escape the hounds. But they are cornered. Theon sacrifices himself for Sansa, but alas they are captured! But no! It's “a bloody woman”. Just as in LOTR, it's always “a woman”. Brienne and Pod fight the trackers; Theon saves Pod's life. It's a Christmas miracle!! Sansa and Theon are saved! Brienne has become the protector of Sansa and has fulfilled her duty to Sansa's mother, Lady Stark. At the very least, one quest has been completed in this multi faceted game.

Cersie is recuperating after her walk of shame and captivity. She is informed of the ship coming in the harbor runs to the harbor in joy to see Jamie who she hopes has their daughter with him, freed from the Sand Snakes. Alas, Myrcella is dead. Jamie vows to gain everything taken from them “and more”.

Margery is imprisoned as well. Although imprisoned, she is worried about her brother. The peeps at the temple talk of sin and repentance. I suppose that is all well and done but you cant help but think that most people will think this some kind of modern Christian allegory but it couldn't be further from the truth.

Meanwhile back with the Sand Snakes...treason! The death of the Prince of Dorn. And the younger Sand Snakes kill the young princeling.

And now we meet again one of our favorites, Tyrion! A strange casual walk with Varys in deserted streets, quite odd until they come upon the people gathered to hear of faith and redemption. Alarmed by running people they arrive to see the harbor on fire, “won't be sailing to Westeros anytime soon”.

Dothraki!!! _Jorah Mormont finds her hair adornment, “they have her”.

Question of the hour, where is her Dragon? Khaleesi is up a creek.

Arya Stark is a blinded beggar, Challenged she must rely on her dog senses? The force? We get a back view of the monolith at the entrance to the harbor...sort of a Braavos Eiffel Tower.

Back to Jon Snow and Davos Seaworthy, possibly the only honorable male character in the series. Ordered to surrender but committed to avenge the death of Jon Snow. Time to call on the Red Woman who has terrific power. Perhaps she is adrift without Stannis Barantheon. We observe her preparing for bed, without her necklace she is revealed to be an aged colorless woman with pointy ears. This is who she really is...and so the episode ends.

Faith - post Easter, keep love in your heart and mind

Politics - a very strange presidential primary

Weather - very windy with gusts up to 40mph, CHP leads across the pass 

Event - Jenna's bridal party

Proverb - a dirty stove is a happy habit