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TV Review: Outlander 2.12 “The Hail Mary”
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Outlander 212-04

Outlander
Season 2 Episode 12: “The Hail Mary”
Directed by Phillip John
Written by Ira Behr and Anne Kenney
Created by Ronald D. Moore
Based on the books by Diana Galbadon
Starring Caitriona Balfe, Sam Heughan, Tobias Menzies, Duncan Lacroix, Graham McTavish, Grant O’Rourke, Romann Berrux, Andrew Gower, Scott Kyle, Gary Lewis
Starz
Air Date: Saturday, June 25th, 2016, 9:00pm

Last week’s Outlander felt just like the sweeping epic novels, with author Diana Gabaldon wielding her pen as if inside the war. The group was attacked, and Jamie, Claire (Sam Heughan, Caitriona Balfe), and their small band had to find refuge in a chapel. Poor Rupert (Grant O’Rourke) got shot in the eye, but survived (unlike the novel). They were surrounded, but played the tried and true, “Help! I’m a hostage!” card thanks to Claire again, and were able to bargain for their lives. The craziest part was that the soldiers brought her to the Duke of Sandringham’s (Simon Callow) place for safety, where Mary (Rosie Day) was staying too. He planned to marry her off. The Duke tried to get Claire to send for Jamie to help them both escape, but it was a trap. Even worse was that it was the Duke who was behind the attack in France. The episode ended in a satisfying crunch, as birthmark guy got stabbed by Mary, and Murtagh (Duncan Lacroix) came in and sliced and diced the Duke. Vengeance was his.

Spoiler below,

Outlander 2.12 “Hail Mary” review: The Jacobite army has spent 5 months retreating – broken, hungry, and weary. In 3 days and a few miles, Culloden lies waiting for its blood thirst to be quenched.

Claire runs into Mary buying laudanum for Alex (Laurence Dobiesz). She is mad at her for causing their break-up in France, but Claire is properly contrite and apologizes. They are staying at a boarding house, and CLaire promises to check in on them.

Jamie tries to convince the prince to split the armies instead of pushing forth to Culloden, to no avail.

Claire visits Alex, who is clearly dying. Blackjack Randall (Tobias Menzies) shows up (yes!), and looks magnificent wearing humanity. He wants Claire to ease his suffering. She wants info in exchange. Randall tells her where the British are.

Colum McKenzie (Gary Lewis) comes to see his brother and nephew. He is dying and wants to speak to Claire alone. He wants her to kill him. She gives him something for when he is “ready.”

Claire tries to help Alex, making a mixture of medicinal smoke to open his airways. His breathing eases and we get the scene we’ve been waiting for…

Alex asks Jonathan Randall to marry Mary. He wants her to be protected under the Randall name, as he knows his brother is capable of tenderness. BlackJack is angry. Claire intends that he fulfill that request, now knowing that Frank really descended from Alex, not BlackJack. The conversation between Claire and a drunk Randall is mesmerizing.

“The pain. the fear. I will revel in it.” Ah, Menzies! Claire hopes the love for his brother will control him with Mary.

Colum and Dougal (Graham McTavish) have their last confrontation, as there are “clan matters that must be resolved while I can still draw breath.” Hamish will be chief and Jamie his guardian. “It is the future of the clan that holds sway over my thoughts.” He knows Jamie will value the men above all else. Colum gives Dougal a chance to admit the same which he cannot do.

Colum: “Your life is your own. I take no blame for it.” Dougal talks, a mixture of reminiscing and bitterness. “Damn you answer me!” He is dead. Dougal cries and hugs him. “And you leave me alone in the dark, the darkness of the world.”

Mary and Randall are married with Claire, Murtagh, and Alex as witnesses.

Alex passes away, in one last wheezing breath. And Randall punches his brother’s corpse repeatedly to the horror of Mary and Claire (and me). Claire promises to help Jamie bleed him if Randall doesn’t die tomorrow. They seem to think that this new plan will work and avoid the massacre.

Two regiments set out towards Cumberland’s party. Jamie’s section arrives, but the prince’s does not. They got lost and turned back. Tomorrow (in 2 weeks our time) the prince will have his battle in Culloden Moor.

Exploring the relationship of brothers was the theme this episode, as one brother died and the other grieved, in each family. Dougal and BlackJack, such angry, forceful men, showed their softer side towards their brothers. Both were asked to accept decisions they did not like, but stood by anyway. The quiet moments are what makes Outlander so exciting, because you can feel the pain and internal conflicts of Menzies and McTavish so clearly. They are experts in their craft. I think I felt more sympathy for BlackJack in this scene in the book than in the episode, but that is fine. I liked that Randall’s humanity came in little bits, quickly snatched away. I really wish I could hear what BlackJack Randall’s shrink might say.

This episode set up the finale perfectly. I believe we get to meet Brianna and Roger in the finale, as they were supposed to debut in season 2.

The season finale of Outlander airs Saturday, July 9th at 9:00pm ET on Starz.

Image Gallery

Videos

Outlander | Episode 212 Preview | STARZ

“The Hail Mary”: Jamie puts all of his efforts into turning the Jacobite army away from the impending slaughter at Culloden Moor.

Outlander | Ep. 212 Clip: Fetch the Prince | STARZ


Jamie, Claire, and Murtagh realize just how close the Battle of Culloden is in this clip from Episode 212.

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