Outlander Episode 6: The Wedding

SEX WILL HAPPEN

Clarie and Frank and Claire’s AMAZING suit are walking down a street in London, ostensibly to go have lunch with his parents in a “meet the girlfriend” scheme, but instead he asks that they stop by the Registrar’s Office to get married and have them just meet the wife, instead.  Claire kisses him, and suddenly is dropped into the….present…? (past? her present? my head hurts) in Scotland, where she has just married Jamie Fraser. 

Claire and Jamie are in their bridal bedchamber, under orders to consummate, and spend many hours getting to know each other- drinking, talking, drinking.  Jamie is understandably eager to get on with it, but Claire has many questions, about his family, his life, and why the hell he agreed to marry her?

Flashback: Dougal and Ned explain the legal scheme to Jamie, and that the consummation must happen with other people in the building, and ideally, with other people in the room.  Jamie agrees to the marriage, to keep Claire safe, but not to public sex.

Thing One and Thing Two bust in during the talking and drinking parts to check on how the sex is going.  After they are kicked out, Claire suggest bed.  Jamie, being not stupid, clarifies “to bed or to sleep?”  Jamie is deflowered, and it’s amazingly awkward.  He doesn’t know what to do with his hands.  It lasts about 90 seconds.  He’s like “….so…. is that…it?” and Claire’s a little “….” but did enjoy herself.  Jamie is also a little confused about positions.  Face to face is a thing?   

Claire decides she’s hungry and leaves the room to get some food, only to discover that all of the Highlanders are waiting in the tavern outside thier room to verify the consummation, and it’s exactly as embarassing as you think. 

Flashback: Murtagh scores a Fraser tartan for Jamie to wear, and implies that MAYBE Jamie is playing with fire a bit for that, but also says that while Ellen Mackenzie had the sweetest smile ever, Claire’s smile was just as sweet.  Which for Murtagh, is a deeply sentimental and profuse expression of approval.  He might have even twitched his mouth into something that on another person could have been the start of a smile.

Flashback: Jamie names three conditions before he’ll marry Claire. Condition one- there must be a priest.  And a church.  Dougal goes to secure the priest, and must argue and threaten his way into it.  (Historical note: the banns wouldn’t have been a thing, right?  Given Scottish law on the matter?)  The arguing takes the form of dueling Bible verses, which is a trope I adore.

Flashback:  Condition two- there needs to be a ring.  Rupert and Angus are sent off with a Chekhov’s Key to a blacksmith to have the ring made from the… not the part the goes into the lock, the other part!  (the blade and the bow) (what ever).   

Flashback: Condition three- there needs to be a proper gown.  Ned goes to the local brothel, where the women try to sell him on thier gowns (and other things) but the madame has a gown that a gentlemen brought from London for his wife, but then used it to pay his bill, instead.  She gives us a few teases of the gown, and then teases Ned, and Ned goes off to get some of his own.  Go Ned, go! 

Jamie asks Claire what SHE did all day.  She holds up the bottle, and then Flashback into her being woken up from her drunken stupor by the Bridesmen and the Dress.  She is profoundly hungover. 

Flashback: Jamie remembers everything about the wedding itself- how pretty Claire is, how the dress sparkles, everything.  (note: the line about the sun coming out when he saw her is a reference to what RDM said about meeting his wife in a production meeting and it’s as sweet as it sounds.)  The camera gives us a slow pan of the dress, because they know that cosplayers need reference images.  Jamie gives her his real, full name.  They are married, then do a pagan things with blood bonding that Claire was not expecting and Dougal was a little rougher about than he needed to be. 

Claire has Jamie remove his shirt and stand there in the altogether and allows the audience to ogle his butt for a while, and the slanty bits of his hips.  He learns a very important lesson about female orgasm, and then another important lesson about blow jobs.  And falls asleep. 

Claire runs downstairs for more water and/or booze, and everyone else is asleep. Dougal comes in and informs her that he’s told Randall he has no jurisdiction over her anymore, and then propositions her, and she is rather disgusted.  Rupert interrupts this incredibly awkward and inappropriate conversation. 

Jamie gives Claire a long string of pearls, which had been his mother’s: “They are precious to me, as are you, Claire.” And they have sex a third time, just to make sure.  In the morning, Claire finds her wedding ring from Frank, and stares at both rings in conflicted awareness of what she’s done. 

RHG: THEY DID THE DO

HELLO THERE FEMALE GAZE.  HELLO THERE REASONABLE DEPICTION OF A DUDE’S FIRST TIME.  HELLO THERE SAM’S BONER FACE AND HELLO THERE SAM’S BUTT. 

Elyse: So many thoughts! Doesn't that dress really hurt her boobies? Hello Sam's ass. Yessss. I love Angus and Rupert and Murtagh. Why no porcupine joke? Jamie in just his boots and shirt. Jesus. ITS THE KEY TO HIS HEART, CLAIRE.

How many babies do you think will be born 9 months from now? How many named Claire and Jamie?

Oh and Lorna's Laces made special dyed yarn called Fraser and Beauchamps just for Outlander and GIVE IT TO ME NOW!

Deep breath…. Okay, more coherent thoughts.

First, we open up with a shot of a filthy, yet content pussy-cat. God bless you, Ron Moore. Second, I heart the female gaze so much. I also heart that Jamie is running around playing wedding planner while Claire is passed out drunk. And Jamie is the virgin. One of the very best things about Outlander is the subversion of traditional gender roles.

I could dissect the sex scene minute by minute but I'm too classy for that–WAIT IS THAT DICK SHADOW?!

I think the difference in this sex scene versus the one between Claire and Frank is worth mentioning though. Claire/Frank are more elegant and choreographed almost. Claire/Jamie are unrestrained and uncontrolled.

I also think it's interesting that both of her marriages were spur of the moment.

Also I can't watch graphic sex scenes without thinking about how totally awkward that would be for the actors. I mean, I know they glue flesh-colored fruit rollups to their junk and stuff, but he's really grinding her corn there.

(Amanda: You’re killing me here, Elyse.)

Annnnd then we get Dougal because we can't have one fucking episode where Claire isn't sexually harassed.

Bless you, Angus (or Rupert, whichever) for interrupting that.

And bless Jamie for being a happy, eager puppy, “Here! Let me give you my last prized possession, my mother's pearls, in addition to my virginity! I got you a really pretty dress, Claire! The key is totally not symbolic of my undying love for you! Can I tell you how pretty your hair is?!” He's precious.

Amanda: MY BODY IS SO READY RIGHT NOW.

Let’s just open with a scene of Claire and Frank to make us all feel guilty. And wow, they waste no time getting on with the wedding. I’m also seconding Elyse’s comment about Claire’s dress. Her chest HAS to be hurting.

Or the profile shot when she’s at the vanity. Ouch.

Normally, I’m all for men looking cleaned up, but I actually don’t like it when Jamie brushes his hair. Stop that. It looks better all messy.

This particular voiceover was unnecessary. We can gather from the montage that they’re talking and drinking. I feel like it works for some scenes and other times, they completely miss the mark.

Oh my god. The “to bed or to sleep” part is the most adorable thing. Their first time together is a little underwhelming, but I know that’s the point. I also think it should be a rule that Jamie wears nothing but shirts from now on. NO PANTS (or kilts)!

Once more, Dougal is an asshole.

I would also pay to have Rupert describe things. Keys, doorknobs, TiVo. Anything I can point to really.

RHG: I would season pass that so fast.

Amanda:  The second go ‘round is much better and let’s just take a minute to appreciate the star of the episode. A nice bit of applause for Sam’s butt everyone! Sam’s sex face is a close second. Look at how happy he is.

STAHP, DOUGAL.

I was going to make a pearl necklace joke and then Jamie mentioned his mom. And now I feel like a horrible person. I also feel bad for the lady who let Jamie borrow her dead husband’s tartan, consider Claire and Jamie boned in? on? it.

I like the fact the wedding is shown through flashbacks from Jamie, mainly because his bride was too drunk to remember. I’m also a sucker for anything that uses in medias res. I find it more interesting to me as a viewer rather than watching a cookie cutter timeline of events. Jamie and Claire’s marriage is one of convenience, so there’s no real need to have sex three times. I’m very interested in seeing how what is supposed to be an arrangement will still to bleed into everyday actions. How they act in public, at night, etc. It was definitely a fan service-y episode, but I’m not complaining.

RHG: Oh my god, this was….  perfect.  Absolutely perfect.  From the dress and underlayers porn for the costumers in the audience (I hope Terry talks about the lacing rings on the corset because that detail made me SO HAPPY I cannot even) to the pearls and the booze and Claire’s adorable hangover and Thing One and Thing Two being Jamie’s wingmen of a sort, and Murtagh being incredibly mushy and sentimental (for Murtagh) this was a perfect thing that happened. 

I am so happy with how the episode was structured.  The flashbacks and the sense of time passing as Claire and Jamie get comfortable enough with each other to do the do, and sheer amount of wine consumed…. 

And the role reversal!  Claire is the one who is drunk off her ass and has the mother of all hang overs, while Jamie and his Bridesmen are planning the wedding.

I don’t mind the change of venue for Frank and Claire’s wedding- it’s just one coincedence too far for me, and the suddenness of each of her weddings is a better parallel, I think.  Another interesting parallel is how her shift echos her dress that she wore through the stones.  I love it. 

In terms of the female gaze, and the female dominant sexual partner- I think it’s worth noting that both the credited writer and the director of this episode were both women.  I really feel like we are on the verge of sea change in television of women shaped shows- Mad Men has a high percentage of women writers and directors, Game of Thrones did until this past season (and it shows), there were a number in Breaking Bad. Television is where the risks are being taken in storytelling, and studios are being willing to give women storytellers chances where the monetary risk is lower, and this is how we’ll get more women showrunners.  I really do believe that. 

And this episode is a fine example of why this is important!  This is showing a very different form of sexuality than we often see, and not one I can recall seeing from a male director. 

CarrieS: I feel we are neglecting the best thing about this episode and in fact the best thing on TV ever:  Ned brought the hooker to the wedding as his date.  That was adorable.  I want to watch a Ned/Hooker spin off show. 

RHG: I TOTALLY MISSED THAT.  YOU GO NED GOWAN.  YOU GO.

CarrieS: I have also enjoyed the role reversal, not just in this episode but in the whole series.  Claire has all the attributes of an action dude – she’s complicated, she’s impulsive, she’s complex, she initiates sex.  Jamie is “the chick” so far.  Clearly he has his own complicated life, but in narrative terms he’s there to propel and prop up Claire’s story.  I’m looking forward to seeing him become a more developed character in his own right.

What I liked about the sex three times (other than the obvious) was that with each time around their relationship changed.  It was character-driven.  The first time was plausibly blah – not a train wreck, but not spectacular.  I resented the voice over explaining that Claire and Jamie drank and talked, because I could see that they were drinking and talking.  But the voice-over in which Claire admits that she enjoyed the sex was useful because her expression was so open to misinterpretation.  And I adored Jamie’s confession and Claire’s laughing.

Then Claire starts to accept that this is a thing – she’s actually married to this guy, and hey, he has feelings.  And she starts to take more control and ownership of the situation.  So even though the sex was erotic and explicit, I didn’t feel like it was gratuitous.  I loved the wedding flashback, too.

I feel sympathetic to Claire because I feel like this wedding is simaltaneously, in her mind, her widowhood.  But I also want her to be more affectionate to Jamie in the future.  It’s not all about you, Claire.

Another random thing I wanted to mention is that not only are both of her weddings sudden, but both of her husbands take pains to respect some aspect of her personality.  Frank’s impromptu proposal is a tribute to Claire’s spontaneous, impulsive nature.  Claire is much to sensible to be a manic pixie dream girl, but she does fill that role for Frank to a certain degree, given that even before the war is fully underway he seems to be pretty reserved.  He’s probably love a formal wedding.  Can you imagine how happy he’d be lecturing about the historical significance of all the traditions?  I think he’s trying to show Claire that he can be spontaneous too, and that he likes that quality in her.

Meanwhile Jamie goes the opposite direction, but he’s trying to respect Claire’s dignity and status.  By making the marriage public, religious, and formal, Jamie makes makes the marriage real in the eyes of the community and elevates Claire to the status of wife instead of the joke she might have been if they’d had a furtive, secular marriage.  Jamie wants both Claire and the community to know that he considers this a real thing, not a convenience, and that Claire deserves respect.