Outlander Season 2, Episode 12 recap: It’s time for a Hail Mary
A Hail Mary is that last ditch attempt at success, but Outlander Season 2’s Hail Mary also involved a woman named Mary.
Mary Hawkins returned to Outlander Season 2, Episode 12. In the penultimate episode, it was finally time for Claire to learn the truth about Frank’s true lineage (and a time for all of us to breathe a sigh of relief that Black Jack Randall wasn’t his direct ancestor), while Jamie made a last-ditch attempt to prevent the slaughter at Culloden.
There was also a chance to say goodbye to two recurring characters. One of those was extremely important and we couldn’t help but feel for him at the end of his life.
The breaking of men
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Claire, Jamie and their men make it to Inverness, where they meet with Bonnie Prince Charlie. The men are broken. Despite all their successes, the retreat has broken spirits and it’s easy to see why the Battle of Culloden ended in the British’s favor.
Once everyone is settled, Claire heads out for an apothecary, where she runs into Mary Hawkins. Mary is certainly not happy to see Claire and explains exactly why: she knows that Claire tried to separate her and Alex Randall. Well, it didn’t work and now Mary and Alex are together. And it also turns out that Mary has done the thing she was most shocked and certain she wouldn’t since she’s pregnant!
Yes, Alex Randall is Frank’s direct ancestor. It was never Black Jack Randall.
With that revelation, we’re back with Jamie, who is trying in vain to stop Bonnie Prince Charlie from marching on at Culloden. Jamie wants them to wait for the French funds that had been promised, but Charles isn’t listening. He wants to win, believing victory is theirs.
Black Jack Randall returns
When Claire pays the ailing Alex a visit, he comes across Black Jack Randall. It turns out that he does have a small spot of humanity in him, as he’s been sending money to Alex and Mary since Alex can no longer work. Oh, I’m so happy not to live in a time when I have to rely on a man!
Black Jack knows that Claire may be able to help and wants her to save Alex. Despite Claire knowing that Alex can’t be saved, she decides to strike a deal. She’ll offer help ease Alex’s pain if Black Jack tells Claire where the British currently are. With the information she gets, she can hopefully make it easier to win at Culloden.
Before Claire can help Alex or do anything with the information she receives, she meets another familiar face: Colum MacKenzie. He wants to see his brother and nephew before he dies, but also wants a favor from Claire: help to die on his own terms. He even has information about Geillis. Her baby was born before she was burned at the stake.
Claire agrees to help Colum to die, offering yellow jasmine as it will be like drifting off into a permanent sleep.
The art of a deal
After that, it’s back to the boarding house, where she helps to ease Alex’s pain. Black Jack isn’t happy with the lack of saving his brother, but Claire can’t do anything now. It’s all in God’s hands and Alex is ready to die. All Alex wants is for Black Jack to marry Mary. That way, Mary will be the wife of a soldier and the child will be protected.
Of course, Black Jack doesn’t want to (and nobody really wants Mary to marry Black Jack) but needs must. With Claire and Murtagh (yes, Murtagh!) as witnesses, the two marry. Claire is only accepting this knowing that Black Jack will die at Culloden soon, so Mary won’t have to put up with the sadistic man. However, she will get his pension and a good life after his death.
As for Colum, he’s turned up to let Dougal and Jamie know that Hamish will be the next leader of Clan MacKenzie. Oh, and Jamie will be the one to oversee everything until Hamish comes of age. It would be a good choice had it not been for the pesky battle that’s coming up.
With that out of the way (and an extremely angry Dougal over the situation), Colum is able to take the yellow jasmine in peace. By the time Dougal comes back to share how much he actually loves Colum, he realizes that Colum is actually dead.
Jamie attempts to win
While all this is happening, Jamie uses the information Claire gained. He wants to ambush the British, but not everyone is on-board. It’s not surprising to hear that during the ambush Charles got lost and his group decided to turn back. The ambush is called off.
Charlie will get his battle. And it will be disastrous.
Next: Outlander Season 2, Episode 11 recap
What did you think of this penultimate episode of Outlander Season 2? Did you expect the deaths and the marriage? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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