Today in Outlander history: First airing of Rent

Today in Outlander history, Season 1, Episode 5 aired for the first time. Titled Rent, we got to learn just which side of history the MacKenzie clan would be on.

When Outlander Season 1 first began, you knew that there would be a buildup to the Battle of Culloden. There was plenty of foreshadowing, with Frank mentioning the Jacobite cause numerous times and the fact they were in Inverness and near Culloden. Oh, and we can’t forget that Claire time traveled to 1743. So was it surprising on this day in Outlander history to see the MacKenzie’s raising money for the Jacobite cause?

Of course not! It was clear which side the MacKenzie clan would be on. At least, some of them. We learned it all in “Rent,” which aired for the first time on this day in 2014.

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This is one of those episodes where I just can’t stand many of the MacKenzie men. Angus grates at me, Dougal riles me up, and there are moments that I don’t like Jamie at all! I know it sounds surprising, but the showrunners did an excellent job making me feel for Claire; stuck with men who didn’t like or trust her; stuck with men who didn’t want her there.

There’s one moment that stands out for me, and I’ll delve more into this tomorrow during my “five thoughts recap” piece. However, it’s when Claire is with the women and Angus is angry at her. It’s clear he was worried that he’d lost her, knowing that he wasn’t keeping a close enough eye on her. Who else can he blame but Claire for wandering off?

While I dislike the characters, I thoroughly enjoyed the episode. This is actually one of my favorites from the first season, as it shows us the resourcefulness of Claire, her love of learning, and her kindness towards others.

What did you think of Outlander Season 1, Episode 5? Do you like this day in Outlander history? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Follow Claire and Jamie on Twitter for more Outlander history posts and a continued look at “Rent” this week.