This week in Outlander history: The Doldrums aired for the first time

Outlander history this week sees us look back on Season 3, Episode 9, titled The Doldrums. It’s time to look back at the good and bad from the episode.

It’s time for another Outlander history segment. It’s all about Outlander Season 3, Episode 9 this week. Titled “The Doldrums,” it was the first episode that put Claire and Jamie on their ship to Jamaica in search for Young Ian.

We got the journey to their new life together. While initially not quite on the same page, this episode brought the two back together, offered some quality time between them, and gave us a look at superstitions of sailors.

What were the good and bad from this week in Outlander history? It’s time to delve into the episode.

Bringing a fact of history often overlooked

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Sailors were superstitious people by nature. They believed things like women would bring bad luck and there was the need to touch a horseshoe when getting onboard. All this built up to the search for the Jonah — the man who had brought the bad luck onboard when a drought hit.

This is where the bad comes in: Claire arguing with the captain about why he lets the superstitions go unchecked. It’s dangerous for people onboard the ship. However, what could the captain do? She never once listened to his argument, pushing her 20th-century views on him over and over again.

There’s definitely some MacKenzie within Claire. While the Frasers are known for their stubbornness, there’s some of it in MacKenzies too.

Seeing the sailors as superstitious people and the lengths they were willing to go was excellent. As I said, it’s a fact of history that is often overlooked but Outlander never lets that happen.

Photo credit: Outlander/Starz Image acquired via Starz Media Room /

Marsali’s attitude towards Claire

Claire isn’t the only woman on board. Marsali is also around and she’s not too fond of Claire. And this is a great moment in the episode. Not only do we see Fergus and Marsali together and get a hint of the excellent and loyal partnership they’ll make, but we also see Marsali’s feelings towards Claire.

It’s not surprising that Marsali has a dislike for Claire already. She’ll have heard all about this “witch” from her mother on the journey to Lallybroch just days earlier. Right now, Marsali views this woman as a homewrecker and nothing more.

Naturally, Claire has a dislike for Marsali. She looks very much like Laoghaire, reminding Claire of everything Laoghaire had put her through. It’s a shame Claire is instantly put off by a teenager, but it shows the layers of flaws in Claire’s character, making her distinctively human.

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Photo credit: Outlander/Starz Image acquired via Starz Media Room /

Jamie and Claire reconnecting

And then there’s the fact that Claire and Jamie have a chance to reconnect. After 20 years apart, they weren’t just going to fall back into pace with each other. While the books may show that, I don’t see it as realistic. Plus, the show isn’t the books. The characters have adapted slightly and that’s what this episode shows.

“The Doldrums” brings us that need to find each other again. They need to figure out that they belong together, especially Claire who has had a much grander life than Jamie.

Seeing the two reconnect gives us the chance to reconnect with who they are as people now. The first five episodes had to race through the 20 years they were apart and I would have loved to see more of it. This episode allows us a little more liberty in figuring out who they are separately and together.

Next. Outlander history: First Wife. dark

What did you think of Outlander Season 3, Episode 9 when it first aired? What do you think now looking back at this week in Outlander history? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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