5 thoughts while rewatching Outlander Season 1, Episode 9

2. Laoghaire was genuinely upset over the loss

While I know everything that Laoghaire does after, up to this point, I did feel for Laoghaire. I still do, even after everything. Laoghaire was a woman of her time and that meant everything was stacked against her.

However, one thing I notice during “The Reckoning” is that Laoghaire was genuinely upset about Jamie marrying Claire. She had waited for him. She believed she was in love with him and thought he liked her back — she’d hoped to make him fall in love with her.

This was a girl desperate for love and happiness in a world where that was going to be impossible. Just as she thought she might get it — after the way Jamie unfairly led her on — everything continued to work against her. This is where the bitterness starts and, in a way, it’s not surprising. Many others would act the same way, especially at 16 when the hormones in the body are going crazy.

Jamie continues to even lead her on. During the scene by the river, we see him act like he didn’t want to marry Claire and part of him wanted to be with Laoghaire. That was just asking for trouble!

I will give Jamie credit, though. When he finds the ill-wish, he knows that Laoghaire is involved.