5 thoughts while rewatching the Outlander Season 1 finale

2. The MacKenzies were lucky

Everything just happened to fall into place for the rescue of Jamie in Outlander Season 1, Episode 16. If it wasn’t for certain things going on then they wouldn’t have been able to get Jamie out as quickly or as easily as they did.

Jamie’s chain was off his leg. That could have been a nightmare to remove without the key! Then there was the fact that the morning call was being played with the raising of the flag. With all that noise, nobody would hear the cattle running for the door.

And finally, Black Jack Randall happened to be at the door. If he wasn’t there and knocked out, he could have called for the others or he could have caused injury to someone in the attempt to save Jamie.

All rather convenient, yes? This is just one of the problems I have with writing fiction in general. Diana Gabaldon uses it in her books. She knows what she wants to happen so all the other stones just have to fall into place. It’s like in Season 3 when Claire and Jamie just happen to end up on the same island but on opposite sides of it.

It’s not really a complaint, but an observation. What would the MacKenzies have done had Jamie still been chained or BJR hadn’t been knocked out at the door?

1. Sam Heughan and Tobias Menzies deserved Emmys

It’s this episode of Outlander Season 1 that shows off the acting talents of Sam Heughan and Tobias Menzies. This is the episode that made it clear both of them deserved Emmys and they were both robbed.

In fact, their acting is one of the reasons I often force myself to actually watch the screen during this episode. You can feel the pain, feel the fear, and feel the need between them—and I’m talking BJR’s sick need for Jamie there.

The two have a chemistry that wouldn’t have been easy to pull off. They lean into these scenes when it would have been so easy for them to pull away. The acting is why I love having these two men on my screen.

What are your thoughts when rewatching Outlander Season 1, Episode 16? How often do you sit through the episode on a rewatch? Share in the comments below.

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