Recap of Outlander
Season 1, Episode 6:
The Garrison Commander
Claire goes with Dougal to meet with the garrison commander at Fort William. Her unexpected meeting turns tense when Captain Jack Randall arrives. Claire finds herself alone with Randall, a dangerous man determined to uncover her secrets, and is horrified to discover the true nature of Black Jack Randall.
Tropes:
- Accidental Proposal: When Dougal suggests converting Claire to Scottish citizenship via marriage, Claire mistakenly thinks he intends for her to marry him.
- Arranged Marriage: Dougal tells Claire that the only way he can keep her safe from Captain Randall is to convert her to a Scottish citizen by way of marriage. He then proposes that she marry Jamie.
- Bait the Dog: Randall tricks Claire into thinking he is sorry for the terrible things he's done only to literally sucker punch her and declare that he enjoys the things he's done and he wants to do much more and much worse.
- Big Damn Heroes: Despite being surrounded by Redcoats armed with guns while he's alone with only a broadsword, Dougal refuses to back down and leaves the Inn with Claire once he realizes she's being physically assaulted.
- Blunt "Yes": Claire is distressed by how quickly the arranged marriage is moving. Jamie does not share her concerns.Claire: So that's it then? As far as you're concerned, we can start the honeymoon tomorrow?Jamie: Aye.
- Completely Unnecessary Translator: The Commander pretends not to be able to understand what Dougal is saying, asking for a translation of each statement the man makes. When Dougal finally has enough and insults him, the translators begins to translate only for the Commander to snap that he'd understood Dougal just fine.
- Cover Identity Anomaly: Claire obviously can't tell Black Jack her married name is Randall so she uses her maiden name Beauchamp. But when asked her maiden name, she doesn't have one readily available, drawing further suspicion by her inability to provide such a basic detail.
- Crocodile Tears: Claire tries to redirect Randall's interrogation by invoking the idea of sexual assault and crying. A gentleman would have allowed the line of inquiry to drop, much like Colum did in episode 2. Randall, however, No Sells her story by sketching a quick likeness of her while she's talking and then labeling it "Beautiful Lies" once she's done.
- Dehumanizing Insult: The English soldiers towards the entire Scottish population - with Dougal standing in the room. He does not even blink.
- Dynamic Entry: Dougal kicks down the door to get to Claire who is being beaten up by Redcoats.
- Early-Bird Cameo: The man standing behind Dougal at Fort William is Brian Fraser, Jamie's father.
- Establishing Character Moment: For Randall - who shows his true and dark colors for everyone to see.
- Evil Colonialist: The episode shows the English mostly as this, belittling the Scots whenever possible.
- Faint in Shock: Randall describes that his whipping of Jamie was so brutal that even one of his battle trained soldiers fainted in distress.
- Flashback Echo: Seeing Captain Randall be shaved with a straight razor reminds Claire of the times she shaved Frank. This lulls Claire into mistakenly thinking there is some measure of Frank inside of Jack Randall. Big mistake.
- Foreshadowing: Captain Randall promises to reveal his true nature to Claire. She mistakenly thinks he means he wants to prove he's better than their initial encounter would imply. He actually means he wants her to know he's much, much worse.
- Good Cannot Comprehend Evil: Claire is fooled by Captain Randall's speech because she can't fathom the idea of being wantonly cruel and having no desire to reform or make amends, instead enjoying it and wanting to do more.
- Hypocritical Heartwarming: Over the first half of the season Dougal accuses Claire of being a spy, nearly assaults her, calls her names, and just generally despises her, but she is under his clan's protection and he won't allow any harm to come to her. When the Redcoats insist she come meet their Garrison Commander to make sure she's okay and not under duress, Dougal declares that he will go with her, even though it's taking him into enemy-controlled territory.
- In Another Man's Shoes: Claire muses that having been in Highlander territory as a lone English woman, she knows how Dougal feels as Highlander forced to go into unfamiliar territory surrounded by Redcoats who might mean him harm.
- I Need a Freaking Drink: After discussing the marriage contract with Jamie, Claire downs her cup of alcohol in one shot. Then she heads back to where the traveling party is waiting for her decision and grabs the whole jug from Dougal.
- Lie Detector: Dougal has Claire drink from a spring of water and then asks her once more if she is a spy. When she angrily insists that she's not, he finally believes her. The Highlander believe the sulfur in the water will burn out your throat if you lie after drinking from it.
- Liquid Courage: Claire starts drinking mere moments after reading the wedding contract and doesn't really stop until the day after the marriage is consummated.
- Nature Adores a Virgin: Claire invokes this trope when coming up with reasons Jamie shouldn't marry her, reminding him that she's been married and sexually active before.
- Properly Paranoid: Well aware of Jack Randall's sadistic nature and his previous run in with Claire, Dougal has already had Ned Gowan, their attorney, research the laws on how he can keep Claire safe from Randall's jurisdictional authority. After Dougal rescues Claire, he already has a marriage contract drawn up for her and Jamie, which he'd clearly been keeping on hand to use if and when needed.
- Sadist: The sensations Randall describes feeling as he beat Jamie sound a lot like sexual arousal.
- Stunned Silence: Claire is arguing every reason she can think of for why Jamie shouldn't be interested in marrying her. He rebuts each argument with a reasonable answer. But after the answer to her final objection, she doesn't know what else to say.Claire: Well, doesn't it bother you that... that I'm not a virgin?Jamie: Well, uh, no. So long as it doesna bother you that I am.Claire: (stares with mouth open)Jamie: (smiles) I reckon one of us should ken what they're doing.
- Unexpected Virgin: Claire defiantly declares that she's not a virgin. Jamie shyly replies that it's okay if she's not, but he is. Claire is shocked into silence.
- Unusual Euphemism: Dougal refers to having sex as "grinding your corn."
- Would Hit a Girl: Not only does Jack Randall delight in punching Claire, he commands his subordinate soldier kick her, chastising the man for not kicking her full force, even though she's already on the ground gasping for air.
- Yank the Dog's Chain: Claire has charmed Lord Thomas who has agreed to have her escorted back to Inverness. But just as the meal finishes up, Captain Randall enters and blows up the entire conversation, prodding Claire into statements that sound like Scottish sympathies, making Lord Thomas uncomfortable. Then they receive word of an attack on an outpost. Lord Thomas and his officers head out to find the attackers, leaving Randall in charge of the base and now Claire's fate. He's not interested in helping her get to Inverness.
