[Spoilers All] Season 2 Episode 5 'Untimely Resurrection' discussion thread for book readers

This ep had some of the worst pacing and plotting I've ever seen on this show. There were several scenes (between only two characters no less) that went on for several minutes, Claire was /totally/ out of character in several parts (due to rearranging the plot structure and not explaining many of her actual motives--they just brushed them off). for instance, not explaining that Alex is a religious man who CAN'T get married now leads to Claire having to find a way to PREVENT their marriage which is completely baffling to Claire's character. She would never have done that. It was downright deceitful, when just last episode, she was questioning her motives about bringing certain guests to a dinner party! Does that bolster her decision to keep Jamie from killing Jack, because everything she's doing is to preserve Frank? Not really. She only decides to preserve Frank when suddenly given the horrifying choice by Jamie. That makes it much more dramatic. (At least more than the multiple episode arc of Claire whining about Frank and worrying about him after half a season, last year, of her not giving two fucks.)

The King Louis scene. Okay, I get the comedic relief and the absolute glee of embarrassing the cajones out of BJR, but the king seems to be on the audiences side and already knows what a tool BJR is. He doesn't. The King doesn't particularly like Claire or Jamie, either. The only interaction they've had with them (in the show) is when he is sitting on a toilet or escorting Nipple-Dress around. So why the line about begging? Why does the King care so much? Isn't he characterized as being more interested in chasing women and not bothering with the little people? That whole section fell flat. Great acting, but a terrible script to work with.

And why all the exposition about the wine trade profit if that's not even going to be a thing until the next episode? Why not spend a modicum of effort to address Mary's /emotional/ problems? She's utterly destroyed in the book and here she's just "ashamed." I was afraid they would do this, and they did--brushed aside all of Mary's emotional struggle with a "oh well, now I don't have to marry warty face!" No. No, you do not get to spend five episodes highlighting the worst parts of a man's PTSD after a rape and then depict a woman's as just "feeling ashamed." huuuuuuge backward step on the part of the writer. And oh, it was a script written by a man, what a big surprise.

I liked the stuff they added in. But couldn't stand anything they actually adapted from the book. Huge disappointment. Sorry to dissent from the crowd, but from a writer's perspective, this was more like a poorly constructed scissor and glue marionette show than a blockbuster. Smh.

/r/Outlander Thread