Outlander Season 3 Episode 2 Recap: Surrender

Cave Jamie is both a look—like an escaped Wildling from the Game of Thrones set—and an attitude. When he does come down to the family estate for visits, he’s withdrawn, solemn, and largely silent. Minimal human interaction has done a number on him. But still he comes, even when some overzealous British soldiers haul in Ian on suspicion of harboring the aforementioned Dunbonnet.
As Jenny says later, it’s not exactly a lie when she and Ian tell the soldiers they haven’t seen Jamie. “James Fraser hasn’t been here for a long, long time,” she says mournfully.
Back in the 20th century, time has not moved so quickly—unless baby Brianna is the littlest 6-year-old ever cast. How is Claire doing? Well, her current hobby seems to be perfecting the art of intercentury orgasm, dreaming of Jamie while she sleeps next to Frank in her very lonely marriage bed.
Motherhood seems to suit Claire, though. Fatherhood also suits Frank, who beams with pride when he holds their daughter. It’s just unfortunate that marriage seems to suit neither of them. There’s a sexual tension bubbling underneath the surface of their carefully crafted veneer, but it’s proving problematic.
When Claire finally does make a move, there’s something very suburban about the whole thing. As she caresses her (first) husband’s face in the middle of the night, he stirs. “Claire, what is it?” asks Frank, a man so far removed from that loving feeling he can no longer conceive of it happening to him. “I miss my husband,” Claire replies, with a distinct lack of specificity.
The careful, unfamiliar sex scene that follows is awkward, but seemingly pleasant, which is better than what happens when they try to repeat the act. Claire is the instigator in both instances, and her sudden insatiable appetite has a tragic component to it. Given what we’ve seen of their future, we know this story does not end well for either of them—but especially Frank, who serves as this show’s Charlie Brown, constantly trying to kick the football it places in front of him.

This time, though, Frank knows. On the floor and half-naked, he tells his wife, “Claire, when I’m with you, I’m with you. But you’re with him.” It’s a painful truth, and one Claire doesn’t like, but it’s a truth nonetheless.
Speaking of “him,” Cave Jamie has come down from his hideout in the hills only to discover Jenny’s in the midst of giving birth. (Pretty much every time Jenny strides into the show’s narrative, she’s giving birth.)
This would be a joyous occasion if it weren’t for superstitious little boys like Fergus, who think ravens are bad omens and are trigger-happy. Fergus takes action and shoots the bird “to protect the bairn,” but the noise attracts the attention of nearby British soldiers. Firearms are banned in Scotland since the revolt, so naturally, the Redcoats come to search the house.
Cave Jamie hides with the newborn in his arms. To explain the baby’s absence to the cheerless soldiers, Jenny and her maid, Mary MacNab, quickly improv that the baby died. Furthermore, Mary says she shot the pistol at the raven, which is to be blamed for the baby’s death. The lie works for the moment, but the British remain suspicious.
Devoid of anything to hold him on, the British soon return Ian to Lallybroch, providing door-to-door service with a sneer. While there, they decide to catch themselves a Fergus, who takes them on a wild goose chase through the woods and takes every opportunity to insult them. The psychotic soldier in charge lops off the boy’s hand and orders his men to leave him there.
Luckily, Cave Jamie overheard the scuffle and rushes the bleeding boy to Lallybroch. There, Fergus recovers and we, thankfully, see he remains a little scamp, reminding Jamie of the promise he’d made in France to support Fergus should he ever be harmed in the line of duty: “In one stroke, I have become a man of leisure, huh?”
The episode has chastened Cave Jamie into action, however. In fact, he makes a decision, the wisdom of which you are free to question. He wants Jenny and Ian to turn him in to the British, so they can pocket the reward money and throw off the British dogs forever.
Before he’s turned over, Cave Jamie receives an evening visitor: Mary MacNab, who does the world a favor by returning Jamie to us with a quick shave and a haircut. Oh, and soliciting him for a little desperate lovemaking. Jamie eventually acquiesces, though he’s conflicted throughout the procedure.
A few scenes earlier, Ian had been discussing what losing a limb felt like, the pain lingering “in a part of you that’s lost.” It’s a feeling that sticks with you forever, “and that’s just a hand. Claire was your heart.” This episode is full of people saying verrah incisive things.
Jamie is trying to fill a void, just as Claire has been with Frank’s intimacy. She’s got a new plan, however, and that plan is med school. Predictably, her male classmates and her professor are awful to her. But there is one bright spot. She sparks a friendship with the other outcast of the class: the only black student. At last, a positive development.
Speaking of plans, Jamie and Jenny put on a show for the British forces who’ve descended on Lallybroch to capitalize on her supposed betrayal. As they cart off her brother, Jenny yells, “You gave me no choice, brother, and I’ll never forgive yah.” There’s a ring of truth to that statement, as she grits out those words through tears.
With new … adventures … awaiting Claire and Jamie, we, the viewers, are left still to worry over the lingering question of our time: Where is Murtaugh?