Outlander: The Wedding (1x07)

The episode everyone was waiting for. And let me tell you, it was just as gratuitous and over the top as anyone ever could have wished for. I guess I'll start with a plot summary, although let's be real, the plot of this episode was mostly: sex.

We start with Frank and Claire, and see how he spontaneously proposed to her back in the 1940's, and then we jump to just after Jamie and Claire's wedding. The rest of the episode is told in flashbacks to the moments leading up to the wedding, as Jamie and Claire spend their wedding night together.

Basically, they must consummate their marriage so that Jack Randall doesn't get any ideas about challenging the validity of the marriage. As we see Jamie prepare for the wedding by making sure Ned acquires a dress for Claire, and making sure a ring is made out of a key, we see that Claire spends her wedding day sleeping in, massively hung over. The wedding goes off without a hitch, although Dougal had to bribe a priest to see to the ceremony.

The wedding night involves Jamie and Claire getting to know about each other's family histories. Their first sexual encounter is rather awkward. Their second much more passionate. And the third is sweet and tender. Claire finds herself drawn to Jamie, despite still wanting to get back to Frank.

At one point, Claire goes down into the tavern to get something to drink, long after everyone else is in bed. Dougal is down there. He tries to seduce Claire, but Claire rebuffs him. The episode ends as Claire slips Frank's wedding ring onto her other hand, staring at the two rings that represent her two husbands.

So... problems?

Okay, first of all... were Jamie and Claire staying in a honeymoon suite? I mean, my god, that tavern has some nice facilities, that's all I'm saying! It felt a tad unrealistic that they would have such a large space, even if the room did look very cool.

Secondly, what was with Dougal propositioning Claire? I don't remember that from the book. Maybe I just forgot about it. In any case, it seemed like an awkward thing to do at this point, since it complicates Dougal's character in such a way as to make me sort of confused about how we're meant to feel about him. He tried so hard to protect Claire from Jack, but then he tries to make her cheat on her new husband?

I'll talk about all the sex more in a minute, but the blowjob scene might have been just a touch over the top. We really didn't need to linger that long on Jamie's blowjob face, did we? For the most part the sex in this episode was well-balanced, but that part felt like just a bit too much.

Overall, however, I felt like this episode worked really well. Yeah, it had a bunch of sex and nudity in it. But it wasn't just exploitative for the sake of it. Jamie and Claire spend their wedding night getting to know each other - mind and soul, but also body. There shouldn't be such a stigma about sex, anyway. It was sort of refreshing to see both of these characters enjoying sex, and making sure the other was enjoying it too.

Structurally, it was a smart move to do the buildup to the wedding in flashbacks. That way, we got to the culminating event, the ceremony, as the climax to the episode. We got to save the sight of Claire in that magnificent dress for the end, and see them make their vows to one another after we had already begun to enjoy them as a couple.

Jamie and Claire are both such well developed characters at this point. I enjoyed the way the episode took us through their emotional and mental journey of the night - their awkwardness, their passion, their confusion, and genuine affection for one another. Clearly, Jamie is more invested in their relationship than Claire is. He's not at all broken up about this impromptu wedding, even if it is slightly uncomfortable. Claire, with her big secret and her very much alive husband Frank, is understandably feeling more conflicted. We got to see all of that play out during this wedding night.

Some favorite moments: I love how astonished and delighted Jamie is to learn that women can orgasm. It's such a cute response, and a nice contrast to all of the crappy advice he was getting from the other Highlanders about how to have sex. Also, the chaste little kiss that they share as Jamie gets ready to go get breakfast is so lovely - it speaks of familiarity and bone-deep affection. They seemed like a well-established couple by that point. So sweet.

And the actual sex in this episode is mostly about Claire, and her experiences, and her pleasure. That's refreshing to see, as we don't usually get something with such blatant female-gaze. This show is not one to write off as simply a "women's" show, and yet it understands the importance of the female character and the (primarily) female audience. I'm impressed.

Also, Angus, Rupert, and Murtagh all had little moments to shine in this episode. Angus and Rupert are a hilarious dynamic duo. I loved their banter as they tried to get the ring made. Murtagh was so adorable - Jamie wonders if his mother will approve of his marriage to Claire, and Murtagh says that Ellen Mackenzie Fraser had a particularly sweet smile, and that Claire has that same smile. This was the first time I really felt the bond between Jamie and Murtagh. So lovely.

I could go on. Other little moments that made me giggle include Dougal threatening the priest, and Ned Gowan's adventure with the prostitutes. But the focus of this episode remained exactly where it should - with Jamie and Claire. Their relationship was strengthened by this episode, and it makes me excited to see what comes next. Of course, the sex was hot... but if that's all you got out of it, you were missing the whole point.

9/10