#outlander 2.07

endless gifs of the frasers - 37/∞

Day 8: Scene that made you cry the most.

I legit cannot gif it because I WILL start sobbing uncontrollably again. It’s the reason I cannot even reread Dragonfly in Amber anymore.

When Claire loses Faith...how it was portrayed by Caitríona, who hadn't had children yet, was spot on and even more heartbreaking than it already was. My son was 7 when I first saw 207 and I sobbed uncontrollably for hours afterwards.

Wolf and I have struggled with secondary infertility for most of The Pup's life. It's one of the reason why he's an only child. The risk of miscarriage and stillbirth is even more increased by my own medical history. I cannot even fathom going through the months it takes to grow a pregnancy only to lose it under such traumatic circumstances. I am very blessed to have not lost the only pregnancy I was able to have. But the thought that I cannot do it again without risking my own life...well, I mostly get by but some days are harder than others.

In hindsight, I shouldn’t have watched it late last night, since being overtired from a busy day will only exacerbate my tendency to waterworks and e m o t i o n.

THE OPENING SCENE: I didn’t mind it. I kind of liked the surprise element of it (it is nice to be surprised now and then, when you know all the major plot points going in!). Bird symbolism is a Toni Graphia signature.

CAITRIONA BALFE: Was phenomenal. No more need be said, I think.

THE MYSTICAL HEALING SCENE: was adapted way more faithfully than I ever dared hope, and really effectively. I loved the Rorshach birdwing visual effect and the subtle blue tint of the cinematography.

CLAIRE’S RETURN HOME: Very moving, and I know some have commented that it was a waste of time, but I felt it was a great way to have the audience kind of dig into the grief and spend time in that space of mourning, along with Claire and the servants.

FERGUS: Romann Berrux. Incredible. His performances so far have been wonderful but this was another level. I was surprised they showed as much violence in the brothel scene as they did but honestly I’m not mad. Child rape is a horror -- don’t let the audience forget it. 

KING LOUIS: Honestly, I love every little thing about Lionel Lingelser’s creation of this character. You can’t take your eyes off of him. 

THE STAR CHAMBER: Creepy as hell. Could’ve done with a little less VO. Stanley Weber... I know I’m not the only person who finds it SO WEIRD to sympathize with the Comte. When he “died” in the book, I certainly didn’t shed a tear. But Stanley Weber created a man who was menacing, threatening and also... human. As far as he’s concerned, just a guy who got fucked over by this random Englishwoman.

LOUISE: I hoped that Toni would deliver on the female friendship front and not let last week’s embarrassingly vapid display be the last we see of Louise. In the book, Louise proves herself to be a true, loyal and loving friend to Claire when she hosts Claire’s recovery at Fontainebleu. Louise’s appearance at l’Hôpital was a perfect distillation of that act of love. 

JAMIE/CLAIRE REUNION FLASHBACK: this device, taking us back to Claire’s darkest hour at the end of the episode was so effective, especially as we’re trying to understand Claire’s feelings on Jamie’s return.

THE BEARD: I get wanting to show that Jamie came straight home to Claire after getting out of prison. But there is no such thing as a good fake beard. But actors have acted under way more intense prostheses, and Sam Heughan was up to the task (I think it was Rene Auberjonois, who played Odo on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine with a face covered in rubber, who said that it was all in the eyes).

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