OUTLANDER: PRESTONPANS (TV)
Summary
One in this series of fantasy dramas, based on the novels by Diana Gabaldon, about a World War II nurse caught up in romance and danger after she is magically transported to the 18th century.
In this episode, Claire worries that their efforts to "rewrite history" are doomed, and Jamie observes as Charles Stuart argues with his generals, who disagree about whether the Jacobites should maintain their strong defensive position or attack the British outright. The prince privately urges Jamie to instruct Claire to prioritize the British soldiers in her field hospital, though Jamie knows that she will accept no such commands. Jamie's restless clansmen squabble about their desire for "glory and gore" on the battlefield and learn that they still have no definitive orders, and when Jamie decides that someone must examine the swampy "meadow" between their camp and the British to see if it is fit for infantry battle, Dougal bravely volunteers and rides out, observed by his fellow soldiers and the prince himself. He stays a safe distance from the Redcoats' bullets and quickly finds that the muddy marsh is unfit for battle, and the prince, highly impressed by his courage, tells the soldiers that there will be no "glorious highland charge" after all.
Claire continues organizing the hospital, tasking young Fergus with maintaining the fires, and Richard Anderson arrives to tell Jamie, the prince and the generals that he knows of a secret path around the bog that will lead straight to the British camp. Now realizing that battle is truly upon them, the men promise one another to look after their families as Murtagh broods on the meaninglessness of their potential sacrifice, and Jamie and Claire gently dissuade a determined Fergus when he begs to be allowed onto the battlefield. Claire bids loving farewells to Jamie and her friends, and the Jacobites — including Fergus, who has slipped out to join them — take Anderson's path around the meadow. Jamie urges the prince to stay out of harm's way, as the rebellion needs him alive, and Claire tries to encourage the women of the hospital to steel their nerves for a very trying day. The rebels take the Redcoats by surprise and a fierce battle ensues, and Claire scrambles to save as many as she can. The British soon frantically retreat, and captured prisoners are soon brought into the hospital alongside their enemies.
Angus arrives with a badly injured Rupert, and he keeps vigil by his bedside after Claire sews up his large sword wound. Jamie bursts in and proudly tells Claire that the Jacobites have secured a speedy victory, and Claire is deeply relieved to find Fergus uninjured, though traumatized from having killed a British soldier on his own. Jeremy Foster spots Dougal finishing off injured soldiers out on the battlefield and tries to warn him that the victorious Jacobites will still lose the bigger war, but Dougal responds with a thrust of his sword. Jamie visits Rupert and seems unconcerned by his own horse-inflicted injury, and when the prince arrives to give a solemn speech about his pride in his soldiers, Dougal barges in and flies into a rage when he sees that British soldiers are being cared for alongside his fallen friends. Stuart reprimands his lack of "Christian charity," but Jamie saves the day by both promoting Dougal and sending him far from the prince's sight in one smooth move. Angus suddenly collapses, and Claire realizes too late that he has ignored his own internal bleeding in order to tend to his friend. Angus dies painfully, and a heartbroken Rupert rouses himself to mourn his best friend. Later, Murtagh reflects on their bittersweet victory, and Claire reminds Jamie that they are facing a serious loss at Culloden in the near future.
Details
- NETWORK: Starz
- DATE: 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: N/A
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 136185
- GENRE: Drama, fantasy/science fiction
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, fantasy/science fiction; Scotland - History - 18th century; Romance
- SERIES RUN: Starz - TV series, 2014-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Jim Kohlberg … Executive Producer
- Andy Harries … Executive Producer
- Maril Davis … Executive Producer
- Toni Graphia … Executive Producer
- Anne Kenney … Executive Producer
- Ronald D. Moore … Executive Producer, Developed by
- Ira Steven Behr … Executive Producer, Writer
- Matthew B. Roberts … Co-Executive Producer
- David Brown … Producer
- Elicia Bessette … Co-Producer
- Michael O'Halloran … Co-Producer
- Philip John … Director
- Diana Gabaldon … Based on the series of books written by
- Bear McCreary … Music by
- Caitriona Balfe … Cast, Claire Beauchamp Randall / Fraser
- Sam Heughan … Cast, James "Jamie" MacKenzie Fraser
- Duncan LaCroix … Cast, Murtagh Fraser
- Graham McTavish … Cast, Dougal MacKenzie
- Steven Walters … Cast, Angus Mhor
- Grant O'Rourke … Cast, Rupert MacKenzie
- Andrew Gower … Cast, Prince Charles Edward Stuart
- Romann Berrux … Cast, Fergus
- Scott Kyle … Cast, Ross
- Gregor Firth … Cast, Kincaid
- Julian Wadham … Cast, Lord General George Murray
- Gerard Horan … Cast, Quartermaster John O'Sullivan
- Jim Sweeney … Cast, Andrew MacDonald
- Tom Brittney … Cast, Lieutenant Jeremy Foster
- Alex Hope … Cast, Richard Anderson
- Alice McMillan … Cast, Molly Cockburn
- Bridget McCann … Cast, Alice McMurdo
- Sarah Higgins … Cast, Allina Clerk
- Magnus Sinding … Cast, British Soldier
- Edward Kingham … Cast, British Sentry
- Tom Cox … Cast, Colonel James Gardner