Recap of Outlander
Season 1, Episode 14:
The Search
Claire sets out with Jenny to free Jamie from his Redcoat captors then works with Murtagh to search the Highlands for him when she discovers that he's already escaped. She ends up turning to unusual methods to get his attention only to find that her efforts may have worsened the situation.
Tropes:
- Action Girl: Jenny and Claire manage to track down the Redcoat, capture a soldier, interrogate him, and find information on Jamie's whereabout.
- A Friend in Need: Jamie's Chronic Hero Syndrome pays off. Claire, Murtagh, Willie, Rupert, and Angus are going to risk it all to save Jamie because in the past he has risked himself to help them.
- Badass Family: Messing with the Frasers is a risky gamble
- The Bus Came Back: Murtagh, who has not been seen since Jamie was banished from Castle Leoch, returns just in time to aid Claire and Jenny.
- Call-Back: In the episode "The Wedding", Jamie stated that his mother, Ellen, had been promised to another man by her brothers, but met Brian, her father, and snuck off to be married. In this episode, it's revealed that Murtagh, Jamie's godfather and confidante, is the man who'd been given permission by Dougal and Colum, Ellen's brothers, to marry her.
- Cassandra Truth: Averted. Jamie has warned Jenny that Claire may say things regarding the future that sound strange or hard to believe, but if Claire advises her to do something avoid a future misfortune, she should do it without question.
- Cold-Blooded Torture: Jenny is not all all conflicted about using red hot pokers on the feet of the Redcoat to convince him to give up what he know.
- Deal with the Devil: Claire's bargain with Dougal. She promises him that if Dougal lends his aid in rescuing Jamie and they fail in the attempt, she will agree to marry him.
- Due to the Dead: Jenny recites a prayer over the bodies of the men who were left to rot in the fields.
- Eyeball-Plucking Birds: When Jennie and Claire find the dead members of the Watch, their corpses are being pecked by crows.
- He Knows Too Much: Claire and Jenny argue about whether or not to kill the Redcoat they interrogated. Jenny points out that if he survives, he will report that Jamie is on the run, a fact that no one currently knows since they intercepted the correspondence. Murtagh settles the matter by appearing out of nowhere and killing the man.
- Hope Spot: Claire and Murtagh receive a note from a Highlander looking for an Outlander and a Fraser Clansman, telling them to meet him at a familiar location. They race to there expecting to see Jamie, only to find Dougal. Furthermore, they learn that their attempts to locate Jamie lured him into a trap that got him recaptured.
- Ineffectual Death Threats: Rupert threatens Willie after giving in and agreeing to join Claire's prison break attempt.Rupert:"When this goes wrong I'm killing you first for getting us involved. Even before the Redcoats stretch your scrawny neck."
- Jack Bauer Interrogation Technique: Jenny, Jamie's sister, gives this to an English soldier by heating up the ramrod of his musket in the campfire and applying it to the soles of his bare feet, in order to get him to talk. In keeping with the trope, he tells them the truth: he's a courier, which prompts Claire to go through his bags and find out what the army is planning to do with Jamie.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Zigzagged. Mr. Ward of the traveling troubadours. He broke his promise not to continue using Claire's song, causing Jamie to go to the wrong traveling party and be captured, but he does track Claire and Murtagh down to give them the message he received from a Highlander. Of course, he did try to extort payment for delivery, but ultimately gave it for free when Claire refused to give him any more money.
- Jerk with a Heart of Jerk: Dougal offers to marry Claire once Jamie has been executed. He claims it's for her protection but she realizes that he actually wants to gain control of Lallybroch, which Claire would inherit as Jamie's widow, to gain control of the Fraser clan. Furthermore, he resists any notions of actually trying to rescue Jamie, insisting it's best to let him go before he's even confirmed dead.
- Least Is First: Despite the extreme danger of attempting to break into Wentworth Prison, Willie, the youngest member of the battle clan, is the only one willing to volunteer. Although it is dangerous, Willie insists that Jamie has always protected him and would do the same for him if the tables were turned. Eventually, his bravery shames Angus and Rupert into joining.
- My God, What Have I Done?: Claire's reaction once Dougal tells her that her musical act had played a role in Jamie's recapture.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Claire's singing act ends up being the cause of Jamie's falling into the hands of the English soldiers again and his incarceration in Wentworth Prison.
- Pregnant Badass: Jenny is riding cross country and torture-interrogating Redcoats only three days after giving birth
- Real Life: Jenny gave birth mere days ago and was breastfeeding. Even without her baby around, she has to stop to express milk, as milk production doesn't cease simply because she's away from her baby for a few days.
- The Reveal: It's revealed that Murtagh was in love with Ellen's mother and actually intended to marry her before she fell in love with Brian, Jamie's father.
- Road Trip Plot: Claire and Murtagh travel across the Highlands attempting to attract Jamie's attention.
- Roaring Rampage of Rescue: Claire and Jenny set off on one of these. Very unfortunate for the Redcoat who foolishly thinks them harmless simply because they're women.
- They Stole Our Act: Murtagh and Claire arrive in a town and go to sign up for a performance spot only to discover that another group has stolen their song and dance routine.
- Travel Montage: Used to demonstrate Jenny and Claire's trek to find Jamie.
- Underestimating Badassery: When the Redcoat carrier sees Jenny in the road, he isn't the least bit wary. Even when held at gunpoint and tied to a tree, he doesn't think he's in true danger from two women. And then Jenny breaks out the hot iron poker...
- Unrequited Love Lasts Forever: Murtagh for Ellen Fraser. It is very clear that he still loves her and is not over her death. The best he can do it is ensure the safety of her only son.
- You Have No Idea Who You're Dealing With: The Redcoat they capture throws around his status as one of the King's Men in an attempt to intimidate the women into releasing him. But when they threaten to take a red hot poker to his tender bits, he insists that he's just a lowly mail courier and knows nothing about what may have happened to the prisoners.
- You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: Once they have gotten information about Jamie's whereabouts, Jenny and Claire argue about what to do with their Redcoat captive. Jenny insists that he must be killed or he'll alert his superiors that Jamie is at large and receiving assistance, endangering both Jamie and Lallybroch. Claire doesn't want to kill him as it conflicts with her ethical oath as a nurse. Fortunately, the dilemma is solved when Murtagh suddenly appears and slits the man's throat.
