Recap of Outlander
Season 1, Episode 7:
The Wedding
You have my name and my family, my clan, and if necessary, the protection of my body as well.
-Jamie Fraser
With marriage to a Scot seemingly the only legal way to save Claire from being returned to the custody of Black Jack Randall, Jamie agrees to become her husband and protect her. Claire is overwhelmed by guilt at the thought of becoming an adulteress and a bigamist, but to be legal in time, the marriage must be consummated that night. To overcome nerves, the newlywed couple recounts the day's events as they try to acclimate to their new relationship.
Tropes:
- Almost Kiss: Jamie's first attempt to kiss Claire in private gets derailed when Claire gets nervous at the last second and asked to hear about Jamie's family history instead. Jamie laughs, bewildered, but acquiesces.
- Altar Diplomacy: Jamie and Claire marry to revoke Captain Randall's authority over Claire and to move her under the protection of Clan MacKenzie, knowing that Randall will not risk open war by kidnapping the wife of the Laird's nephew.
- As the Good Book Says...: Willie and the priest quote scriptures at each other, both using bible quotes that they believe support their own position. Ultimately, Dougal settles the matter with a bribe.
- Blood Oath: Part of the ceremony is cutting Jamie and Claire's wrist, binding the two together, and then repeating a Gaelic oath of commitment to each other.
- The Bride with a Past: There is definitely a lot Jamie does not know about Claire, the most significant being that she's already married.
- Citizenship Marriage: Claire is marrying Jamie, a Scott, so that she can not be ordered out of the Scottish Highlands on the whims of British officers.
- Consummation Counterfeit: Dougal specifically warns Jamie against this, knowing that Jamie is chivalrous enough to do so if Claire is uncomfortable sleeping with him so soon after they're married with no warning.
- Declaration of Protection: Jamie declares that now that they are married, he will protect her with everything he has.Jamie: You have my name and my family, my clan, and if necessary, the protection of my body as well.
- Distinction Without a Difference: When Ned and Dougal approach Jamie about marrying Claire, they explain that the marriage has to be consummated with witnesses in the building. Jamie asks if Claire is aware of that requirement. Dougal replies that she has no say in the matter. Murtagh replies that Dougal has always said he doesn't hold with rape. Dougal insists that it's not rape, it's persuasion. But requiring Claire to have sex without her consent as a condition of ensuring her safety... sounds a bit rapey.
- Dress Hits Floor: This is shown with both Claire's dress and Jamie's kilt.
- Every Man Has His Price: The priest pretends to be unwilling to break the rules of his faith even in the face of Dougal MacKenzie, but ultimately is willing to bend them in exchange for better accommodations.
- Flashback Echo: The episode begins with a flashback of Claire and Frank's wedding, but when they kiss, the scene cuts to Jamie and Claire kissing in front of the priest to seal their new marriage.
- Flashback: The episode starts post-wedding. Between rounds of... erm, consummation... Jamie recounts to Claire how he reached the decision to marry her and then how he prepared for the actual wedding. Claire also recounts what she was doing while the groom's party was running around prepping.
- Good Is Not Dumb: The priest thought to bring a knife to his meeting with Dougal. Not that Dougal is intimidated by the comically small blade.
- Hypocrite: As usual Dougal does not like when others behave as he does. Moments after propositioning Claire on her wedding night, he punches Rupert in the face for merely observing that Jamie must've done a good job giving how Claire is looking and moving.
- I Have Many Names: Claire's final objection is they can't marry because she doesn't know his true name. He gladly tells her he is James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser. This is significant because Jamie has been going by a variety of aliases due to the bounty on his head.
- Insatiable Newlyweds: Once they finally get started, they have a lot of sex in short amount of time. Justified in that this is new to Jamie and he's in his early 20s.
- Interrupted Intimacy: Jamie and Claire are finally getting comfortable with each other, moving so far as to both being lounging on the bed, when Rupert and Angus burst through the door, startling the couple. They explain that Dougal sent them to check if the two had done the deed yet.
- I Was Just Joking: Claire is horrified that the men downstairs won't leave until they receive confirmation that Jamie and Claire have consummated their marriage. Claire sarcastically remarks that she should be grateful they were satisfied with remaining downstairs rather than insisting on being in the same room as the couple. Jamie replies that only Rupert and Angus had asked for that. Upon seeing Claire's horrified face, Jamie assures her he was just telling a "wee joke."
- Jerkass Has a Point: The priest, Willie, and Dougal have all pulled their blades. Willie points out that they have him outnumbered. He reminds them that if they injure or kill him, there's not another priest to be found for miles who can do what they want. Dougal rolls his eyes and sheaths his blade.
- Liquid Courage: On their wedding night, Claire chugs so many glasses of whiskey that Jamie feels the need to reassure her that she doesn't have to be worry that he'll force himself on her. She assures him that she knows he would never do such a thing.
- Marriage Before Romance: Due to the necessity of marrying before Captain Randall's deadline to turn her over at the fort, Jamie and Claire have had no time to even adjust to the idea that they are getting married, let alone doing any level of courting. They spend several hours on their wedding night just talking so they can feel comfortable enough to have sex, consummating the marriage as the law requires.
- Promise Me You Won't Laugh: After their first time, Claire asks Jamie if sex was like he expected. He replies that almost, except... and then his voices fades away. Claire wants to know but Jamie hesitates to tell her, sure she'll laugh at him. Claire promises not to laugh. Reluctantly, Jamie admits that he didn't know that people had sex face to face. He thought it would be from behind, the way he saw the horses do. Claire bursts into uncontrollable laughter, apologizing even as she giggles. Jamie takes it in good spirits.
- Rule of Three:
- Jamie tells three stories detailing his conditions for marriage with the third, how Ned Gowan procured a wedding gown in a brothel, being so absurd, Claire questions the veracity of the story.
- Jamie and Claire have sex three times with the level of comfort and intimacy growing each time. The first time was clumsy and awkward. The third time, they seem to be completely in synch with each other.
- Screw the Rules, I Have Money!: Dougal's stance on the priest refusing to officiate the wedding until the banns have been read.
- She Cleans Up Nicely: Claire is gorgeous in the wedding dress the women in the brothel chose for her. Jamie certainly thought so.
- Smash Cut: In the flashback to Jamie making his wedding demands, he says his first condition is that he wants to be married in a proper church in front of a real priest. Smash cut to Willie kicking a door open and shoving an unwilling priest into the room to speak with Dougal.
- Their First Time: It's Jamie's first time ever having sex and Claire's first time with Jamie.
- The Talk: Jamie mentioned that several of his relatives gave him advice on what to expect on his wedding night.
- Three Wishes: Jamie has three conditions which must be met before he'll agree to marry Claire: 1) he wants to be married in a proper church in front of a real priest, 2) he wants a ring made for Claire from a specific key he carries around, and 3) he wants a proper wedding dress procured for Claire.
- Time-Compression Montage: Claire and Jamie spend several hours talking. We see fade ins and outs showing Jamie moving around the room and we hear bits of conversation with each line unrelated to the previous or the next indicating they're from separate stories.
- Unconventional Wedding Dress: Ned bought Claire's wedding dress from the Madame at the local brothel. Luckily, it was traded for services by a British officer passing through, originally intended for his wife.
- Vitriolic Best Buddies: Angus and Rupert are shown bickering their way to the blacksmith, bickering through the transaction, and bickering as they head back.
- Wedding Episode: This episode focuses on the lead up to, the ceremony, and the wedding night afterwards.
- Wedding Ring Removal: Claire removes Frank's ring before heading into the chapel to marry Jamie.
- "Well Done, Son" Guy: Jamie wants Murtaugh's approval and reassurance that his mother would have approved of his marriage.
- What It Says On The Tin
