‘Outlander,’ Season Three, Episode Six, “A. Malcolm”: 5 Things I *LOVED* About Last Night’s Episode

Let’s keep this quick, because it is the smallest of details to get excited by in a super-sized episode such as this, but I loved Jamie’s dashing tricorn hat. I like the way it sits on top of his handsome face, framing it just so. (Also, I’m starting to worry between this and Poldark that I’m just sexually attracted to tricorn hats. But maybe that’s something I should take to a therapist and not a blog post.)

Like me, you probably noticed something a little different about the opening credits this week. The episode title and writer/director credits were apart of the action set piece in a cheeky, innovative way. I also noticed that this episode – a major one in Outlander canon — was directed by Norma Bailey.

This isn’t the first episode of Outlander directed by a woman. Heck, it’s not even the first episode this season directed by Bailey! But I was somewhat heartened to know that “A. Malcolm” was in the hands of a female director. There’s a lot of talk about how the show is shot from the female gaze…meaning that it is visually composed to put (straight) female fantasies front and center. With Bailey at the helm, I could be sure that Claire and Jamie’s inevitable reunion between the sheets would stick to this POV, and the spirit of the show. Also, it’s just cool to see more women getting their due as directors, especially in “big” episodes like this one.

May I admit something kind of embarrassing? I came very close to bursting into hysterical tears while I was watching last night’s episode. I may have even have had to hit pause to give myself a moment to collect myself. What set me emotionally over the edge? The moment that a grown up Fergus recognizes Claire in the market.

I. LOST. IT.

I lost it because the show has been so focused on how much Claire and Jamie miss each other that we almost forgot that Claire left other people behind in 18th Century Scotland, too. Namely: Fergus. In Fergus’s mind, Claire and Jamie were as good as his adoptive parents. They showed him love and care and affection when no one else would. When Claire left, can you imagine?!? Fergus had no idea that she was returning to her timeline because Fergus doesn’t know about that. FERGUS PROBABLY FELT ABANDONED. (Okay, I’m projecting a tad bit there.)

Nevertheless, when he sees her, his response is as pure as fresh spring water put through a Brita filter three times and placed in a never-before-used crystal glass. He’s so overwhelmed with joy — and I was, too.

When we think of Outlander‘s sex scenes, we don’t think of the word, “shy.” And yet, that was precisely the vibe of Claire and Jamie’s first kisses — and embraces. I just about melted when Jamie, looking nerd-hot in his old man reading glasses, fidgeted around their first kiss. The way he haltingly says, “I would very much like to kiss you” made me blush and crumple up into a girlish swoon. Good ‘ole Jamie Fraser, still concerned about matters of consent.

Yes, I swooned.

(Also, all the moments where both Claire and Jamie sheepishly asked each other if they still loved each other – even as “olds” — were both tender and hilarious. Tender, of course, because insecurity lurks in every heart. Hilarious because Claire and Jamie have not really been aged up at all. Jamie has glasses and walks slower now? I guess? I’ll take it, though, you crazy show.)

I could be wrong, but I feel like the vast majority of the extra time added to last night’s episode were completely devoted to banging. Oh, we don’t like that word? Okay, it was a good old fashioned f*** fest. It wasn’t just dreamy and romantic, though. It was rough. It was awkward. There were embarrassing head butts and all-too-human grunting noises. There were second rounds. There was some morning nookie. It was a lot — and it was everything we were all waiting for.

Stream Outlander, "A. Malcolm" on Starz