Outlander Season 3 Episode 4 Review: Of Lost Things
Elizabeth Harlow
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Is Claire giving up? Are you kidding me?
Outlander Season 3 Episode 4 ended on an unbelievable note, with Claire taking down all of Roger and Bree's hard work on the Scottish themed timeline of Jamie's life. Meanwhile, Jamie is trying his damnedest to stay true to her, all while a self-centered teenager does her damnedest to seduce him.
I guess it was foolish to expect anything but angst with Jamie and Claire still separated.
Okay, let's start by talking about one of the most controversial characters we've seen so far: Lady Geneva.
Yes, she's a totally spoiled brat. Yes, you could classify her treatment of Jamie as rape. Yes, she's basically an 18th century Regina George.
BUT...she's also a woman completely at the mercy of the men in her life, who is simply attempting to take control of one crucial decision.
God, it sucks sympathizing with the mean girl.
And then you have to feel bad for her; not only because she's being auctioned off to a creepy old man who is pretty much into her because he relishes the opportunity to subjugate a "pettish" woman, but because she falls in love with Jamie. Of course, who wouldn't? But he's so emotionally unavailable that you just have to pity her.
And then she has the gall to up and die. Because her only purpose was really as a plot device to provide Jamie with a child in his own time, a child who is both a second chance and another missed opportunity at fatherhood.
And so as much as I don't like Geneva, I pity her and hate how badly she's used. Label that relationship: Complicated.
We joke sometimes that he spends so much time with Mackenzie he's starting to look like him!
Lady Dunsany [about Willie]
I'm pretty sure Jamie would feel similarly about her (if not for all of the same reasons). Plus he would have that Catholic Papist guilt thing about thinking ill of the dead. No verra honorable, that.
Willie is so spoiled but so adorable – I'm not sure if I love him for his own sake, or for Jamie's, or maybe for Lord John's. Despite his, ahem, eventful arrival into the world, his overly entitled presence seems to be a balm for many wounds.
Pain of losing a child never leaves you.
Jamie
I love that Lord John and Jamie's friendship is back on track after the botched flirtation at Ardsmuir. Jamie needs a friend now more than ever, and John's dry wit and unique outlook on the world are a delight.
He may be marrying Lady Isabella – and how much did I love that he went to London and saw a whore to make sure that he could be with a woman? – but his heart burns for Jamie.
Considering that Lord John has a whole spinoff series from Diana Gabaldon, I doubt this is the last we'll see of him.
I'm pretty sure that David Berry and I aren't the only ones itching to ask Starz reps if Lord John will get his own program. I could understand if execs don't think it's viable as a 13 episode order, but may I suggest that a short web series-style situation could help keep angry Droughtlanders appeased?
Jamie: You do not want me then?
Lord John: I should probably want you til the day I die, but...tempted as I am, do you really think I would accept?
With Jamie (finally!) on his way back to Lallybroch, we can focus a little bit more on Claire...and Bree and Roger.
I don't envy Claire. I mean, obviously, she's been separated from the love of her life for twenty years while he went through god knows what, but I really mean more this internal battle she's having to fight.
How much grief and longing are too much? At what point do you quit? Do you owe more to your future or your past? To your known responsibilities or to your uncertain hopes?
These are the questions that keep me up at night until I pop a Xanax and find some relief. Too bad Claire doesn't have that option; I suppose that's why she drinks so much whiskey.
It's never too early for a whiskey.
Roger
I know some people didn't warm to Sophie Skelton in Outlander Season 2, but I find myself liking her more and more (awkward attempt at an American accent notwithstanding), although I was never opposed to her.
But seriously, that accent is horrible.
It's not her growing relationship with Roger that's endearing to me, but the strengthening of that with her mother. It's touching, of course, to see the two grow closer without Frank in the way to play the hero to Bree, but it's the dilemma their bond puts them in that I'm drawn to.
It's one of the rites of passage of adulthood, that sudden understanding and (sometimes slow) acceptance of our parents as people too, with whole lives outside of us. Still, that understanding doesn't negate those deep-rooted feelings of possessiveness towards our parents.
It just creates a battle between our superego and our id that is exhausting.
Having Roger help Bree through that battle is helpful for her and gives him something to do besides digging around in libraries, but I'm still not sold on their romance.
I mean, he's like in his mid to late thirties, and she's 20, and not that that never happens, but really, what do they have in common beyond this search for her father? I can see the initial physical attraction they might have for one another, but the writers have yet to convincingly develop anything more.
A few kisses and drunken confidences do not a sweeping romance make.
Love is...when you give your heart and soul to another. And they give theirs to you in return.
Jamie
Still, there's time for things to build. Roger will follow the Randall women back to the U.S. on Outlander Season 3 Episode 5 ("Freedom & Whiskey"), forcing Claire to finally make a decision. Some alone time on Bree's home turf might just usher things along.
Roger's new will also means that Claire and her daughter have to reevaluate what they owe to each other...and to Jamie. It'll be hard for them, but great for us because Claire and Jamie are one step closer to reuniting!
What did you think about "Of Lost Things?" Was Lady Geneva the worst sort of girl, or did you find some redeeming quality in her? Will Lord John be able to make Lady Isabella happy? Which of Jamie's kids was cuter? We want to know, so chime in down in the comments!
If you missed it, you can always watch Outlander online or check out past reviews to catch up! Or go crazy and do both! We're all Fanatics here after all!
Elizabeth Harlow was a staff writer for TV Fanatic. She left the organization in October 2018.
