OUTLANDER: THE HAIL MARY (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, the Jacobite army is exhausted and downtrodden after five months spent in retreat, and Claire grows ever more concerned as the disastrous Battle of Culloden approaches. With three days to go, Jamie assembles a war council to reason with Prince Charles, and Claire restocks her medical supplies in Inverness — and runs into Mary Hawkins, who indignantly reveals that, despite Claire's meddling, she is still engaged to the seriously ill Alex Randall. Elsewhere, Jamie protests that the Culloden ground will prove advantageous for the British, especially as a shipment of gold from France has not yet arrived to aid the Jacobites, but Prince Charles seems determined to prove his bravery and refuses to consider further retreat. Claire visits Alex's sickbed and is horrified to encounter none other than "Black Jack," who is revealed to be financially supporting his brother and sister-in-law-to-be, and Mary reveals to Claire that she is already carrying Alex's child. When Jonathan asks Claire to ease Alex's suffering, she demands information about the British army's whereabouts in exchange.
Jamie, unsurprisingly, is outraged to learn that Claire has allied herself with Jonathan once again, but Claire explains that the British will be gathering for a birthday celebration in two days, right before the recorded Culloden battle. Jamie is then surprised by the arrival of an ailing Colum, who asks for Claire's help in painlessly ending his life — and also reveals that Geillis gave birth to a son before being executed as a witch. Claire attempts to help Alex, though makes it clear that his life cannot be saved, and Alex shocks everyone by asking that Jonathan marry Mary in order to provide her and their child with wealth and a higher social position (thus explaining why the historical record shows Frank as Mary and Jonathan's descendant). He begs his brother to allow his "inner man" to do the right thing, but Jonathan is appalled by the suggestion. Jamie verifies Jonathan's statement about the British party, and Murtagh, disgusted at the idea of Mary being wed to the sadistic Jonathan for the sake of the "mythical" Frank, offers to marry her himself, though Claire gently rejects the idea. Claire coldly reminds Jonathan that she has "cursed" him with the date of his death, now only a few days away, but Jonathan taunts Claire with memories of his torture of Jamie back at the prison.
Colum, refusing even on his deathbed to join the Jacobite cause, names his young son Hamish as his successor as chief and orders Jamie to rule in the boy's place until he comes of age, which infuriates Dougal. Colum cites Jamie's selfless and noble leadership over his soldiers, pointing out that Dougal would likely not do the same for his men. Jonathan finally agrees to his brother's final plea and weds Mary, and Prince Charles and his men agree to Jamie's idea of surprising the British during their party by forming two columns and trapping them within. Dougal and Colum share an unusually heartfelt conversation just before Colum dies, though Jonathan has a different reaction to his brother's death, violently attacking his corpse in front of a shocked Mary. Claire reminds Jamie that Jonathan will die on the following day — by her hand if not in battle — but Prince Charles and his men somehow lose their way while preparing to attack the birthday celebration, meaning that the Battle of Culloden will happen as planned after all.
Details
- NETWORK: Starz
- DATE: November 30, 1999 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:59:42
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 136187
- GENRE: Drama, fantasy/science fiction
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, fantasy/science fiction; Scotland - History - 18th century; Marriage
- SERIES RUN: Starz - TV series, 2014-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Andy Harries … Executive Producer
- Jim Kohlberg … Executive Producer
- Maril Davis … Executive Producer
- Toni Graphia … Executive Producer
- Ronald D. Moore … Executive Producer, Developed by
- Anne Kenney … Executive Producer, Writer
- 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
- Tobias Menzies … Cast, Jonathan "Black Jack" Randall
- Duncan LaCroix … Cast, Murtagh Fraser
- Gary Lewis … Cast, Colum MacKenzie
- Graham McTavish … Cast, Dougal MacKenzie
- Grant O'Rourke … Cast, Rupert MacKenzie
- Andrew Gower … Cast, Prince Charles Edward Stuart
- Laurence Dobiesz … Cast, Alex Randall
- Rosie Day … Cast, Mary Hawkins
- Romann Berrux … Cast, Fergus
- Scott Kyle … Cast, Ross
- Julian Wadham … Cast, Lord General George Murray
- Gerard Horan … Cast, Quartermaster John O'Sullivan
- Jim Sweeney … Cast, Andrew MacDonald
- Sean Hay … Cast, Donald Cameron of Lochiel
- Crawford Logan … Cast, Clergyman
- Ben Clifford … Cast, Apothecary Clerk