Written by Diana Gabaldon, Ronald D. Moore, and Ira Steven Behr
Directed by Metin Hüseyin

The bulk of the second season of Outlander takes place in France, with Jamie and Claire going there after Scotland is no longer safe for them. It has the added bonus of putting Jamie and Claire right in the thick of the Jacobites in France who are plotting the return of King James to the throne in England.

Not in Scotland Anymore opens with Jamie (Sam Heughan) still experiencing vivid nightmares from his time at Wentworth Prison. Claire (Caitriona Balfe) tries to reassure him that Jack Randall (Tobias Menzies) is gone. Jamie states it doesn’t matter, he’s still alive in his head. They are now living in cousin Jared’s townhouse in Paris. Claire is having trouble adjusting to having servants, among other parts of her role now as a woman of substance.

Claire visits Master Raymond (Dominique Pinon), an apothecary who has made a name for himself in Paris. She is looking for a solution to Jamie’s nightmares. He recognizes her as someone who knows a good bit about herbs. She recognizes him as someone who can be a bit of a “snake oil salesman.”

Jamie and Murtagh (Duncan Lacroix) have an audience watching them as they joust in a park. Murtagh is trying to teach him how to fight again. Jamie’s destroyed hand has healed enough for him to try, but it still pains him quite a bit and he doesn’t always do what he wants it to do. Murtagh would like to assassinate Prince Charles Stuart and be done with it, while Jamie is more cautious.

Jamie receives a letter that his cousin Jared has managed to get him an introduction to Prince Charles Stuart (Andrew Gower) himself. With Murtagh, he travels to a Parisian brothel to meet with him. Prince Charles states he doesn’t want a sycophant, but when Jamie is honest with him about the state of the Clans in Scotland, he tells Jamie he is defeatist and that God demands that a Catholic King sit on England’s throne. The French King cannot meet with the Prince because it would be problematic. Prince Charles asks Jamie to be his representative at the French court.

Claire meets with her friend Louise (Claire Sermonne) in order to secure an invitation to the court. While there, she meets Mary Hawkins (Rosie Day), who is a young woman under Louise’s charge. Mary is quite timid and stammers. A marriage has been arranged for her with a wealthy Vicomte, which she is none too happy about. Louise agrees to invite Claire and Jamie to court.

Claire comes down in a very daring red dress. At Versaille, a woman Jamie once fought a duel over greets him. Claire is amused by his discomfort. Annalise (Margaux Chatelier) invites Jamie to witness the dressing of the King. However, Jamie (and Murtagh) find the King (Lionel Lingelser) indisposed with constipation. Jamie advises him to begin eating parritch in the morning.

They’re trying to make the acquaintance of Monsieur Duverney (Marc Duret), the French Minister of Finance. Claire is getting a breath of air when he introduces himself to her. He misunderstands her interest and makes romantic overtures to her. Jamie tosses him in the fountain and then learns who he is. The two begin to forge a friendship with the promise of chess tournaments.

Murtagh spots the Duke of Sandringham (Simon Callow) at court. Jamie stops him from drawing a weapon in the presence of the King. Sandringham pleads innocence in the fact that his letter did not make it to the King of England and blames Jack Randall. The Duke introduces his new secretary to Claire, Alexander Randall (Laurence Dobiesz). It is during this introduction that Claire learns Jack Randall is still alive.

Not in Scotland Anymore is mostly about introducing new characters to the canvas who will interact with Jamie and Claire this season. There are many political implications as they interact with French society. They want to prevent the uprising at Culloden. This means running interference between Prince Charles and the French throne. With Prince Charles asking Jamie to be his emissary to Prince Louis, it would seem he is exactly where he needs to be.

These new characters are interesting and fun. Louise, for one, is a kind woman, but also a member of the nobility and all that it entails. They have little concept of what life is like for those outside of their social circle. The introduction of the King and what the French court is like is dazzling. It’s a study in contrasts as the wealthy party and wear fancy clothes, while the poor suffer in the streets.

Rosie Day as Mary Hawkins does a terrific job. She’s a naive young girl who hasn’t been exposed to much of the world. Her knowledge of sex and human reproduction is nonexistent. Day has her reluctant to make eye contact and stammering through much of her interaction with the boisterous and uninhibited Louise. Even Claire is taken aback by some of her friend’s actions. Louise seems to enjoy pushing the boundaries of society.

Claire remarks to herself about the revolution that’s coming. She’s not comfortable interacting in this social circle, but she must. The book details many more days and nights of entertaining. The series must move things along faster and condenses a lot but it does so quite well. Although she calls Louise a friend, Claire seems more comfortable among the lower classes.

Jamie assimilates into this society quite easily, even if he’s uncomfortable with it at times. He’s running Jared’s wine business while at the same time trying to cultivate the friendships that will allow him to block Prince Charles from venturing to Scotland. There’s a bit of a strain as they haven’t yet told Murtagh who Claire is and how she knows so much. He’s taking a lot on faith. Murtagh’s involvement with Claire’s maid is also part of what motivates her to visit M. Raymond.

The cinematography and costuming are magnificent. From the palace to the brothel, everything is stunning, capturing the opulence of the era. Not in Scotland Anymore is a critical piece of the story this season. Whereas the previous season gave viewers enough time to get to know the characters in the setting at Castle Leoch, this episode sets the table rather quickly. The rest of the season will have these characters playing a deadly game.

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