Written by Diana Gabaldon, Ronald D. Moore, and Anne Kenney
Directed by Metin Hüseyin

Life among the aristocracy in 1700s France is not all it’s cracked up to be, especially for a 20th-century woman like Claire Fraser. She feels rather bored at the moment, and doesn’t enjoy just sitting around all day with other ladies, gossiping. She needs something more. In this episode, she finds a place she can contribute, much to the chagrin of Jamie.

Claire (Caitriona Balfe) is awakened in the night by Jamie (Sam Heughan) returning from a night with Prince Charles (Andrew Gower). Their social schedule and Jamie’s responsibilities running Jared’s wine business are taking their toll.

Claire is playing cards with Louise (Claire Sermonne) and Mary Hawkins (Rosie Day). Mary is distressed about wedding a Frenchman, and it becomes apparent no one has ever had a talk with her about sex. Claire realizes where she knows the name Mary Hawkins from – she’s the ancestor of Frank who is recorded as being married to Jack Randall.

When Claire returns home, she finds her ladies’ maid in bed with Murtagh (Duncan Lacroix). Murtagh later apologizes to Claire, who snaps at him. She tells him that Jack Randall is alive. Murtagh said it’s a good thing she hasn’t told Jamie.

While playing chess with Monsieur Duverney (Marc Duret), Jamie drops that he wants him to tell Prince Charles that King Louis will not finance his rebellion, and invited him to Maison Elise.

Clair again goes to Master Raymond’s (Dominique Pinon) to find birth control for her maid. The Comte St. Germain (Stanley Weber) is just walking out of the shop when she arrives. Claire is lamenting her life becoming a bit too conventional at the moment. M. Raymond advises her to put her medical abilities to good use at a charity hospital. The nuns who operate the hospital seem amused by her desire to volunteer at first, but then Claire proves herself to them.

At Maison Elise, Jamie learns that Prince Charles has secured some funding from members of the British aristocracy who believe his father is their rightful King. This is a shock to both him and M. Duverney. Charles promises an alliance with France should his father become King, which puts the situation in a very different light with the French crown.

Jamie is not happy with Claire’s work at the charity hospital. He worries about her getting sick. She argues she needs to feel useful. Eventually, with her reassurances that she will be careful, he relents.

Once again at Maison Elise, Jamie makes the acquaintance of a young boy who is clearing dishes and also a pickpocket. Jamie enlists Fergus (Romann Berrux) to help by stealing the letters that Prince Charles is receiving. They copy the letters and then return them before he knows they are missing. Most of the letters are written in code.

There’s a letter with what appears to be music in it. Jamie is stumped, and on Murtagh’s advice takes the music to Mother Hildegard (Frances de la Tour) at the charity hospital. She helps them decode the message, and they realize Lord Sandringham is involved. Having confided in Murtagh, he advises her that now is the time she should come clean to Jamie about Jack Randall since he will likely find out about it when he talks to Sandringham. Still, Claire hesitates.

Useful Occupations and Deception primarily advanced the story in France of Claire and Jamie trying to stop the Jacobite uprising that would occur. There’s some intrigue not only with the Prince trying to raise money, but also with the Comte St. Germain being in Paris and his ties to M. Raymond. Claire seems hesitant to consider M. Raymond a friend, but does accept his explanation of why the Comte was there.

As a woman used to being active and using her brain, it’s hard for Claire to just sit around. Advising Jamie is fine, but she needs more. She has a sense of purpose helping him, but that doesn’t keep her occupied. The charity hospital presents the perfect opportunity as Claire’s medical skills are likely miles ahead of the other volunteers there. The books go a long way to showing how Claire gets accepted there, where it happens rather quickly during this episode.

Jamie talks a little too freely about stopping a Jacobite rebellion with Claire in front of the servants. In the books, it’s clear the two speak clandestinely even when there is no one around to hear them. Gossip travelsd among the servants and if they did speak in front of them the way they do in this episode, their plans would soon be known. This is the one big misstep of this season, and it’s really only there if you’ve read the books or dwell on the societal structure of the times.

The acting is great, particularly Caitriona Balfe who carries most of the episode. She’s beautiful dressed in the fashion of the era, and still is a 20th century woman with differing values than the women of the 18th century. Even for the 20th century she was rather progressive. Jamie appreciates her intelligence and drive, but he’s more aware of the dangers of the era than she is. It’s one of the common themes running through the show as well as the books. At one point Jamie has stated that Claire comes from a time that’s different and there isn’t the same level of danger in everyday life in her time as there is now. Jamis is acutely aware of this, and her impetuous action frustrate him when all he wants to do is keep her safe. Still, Claire must be true to who she is, and that’s not woman who sits home waiting for something to happen.

The introduction of Fergus to the series is also handed perfectly. He will be with the Frasers from hereon out. Romann Berrux is an excellent young actor who portrays the boy on the fringes of society who endears himself to them quite well. Perhaps Jamie sees a little of himself in Fergus, but there’s more to it than just that as there are thousands of orphans in the stews all over the city.

Useful Occupations and Deception coveys a lot of information that happens over a long period in the books in a clear and concise manner. At times it does feel rushed, but that’s the difference in creating a story for television as opposed to a book. I feel like the need to cover all of these plot points was done well and works here. Claire realizes who Mary Hawkins is and she and Murtagh bond more over their discovery that Jack Randall is still alive. SHe’s at cross purposes in a way, and along with the need to feel productive it creates a great character piece.

Previous episode of the series:

Next episode of the series: