Written by Diana Gabaldon, Ronald D. Moore, and Richard Kahan
Directed by Douglas Mackinnon

The ramifications of events in La Dame Blanche are being felt far and wide in Untimely Resurrection. Claire and Jamie must try to keep their plan in place, even as disaster looms.

Untimely Resurrection opens with the servants cleaning the house after the party. Claire (Caitriona Balfe) narrates that the police came and arrested everyone while she waits for Jamie (Sam Heughan) to return. She stays awake all night. When Jamie arrives home, he tells her that Murtagh (Duncan Lacroix) is with him, but Alex (Laurence Dobiesz) is still in custody. Mary’s father still thinks that Alex raped (or tried to rape) Mary (Rosie Day).

Jamie confesses that “La Dame Blanche” is his fault. When he was out with Prince Charles (Andrew Gower) he told them that his wife was “La Dame Blanche” – a white witch – and that’s why he would not go with any of the women offered to him.

Murtagh gives Jamie information that the assailants were likely part of a group of aristocrats who search the streets for prey as a means of fun. Murtagh feels like he has failed Jamie by not being able to protect Claire. Jamie tells him he didn’t fail him, and he needs to find out who was behind the attack.

Claire visits Mary Hawkins. She has written an account of the attack to get Alex freed. Mary tells Claire that she is to leave Paris as soon as she has recovered. Claire tells her that it’s not her fault, but in this day and age being raped brought shame on the woman. Mary asks if she will have a baby because of this and Claire tells her that since the attacker wasn’t able to finish then it’s not likely. The bright side is that the arranged marriage is no more. Mary tells Claire she wants to marry Alex, and Claire wonders what happens to Frank if she and Alex are wed.

Prince Charles visits Jamie and tells him that he is about to come into ten thousand pounds sterling. He has entered into an agreement with the Comte St. Germain (Stanley Weber) to invest in a shipment of wine. Jamie meets with the Comte at Maison Elise to go over the details, and he lets the Comte know that if he finds the person responsible for the attacks on Claire, he will kill him. The Comte says he will hang on to the merchandise until Jamie has a buyer in place.

Claire comes up with the idea of making it appear that there is a smallpox outbreak among the crew involved with the shipment and then it would all have to be destroyed.

Jamie and Claire arrive again at Versailles where Jamie has agreed to help the Duke of Sandringham (Simon Callow) purchase a horse. Claire is walking in the gardens with Annalise (Margaux Chatelier) when she is spotted by Jack Randall (Tobias Menzies). Astonished at his presence, Claire attempts to get away. King Louis (Lionel Lingelser) approaches just before Jamie does and Claire keeps control. The two watch as King Louis insults Jack and forces him to his knees in front of them. Jamie goes back to challenge Jack to a duel, and Jack accepts.

Trying to stop the duel, Claire gets Jack locked up in the Bastille, accusing him of being the one who attacked her and Mary Hawkins. Claire tells him that if he kills Jack now then Frank will never be born. Jamie says he cannot live while Jack Randall still lives and asks Claire to choose between them. Claire begs for just a year’s delay so she can be assured that Frank’s ancestor will be conceived. Reluctantly, Jamie agrees.

In the book, it’s made clear that Jamie agrees not to kill Jack Randall because he has to know that Claire has the possibility of going back to someone who loves her and cares about her if need be. This is a theme throughout the books that really isn’t explored in the series. From the start, Jamie has said Claire comes from a place that’s “easier.” As much as she’s an uncommon woman during the 1940s, she’s entirely out of step with the 1700s. She doesn’t consider or even realize the impact of her actions in this world. As much as he loves her, Jamie knows that without someone to protect her, she wouldn’t live long in this era. He wants Frank to be there for her if she ever has to go back. This motivates him more to allow Jack Randall to live for the time being than all of Claire’s pleadings.

There’s a bit of fun in watching the arrogant Jack Randall be taken down a notch by the French king and being unable to do anything about it. He’s arrogant with Claire until the King arrives, and then must cower before her while the King and his Court look on, amused. It’s a bully getting a bit of payback, but it’s likely this scenario has played out for him before. Bullies are often bullied themselves, and Jack takes the King’s bullying like someone who is used to being in that position.

The intrigue moves along very nicely, as Claire, Jamie, and Murtagh figure out a way to prevent Prince Charles from realizing a profit with the help of the Comte St. Germain. The Comte is a convenient foil this season. Gabaldon created a great bit of background for him that’s never delved into, nor is it in the original series of books. It’s worth hunting down, though.

The show has been nominated for numerous awards for costuming, and this episode in particular demonstrated why that is. The costuming at Versailles is simply stunning. It’s a real sin that this show hasn’t won more awards for that. From the King on down to the people walking in the garden, the attention to detail is simply amazing.

Untimely Resurrection moves the season forward, especially with the story in France. Jamie and Claire will find their love tested quite a bit over the next few episodes, and the lead-up to the story leading up to Claire’s return to her original time begins here.

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