The Doldrums Ep 110

The Doldrums 309

Written by Shannon Goss

Directed by David Moore

Another excellent offering. I enjoyed it. Great flow and storytelling. You'll need to listen to the podcast to hear what I really think.

Starz Synopsis: Claire and Jamie leave Scotland, sailing to the West Indies on an urgent quest. But when the superstitious crew looks for someone to blame after a string of bad luck, rescue comes from an unlikely source.

My Summary: They obtained a ship to search for the lost nephew, Fergus brings a stowaway, seasickness overwhelms Jamie until needles save him, Claire doctors those who need it, superstitious sailors create suspicions during weeks of windless standstill, the china man and Jamie win the day, the weather returns as does the passion, a plague ship commandeers Claire. The End.

Setup: Jamie and Claire have secured the Artemis, cousin Jared’s ship to take to the West Indies. Jamie will be the supercargo (a representative of the ship's owner on board a merchant ship, responsible for overseeing the cargo and its sale). The ship Young Ian was taken on is the Portuguese flag, the Bruja (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhvFVpp6sDc). It’s late in the season for taking a ship, the seas will not be calm. Jared makes not of Jamie being prone to seasickness. Jared is upbeat about their ability to find Young Ian. Jamie has sent a letter to Jenny and Ian explaining everything. They won’t get it until the ship is far from Scotland. Fergus is up to something. Jamie vows he won’t return to Scotland unless he has Young Ian with him. He’s a man on a mission. Superstition is high among the men on the ship. Women and redheads are bad luck. Enter Fergus with Marsali they’re hand fast (http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/history/tying_the_knot_handfasting_through_the_ages.shtml). Stepdad Jamie is not a happy man about the surprise. Marsali is a firecracker of a young woman. He refuses to allow Fergus and Marsali to consummate their marriage and puts Marsali in Claire’s cabin. Jamie’s in the doghouse with Claire now. Jamie also mentions the wind as being necessary to catching up to the Bruja quickly.

State of Mind:

Jamie is worried he’s being punished by God because he wanted Claire so much and needed the treasure to pay Laoghaire her hush money. Claire seems distant from Jamie and maybe questioning staying. He’s questioning whether they’ll be happy. He says he’ll take her to the stones if she doesn’t want to stay. He’s insecure in the state of their reunion. They haven’t settled in after the Laoghaire event or her wondering if they should be together on the cliff top. There’s tension and unease between them.

• They secure the Artemis from cousin Jared.
• They set sail after the Bruja to the West Indies after young Ian.
• Hayes and Lesley are the replacement bromance for Angus and Rupert.
• Fergus has a stowaway, Marsali, Laoghaire’s daughter.
• They are traditionally married through handfasting.
• Jamie is one angry stepdad.
• He and Claire, along with Marsali and Fergus will not be sharing quarters. King of Virtue is would seem.
• Jamie’s in the doghouse with Claire now too.
• His seasickness is in full swing. She treats with ginger tea.
• Claire treats an injury. The men believe someone didn’t touch the horse shoe for good luck.
• Claire scoffs at the superstitious ways.
• Claire’s invited to dine with the captain.
• Jamie tries to talk Fergus out of the marriage to no avail.
• Fergus claims he was cowardly in not telling Jamie about his courting Marsali. Like Jamie was in not telling Claire about Laoghaire.
• Jamie being a protective stepfather asks if Marsali knows all about Fergus’ past.
• He’s serious about Marsali having lain with no other woman or her since they began courting.
• Dining with the captain solo, Claire gets instructed on the superstitions and the power they hold. https://www.boaterexam.com/blog/2011/07/boater-superstitions.aspx
• Can you imagine Claire and Marsali walking around topless to calm the sea?
• Jamie is horrifically seasick.
• Yi Tien Cho tells Jamie he could lose his baws because of the excessive vomiting, but he has a remedy.
• Marsali’s trying to charm Claire, but the hoor ain’t biting that hook.
• The act doesn’t last long, Marsali’s true colors show. Yer a hoor.
• Indeed, the hoor should get the bigger bed.
• Claire pondering the bare b...