The wounded man is a young Highlander named Jamie (not to be confused with Jamie Fraser), shot in the leg. The wound is festering, the bullet deep. Claire, drawing on her wartime experience, demands hot water, clean cloth, and a blade. The men watch in astonishment as she cuts into the flesh with steady hands, extracts the bullet, and stitches the wound closed with neat, precise movements.
The episode opens in 1945. World War II has just ended, and we meet (Caitriona Balfe) and her husband, Frank Randall (Tobias Menzies). They are reconnecting in the Scottish Highlands after being separated by the war. Frank is a historian; Claire is a former combat nurse.
Then she hears it: the thunder of hooves. A troop of British Redcoats thunders past, their uniforms anachronistic—mid-18th century style. One of them, a tall, sharp-featured captain with cold eyes, reins in his horse. He looks at her with a mix of suspicion and interest. “Lost, madam?” he asks. His voice is polished but cruel.
Have you watched the first episode? Did you find the transition from 1945 to 1743 jarring or exciting? Let us know in the comments!
