There are no words to describe “Wentworth Prison.” It was intense, disturbing and sad. However, Murtagh’s idea ends the episode on a hopeful note.
I did not prepare myself for watching this episode. The level of tolerance to disturbing scenes on movies and TV shows varies among people due to different experiences. In my case, the experience obtained in taking a forensic course in my last year as an undergrad probably made a difference. In my younger years, I was interested in exploring the concept of “ethnic cleansing.” While doing research about it, I found plenty of disturbing information, especially torture.
What I like about this episode is the acting. Cait, Sam and Tobias excelled in this episode.
The opening scene: This scene is not in the book but it reminds me of a topic that I have discussed in detail, Jamie as a half-ghost. Jamie and Taran MacQuarrie are awaiting an execution by hanging. Taran’s death by hanging is disturbing since it takes him a while to die. However, he does not hesitate before dying to speak his mind:
“To the devil with England and your God-blessed King!”
Obviously Jacobite sentiment is strong among the Scottish people. When Jamie’s turn comes, he decides to fight. This brings to mind the comment made by Jenny in Episode 114:
“True, but he’s not daft enough to pick a fight with ten armed soldiers.”
Jamie is a man who takes risks especially to save the ones he cares and loves regardless of the numbers against him. He is eventually saved by Black Jack from being hanged. However, as the episode progresses, one realizes that it would have been better for him to be dead.
Claire’s Meeting with Mr. Fletcher: Claire introduces herself as a distant relative of Jamie. She requests a letter from Jamie to his mother for her to take. Mr. Fletcher refuses since he believes that a particular meeting between a lady and a criminal could be dangerous for her. The moment in which Mr. Fletchers leaves to acquire Jamie’s personal belongings, Claire starts to lose control of her emotions. She starts to cry but is able to keep her calm facade once Mr. Fletcher is back. Great acting! As she comes out of the prison she vomits and is about to faint.
Black Jack and Jamie: The scenes between them are not just straight vicious torture. There is a sexual component in them which makes them more disturbing since it is humiliating to one of the characters. What makes the viewer to get engaged in these scenes is its uniqueness. The victim who gets tortured and violated is not a woman but a man, something that is not seen often on TV. There is some sexual meaning combined with sadism in the following lines from Black Jack:
“Do I make you uncomfortable?”
“Do I hold your dreams?”
“When you awaken in the middle of the night, shaking, sweating, is it my face you see in the middle of the darkness?”
These lines are foreshadowing for future events since Black Jack does really haunt Jamie in his dreams and also when he is awake. Unfortunately he will continue to do so for many years.
The Torture Scenes: I would not call these scenes a highlight but I like the blurred camera effect to reflect Jamie losing consciousness in one of them. Jamie refuses Black Jack’s sexual advances. He even fights both Marley and Black Jack. Once he is subdued, his left hand got hammered a few times to the point that he was about to lose consciousness. Randall takes advantage of Jamie’s physical weakness to please himself sexually by putting Jamie’s hand on his crotch, and rubbing it.
The other torture scene worth mentioning is when Black Jack rips open Jamie’s shirt to reveal his scarred back. Jamie’s face shows a range of emotions, sadness, defeat, humiliation, as demonstrated by the tear running down his face.
Claire’s rescue attempt: She is able to find Jamie but as she tries to break the chains holding his foot, Black Jack comes back with Marley. Their meeting has some meaningful lines in regards to Claire.
“You are not a coward.”
“You are a good fit to your husband.”
It is unpleasant to watch Black Jack touching Claire’s hair and lips with his fingers, and offering her to Marley. This leads Jamie to kill Marley. The end result is that Jamie decides to offer his body to Black Jack in order to save Claire. Their parting is hard to watch, and the desperation and suffering on both Jamie and Claire are genuine.
Claire “curses” Black Jack: Claire is successfully able to intimidate Black Jack by sharing with him the knowledge that she gained from Frank, the date of his death. This scene is well-acted and I even smirked at Tobias’ shocked face after the information is shared. He has a very expressive face.
Ellen’s pearls: It turns out that the pearls that Jamie gave Claire at their wedding night were a wedding present to Ellen by MacRannoch. Murtagh also gave her a wedding present, the tusk bracelets. It makes one wonder more about Ellen.
Featured image is from Outlander-Online.com