After being away for the weekend, I was finally able to watch Episode 210 earlier today. Tragedy and concern about an almost certain future are central aspects of Episode 210, “Prestonpans.” While episode 209 concentrated mainly on Claire’s experiences during World War II, “Prestonpans” focuses primarily on the boys, and their feelings before a battle, and the sadness they undergo for their losses afterward. In fact, the opening scene in which Claire is looking at the dead Highlander sets the mood for the rest of the episode. Furthermore, Claire and Jamie realize that the forthcoming events and battles will take place and that there is nothing to change or stop the aftereffects.
The Merciful Prince
Prince Charles wants all his subjects to be treated equally regardless of their nationality. The first instance of Charles’s ideas of how his subjects should be treated appears in the scene in which he is discussing with O’Sullivan and Lord George Murray in regards to crossing the marsh. He mentions that he does not wish to shed more English blood, and is willing to negotiate the terms of surrender with General Cope for the withdrawal of English troops. He even prefers the English to be treated for their wounds before the Jacobites. According to him, the English and the Scots should have a friendly relationship once he gets the throne. Jamie advises not to say those ideas aloud since there has always been enmity between the Scots and English. Even though Prince Charles is a Scot, his Catholic and foreign upbringing is playing a role here. After the battle, he becomes angry with Dougal because of the latter’s attempt to kill some wounded English prisoners. Charles’s answer to Dougal’s actions reflects the prince’s religious beliefs: “. . . Where is your Christian charity?” The prince also refers to Dougal as a “blood-thirsty barbarian,” a description of how foreigners perceived the Scottish Highlanders back then. This mercy and charity are contrasting to the cruelty that will be inflicted by the English at and after Culloden upon the Scots.
Is it possible to establish healthy relationships between the victorious and the defeated? The scene is in which Jamie is aiming at the bucket while relieving himself indicates that it is possible. The English soldier is making a bet and enjoying himself in the company of his enemies.
Meaningless Deaths
Another significant scene is the conversation between Jamie and Murtagh about the difference between a battle and a raid. In a raid, there is meaning when somebody is injured or killed. The memory of the victim survives in the clan. In a high-scale battle, deaths are meaningless unless thousands are killed, which brings Culloden to the viewer’s mind. Jamie sees Murtagh’s musings not comforting at all (which is the truth). He tells Murtagh that he and Claire tried to stop everything from happening in Paris. Therefore, this episode brings the idea whether the past (or the future) can be changed.
In regards to the deaths, it hurts to see Angus, a comical character, die. After the battle, Rupert is in critical condition due to a chest injury. It is a gash, and the audience expects him to die by the end of the episode. However, he survives, and it is Angus who has an internal injury and eventually dies. His death is painful and visually shocking. He appears to be fine until he starts having convulsions and blood starts coming out from his mouth. Is his death meaningless? Everybody who knows him mourns him, so his death does not go unnoticed. Of note is how Rupert and Ross, who also loses his friend, Kincaid, get together to sing the drinking song, a nice addition, especially after the little conflict between their dead friends earlier in the episode.
Other Highlights
There is a marshland separating the English from the Scots. This boggy ground is the reason for the argument between O’Sullivan and Lord George Murray. It is dangerous to cross it, and the Jacobites cannot afford losing men. It leads Jamie to discuss it with Dougal, who volunteers to “take measure” of the ground by riding his horse towards the bog. He risks his life by putting himself close to the English’s shooting range. Overall, the scene is exciting and intense (I was crossing my fingers for Dougal to survive), especially once the English start shooting at Dougal, and his horse gets stuck in the bog for a small time frame. Of course, Dougal keeps his composure and calms his horse, and leads him back to safety. Everybody is impressed and Dougal gains what he desires the most, the admiration of Charles Stuart.
After the battle, there is the scene in which Dougal is killing wounded English soldiers mercilessly. He encounters Lt. Jeremy Foster whom he is acquainted with and subsequently kills him for telling him a fact: the Jacobite cause will eventually fail. I tend to think that Lt. Jeremy Foster does not have the intention to provoke Dougal. He is only telling Dougal the truth even though there is pride in his words. Dougal, a fervent Jacobite, despises the English, and this hatred leads him to the subsequent conflict with Prince Charles.
Fergus is adorable throughout most of the episode especially when Claire assigns him to keep the kettle fires burning; he comments that is “women’s work.” Later, he makes another remark about putting into practice his pickpocketing skills – stealing General Cope’s sword. He is excited to go to war and sneaks into the battle, where he ends up disoriented and unable to fight. His reunion with Claire after the battle emphasizes their relationship as mother and child. He is looking for comfort in Claire, and she embraces him as if he was her son. He confesses that he killed a man, which is not something a ten-year-old should be doing.
Prince Charles has a desire to be involved in the fight. Everybody objects since the Jacobite cause would die with his death. He is told that for King James, regaining the throne would not mean much if he dies. Prince Charles’s reply is hilarious: “Mark me, I don’t believe my father is that fond of me.”
I will be writing a book post later this week before next episode, and it will be about Black Jack.
I have replayed it several times, but have been unable to understand what Angus was saying while dying. The last word sounded like Mistress to me. Do you know what he said?
I cannot decipher what he told Claire. In fact, the last words were unintelligible on purpose to represent the fact that he is “drowning” in his blood. You could be right since Claire was referred as Mistress Beauchamp in the first season. I heard there was a joke on twitter about it but who knows.