Yet another “I don’t really care” episode for me. Which means, I’m not particularly motivated to write about it. When then means the post will likely be really late. But let’s get to it.
Uncharted, Episode 311
1. Run Stumble through the jungle
The first 15 minutes or so was Claire stumbling through the jungle, encountering all sorts of problems; no food, no water, sun, snakes, fire, ants, fire ants. I hate these kinds of survival storylines. Probably because we know the star of the show isn’t going to die, so it’s just tedium to get through. Regardless of how terrific the actor is. And Caitriona Balfe is truly terrific.
(I remember an episode of Magnum, P.I. where Thomas was lost and disoriented in the ocean. It turned out to be a great episode, mostly because through flashbacks we learned so much about his background. But it took a long time before I could watch the episode in its entirety.)
2 Hacienda de Fogden
(That’s not really what he called his homestead, but it works for me.) It’s a good thing defrocked priest Father Fogden set up a home in the jungle, right in the path of Claire’s journey inland. Plus, there’s a priest nearby to marry Fergus and Marsali.
Actually, Father Fogden, for all his coconut discourse, the “yupa” smoking, goat-loving self, was quite enjoyable, as was his mother-in-law, Mamacita. Which is not likely her name, but it’s all we got.
3. Marsali gets a personality
Wow, Marsali certainly knows her mind and isn’t afraid to speak it. I’m not sure where this personality came from. We didn’t see it in “First Wife.” I guess it was building throughout “The Doldrums” when she battled with Claire, and “Heaven and Earth” when she battled with Jamie. Here she mouths off to the priest telling him to get on with the wedding ceremony so she can jump Fergus’s bones. (Well, she doesn’t say it quite like that, but everyone gets her meaning.) She’s smart enough to want to spend time with Fergus alone before having children and wants to learn how to enjoy the sexy times. Such a thoroughly modern woman! Luckily, Claire is too.
4. Fergus gets a name
For 20 years, Fergus has only been known as Fergus. He tells the priest he doesn’t have a last name. Since this is non-starter as far as the priest is concerned, Jamie names him Fergus Claudel Fraser. Well, jeez, yeah, Jamie. You’ve been calling him “mon fils” for 20 years, so you better give him your name!
César Domboy must be playing Fergus for subtlety. I never thought of Fergus as subtle, at least not young Fergus. That’s probably why I have a little difficulty with him. Maybe Fergus is more subtle in the books as a grown man. Honestly, I don’t remember that much about him in the second half of Voyager. Most other people are thrilled with Domboy’s acting, so perhaps I’m just not getting it.
5. Run through the water
Claire waits on the beach as Jamie and his men from the Artemis row ashore. But our couple is still so far apart, they have to run through the sand yelling each other’s name before they can embrace.
Granted, I’m the most romantic person on Earth, but why wouldn’t Jamie’s crew row the boat right to where Claire is standing. Or, if the boat is caught in the current, why wouldn’t Claire keep the boat in sight and get as close as she could to it? Was the cut on her arm was so bad she blacked out until the exact moment to boat landed? It’s stupid stuff like this that annoys me.
6. All the coinkiedinks!
While I’m annoyed, let’s talk about all the stupid, eye-roll-worthy coincidences that happen. Claire washes up an island that wasn’t her destination. Then she stumbles through the jungle for three days, the exact number of days she can live without water. Then, she passes out just as she reaches some sort of civilization, and that civilization just happens to be British.
Meanwhile, the Artemis encounters a storm that tears the mast and sails, near the very same island. When Claire learns the crew is on the island, she runs to the beach, but they’ve already returned to the ship. (It’s a ship, all you podcasters! Not boat! Get with it! ) Claire signals them with the one thing she stole from the hacienda, a mirror.
Moving the story along by way of a series of coincidences is, in my humble opinion, poor storytelling. But then, Diana Gabaldon has made millions of dollars and is adored by millions of fans, so what do I know? I just know this type of “easy writing” takes me out of the story.
7. Scene-stealing!
The scene where Yi Tien Cho apologizes for killing, roasting, and eating his beloved Arabella—a goat—is quite endearing. He says in his culture goats are not revered as they are here, and to his credit adds a very sweet “As they should be.” He offers Father Fogden a chicken, but when the chicken gets his close-up, a goat steals the scene by poking its head through the fence to grab a bite of a plant. Sadly, I couldn’t find a screenshot of it, so this will have to do.
Stream of Conscience 
I don’t dislike coincidences in fiction as much as you do, because contrary to the statement of every single law enforcement type on TV, coincidences ARE real. 🙂 Like the time I went to Tennessee and the people in the cabin next to us live three blocks away in PA. And the time my husband went to Baltimore for work and saw my sister in the mall, on a field trip from Ohio. But that is a loooong list of coincidences that sound like they could have been done better.
I agree coincidences are real, and boy, have I got one for you! Two years ago, between Christmas and New Years, I visited the local yarn shop. Another woman in the shop mentioned to the staff that this was nicest yarn shop she’d seen, saying she was from Des Moines. Of course, I had to tell her I was from Iowa. She asked where in Iowa. Since the town I grew up had the enormous population of 993, I have a few prepared responses. “Home of Merle Hay” for those who’ve never heard of it, or “60 miles west of Ames.” I told her “Glidden,” and she said… get ready… “Me, too!” Holy moly! I told her my name, knowing she’d recognize the surname, and she said, “Your father was my father’s lawyer! All his life!” (I later told the story to my nephew who replied, “Your father was everybody’s lawyer!” Because Dad was the only lawyer in town.) Unfortunately, I can’t remember the woman’s name, but her father was a favorite of mine.
That’s incredible!