Jamie prepares to face British forces in battle. Roger and Brianna question Buck MacKenzie’s intentions in the 20th century. William fights in the First Battle of Saratoga.
A Practical Guide for Time-Travelers begins in camp Bemis Heights, NY as Claire writes a letter to Brianna about her encounter with William.The scenes shifts to 1980 where Brianna appears to be reading ahead in the letters without Roger.
Roger calls out to Bree who comes running only to find a man with Roger. William Buccleigh MacKenzie or Buck. Brianna knows Buck is Geillis and Dougal MacKenzie’s son, the man who had Roger hanged, and Rogers five-times great-grandfather.
I love that the title card references Tufty which is something Roger told Brianna about back in 502 Between Two Fires. Looks like maybe a teacher is pinning the button on Jem.
Buck tells Roger and Bree that after Alamance, he and his family went back to Scotland in hopes of finding work. They were on their way to Inverness when they heard a strange noise (he went through Craigh na Dun). He went to investigate and woke up here. He wandered around, discovering cars, and eventually saw Roger and followed him back to Lallybroch. But because of their previous interactions (namely getting Roger hanged) he kept his distance but apparently told the children he was a Nucklavee and had them bring him food.
1777
In the British camp, William and his friend are listening to the senior officers though his friend is more interested in the food and alcohol available. They are ordered out and William snags an apple for his horse on the way out.
The two are having a bit of fun when Richardson appears wanting to talk to William privately. Richardson is sending William to New York to deliver dispatches to General Howe. William isn’t not excited about this and wants to fight.
1980
Buck is inhaling some PB&Js Brianna has made while Roger gets him to tell them more about what happened. They discuss Alamance and Buck wants to know why Roger was acting so strangely around his wife. Roger informs him that Morag is his many times great-grandmother making Buck his many times great-grandfather and family.
“My son’s named Jeremiah after my da, who was named for his grandda–who was named for your son. I think,” he added. “I might be missing one or two Jeremiahs along the way.”
(From AN ECHO IN THE BONE by Diana Gabaldon, chapter 72, “The Feast of All Saints”. Copyright © 2009 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved.)
Clearly, it is a lot for Buck to take in because he gets quiet and is rather shocked. He would like something a bit stronger to drink.
Roger goes looking for the MacKenzie family tree but notices Buck’s date of death is 1778 which would have been 202 years in the past (the default jump of a time traveler). Roger pretends he didn’t find the family tree and asks what year it was when he came through, 1778.
While Roger is in the other room, Buck asks Brianna if she is like them, whatever they are.
I think in the books, Buck’s death date is a few years after that. Also, I still don’t understand why Roger hid that he was a militia man when warning Morag.
A car pulls up and it is Rob Cameron. Roger invited him for dinner but he’s upset Rob didn’t call first.That is so hilarious considering Roger did the same thing to Claire and Bree in Boston.
They hide Buck in the priest-hole with his sandwiches. They invite Rob in and Roger tells Rob it is Brianna’s night to cook so just pretend you like it, that’s what I do. Just a joke, people.
Roger and Rob go off to the study to look at the old hymnals but Roger leaves Rob alone in the study which I think was so dumb considering the man already saw your “novel idea” and you have a box of letters from the 18th century right there on the desk!
Jem arrives home from school wearing a “Tufty Club” badge which Roger is excited about.
At dinner, everyone seems to be getting along. Bree and Rob discuss work things. Rob is friendly with Jem (which I don’t like). Jem wants to see the tunnels (which yeah no because of time portals). All the while, Buck is listening to the sounds of a happy family.
After dinner, Rob seems reluctant to leave even asking for more whisky and Roger and Bree are giving that knowing look about getting rid of him.
1777
Claire is writing when Jamie comes up with a surprise book he’s found. Claire is trying to read it and Jamie comments she needs spectacles. FYI, right out of the book.
Claire hopes he can see enough to shoot straight and he says he can shoot straight with his eyes closed. She just wants him to come back to her. Oh man.
In the British camp, William and his friend Sandy are eating their dinner when General Fraser appears awkwardly to check on the men. William basically tells him he doesn’t want to follow Richardson’s orders and the General goes with it.
I thought this whole thing was odd. The scene was weird and awkward. William came off very entitled. And the general seemed odd.
1980
Rob is finally leaving but stops to give his sob story about his ex-wife who took their kid back to France. So, okay, maybe the person with the money could win but you could also move to wherever your kid is. I think this is to garner sympathy with Bree and Roger and make himself seem harmless. He is not. He is creepy.
Rob basically says because of all of that; he hangs out with his nephew Bobby and Jem should go with them to the movies and then spend the night with Bobby. RED FLAG! Bree should have said something like, “Sure, I’ll make those arrangements with your sister.” Nope, they just agree.
When Rob is finally gone, they go to check on Buck but he’s not in the priest-hole, but instead in the trailer watching TV with Jem and Mandy. When Buck hears the word astronaut on the television he can determine what it means but the Latin root words: “star traveler.”
I absolutely love that when Bree and Roger walk in, Mandy is brushing Buck’s beard. I was just dying.
The kids are not at all scared of Buck, well anymore. Roger and Bree go outside and Roger seems surprisingly okay with Buck being there calling him “Cousin Buck.” Bree is surprised by his acceptance of Buck but since Roger punched him, he feels better.
The next day, Bree is at work with Buck as a guest. He is just standing staring at the dam, a feat he wouldn’t have seen in his time. It is dawning on him that everything and everyone he knew is gone. Brianna asks why he didn’t try to go back when he came through. His answer is he wasn’t sure he knew what happened and he was then wary of the stones.
Bree wonders what he was thinking about when he came through, but he doesn’t answer. Instead, he becomes defensive. She asks if he wants to go back and he asks if she can help him go back. He fingers his ring which is missing the gemstone and Brianna tells him why it is missing.
Rob appears and Brianna introduces him to Cousin Buck. Buck doesn’t shake Rob’s hand but notices when Rob touches Brianna when he’s asking about picking up Jem. When Rob leaves, Buck voices his dislike of Rob which comes off as the same jealousy he has over Roger.
Back at Lallybroch, Roger finds Buck in the trailer with Jem’s toy airplane.He wonders if Roger’s been inside a plane. Roger suggests he take the toy plane back to his own Jeremiah. Buck tells Roger that Rob Cameron is trouble and is eying Brianna.
Roger confesses to finding the family tree and that it had Buck’s death date. Buck doesn’t want to know but has Roger tell him anyway. Roger tells him 1778, which means he doesn’t make it back so his family thinks he’s dead or he dies going back.
Later, Bree and Roger are making up their bed and Roger brings up Buck’s warning about Rob. Roger is taking it a little seriously. Bree and Roger use the “jealous” to their advantage.
1777
Young Ian captures a British deserter. Both armies are preparing for the coming battle. Jamie and Claire coming together for a “come back” rather than a goodbye and then Jamie goes off to battle.
William is preparing his own men for battle. William’s friend Sandy asks who the girl is that William has an eye for and he says, “Rachel.” And then Sany falls as he’s shot in the head. William is in a state of shock and stays crouched over his friend’s body as the battle starts to rage. General Fraser is yelling to him and finally he gets through, “Lord Ellesmere, to your men!” William turns and pulls his sword, yelling as he rushes into the fray hacking at the Continental soldiers.
1980
Roger can’t sleep and goes into the study. The box of letters has paper sticking out of it. Before he can do anything about it Mandy’s high-pitched scream shatters the silence. Roger rushes in to find Bree with Mandy who is saying Jemmy is gone. They remind her he’s with Bobby but Mandy indicates Jem is not in her head anymore. Roger and Bree both look panicked.
Brianna calls Rob’s sister while Roger goes to look around. Bree comes in and says there was no movie or sleep over, Rob has taken Jem. Roger thinks Rob read the letters.
Roger and Buck drive towards Craigh na Dun to see if Jem and Rob are there. They look around the stone circle and Buck finds Jem’s scarf with the “Tufty Club” pin. Did Rob take Jem through the stones?
1777
William is supervising the burial of the British dead and grows angry when the men aren’t willing to dig deep enough to bury them properly. William pitches in and General Fraser looks on with approval.
In camp, General Fraser says a lot but then tells William he is a different man now.
The camera pans moves over the battlefield and settles on Jamie lying sprawled out on the battlefield appearing unconscious or dead. Better be the former.
