Political tensions escalate when Claire and Jamie’s longtime friend disappears.
Pharos opens with Lord John Grey in a dingy boat house being held captive by Ezekiel Richardson. Richardson blackmails John with testimonies by two of John’s former lovers, Neil Stapleton and Percy Beauchamp—Percy being present for this. What could he possibly want from John? He doesn’t. He wants something from Hal (aka the Duke of Pardloe and John’s big brother). He wants Hal—who is going to go before the House of Lords—to back the war with the Americans—apparently Hal isn’t so keen on the war anymore likely because he THINKS he lost his son in this war. If John doesn’t convince Hal then he will release the testimonies discrediting Hal and leading to John being hanged for sodomy—it is illegal in England at this time. Also there will be a charge of incest because Percy and John were stepbrothers at the time.
John isn’t really considering it as “gentlemen do not submit to blackmail.” Percy pleads with John to convince Hal. Percy claims to love John but John isn’t moved by his declaration. Instead, he sends Percy away with his ring for William, which he has done something to it to send William a message.
Reinforcements
Claire, Jamie and William arrive at Lord John’s home in Savannah, called there by Amaranthus who wrote to William because John has gone missing. Amaranthus explains John has been gone a while, an odd man dropped a package off for Hal, and John’s not been seen at camp or anywhere else she inquired. She is very concerned. When William opens the package he finds the evidence of John’s exploits and shares it with Jamie and Claire. As Percy was the odd man that came by the trio heads to his office to confront him. And I’m wondering if any of John’s business has been shared with Amaranthus or left for her to read????
William shows his Fraser side by being very forward and violent in his interrogation of Percy who confesses Richardson has John captive and his plan. He gives William John’s ring which has the word Pharos scratched into it. Pharos is Greek for lighthouse. William knows there is one on Tybee Island so the three of them set off for the lighthouse.
Lighthouse
On Tybee Island, the trio can see Richardson fishing. Jamie and William sneak into the boathouse—in a maneuver that is crazy cool and reminded me of the original Pirates of the Caribbean when the pirates first come into town in the first movie how they rise out of the water—and take out the guards before freeing Lord John. William embraces John.
Outside, Claire is watching Richardson as he starts to head back to the boathouse she comes upon him and holds him at gunpoint. She walks him back and when they arrive, Jamie cuffs him so they can take him back to be court-martialed as he’s a traitor to both sides of the war.
William and John check to make sure there are no more guards while Jamie goes after the boat leaving Claire with a restrained Richardson.
Richardson tries to explain himself to Claire telling her she wouldn’t understand but if the American’s win it won’t mean freedom for thousands of enslaved people. Richardson isn’t wrong but Claire realizes he’s a time traveler and confronts him. She tries to explain that they can’t change history they are just there to be part of it. She tells him she tried to change things many times but each time they happened how they were supposed to—Culloden and Alamance.
Though Claire doesn’t believe he can change anything she’s willing to let him go if he promises not to harm anyone else. Richardson promises and in a move that angers me, Claire frees him—doesn’t she get he will say anything to get free? Yes, Richardson might be right about enslavement in the Colonies, but he’s never been a trustworthy figure. And he’s been a danger to everyone in her family and friend circle. Letting him go is just stupid. BUT John knows it isn’t a good idea either and shoots Richardson before he can ever leave. His hopes of stopping slavery die with him—but doesn’t this prove Claire’s point? She tried to help him change something and the past stopped him.
Two Fathers
Back in Savannah, Jamie tells John he finally forgives him angering both John and Claire. Claire kind of holds the mirror up to Jamie who goes in to speak with John. Jamie explains that he felt betrayed when John said Claire and he were both f-ing him in their grief but follows that up with gratitude for all he’s sacrificed for their friendship. John makes it clear that raising William was no sacrifice but the greatest gift of his life. I do like in the books somewhere Jamie actually lets John know he was abused by Jack Randall and part of the reason his anger was so great was because of what he endured—at least that is what I remember. John wants his honor restored. Jamie thinks he means for them to fight but John means a game of chess which Jamie is happy to oblige.
Outside, William joins Claire and is grappling with being the son of these two men who are friends. Claire tells him he’s not the only one who has or has had two fathers: Brianna, Roger, Swiftest of Lizards, and even herself—and she doesn’t know it, but her brother does too. Claire tells him he’s so much like both of them and he should just enjoy being their son. Side note, Marsali and Joanie also had two fathers, and Fergus.
William then goes to speak with Amaranthus and makes it clear their relationship is over. He cares for her, but he isn’t in love with her.
As William and John watch on the porch, Jamie and Claire ride away. William is waiting for Jamie to look back, and Jamie does much to Williams relief and happiness.
Exit Percy Beauchamp
Lord John stops by Percy’s offices to speak with him. He gives Percy an ultimatum: sign an affidavit saying he lied about Lord John or die. Percy is a coward so, of course, he signs which will protect John in the future but likely mean jail for Percy. As John walks out of the offices he hears a gunshot. Percy has taken his own life.
I hope Marsali already put in for Fergus’ inheritance.
Back on the Ridge
Jamie and Claire return to the Ridge just in time for Brianna to give birth to little Davey—we don’t see this.
Jamie tells Brianna about Frank’s book and how he is to die at Kings Mountain. Brianna doesn’t want him to go but Jamie tells her the best way to protect her, and their family is for him to fight for them. Winning at Kings Mountain will put an end to the war in the backcountry—flaw in your thinking Jamie, history happens whether you are there or not so the victory will happen.
Later, Jamie finds Claire in their room writing in a journal. He assumes her medical notes, but when he reads it is the intro to the very first episode of Outlander—and the book—suggesting Claire is the one writing and telling the story—which we already knew but this is a nice touch.
They are interrupted by Benjamin Cleveland who had come to get Jamie and his men as Patrick Ferguson is fighting in North Carolina. Claire is reeling because she wants to change Jamie’s fate, but the death of Richardson proved out futile changing history can be.
BUT we have seen history be wrong or change in this show. Claire even has a line in Go Tell the Bees that I Am Gone, “Though experience had taught me the limits of belief in anything recorded on paper.” Jamie and Claire have never been able to change anything truly big, but they’ve always been able to change small things. Is it possible to save Jamie? Yes. I think it is. Jamie can be declared or even recorded as dead without actually dying. Just as he was when Claire married Jamie. Just as the fire at the big house that “killed” both Jamie and Claire, didn’t.
And I’m hoping the last episode of Outlander is more than an hour long. The finale deserves room to breathe.
