The Bakra Ep 113

The Bakra 312

Written for television by: Luke Schelhaas

Directed by: Charlotte Brändström

Starz Synopsis: The Artemis finally reaches Jamaica bringing Jamie and Claire that much closer to their goal. During a lavish ball on the island, the Frasers encounter old allies, as well as former adversaries who threaten to derail their mission.

My Summary: Flashback to Young Ian’s capture. Young Ian and the Artemis arrive at Jamaica. Young Ian is given to The Bakra. She’s Geillis Duncan risen from the dead. Young Ian is drugged, questioned, and sexually assaulted. Claire and Jamie et al. just miss the Bruja. They meet an ally. Misadventure and horror in the slave market. They purchase a slave. The plan the release. Geillis needs a reading and a third sapphire. To the Governor’s Ball Team Fraser go. They meet an old patient. They see a ghost, Lord John Grey. Lord John meets Claire. The third sapphire is found. Claire sees a ghost, Geillis Duncan. Claire and Geillis catch up. Geillis agrees to help find Young Ian. The prophecy reading is done. Yi Tien Cho might get the girl. Thomas Leonard arrives. Jamie and Claire escape. Freedom is given. Jamie is arrested.

How it played:

That’s right Young Ian, draw first blood. That’ll show ‘em. Many months later, Jamaica. (in a French accent) I’m looking for pirates. Eleanor Guthrie is the Bakra? LMAO. You’re in Jamaica mon. Two boys left, that’s some scary math. It is a long way to travel Young Ian, about 4500 miles as the crow flies. The Bakra eats them or something. There is a Rose Hall in Jamaica. Well hello there, creepy sexy lady. It’s Geillis Duncan. Bath of goat’s blood – there are beliefs that animal blood bathing can retain youth. Young Ian, “She’s creepy, she’s sexy, she’s scary.” NEVER EVER take a beverage from Geillis. EVER. She’s the ruffie queen. Loose lips. Why does she need the third sapphire? “I sex the virgins up, then kill them.” “You’ll know what to do then.” Time Traveler. Sexy AF. Pedophile. Murderer. Poisoner. Slave Master. She’s the whole package that Geillis. Geillis is looking for the third sapphire; Claire calls Jamaica the jewel of the Caribbean. Coincidence? I don’t think so. Team Fraser break. MacIver is the happiest wig wearing dude ever. A Ball! Meh, no thanks. Who wants to meet the Governor? Right call Jamie, don’t let Claire out of your sight. A hog’s head of wine was 32 gallons. Ugh, the slave market. Claire is all sorts of uncomfortable. The horrors of the slave market are visually toned down for television. The spirit of how horrendous and dehumanizing it was is made clear. I cannot imagine anyone ever thinking slavery was justifiable. Here’s a history of Jamaica and slavery. We’re hunting Young Ian’s. Another act of dehumanization, branding. Claire loses her shit as only Claire can and hits the auctioneer with her parasol. She starts a bloody row. Then asks Jamie to do something about it. She wants to help the enslaved man. This scene could be, “How Claire accidentally owns a slave.” Temeraire is his name. Jamie schools Claire on the politics and legality of slave ownership. They discuss how to free him in the future, so he stays free. “Hey, honey, we’re going to a ball.” They ask for Temeraire’s help and tell him he’s free as soon as they can find a way to do it. A prophecy. A reading curtailed. I need the third stone. Oh, that whacky Margaret Campbell. Um Geillis, I think your intel is incorrect. We arrive at the ball. The King’s House. Jamie’s a dandy, Claire’s in her 20-year-old gown. That hair! Eke. That wig. Yikes! Yi Tien Cho cleans up. Fancy meeting you here Archibald. Claire’s discomfort grows at the sight of the wigged slaves. Jamie asks when the slave trade ends. Yi Tien Cho is a proper distraction. The ladies are interested. He notices Margaret giving a reading to a slave and is intrigued by her. From across the room, they have a moment. Giddy honeymooners. Jamie and Claire stop time with their eye lock. “I will have you later, oh yes I will.” Oh, you smart writers, ghosts it is. It’s Lord John Grey. John is dumbstruck and goofy overseeing Jamie. He's stunned to meet Claire. Fergus is looking concerned behind them. Watch out Geillis that wig might spring to life and bark. Egad. Claire’s hackles are up. Willie is well. He and Isobel will come in the Summer. These wigs are killing me. A malediction is a curse or imprecation. John was made Governor as an ill favor. Help us find Young Ian. Yadda yadda. Oh, THE SAPPHIRE. Why’s he wearing it? What? Claire doesn’t like how John looks at Jamie. Claire’s hair is a travesty of non-wiggedness. Yi Tien Cho makes a move. He’s digging on Margaret. Such a romantic. The Governor chats up Claire. “Come now we both know your virtue was not in jeopardy.” Claws are out. Another ghost revealed. I-spy Geillis. Claire and Jamie use the same phrase. How clever. “Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world.” Geillis Frenemies unite. Claire gets the 411. “Why are men such fools? Ye can lead them anywhere by the cock for a while. Given them a bairn and you have them by the balls again. But it’s all ye are to them, whether they’re coming in or going out—a cunt. Well here’s to it I say. Most powerful thing in the world.” The Philosophy of Geillis. To watch your burning, what a rush. “Bob’s your uncle.” “I hid out for a while,” code for I went to France. Yes, of course, Geillis, the tropics are very bad for Englishmen. No, no, of course, I haven’t seen him. Of course, I will help. Frenemies gonna frenemy. Hey there, miss grabby hands, that’s my sapphire. “She’s a touch strange, isn’t she?” As Claire said, “You have no idea.” Time for a magical mystery tour. Margaret is in the house! Let the readings begin. Clever roping job. Margaret doesn’t want to do it. It feels like death comes to do this reading. With the third sapphire in hand…it’s scary talk. 200 years upon the death of a child that is 200 years’ old upon its birth. BRIANNA because she was conceived 200 years in the past and born 200 years in the future. Benjamin Button was released in 1922. Newlyweds acting like newlyweds. Oh no, it’s a Thomas Leonard. On the way to escape they learn, Young Ian is at Rose Hall. The lying biotch. They agree to allow Temeraire his leave with other Maroons. The Leonard sees their escape. They hold up their bargain and release Temeraire near Rose Hall. Jamie gives Claire the pictures of the kids when Leonard arrives. And the Leonard arrests Jamie after Claire gives him a piece of her mind. Claire is left to find Young Ian.

My final thoughts: Absolute episodic whiplash. How many things can be thrown into one episode? I can imagine the writers' room buzz, “We’ve only 2 episodes left. Jam it all in here or we’re not going to make it.” It feels overwhelming at times having everything occur over the course of one day. The episode had no time to breathe and create a realistic pace. I also wonder why Jamie wasn’t in full disguise? A wig is certainly not enough to make him less visible. The wigs and Claire’s atrocious hair were their own characters. I half expected the wigs to animate and something alive coming out of Claire’s coif. A sweet twist giving Yi Tien Cho and Margaret a connection. It may be love at first sight for them. I hope the finale is less jam-packed with the presumed release of Jamie and rescue of Young Ian.

What’s Coming up? Episode 313 Eye of the Storm: Claire is forced to play a game of cat and mouse with an old adversary as she searches for Young Ian. The Frasers race through the jungles of Jamaica to prevent the unthinkable.

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