Synopsis of 2×08: Claire and Jamie attempt to elicit support from Jamie’s grandsire, Lord Lovat; Colum MacKenzie arrives with plans of his own; Lord Lovat makes moves to advance his own interests.
Rating: ★★★☆☆
After a largely unsuccessful trip to Paris that ended disastrously, Jamie and Claire return back to Scotland having said goodbye to their daughter, Faith. Last week’s episode was a season high point, and it’s only realistic that “The Fox’s Lair” doesn’t hit nearly all the same marks as “Faith” does. With the return of to the highlands comes the return to political subterfuge, and sometimes when it comes to clan politics, it can be a little clunky.
Coming back to Scotland, we find Jamie and Claire back at Lallybroch with Murtagh and Jenny and Ian and Fergus. The whole family is back together and the old title song is back! (God, how I loathed the French title song.) With their return, they also hear news that Charles has come to Scotland with an army to petition for the throne. He has forged Jamie’s signature and now Jamie is labeled as a traitor to the British.
When they arrive at Lovat’s castle they see a familiar face, Colum Mackenzie! Despite Colum’s rivalry with Lovat, it seems he’s here to arrange a secret truce and alliance between the two clans. He’s also brought with him a seemingly reformed Laoghaire, who is thoroughly apologetic to Claire but doesn’t seem to have shaken her crush on Jamie. Claire also meets Maisri, Lovat’s seer, and it is revealed that Lovat is very superstitious.
In order to force Lovat’s hand, Claire and Jamie decide to try and use Lovat’s son Simon against him, and use that to force Lovat’s hand to protect his heir. Making Simon stand up for himself is easier said than done, the guy is soft-spoken and cowers in the presence of his father. They attempt to make Laoghaire, who Simon clearly favors, inspire courage in him, but the plan fails when he runs off after she pushes him a little too hard.
When Lovat turns against Claire, Simon steps in. He declares his loyalty to Jamie. Although he has stood up to his father, Lovat is unmoved. He signs Colum’s contract for neutrality and it seems like all hope is lost. Colum, on his part, seems to see the detriment of the oncoming rebellion and warns Jamie about it. Despite his grey morals in the past, he seems to be the level-headed one when compared to Lovat’s wildly unpredictable schemes.
Finally free of Lovat and his slippery ways, they head towards Culloden with Lovat’s men in tow.