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'Outlander' Season 3, Episode 7 Recap: A Fight, a Fire, and a Bombshell Revelation About Jamie


This article centers on Season 3, Episode 7 of Outlander, “Crème the Menthe.” If you’re not yet caught up with the show, be warned: Spoilers abound.

Now that Claire and Jamie have reunited, all I need from this show is for them to have hot sex from the beginning of each remaining episode until the end. Alas, this is Outlander, so instead, there will be melodrama. And tonight’s episode, “Crème the Menthe,” felt more like an average one, filler to end the first arc of the season and transition into the next.

As the episode opens, Claire is fighting off the man she found in her room because, again, this show loves nothing more than to imperil women to create plot points. We must never forget that to be a woman is to live in a perpetual state of vulnerability. Got it? Good. Claire manages to fight off her attacker, wielding a knife. (See, women are vulnerable but they are also empowered!) The attacker falls, hits his head and is seemingly dead when Jamie enters the room and sees his wife over an unconscious man, panting heavily, knife still in hand. That’s when I knew there probably wasn’t going to be any sex in this episode. I was mostly right. Despite being apart for twenty years, Claire and Jamie don’t spend this entire episode in bed. They don’t spend any time in bed. It makes no sense.

When Claire realizes her attacker is still breathing, she immediately shifts into surgeon mode and insists on saving his life. (“Because I’m a doctor,” she explains when Jamie understandably asks why she wants to save her attacker’s life.) As usual, Claire is instantly able to translate 20th-century knowledge into whatever might be available in the 18th century and makes various people get her various things, including hot water. No matter the time period, whether in television or film, anytime something vaguely makeshift medical is going to happen, there must be hot water.

It turns out the attacker was looking for Jamie’s ledgers at the behest of Sir Percival Turner, who suspects Jamie is selling more than he claims and not paying Percival enough of a bribe. (Corrupt government agents are so greedy and suspicious.) Jamie realizes he’s going to have to move the booze he has hidden in Madame Jeanne’s basement and dispatches Fergus and young Ian Fraser to make a quick sale of the hooch, which they do at handsome profit.

Meanwhile, Claire goes to the apothecary to get some laudanum and who knows what else so she can perform surgery. In a hurry, she bargains with a man in front of her—who was looking for something to calm his sister—to go ahead of him in return for looking in on his ailing sister. As she places her order, Claire informs the chemist that a man’s life is at stake…which is so weird. Why is she broadcasting her business, particularly when so much is at stake? It makes no sense!

Back at the brothel, Jamie and Mr. Willoughby are wrestling with the attacker, who has awakened and is loudly trying to break free of their grip. Claire chastises them for being rough with her patient (LOL wut?), but before she can lecture them further, Madame Jeanne alerts Jamie that Sir Percival has paid him a visit. While Claire tries to reduce a brain bleed ye olden way, Sir Percival and his men search the brothel for the contraband booze Fergus and Ian have already sold off.

The surgery stuff that follows is incredibly graphic and unpleasant. The sound effects—of skin splitting open and a hand drill breaking skull bone—are doing the absolute most. At last, Claire successfully releases the clot while Sir Percival finds nothing of note in the brothel and makes like a dastardly villain, warning Jamie, “I’ll be watching you,” before he flounces off. Sure thing, buddy.

When Jamie returns to his chambers, he tells Claire, “This ends now’; but the attacker has died during surgery and Claire is sad. Ever the voice of reason, Jamie says, “I won’t grieve for the man that tried to kill my wife.” Right on, Jamie! Keep it real. Claire stays deep in her feelings, muttering that this wouldn’t have happened if she was in Boston, which, GIRL! You are not in Boston, anymore. You chose to go back in time for the best sex of your life. There’s a price to pay—no modern hospital facilities, not a lot of bathing, no television. The struggle is real in any century. She laments that she’s caused Jamie so much trouble in the brief time she’s been back, but Jamie, true to form, says some incredibly romantic, sexy shit and that’s that.

PHOTO: Aimee Spinks/STARZ

A doctor’s work is never done, so Claire heads off to see about that apothecary customer, Archibald Campbell, and his sister Margaret. He claims his sister is a seer and he “translates” her visions and it all seems kind of sketchy. Claire tells Archibald that Margaret is not a seer; she’s just mentally ill. She cautions him to stop medicating his sister with laudanum and offers him an herbal tea recipe to calm her when she gets agitated. Archibald isn’t so interested in tea…he basically wants to keep his sister sedated because they are heading to the West Indies the next day. As she leaves, Claire suggests Margaret eat a lot of fresh fruit when she gets to the islands. I have no idea what’s going on with that.

To celebrate their profitable sales, Fergus and Ian have a drink at the local tavern. As young men are wont to do, they start talking about sex. Turns out, Ian is a virgin and one of the young barmaids, Brighid, has caught his eye. Fergus makes like an expert wingman and hooks Ian and Brighid up but first Fergus discloses that his first time was a menage a trois. (Of course it was. He’s French, after all.)

Ian gets really lucky and Brighid seems more than amenable to having a drink with the young man. A love connection is made! Ian brings Brighid back to the print shop because nothing says romance like a print shop. He is drunk and singing loudly and then he and Brighid are making out and then they start to make love after a bit of an awkward start. So, I guess there is some sex in this episode, but it is not at all the sexy kind and we don’t see much of it, which is fine by me because Ian is like, a child, and he is very pale and no thanks. I’m not even sure why this episode featured this storyline other than to give a plausible reason for what happens next to Ian. I suspect this is the first and the last we will see of sex between anyone but Claire and Jamie and thank goodness for that.

Outlander Fergus Drinking Episode 307

PHOTO: Aimee Spinks/STARZ

Upon returning to the brothel, Claire suggests that maybe she and Jamie can get a place of their own and Jamie’s like, “Leave the brothel?” as if it is the wildest thing in the world for Claire to want to live somewhere other than a brothel. She also broaches opening her own practice, but they are interrupted when Ian Sr. shows up looking for Ian Jr. Apparently young Ian keeps running away from home, and Jamie is keeping watch over his nephew (while also pretending he doesn’t know where the boy is). Ian Sr. is shocked to see Claire alive and well, but is also distraught over his missing son. Jamie lies about the boy’s whereabouts and Claire seethes quietly because she disapproves. Jamie walks Ian out and the men allude to some secret Jamie is keeping that could cause trouble. (I am pretty sure I know what the secret is because I consulted Wikipedia about Book 3’s plot and I am very angry about the plot twist because it is so irritating and senseless and Claire is going to flip her lid when she finds out.)

Before any of that unfolds in some future episode, Ian and Brighid are basking in the afterglow of young love when another of Sir Percival’s minions shows up at the print shop, looking for the contraband casks. Corrupt and greedy government agents are also persistent. Ian confronts the man to little avail. As the minion searches, he finds Jamie’s seditious pamphlets. Oh no! There is a scuffle and soon the building is on fire. Of course it is. Ian sends Brighid to safety while he tries to put out the fire. The minion gets away with the seditious pamphlets; poor Ian is alone in the burning building; and Jamie just lied to his brother-in-law about his son’s safety. Every melodramatic possibility is happening all at once.

Jamie and Claire are having a tight-lipped argument about his lying to Ian Sr. that turns into an argument about parenting choices. Jamie gets real passive aggressive, saying he didn’t get a chance to parent Brianna, and he makes a shitty comment about Brianna wearing a bikini. His jealousy over her marriage to Frank comes out, but before anything can be resolved, Jamie is told there’s a fire at the print shop.

Ian is trapped and Jamie knows it, so he rushes, gallantly, straight into the fire and there’s lots of close calls—the score, never subtle on this show, makes it seem like death is imminent—but fret not, all is well. Jamie saves Ian and grabs the portrait of his son, Willie, and though the print shop is destroyed, everyone lives. There is, of course, the small problem of the seditious pamphlets but Jamie is in Edinburgh under a false name so he can just go back to being himself in the Highlands. Yes, this is all an elaborate plot device to get the Frasers and Ian back to Lallybroch. Jamie ties up some loose ends with Mr. Willoughby and Fergus lets it drop that Jamie has another wife which is so messy. Claire is, all the while, completely unsuspecting and probably about to walk into a fire of her own. Of course, the episode ends on this revelation, so sadly, we will not know more about this mess until next week. Until then!

Roxane Gay is the author of Bad Feminist, Difficult Women, and most recently, Hunger. She is also the author of World of Wakanda for Marvel and a contributing opinion writer for The New York Times.

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'Riverdale' Season 2 Episode 3 Recap: Veronica's Dad Gets Even Creepier


Oh, Riverdale, you really messed with my emotions tonight. I’m moved, shook, and turned on all at once. Spoilers ahead, obviously.

We start with Kevin sucking face with a random dude in the woods. He stumbles across Midge, who somehow survived being shot at point-blank range. Teen show logic, I guess? (Moose is alive, too. Whatever.)

Meanwhile, Veronica’s having the squad over to watch The Bachelorette premiere. Hiram seems pissed about this, probably because this means he can’t skulk around creepily like he always does.

At Riverdale High, news of Midge and Moose’s shooting has everyone freaked, especially Archie. Kevin lies about why he was in the woods that night even though everyone knows he’s gay…so there’s some fuckery afoot there. Jughead, who hangs out at Betty’s school but doesn’t go there anymore, abruptly leaves the powwow because he’s late to meet his mentor at South Side High. I’m not even going to question how he’d get there so quickly if the South Side is as far away as this show makes it seem. Also, why isn’t his old school just letting him trespass? He doesn’t even go here!

Alright, what the hell? Kevin was literally cruising the woods for dudes. What is this, 1970? Betty reprimands him for this, but in a slut-shamey way I don’t appreciate. She tells Kevin not to go back there until the killer’s caught—sound advice he surely won’t follow ’cause hormones. Cheryl overhears this entire conversation and smirks diabolically. Does she…also want to cruise for gay men in the woods?

Archie and Reggie visit Moose in the hospital. Reggie makes some lame, hetero joke about Moose “popping a boner” in front of his nurses (I keep forgetting they’re teens), and Archie asks him about the shooter like he’s Olivia Benson. Everyone’s slowly starting to realize the same person is responsible for Fred’s shooting, Miss Grundy’s death, and Moose and Midge’s shooting.

Meanwhile, at South Side High, Jughead’s mad about having to walk through a metal detector. He pouts, and it’s annoying. Safety’s important, Jughead! He meets Toni Topaz, the girl all the blogs say will drive a wedge between Bughead. I can see why: She’s cool, has pink hair, and is a South Side Serpent. She gives Jughead a tour of the school, where kids are doing Jingle Jangle in plain sight.

Toni invites Jughead to sit with her and the other Serpents, but he declines and says some convoluted nonsense about how he “self-identifies as a loner.” Toni urges Jughead to sit with them, though, because the Ghoulies (a rival gang at the school) will mess with him if he doesn’t. I love how all these groups sound like plucky ’50s social clubs.

Back on the north side of town, Archie tries to convince his dad that his shooter also attacked Grundy, Midge, and Moose, but Fred dismisses his childish ramblings. Naturally, Archie ruins Veronica’s Bachelorette viewing party because of this. Hiram awkwardly meets the Core Four and tells them the police aren’t always the solution to ending crime, which puffs Archie’s paranoia up even more. Oy.

In the most bravura display of straight masculinity on this show, Archie rounds up the football players and suggests they serve as “watch dogs” at school to make sure the shooter doesn’t attack again. They all hoop and holler about this and call themselves “The Red Circle”; it’s cringey, but also kinda hot because they’re shirtless. Sheriff Keller isn’t pleased with their group, but they’re actually helpful; later in the episode, they rescue Ethel Muggs when she suspects the shooter was following her in a car.

At South Side High, Jughead finally finds a friend in his insanely sexy English teacher, Mr. Phillips. He asks Mr. Phillips if it’s possible to revive the school paper, which I’d usually be all for but not in this case. No one needs any more angsty Jughead journalism. The Serpents are trying so hard to hang out with Jughead, but he’s dragging his feet. Rightfully, they tell him to not come crying to them for help if he can’t even hang. They have a tense tête-à-tête, which Toni diffuses.

PHOTO: The CW

Later, Betty visits Jughead at South Side High, and he says she shouldn’t be there at night unless she’s “armed,” which is a little unnerving. Jughead realizes Clifford Blossom’s local drug business started at the school with the Ghoulies, who deal Jingle Jangle, and he wants to write an exposé about this. Betty, however, deters him from this plan because he goes to school with the Ghoulies. (Jughead should listen to this, but he won’t because his beanie causes him to rebuke all logic.) Then Betty meets Toni, and it’s awkward. Oooh, the love triangle begins!

Later, Betty gets on Kevin’s case about going into the woods to bang. He says he doesn’t need her approval, which is true. (In Betty’s defense, though, she’s only concerned about Kevin running into the serial killer on the loose.) Cheryl overhears this entire spat and tells Betty that Kevin’s only trolling for dudes in the woods for validation. What a queer icon.

Meanwhile, Alice Cooper receives an ominous package in the mail. It’s from someone who calls himself the “Black Hood,” and he asks the Coopers to publish a letter he wrote in the paper. Not-so-surprising twist: This is the masked shooter, and he wants everyone to know he’s responsible for all three attacks in Riverdale. He included Fred’s lost wallet in the package as proof he’s the real deal. Bah!

And oooh, this is interesting: In his letter, the Black Hood calls Fred “an adulterer,” Grundy a “child predator,” and Moose and Midge “drunk-and-sex-addicted teenagers.” He’s some kind of morality killer punishing Riverdale for its hypocrisy. Polly’s afraid she’s next because she’s having a child out of wedlock with her cousin. I mean, I’m not judging her for that, but this deranged guy probably will. She leaves Riverdale because of this.

At the hospital, Kevin and Moose share a really tender moment. Kevin confesses that he’s aware cruising in the woods is dangerous, but he can’t stop—he doesn’t care. Moose understands this, saying Riverdale is hard for “guys like them” (read: queer) and finding bliss for just two minutes in the woods is a coping mechanism. Ugh, why aren’t they dating? They’d be the hottest couple on this show!

After his visit to the hospital, Cheryl spots Kevin running into the woods again and tells Betty about it. They ambush Kevin, and Betty tells him he should have more self-respect—which is the wrong thing to say. He gives a genuinely moving speech about how he doesn’t have the same options as Betty in Riverdale. This is the only way he can find intimacy, and she needs to stop judging him for it. All true things. Yeesh, this subplot is taking me back to high school.

Hiram invites Archie to dinner, which, for some reason, Hermione thinks is a bad idea. I’m starting to think she’s the sketchiest one out of this whole family. It’s clear Hermione still thinks Hiram is dangerous, but she won’t admit it—and until she does, Veronica says she doesn’t have the right to ban Archie from family dinners. Hiram overhears Hermione and Veronica arguing about this and straight-up threatens Hermione to stop poisoning his relationship with Veronica. It’s scary. He’s scary. He’s definitely the sketchiest of this twisted Brady Bunch.

Chapter Sixteen: The Watcher in the Woods

PHOTO: The CW

Hiram and Archie have a super-tense chat in Hiram’s mysterious office; he gives some ominous warning about how Archie shouldn’t sneak into Veronica’s room anymore. He then gives some whack-a-doo advice about how Archie’s Red Circle should use fear and violence to defeat the Black Hood. If this means more bloodshed, I’m done.

And, yup, Jughead should’ve listened to Betty: The Ghoulies jump him, probably because they’re onto his snooping. He lies to Betty about it, and Toni tells him this should give him more incentive to join the Serpents. He probably won’t because he’s dumb.

Oh no. Oh God. Kevin goes back into the woods, and a strange dude asks him if he needs a ride. He has a vision about this guy being Black Hood and rejects his invite; the dude then gets aggressive, but Kevin runs off before anything happens. My nerves! At home, Kevin’s dad (the sheriff) confronts him about his cruising and says he cares about his safety. It’s a truly endearing moment with distinct shades of Kurt and Burt Hummel on Glee.

We end things with Veronica asking to have a more active role in Lodge Industries. (This is just so she can see what Hiram’s doing in his eerie office space, TBH.) Jughead, clearly shook from the Ghoulies beatdown, decides to eat lunch with the Serpents. Kevin’s still pissed at Betty. And Archie’s Red Circle films a mildly intimidating—but mostly just sexually arousing—video threatening Black Hood. Hiram’s thrilled. I care about this subplot the least, yet it’s the most prominent one.

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'This Is Us' Season 2 Episode 5 Recap: There's Another Pearson We Didn't Know About


This Is Us is running two for two in terms of bonkers final-minute reveals. Last week we found out Kate is pregnant, and this week we learned…well, read on to find out.

The ’90s

Jack is putting all the flannel he wears to good use and taking Child Randall and Child Kevin on a camping trip. Jack and Rebecca think this will help Kevin and Randall get along better…because trapping two kids in a tent helps them bond? In my experience, not having access to air conditioning just makes people more irritable.

Rebecca and Child Kate are going to have a “girls’ day” while the boys are gone, which is just a train-wreck waiting to happen. But things take a turn when Rebecca gets a call from a nursing home saying Jack’s father (Stanley) is close to passing. Rebecca tries to call Jack, but to no avail. Remember, he’s literally in the woods.

Rebecca goes to the nursing home to visit Stanley. It’s quiet and overly dramatic. Stanley doesn’t say anything, and Rebecca laments about his difficult relationship with Jack. Stanley notices Kate standing outside his hospital room and asks to see her; Rebecca quickly shoos her out of sight. Yeesh.

Meanwhile, in the forest, Kevin’s being a grade-A douche to Randall. Their contentious relationship is all Kevin’s fault; I don’t know why Randall has to endure mosquito bites to mend something he didn’t break. Jack reprimands Kevin and asks why he can’t be nice to Randall. Kevin rudely says he “doesn’t know” and asks Jack to stop talking. Can we just send Kevin to boarding school? He’s like the Blair Witch, only less cool.

They ultimately squash their beef after Kevin finds Randall’s notepad, which includes an entry about things not to do to annoy him. (Further proof Child Randall is a god among peasants.)

Rebecca finally gets a hold of Jack and tells him about Stanley. She asks Jack if he wants to visit the nursing home, and he flat-out says Stanley’s been dead to him for a long time. It’s ice-cold, but I suppose I understand where he’s coming from. (See Young Jack’s storyline, below.)

Adult Kate

Kate wastes no time telling Toby she’s pregnant. He acts excited, but it feels forced and disingenuous. My only evidence for thinking this is the face he makes after hearing the news looks like Taylor Swift’s infamous surprise face. Kate’s understandably worried her age and weight might cause her to lose the baby. Toby tries to comfort her, but it doesn’t work and, instead, she tells him to keep any excitement he has about this baby to himself. His hope, she says, will just put more stress on her. This is such faulty logic. He’s just supposed to not mention it for nine months? Then why even tell him in the first place?

Kate lashes out at the skinny girl, Madison, in her Overeaters Anonymous class, and they have a super annoying fight in the parking lot. It’s clear Kate’s just resentful of this girl because she’s thin, and that’s kinda ick; like, people of all shapes and sizes have eating disorders. However, it’s also clear this overt, random-AF fight means Madison and Kate will become friends.

Yup, I’m right. They have a fender-bender in the lot, which causes Kate to freak out because she’s pregnant. When Madison hears this news, she’s not even mad about her car; she just hugs Kate and congratulates her. This is arguably the fastest-developing relationship in TV history. Imagine if our world leaders were like this?

The accident gives Kate a revelation about her pregnancy: She isn’t afraid to tell people about it now. So Kate and Toby go to a random restaurant, and she tells him he can tell one person inside they’re expecting. This is more bizarre than it is cute, but the mood music’s making me feel things.

And Toby doesn’t even follow the rules! He tells everyone in the restaurant that Kate’s pregnant and starts dancing. He then pours water on himself like he’s in Flashdance. This is all so dumb and disrespectful and not at all endearing! Kate said one person, man. Also, his real name is Tobias? WTF?

Adult Kevin

Kevin can’t stop taking pills to fix his knee. There’s some dramatic “addiction” music happening here that’s, honestly, making me feel pretty uneasy. Kevin stares at himself for a long time in the mirror—which, again, is sort of overkill. When did this show take a turn into Intervention territory?

He’s visiting Sophie in New York. They’re attending some fancy hospital gala where Kevin’s getting auctioned off for a date to raise money. Kevin asks Randall if he’s jealous of this, to which he (rightfully) replies, “No Black man will ever be jealous of being auctioned off. #AmericanHistory.” Yes, he says “hashtag,” which I’ll let slide because Randall’s perfect.

Kevin is blowing up his doctor’s phone for more Vicodin. It’s uncomfortable. He starts drinking a beer while Sophie’s getting ready for the gala; she reprimands him, and he gets defensive. I don’t know how to handle all this substance-abuse foreshadowing! Is Kevin going to get drunk at this gala and embarrass Sophie?!

Yes. That’s exactly what he does. Kevin misses his cue to go on stage for the auction because he’s drunk and yelling at his doctor on the phone. Sophie rips Kevin to shreds for this, and he offers no explanation. Instead, he acts evasive, says he’s stressed, and that he never should’ve agreed to attend the gala. I hate to say this, but he’s acting like most addicts do when confronted. Any doubt these pills are a problem for Kevin just went away.

Adult Randall

Kevin, while visiting, makes some comment about Déjà being “surly,” which Randall doesn’t appreciate. He tells Kevin to tread lightly with her and to not mention her hair. (Remember, Déjà cut off the braids Beth did for her after she realized Beth told Randall about her stress issues.) Déjà asks to attend Kevin’s gala; Randall agrees, but says he’ll have to take her because Kevin will be busy. Beth objects; it’s clear Déjà only wants to go because she’s crushing on Kevin. Stupidly, Randall doesn’t listen to Beth and says he’s taking Déjà anyway. Always listen to Beth, fool!

At the gala, things are awkward AF between Déjà and Randall. It’s obvious all she wants to do is hang out with Kevin, who’s frantically calling his doctor about Vicodin. (He’s also sweating. And drinking more. Oof.) Déjà’s crush on Kevin is cute; I just hope things don’t turn dramatic, but knowing this show they will.

Randall stares intently at Déjà’ as she eats a shrimp cocktail. He freaks out on her right as she’s about to eat the tail, which causes her to run to the bathroom. Randall rushes after her, and we learn the reason behind her fear of being touched and yelled at: Her former foster mother’s boyfriend used to beat her with magazines. Randall doesn’t know what to say to this, and, frankly, neither do I. It’s heartbreaking.

Young Jack

Yes, Young Jack makes an appearance in this episode (probably to aid the story about his dying father). He and his dad are going on a fishing trip, but they detour to a tavern for a quick drink. Jack’s visibly upset by this, which hints that he’s aware of his father’s drinking problem. This also foreshadows Jack’s future alcoholism and, if you think about it, Kevin’s pill addiction. Layers!

Holy shit. Stanley straight-up leaves Jack in the car to get drunk…and he stays in the bar for hours.

Wait. Wait. Wait. There’s someone else in the car with Young Jack. It’s another child. Jack’s brother. Jack has a brother. A younger one named Nicky! Whaaaat?! There’s an entire human we knew nothing about! Another classic This Is Us plot twist that came out of left field. We’re supposed to believe no one has ever mentioned this guy up until this exact moment??!? Color me annoyed but, yes, intrigued. Damn it!

Parting thoughts: Does Jack’s little brother also have a mustache now?



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'The Big Bang Theory' Season 11 Episode 5 Recap: The Problem With Sheldon in 'The Collaboration Contamination'


Good luck getting Sheldon Cooper to solve this problem: At what point in this season of The Big Bang Theory did Sheldon turn into someone almost completely unrecognizable from the man he’s become over the last few years?

On tonight’s episode, Sheldon seemed to fall deeper into self-absorbed territory by becoming territorial over his fiancé’s work hours and work partner. It follows a pattern of unusual behavior this season that seems to have undone some of his profound personal growth over the latter half of the series. So what gives? Where’s the Sheldon who was vulnerable, supportive, and, yes, even romantic?

In “The Collaboration Contamination,” Sheldon and Raj confide in Bernadette that they can’t handle Amy and Howard working together. Raj is just lonely without his “work wife” Howard to keep him company—no point in dissecting that one—but Sheldon acts possessive over Amy, demanding to know why she’s working late after her first day with Howard. This was after he already dropped in on them at work to make sure everything was going alright. Then, in another scene, he complains that they’re working on a Saturday. “Is this how you envisioned your weekend?” he angrily asks Bernadette. Who is this guy?

It’s a question I’ve been thinking about since the season 11 premiere, when he got jealous that he wasn’t being peppered with questions about his success while meeting Amy’s work colleagues. Of that episode, I wrote: “Perhaps the only downside [of the episode] was Sheldon being a complete ass…when Amy was shown more attention by colleagues at a work dinner than him.”

Things didn’t get better in episode two, when Amy had to deal with Sheldon acting like a jealous child after she confided that she got special lab equipment at work. To make matters worse, we also found out Amy often keeps her success a secret from him so he doesn’t get upset. Much to my disappointment, I noted that Sheldon had turned into a mopey, outdated stereotype of a man who can’t handle a woman’s success.

PHOTO: Michael Yarish/Warner Bros.

Maybe that’s why I was beyond bored when episode three spent nearly 20 minutes having Sheldon drive himself mad trying to pick a perfect wedding date. I would have rather he spent that time in therapy trying to figure out why he’s become so frustratingly annoying this season. He briefly redeemed himself in episode four while assuring Howard he’d be a good father to his son, but it all seemed to unravel tonight. “This whole thing is maddening,” he vented to Bernadette about Amy’s work schedule. “I just wish I could make Howard feel as angry as I’m feeling.” What? He’s angry that his fiancé is working on a big laboratory project with their friend, a fellow physicist? Haven’t we moved past this old-fashioned trope of being jealous over working with a member of the opposite sex?

Later in the episode, when Leonard tells Sheldon that he needs to get over it (finally, someone with some common sense), Sheldon shuts him down and says, “It is a big deal! Howard is getting Amy used to laughing and listening to music! What if she expects that madness at home?” It’s all meant to be cute and funny, but I wasn’t laughing. Sheldon sounds like he wants to keep Amy trapped in the 1950s rather than embark on a lifetime of happiness. If I’m supposed to be excited that these two are heading toward a wedding, then here’s a news flash: I’m not.

Perhaps the reason I’m most annoyed with Sheldon’s arc this season is that the show has done such a stellar job in recent years of truly growing these characters. It’s no longer a series about four clueless male scientists who ogle the girl next door. The series has embraced real-life issues such as pre-and post-partum depression, gender stereotypes, marital issues, and mental health and done so with humor. To go back now seems like such a waste. And if anything is going to make Sheldon angry, that should be it.



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'Outlander' Season 3, Episode 6 Recap: Jamie and Claire Finally Reunite, and Yes, the Sex Is Fire


This article centers on Season 3, Episode 6 of Outlander, “Malcolm.” If you’re not yet caught up with the show, be warned: Spoilers abound.

This is the episode we’ve been waiting all season for and friends, I assure you, it does not disappoint. Our beloved Jamie and Claire reunite after twenty years apart, and yes, there is plenty of rousing sex, so let’s get right to it.

The episode opens with the same scene Episode 5 closed on—except this round, we see things from Jamie’s perspective. Jamie looks dapper and colonial, walking through Edinburgh on his way to work, tricorne and all. When he gets to his print shop, he hears men whispering and pulls out a blade before realizing it’s just two of his kinsmen who were sleeping a hard night off. Jamie gives them some treasonous pamphlets to deliver. As they leave, Geordie, Jamie’s apprentice, arrives for the workday. He’s the cranky sort and has a goiter, which can’t be pleasant in the 18th century. Jamie dispatches Geordie to get something for the press and look, I’m pretending to be interested in all this, but I’m not, and you’re not because it doesn’t involve Jamie and Claire, naked.

There Jamie is, wearing his cute little spectacles, preparing to print something—omg who cares—and he calls out to Geordie when he hears the door open. (We know who it really is.) A lady’s delicate voice says, “It isn’t Geordie. It’s me, Claire.” Slowly, Jamie turns around, looks up at his long lost wife beaming down on him, and does what you might expect—passes out!

When he comes to, Jamie still can’t believe it’s really Claire. They gaze at each other and then Jamie is on his feet because his pants are wet (worry not; he did not “piss himself”). He starts to take off his pants and is suddenly modest, but Claire reminds him that they are, you know, married. After he takes off his pants and they say words at each other, Jamie says, “I would very much like to kiss you. May I?” Claire breathes, “Yes,” because of course, and Jamie says, “I have not done this in a very long time,” and finally their lips lock and it’s a moment. (We know it’s a moment, because the score rises loudly and unnecessarily—we were already deep in our feelings. Thanks, composer!)

Sadly, they do not continue disrobing to have sex right then and there. There is so much sadness in the world.

PHOTO: Aimee Spinks/STARZ

Their kiss is interrupted by Geordie returning from his errand. When he sees his boss and Claire in the throes of tongue wrestling, Geordie, disgusted, declares that he quits. Jamie needs a new pair of pants, and I certainly disagree with that. Jamie needs no pants, ever, but fine, whatever. He heads to the back room but insists Claire go with him. It’s as if he can’t really believe she’s there, with him, in the flesh. Believe it, Jamie! It’s all about to go down.

Like a good father, Jamie asks about Brianna and seems glad that his daughter knows who he is. Claire shows him pictures, quickly explaining that photographs aren’t the devil’s work, just the product of a thing called a camera. They talk about their child, and I suppose it’s all very sweet and tender. Claire tells Jamie she’s a surgeon, and he says, “You always were one. Now you have the title to go with it.”

Jamie shares that he has a son, “Willie,” and all Claire needs to know is, “Did you love his mother?” to which Jamie says no. They discuss Frank, very briefly because he’s dead and no one but his sidepiece likes Frank. All of the talk is shy and tentative; really what they are trying to gauge is if there will be anyone in the way of their reunion. GREEN MEANS GO, JAMIE & CLAIRE! GREEN MEANS GO! THE LIGHT IS GREEN!

Suddenly, Jamie remembers he has an appointment, and he and Claire head to a tavern. On the way, they run into Fergus, who is delighted to see Claire. He’s quite grown up and handsome now. Fergus needs to talk to Jamie about a Mr. Willoughby. They step aside and Fergus says, “What about?” implying that there’s something we do not yet know. We’re not going to figure it out in this episode, though, so let’s just worry about all that later.

At the tavern, Mr. Willoughby is in a bit of trouble because he licked a barmaid’s elbow without paying her. Things were not so different in the 1800s, I guess. While Claire and Willoughby get to know one another, Jamie goes off to a dark cellar to talk to Sir Percival, an Englishman who thinks none too highly of Jamie and to whom Jamie pays some kind of tax for selling something on “High Street.” Jamie is obviously up to some kind of illegal hustle, and the show is setting up the next major plotline, so I reckon we’ll have to keep an eye on this.

As their day ends, the Frasers go to a brothel where the Madame Jeanne, the proprietress, is none too pleased to learn Jamie has a wife. Jamie lives in the brothel and Claire is quietly seething. She asks if he’s living there because he’s such a good customer but Jamie assures his wife that Madame Jeanne is his customer, and the brothel is just a comfortable place to lay his head. As one does.

If you can believe it, this couple still has more questions before getting it on. “Sassenach, why have you come back?” Jamie asks, wanting to know if Claire is just passing through to let him know about Brianna or if she is there to be his wife. They talk more, and holy hell, all of this preamble is excruciating. Sure, it’s kind of romantic and true to what a reunion after twenty years would look like, but just as we have waited for six episodes, we’re now being forced to wait still longer within the episode. Jamie and Claire continue to reassure each other that the fire still roars between them. Still no sex, though, because now it is time for dinner.

After dinner—and yet more catching up—finally, FINALLY, Jamie invites Claire to bed, and she accepts his invitation. I accept his invitation. We all accept his invitation. They stare lovingly into each other’s eyes and start undressing as a fire crackles in the background. (The score is back to reminds us that they are about to bone. Bone tones. HA!) We are also painfully reminded that in ye olde times, people wore quite a lot of layers with complicated systems of fastening and closure. My god.

Jamie Claire Fraser Sex Outlander 306

PHOTO: Aimee Spinks/STARZ

When they are finally unwrapped, Claire is nervous as hell. Jamie reassures her, “You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” You would think they would be getting down to it, but first they blabber a bit more about their wedding night. When they do kiss and fall onto the bed, Jamie practically breaks Claire’s nose. They try again and bump awkwardly again, and at this point the show is just being cruel but fine because once Jamie and Claire get going, it’s great. After she is revved all the way up, Claire orders, “Do it now and don’t be gentle.” Jamie does as he is told. It’s incredibly hot and breathy and grunty, and Claire and Jamie are both assured that they’ve still got it. High fives all around.

As far as I’m concerned, they should spend the rest of the episode in bed having incredible sex because that’s why I watch this show, but alas, I did not write this episode. They blabber some more during the afterglow, reaffirming their mutual admiration and sexual compatibility. Claire also tries to figure out what Jamie really does to make a living. Given the outstanding condition of his body, he is not merely working as a printer. She runs through some disreputable career options, but Jamie remains coy. He admits to being a traitor, arrested for sedition “six times in the past two years.” After a bit more cajoling, he also admits he’s a booze smuggler.

Thankfully, they stop talking and start having sex again, slower this time, now that the primal urge has been somewhat satisfied.

Then it’s time for more love talk. Claire asks Jamie, “Did you ever fall in love with anyone else, after I left?” and he says, “No, Sassenach. I never loved anyone but you.”

Reassured for the umpteenth time, Jamie and Claire start making love yet again (praises!). There’s a knock on the door because breakfast is ready, but Jamie sends the food away. Claire asks, “Don’t you want to eat?” and Jamie grins, while sliding down Claire’s body because he knows where breakfast is really at: between a woman’s thighs.

When they have finally satiated themselves, Jamie leaves Claire in bed because he has to go handle some smuggler business. While she is lounging, Ian Murray, Claire’s nephew, shows up and they have a mini-family reunion. It’s kind of hilarious how everyone handles Claire’s return with bemusement more than shock.

Claire heads downstairs to find some food and sits down to eat with some of the women working at the brothel who mistake Claire for the new girl. It’s a charming, bawdy little scene where they discuss bathing techniques, birth control methods, and how to get a customer off fast. Unfortunately, Madame Jeanne interrupts and doesn’t at all appreciate Claire dining with the women. There’s something going on with the madam—perhaps she has feelings for Jamie, who knows.

When Claire returns to her room, there’s trouble—a man waiting, threatening Claire and wanting to know where Jamie’s ledgers are. She orders him to get out but he is unmoved, grabbing her by the throat—a strange way to end such a lovely episode. This show will never stop relying on the imperiled woman as a plot device and it’s particularly infuriating to do so at the end of an episode filled with such love, passion, and overall sexiness. It’s as if the show is determined to remind viewers that women on this show are never, ever safe. There are some things, I guess, that cannot be escaped, not even in fantasy.

Roxane Gay is the author of Bad Feminist, Difficult Women, and most recently, Hunger. She is also the author of World of Wakanda for Marvel and a contributing opinion writer for The New York Times.

Watch Claire and Jamie’s reunion—at last!—here:

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'Riverdale' Season 2 Episode 2 Recap: More Bloodshed, and More Cheryl


Tonight’s Riverdale was dark, bloody, and, honestly, pretty terrifying. Two more people were shot. Betty blackmailed Cheryl. This wholesome town is falling apart. I won’t waste your time with more build-up, so let’s just get to the good stuff. Spoilers ahead, obviously.

Some miserable troll has vandalized Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe. The owner, Pop, is devastated by this, and I seriously can’t handle this normally-jolly man looking so sad.

Remember, Archie’s now on a mission to protect his father, Fred, from the shooter who’s still at large. His method for doing this last week was sitting in the hallway wielding a bat; this week, it’s guzzling soda and bringing Fred toast in bed. Archie seriously needs to simmer down; he keeps calling Sheriff Keller to learn more about the shooter, but Keller (smartly) isn’t returning his calls. Archie’s an unstable child, people. He should just drop this case and go back to being shirtless and singing or whatever he did last season.

Veronica’s very hot (but probably still evil) father, Hiram, pesters her about having dinner with him and her mother. Privy to her father’s criminal ways, she says “never.” Again, smart move. He’s sketch.

PHOTO: CW

The Core Four is very sad that Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe is in shambles, so Betty and Veronica start planning an event to save it. Meanwhile, Jughead meets his father’s (F.P.) lawyer at the sheriff’s station. I literally forgot F.P. was in jail because I care so little about the Jones family. F.P.’s facing 20 years in jail, so Jughead’s naturally shook about that. He starts crying. Even his beanie quivers. Archie’s too distracted with Fred’s shooter to be a good friend about this.

Jughead asks a South Side Serpent to help him bust F.P. out of jail; the Serpent laughs at this, calls Jughead a child (he is), and says a “Snake Charmer”—whatever that is—is who Jughead needs to contact. The “Snake Charmer” is, apparently, a Serpent lawyer named Penny Peabody. She tells Jughead having the Blossom family forgive F.P. in front of a judge would help his case. But taking advice from Penny was a mistake: F.P. frantically calls Jughead and tells him not to talk to her anymore and that he doesn’t want to “be in bed” with a “Snake Charmer.”

Archie confronts Sherriff Keller about why the police is sleeping on Fred’s shooter. He volunteers to go patrolling with the police to find the perp, which sounds like something a 9-year-old boy would say. Archie’s essentially a toddler who wants to play Cops and Robbers, and Sherrif Keller’s like, “Yo, just chill and drink your Capri Sun.”

Lurking Betty notices Archie hasn’t been sleeping in his room, so she asks Veronica to confront him about it. He tells Veronica’s he’s been staying up all night downstairs with a baseball bat to stop Fred’s shooter if/when he shows up. Veronica’s response to this is pretty much, “I’m rich and gorgeous and don’t know how to handle this; go see the school counselor.” Honestly, that’s how I’d react too.

Jughead and Betty go to Mayor McCoy and ask her to turn Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe into a town landmark; she refuses, and then Jughead asks her if she’s cool sending F.P. to jail for a murder he didn’t commit. She’s pretty whatever about it, which means she’s my new favorite character. Jughead threatens Mayor McCoy and tells her to remember this as the day she turned her back on Pop and F.P. This is supposed to be dramatic, but I think Jughead is ridiculous, so I’m unfazed.

Chapter Fifteen: Nighthawks

PHOTO: The CW

A new character, Midge Klump, asks Reggie Mantle about something called “Jingle Jangle.” Spoiler: It’s a drug, because Reggie says he can “score some” for Midge and her boyfriend, Moose. Archie also asks Reggie for “Jingle Jangle” to help him stay awake and keep guard of his house. Reggie agrees, and also adds that “Jingle Jangle” will give Archie a lengthy erection, which, gross.

Betty goes on some rant to Veronica and Kevin about how Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe is sentimental to her, which is why she wants to save it. Blah blah blah. Their powwow is interrupted by Veronica’s dad, who shows up with flowers to talk to her. Veronica says she can’t go back to the way things with were with him because she now knows what a crook he is. I mean, true, but he’s also a damn snack.

Cheryl. Is. Here. The first thing she does is call Veronica and Betty “Humpty” and “Dumpty.” Thank God. Josie is the Riverdale Vixens’ newest recruit, but she has one request: to be in front. Betty asks Cheryl if the Vixens would perform at their “Save Pop’s” event, to which she replies, “I did not emerge from the frozen depths of Sweetwater River nor the flames of Thornhill to allow my Vixens to sling milkshakes at some death-cursed diner.” She’s a national treasure.

Archie finds out about Ms. Grundy getting murdered, and he flips. He obviously thinks this hit and his father’s shooting are connected, and he asks Alice Cooper to investigate. Because Grundy was strangled with a cello bow and Fred was shot, Alice says the likelihood of the crimes being committed by the same person is slim. Obviously, Archie doesn’t believe this. He thinks Grundy’s unstable ex committed both crimes, but Sheriff Keller shuts down his hysterics. Again, just drink your juice, Archie.

In a heated confrontation at the Lodge house, Hiram claims he isn’t responsible for Fred’s shooting. Veronica then asks Hiram about the letter she received that said Hermione would get hurt if she didn’t testify on his behalf. As it turns out, Hermione herself wrote that letter to coerce Veronica into testifying. This family is shady, shady, shady (but also sexy, so it’s fine).

Jughead and Betty go to Cheryl’s new house to beg Cheryl and her creepy mom to accept F.P.’s in-court apology. Cheryl calls Betty and Jughead “Hobo” and “Bride of Hobo” and refuses their request.

But wait! Dark Betty makes a brief, psycho appearance to blackmail Cheryl into testifying on F.P.’s behalf; she says she’ll wide-release the video of Clifford Blossom shooting Jason if Cheryl doesn’t. Cheryl complies—and even tells the court Clifford threatened F.P. to force him into covering up Jason’s murder. Damn. After Cheryl does this, Betty honors her word and gives Jason’s death tape back.

Chapter Fifteen: Nighthawks

PHOTO: The CW

A chat with Jughead suddenly gives Veronica a change of heart about her hot-but-evil parents: She wants to start over with them, but this is a bad idea. Hiram and Hermione told Veronica they made a “charitable donation” to save Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe; however, they actually bought it from under Pop’s nose.

Wait! Hermione lied! Hiram really did write that letter threatening Hermione’s life if Veronica didn’t testify for him. And they definitely have a suspicious agenda for buying the Chock’lit Shoppe! These two are slimy snakes, and Veronica has no idea! S.O.S!

At the “Save Pop’s” event, Archie can’t stop staring at this dude in the parking lot wearing glasses. His name is Dilton Doiley, and Archie apparently asked him to get him a gun. They meet on a deserted bridge to complete the transaction. Archie’s officially off the rails.

But not as off the rails as this masked shooter. At the end of the episode, he shoots two more people: Midge and Moose, who were high off the “Jingle Jangle” Reggie gave them. More carnage! Why is this friggin’ show so violent now?!? I need an adult.



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