This post is basically about grid and check patterns for this fall. My next post will be about Game of Thrones.
Here are some very nice accessories with grid patterns.
My top pick is the Lavish duster jacket.
Here are other grid items that are have become available for sale recently, after my last post.
I really loved the last Outlander episode, The Garrison Commander. Here are the highlights:
- Tobias Menzies: I think he excels in his portrayal of Jack Black. Some book purists did not like this scene. In the books, Dougal recounted the events concerning the flogging of Jamie. I think this deviation worked pretty well since the viewer is able to experience Jack Black’s malice first hand. The viewer learns more about Jack Black by seeing him in action as opposed to hearing about his deeds. Perfect! This deviation also allows the actor to show off his skills. I also would like to add that my husband and I enjoyed watching him as Edmure Tully in Game of Thrones. I loved his facial expression in the Red Wedding episode when he was seeing the “homely” daughters of Lord Walder Frey (my husband could not stop laughing). Of course, his face became happy when he was introduced to his pretty bride.
- Graham McTavish as Dougal: I liked the scene in which he gets in and rescues Claire. His posture and facial expression were very intimidating. I think he gave us the best line of the episode when he was discussing with Claire her marriage prospects: “I must admit, the thought of grinding your corn does tickle me.” I think Claire thought Dougal wanted to marry her because of the forceful kiss he tried to give her in a former episode (Spoiler: he is attracted to her but he is married, and there are other reasons too that will be revealed by the show later on). Finally I would like to mention that Graham McTavish reminds me a little bit of Sean Connery.
- The dinner (probably my favourite scene from this episode): One of the deviations from the book is the dinner scene that Claire has with the Redcoats. I love this scene because it really portrays the hostility between the English and the Scots. Comments made by the condescending English soldiers concerning the Gaelic accent and the wearing of kilts are discriminatory and ethnocentric. Claire, being from the 20th Century and being also familiar with the Scots, has a different opinion: 1. The Scots are not aggressors. 2. The English are occupying the Scots’ land (which means the aggressors are her people). This obviously puts her in a questionable position regarding her loyalty to the king. The end result is that the Scots turned out to be a lot better than her own people. The Scots are suspicious of her but they have never abused her physically. They have ignored her sometimes but they do respect her and they do acknowledge her skills. The English perceive Scottish Highlanders as “backwards” culturally and socially; the Scotts are basically “savages” to them. I think a more proper term to describe the Highland culture is “traditional.” Living in a mountainous area makes their culture more isolated. This is probably the reason why Scot Gaelic was a prominent language of the area at that time, and why some clans kept Roman Catholicism as their faith. In the books, it is also mentioned that the villagers have syncretic beliefs; they believe in fairies and waterhorses, beliefs forbidden by the Roman Catholic Church. Jamie makes reference to these beings in the third episode. In the show, the village ladies that were dyeing the wool mentioned that fairies hang around at Craigh Na Dun. These syncretic beliefs really point out how isolated Highland culture is due to geography (even though there might be other reasons too). Nowadays this region is accessible but that was not the case in the 18th century. At the same time, I think the Gaelic accent sounds very cute. Of course, I have to rewatch the show sometimes to understand certain things.
The English perception of Scottish Highlanders are marked prominently in the third book, Voyager, especially when Lord John Grey discusses literature with Jamie Fraser. Basically Lord Grey never expected Jamie to read or know any other language:
The fact was that he had subconsciously assumed that the other did not read, his evident education notwithstanding, merely because of his Highland accent and shabby dress (Gabaldon 151).
While his coat might be shabby, Fraser’s manners were not (Gabaldon 151).
“All Scottish children are taught their letters, Major. Still, we have a great tradition of storytelling in the Highlands” (Gabaldon 152).
Lord Grey will be introduced later on in the TV show for sure. He is English and he initially makes an assessment of Jamie’s character based on his accent and appearance at that particular moment (Jamie is a prisoner at that moment of time). However, he immediately realizes that he has been wrong about Jamie. I guess he is very susceptible to see beyond cultural barriers since he is very “different” than other people (he would be considered an anomaly at that time). Claire even thinks in the second book that Scottish Highlanders are perceived as uncouth by other Europeans. I still remember the description of some French ladies in the books about the sound of Scot Gaelic (not a nice one).
It is important to consider that the excerpts given above are just characters’ thoughts. They are never voiced out. The addition of the dinner scene makes English perception of the Highland Scotts more tangible for viewers (main reaseon why I liked the scene).
Excerpts from:
Gabaldon, Diana. Voyager. New York: Bantam Dell, 1994. Print.