Outlander 3.10: Typhoid Story

Another fine episode of Outlander tonight - 3.10 - in which Claire uses her future knowledge of Typhoid Mary - not the comic-book character - the real woman, Mary Mallon who has the dubious distinction of being the first publicly identified asymptomatic carrier, in her case, typhoid fever.  This happened in the early part of the 20th century, when the discovery that Mallon was infected by typhoid fever, but had no symptoms, but spread the illness, was a major milestone in fighting infectious disease.  So, actually, I guess the distinction is not dubious but good for the public health.

In Outlander, Claire's ID of the typhoid asymptomatic carrier on the English ship earns her the appreciation of the young captain.  But as in many things Outlander, that appreciation is not enough to sway the captain from his pursuit of Jamie - having been tipped off, unfortunately, by that guy in Edinburgh who got his face burned.  That's the way it is in Outlander.  Not only does no good deed go unpunished, it sometimes makes things worse for the do-gooder, in this case, Claire.

Fortunately, there's someone else on board who appreciates Claire's medical savvy and the people she saved.  The German woman and her grass-needing goats does a great job of pushing Claire overboard - which under the circumstances is the best thing for Claire.  It's the only way she can warn and save him, given the young captain's devotion not to what's right but to duty.

Back on the ship with Jamie, I can't say that I admire Fergus's restraint with Marsali, Jamie's step daughter.  I mean, I could say that I admire his restraint, but I'd be a hypocrite.  Because, given how much he loves and wants Marsali, and she him, and add to that perilous environment that they're in, where they might not survive another day, why wait? I doubt that Jamie would have said no to Claire's entreaties in similar circumstances (in fact, if memory serves, he didn't).

But I guess this makes Fergus a more interesting character, and it will be good to see how this all works out (or some of it, because it never all works out in Outlander, part of what makes it fun) in the episodes and seasons ahead.

See also Outlander Season 3 Debut: A Tale of Two Times and Places ...Outlander 3.2: Whole Lot of Loving, But ... Outlander 3.3: Free and Sad ... Outlander 3.4: Love Me Tender and Dylan ... Outlander 3.5: The 1960s and the Past ... Outlander 3.6: Reunion ... Outlander 3.7: The Other Wife ... Outlander 3.8: Pirates! ... Outlander 3.9: The Seas

And see also Outlander 2.1: Split Hour ... Outlander 2.2: The King and the Forest ... Outlander 2.3: Mother and Dr. Dog ... Outlander 2.5: The Unappreciated Paradox ... Outlander 2.6: The Duel and the Offspring ...Outlander 2.7: Further into the Future ... Outlander 2.8: The Conversation ... Outlander 2.9: Flashbacks of the Future ... Outlander 2.10: One True Prediction and Counting ... Outlander 2.11: London Not Falling ... Outlander 2.12: Stubborn Fate and Scotland On and Off Screen ... Outlander Season 2 Finale: Decades

And see also Outlander 1.1-3: The Hope of Time Travel ... Outlander 1.6:  Outstanding ... Outlander 1.7: Tender Intertemporal Polygamy ...Outlander 1.8: The Other Side ... Outlander 1.9: Spanking Good ... Outlander 1.10: A Glimmer of Paradox ... Outlander 1.11: Vaccination and Time Travel ... Outlander 1.12: Black Jack's Progeny ...Outlander 1.13: Mother's Day ... Outlander 1.14: All That Jazz ... Outlander Season 1 Finale: Let's Change History

 

It all started in the hot summer of 1960, when Marilyn Monroe walked off the set of The Misfits and began to hear a haunting song in her head, "Goodbye Norma Jean" ...