A week of tension and teases built up to the Saturday night premiere of episode 115, Wentworth Prison….and we were NOT disappointed. The episode lived up to viewer expectations while remaining almost entirely faithful to the book. From the opening credits, which ends with a variety of torture devices hanging on chains (hello! creepy eye holes in the iron mask), to the ending frame of Claire looking hopeful at the possible plan to rescue Jamie; viewers were kept constantly on the edge of their seats.

The true sadist nature of Black Jack Randall is examined further during this episode. Viewers are led to believe that Jack might actually be rescuing Jamie from the gallows, but that is just the beginning of his plan to psychologically and physically torture Jamie. You see, this is an episode about surrender. Jamie’s forced surrender to Jack to save Claire from death, Jack’s surrender to his sadistic side, and Claire’s surrender to the love she feels for Jamie. It’s these three stories of surrender, and ultimately love, that show the depth of the characters and move the story forward.

Many were shocked at the graphic depictions of torture, but in my opinion, although they were gruesome, the psychological torture inflicted on Jamie seemed far worse. From being brutally beaten and maimed, to being soothed and then “rewarded” for his submissive behavior, Sam’s Jamie shows every emotion on his face. It was at the 45 minute mark, that I found myself clutching my face crying at the man who was attempting to comfort his wife as his own hand was being nailed to a table. Emmy winning acting, indeed!

Scene from episode 115
Wentworth Prison