Surviving four grueling days submerged in a cold, dark, and flooding prison cell might sound like an actor’s nightmare, but for Sam Retford, it was an absolute dream come true. Standing blanket-clad on the Scottish set of Outlander: Blood of My Blood, the 27-year-old actor couldn’t hide his excitement about filming the harrowing climax of Season 2’s latest chapter.

“It’s a dark, dingy, wet hole to drown in for four days and that is a bit of a dream for me,” Retford gleefully shared in an exclusive sit-down with Entertainment Weekly. “A lot of wrinkly fingers, lot of wrinkly toes, but I’m very happy.”

That dark hole was Fort William’s infamous tidal dungeon, the backdrop for a pulse-pounding covert rescue mission that pushed characters and actors alike to their physical limits.

An Engineering Feat: The Multi-Level Tidal Dungeon Set

Bringing the terrifying underwater escape sequence to life required an extraordinary effort from the production design team. To capture the rising tides inside the prison, the crew constructed a complex, multi-level indoor set featuring a functional water tank at the bottom and a darkened prison cell level above.

Actor Jamie Roy, who plays Brian Fraser and stood beside Retford wrapped in matching warming blankets, marveled at the scale of the set:

• Behind the Engineering: “When you’re watching on TV, you wouldn’t think it’s going to be so complicated, but it’s really a feat of engineering,” Roy explained.
• Warmth Amid the Cold: Given the chilly filming environment, warming tents were set up nearby to keep the cast cozy between takes.
• Lighthearted Moments: Despite the dark atmosphere of the storyline, Retford and co-star Ross Mann (Old Angus) were even joined in the water tank by an unexpected prop: a floating rubber ducky.

Rogue Missions, Dark Interrogations, and Young Jonathan Randall

Dougal MacKenzie and Old Angus end up chained in Fort William following a reckless, unsanctioned raid against British redcoats that went terribly wrong.

As Retford jokingly explained, Dougal made a series of rash decisions after losing his temper: “I don’t think he’d eaten that day, really. He got a bit angry, went after some redcoats and, I’m afraid, lost pretty much all of the MacKenzie men.”

Once imprisoned, Dougal is subjected to brutal interrogation regarding the Jacobite uprising. The ordeal reaches a terrifying turning point when a young officer named Jonathan Randall steps forward, threatening Dougal with red-hot coals—a moment that introduces the dark origins of the man who will later become the notorious Black Jack Randall.

The Secret Breakout: “F—ing Put Me Back!”

With the rising tide threatening to drown Dougal and Angus, Brian Fraser and Murtagh Fitzgibbons Fraser (Rory Alexander) receive word of the capture. Because Dougal is the brother of Brian’s partner, Ellen (Harriet Slater), the pair initiate a covert, lethal rescue operation, stealthily cutting through British guards to reach the flooded cell.

While Brian and Murtagh manage to break the cell’s lock and pull Dougal out just as the water covers his face, Old Angus tragically perishes in the rising water.

Yet, Dougal’s initial reaction to his saviors is far from grateful:

• A Reluctant Rescue: Retford recalled filming the moment Dougal breaks the surface: “I look around and I see Murtagh… and then I see Brian Fraser there, and I’m like, ‘F—ing put me back!'”
• A Modicum of Respect: Despite their bitter rivalry, Retford admits Brian earned “a modicum of respect” from Dougal for risking his life and killing several men to save him. “At the end of the day, Dougal just wants his family looked after, and he sees that in Brian a little bit. He just still wants to punch his face out.”
• Tense Camouflage: For the first time, the headstrong Dougal actually agrees to follow Brian’s tactical orders during the escape—a momentary alignment that Retford quipped was strictly due to being “tortured and traumatized.”

Maura as the Solace in Dougal’s Chaotic World

Beyond the battlefield chaos and near-drowning experience, Season 2 continues to explore Dougal’s evolving relationship with his new wife, Maura (Bobby Rainsbury). The life-or-death ordeal inside Fort William marks a turning point for the volatile Highlander:

• Humanizing the Warrior: “This year, we get to see them blossom into two lovely human beings,” Retford revealed. “We see Maura become the solace that Dougal doesn’t have anywhere else in his life—and the humanity in his story really, which is quite privileged.”

As Outlander: Blood of My Blood progresses, the aftermath of this daring breakout promises to reshape clan alliances, deepen personal rivalries, and leave a lasting mark on the Fraser and MacKenzie legacies.

Source: Compiled from various sources