Claire’s body in 1948 is a transport stream. It carries packets from two timelines. The checksums fail. The jitter buffer empties. And the only thing OpenH264 can do is drop frames to keep up.

Every video codec has a scene change detection algorithm. When the visual difference between two frames exceeds a threshold, the encoder forces a new I-frame—a full refresh. Otherwise, the artifact would propagate.

The episode also delivers on its promise of action and suspense. A tense scene in which Jamie and his men evade the English army is expertly choreographed, and the threat of violence is ever-present. The character of Black Jack Randall, in particular, is a compelling addition to the show, bringing a new level of menace to the narrative.