In 2013, Caitríona Balfe was an unknown actress cast as the anchor of Outlander, a show based on an infamous book series. Today, as the show approaches the airing of its seventh season, after filming its sixth season in the height of a global pandemic, Balfe is not only still the beloved anchor, but is one half of one of television’s greatest love stories, and plays one of the strongest women in television history. Balfe and co-star Sam Heughan have taken Claire and Jamie Fraser from pages in a book to two people you would watch do absolutely anything. The magic of Outlander is Balfe and Heughan. Period. But Balfe did spend most of the first three seasons running amok in the woods of Scotland in a corset and little nightgown (or as they call it a “shift”) and Heughan got to run like the free man he is in a kilt. So Balfe wins in most physical effort, or most uncomfortably clad in a series ever. Thank you.
It’s hard to fathom that Outlander was Balfe’s first TV show. First! As Claire Fraser, she moves effortlessly and easily from the 1940s to the 1740s and 1960s, and looks good in every decade. (Super annoying, stop making it look so easy.) She also has impeccable hair in every century. Honestly, it’s rude. Balfe’s ability to command the screen in every time period is unmatched. One minute she’s galloping on a horse in a corset, the next she’s rocking a whisky and a cigarette, after just having performed surgery and fighting with future Frank. Frank. That guy. And the next she’ll gut you emotionally and literally. Yes, Claire can actually gut you, btw. I’ve seen her shank people in at least 3 episodes. She calls it “surgery.”
Diana Gabaldon wrote the road map for Claire Fraser, but Balfe has taken her to places we didn’t even know were on the map. Here are just a few of Balfe’s best scenes in Outlander.
This article was originally published September 11, 2021.
Claire and Jamie Get Married – “The Wedding” – Season 1, Episode 7
Chemistry is ultimately listening and connecting. And Caitríona Balfe and Sam Heughan are the masterclass. They listen and connect (three times to be exact, or was it four, I don’t know! I don’t keep count). Okay fine I do, but only because it was for research for this extremely important thesis I wrote about why Outlander is better at sex than all of us. The Wedding episode is iconic. And not because of the reasons most people think, but because of their chemistry. Yes, there’s sex in this episode, but Balfe and Heughan convey a couple falling in love over the course of 54 minutes and that is no easy feat. They go from obligation with a hint of attraction, to passion, to two people falling in love. The best moment where you can see Balfe showing Claire fighting her feelings is when Jamie calls her “Mo Nighean Donn,” my brown-haired lass. It’s a brilliant 30 seconds and all she is doing is listening and reacting.
Blackjack and Claire play mind games – “The Garrison Commander” & “Both Sides Now” – Season 1, Episodes 6 & 8
This is basically a two-part cat and mouse game between Blackjack Randall and Claire. It technically starts before the wedding and then continues when Claire is captured by Blackjack after their one-day honeymoon. Seriously, can we cut Jamie and Claire a break? When Blackjack and Claire first meet again after he tried to assault her in the woods in the premiere episode, Balfe and Tobias Menzies are riveting. And brutal. Balfe’s steel and strength as Claire tries to see if there’s any humanity beneath the man who almost killed Jamie twice. Then the switch to her complete horror when he punches her in the stomach. Dougal rescues her. But Blackjack is the reason Claire and Jamie must marry. So thanks for that, you sociopath. Balfe’s on-screen daughter Sophie Skelton told us this was one of her favorite scenes in the series.
Claire & Jamie’s first fight – “The Reckoning,” Season 1, Episode 9
This is probably the best Outlander episode in history. I said it. It is. And it’s a trifecta. Three outstanding moments brought to you by Balfe and Heughan. One, Jamie and Claire’s first screaming fight. This is where we see not only do these two love each other, but they also can destroy each other. This scene will make your jaw drop. Even the highlanders and their horses who saw this fight were shook. And the moment Jamie and Claire realize they are both scared of losing each other, we can’t look away.
There is a millisecond when Claire begs Jamie to forgive her, and he says, “Forgiven.” Balfe holds back tears and conveys in just her chin how upset Claire is. Give Balfe’s chin an Emmy! This is the scene in which these two realize they’re in love with each other and solidifies them as one of the greatest couples on screen. Also Jamie learns that Claire can really slap and swear at him simultaneously. All’s well that ends well in this hot river fight, or so we thought. This brings us to the second outstanding scene. Jamie punishes Claire in a 1743 way that husbands back then would do to their wives. He spanked her. This is one of the most controversial scenes in the book, and the best part of the television adaptation is Balfe played Claire as fighting Jamie the whole way. But he ends up overpowering her. And let’s just say he pays for this. In more ways than one.
It’s the worst morning after ever. But it’s Balfe and Heughan’s looks between each other that shows Claire’s feeling of betrayal and hurt, and Jamie’s confusion and knowing all was not right between them. When they return to Castle Leoch, Claire sexiles Jamie and barely looks at him. The moment where Jamie thinks all is fine and starts to undress to get in bed with Claire, Balfe utters a scoff with a, “What are you doing?” And he says, “I thought—” To which she cuts him off with a simple “Think again.” Ooh, burn! After Jamie apologizes, they emotionally and physically reunite, and make a pledge to each other. He pledges his fealty to her. He also says to her that she is his “home,” and Balfe’s expression shows us this is the moment Claire realized she would never leave him. Then they have forgiveness sex and it’s probably one of the best and shocking love scenes in the series. The make-up scene is Balfe and Heughan doing what they do best. Sans clothes. (French for naked). And with a knife. Yes, Claire holds a knife to Jamie’s neck mid-coit. The girl can really multi-task. Time traveler, doctor, wife, mother, and healer. If Claire had a dating profile, it would go something like this: “loves surgeries, making penicillin, and occasionally will whip out a knife during sexy time, but mainly to teach my partner a lesson.” (except Claire and Jamie only love each other so this dating profile will never exist).
Claire tells Jamie everything – “The Devil’s Mark” – Season 1, Episode 11
After being tried as a witch, and whipped in a town meeting (rude), Claire is rescued by Jamie. Speaking of witch, Jamie and Claire’s annoying twit arch-enemy Laoghaire is to blame for the whole thing. Claire finally reveals to Jamie that she is from the future. And Balfe sells it. You actually believe this woman traveled through buzzing stones from 200 years in the future. Luckily, Jamie believes it too. This leads to the next two moments where Balfe shines. After the stone-cold truth comes out, Jamie and Claire have a love scene where Jamie is very hands-on and only focused on her, let’s just say. But Balfe has to do most of the acting in this and it probably was not the most comfortable scene to film in front of 20 people. When Jamie brings her back to the stones so she can return to the future, you can see how conflicted Claire is, when she must choose between Jamie and Frank. In the end, electricity and flushing toilets lose, and Claire chooses Jamie.
Saving Jamie – “Wentworth Prison” – Season 1, Episode 15
This and “To Ransom a Man’s Soul” (Season 1, Episode 16) are probably some of the most traumatic episodes in Outlander. Brutal. Truly. Balfe, Heughan, and Tobias Menzies are mesmerizing and tragic and you want to look away (and sometimes you do), but can’t. Because the three of them are like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers with their sociopath friend, sorry Tobias Menzies. You will never not make me shudder. When Claire finds Jamie in the prison and then watches as Blackjack Randall brutalizes him, there is a desperation and panic in Claire, that only Balfe could manage. Whether she is watching Blackjack nail Jamie’s hand to the table, or clinging to Jamie as Blackjack pulls her away, knowing what is about to happen to her husband, she combines strength and desperate devastation in a way that you wouldn’t think is possible.
Claire and Jamie’s daughter is stillborn – “Faith,” Season 2, Episode 7
This episode was heartbreaking when Claire miscarries. Balfe should have won an Emmy for this. If time travel were possible, I would travel back in time and give her the Emmy. Sorry to whoever won that year. As Claire Fraser would say, “Time, space, history be damned,” Balfe’s getting that Emmy. The moment in this episode which breaks you is when Claire sings to her dead daughter. But an equally powerful part is when Claire returns home after the stillbirth, with Fergus holding her hand and the staff at their house surrounds her. Balfe conveys Claire’s devastation just by walking by and making eye contact with the other actors. I dare you not to cry. (And if you don’t, you’re kind of a heartless monster). When Jamie is released from prison thanks to Claire having to have sex with the King (long story), the hurt and pain between them as Claire tells Jamie their baby was a girl, and that Claire hated him for the miscarriage, will shatter you. Balfe flips it in one second showing Claire’s anger, then admitting her own fault in what happened. And of course, there is a single tear that rolls down her cheek as she tells Jamie how she got to hold their daughter who had red hair like him. Single tear Balfe. Give me all the tissues.
Claire and Jamie’s Goodbye – “Dragonfly in Amber” – Season 2, Episode 13
The season 2 finale is filled with all sorts of unforgettable Claire moments. One minute Balfe shows Claire’s unraveling and heartbreak when she realizes she has to leave Jamie, the next we see her steel and strength when she must help Blackjack Randall and his dying brother — and when she and Jamie double murder Dougal. There is nothing more satisfying than watching Claire and Jamie sword shank Dougal. And Claire really throws her full body behind it. Yes, Dougal is the reason Jamie and Claire got together, so they kind of killed their matchmaker, but it was a great death scene. Jamie and Claire really love to do everything together — sex, war, murder — but not time travel. Jamie doesn’t have the stones for it. (He literally can’t walk through stones like his wife, leave him alone).
The hardest moment to watch is when Jamie tells a pregnant Claire she must go home, back to the future and Claire says to Jamie, “But you are my home.” There may not be a sadder line in this show. Then Claire and Jamie have the saddest love scene ever. And then they are separated for 20 years, and I will never forgive this Diana Gabaldon, author of a great story. But why not 10 years, bruh. When did Frank know that Jamie was alive?! Tell me. Somebody tell me how long. Because I believe he knew for many years. Frankly Frank, that makes you kind of a wank.
Fighting with Frank – Duck Frank! – “The Battle Joined” – Season 3, Episode 1
A very pregnant Claire tells Frank she wants to apply for citizenship. When Frank goes to touch Claire’s stomach, she recoils. It’s actually the signature “Balfe flinch,” but we’ll discuss that later. This turns into a fight when Frank says, “I have a wife that won’t let me touch her.” When Frank says he’s not the one who cheated, Claire throws an ashtray at Frank’s head. We can’t really blame her though, she is mourning her dead husband, and Frank is whining about the fact that Claire won’t let him touch her. Correct, Frank is like: Dear Claire, sorry about your dead husband, never speak of him again, especially to the baby you deliver (aka his daughter), and also I really need to have sex. That is exactly what happened in that scene. Ask anybody.
Claire and Jamie’s 20 Year Reunion – “A.Malcolm,” Season 3, Episode 6
Balfe and Heughan deserve an award for this episode as they weren’t wearing clothes for 82 percent of it and delivered captivating and nuanced performances. While Outlander is known for its love scenes, Balfe and Heughan deserve more credit for being able to act whilst naked. It’s not easy, imagine having to do your job naked. See? Not easy. But the moment where Jamie and Claire first see each other without clothes on is poignant and multi-faceted. Balfe conveys Claire’s awkwardness and vulnerability with one line as she shyly covers her body. And for a moment, you think they are that newlywed couple from 20 years ago all over again. After they have sex for the first time in 20 years, Claire laughs and says, “It’s like riding a bike.” Riding a bike. A sex bike. Okay, Claire, turning Jamie into your 1700s Peloton, I see what you’re doing there and I like it.
Claire’s a castaway with a coconut – “Uncharted” – Season 3, Episode 11
So Claire jumps off a ship into the sea. Not the smartest idea Claire! But she had to tell Jamie something so of course, you jump off a ship in the middle of the night — so Jamie and Claire. She washes up on an island. What makes this episode stand out is that Balfe acted mainly by herself with a coconut and snake. A snake! A live snake! Caitríona Balfe is insane. Thank you. Times like that, you say, “I think my stunt double would be great for this and I will just not be near that snake.” But no, that real snake crawled across her entire body. There is a picture of this situation and I refuse to link to it or show it. If this were a horror film, it would be the sequel to Snakes on a Plane, and be called Snake on My Boobs: The Claire Fraser Story.
But the madness doesn’t stop there: when a dehydrated Claire passes out, she is found by Father Fogden who talks to a coconut. So Claire of course, in order to get Father Fogden to let her go, must talk to the coconut too! So yes, she talked to a coconut and a nut. (Hello Father Fogden, you little whacko). Tom Hanks had Wilson the volleyball, and Balfe had Coco the coconut. Tom Hanks swam so Balfe could… talk to a coconut.
Claire Tells Jamie Murtagh has Died “The Ballad of Roger Mac,” Season 5, Episode 7
This episode starts off with Claire and Jamie celebrating Jamie’s 50th birthday in a tent. Let’s just say they put the happy in happy birthday and Claire channeled Marilyn Monroe when she sang to Jamie while ahem, giving him a different type of birthday present. But their tent party goes south fast when the battle begins. This is why I don’t support war, for the record.
When Jamie’s Godfather Murtagh is shot, Jamie carries his body to Claire and pleads with her to save him. When Claire has to tell Jamie there is no hope and that he is dead, Caitriona Balfe conveys in one look what most people can’t in an entire monologue. Her voice breaks as she says, “Jamie.” And so did Jamie. And so did we. The flinch reaction Balfe has when Heughan desperately screams, “Save him!” This is not the only award-winning flinch she’s done, see season 2, episode 5, “Untimely Resurrection,” when Jamie and Claire fight when Claire begs him not to kill Blackjack Randall. Claire goes to hold Jamie’s hand and he recoils spitting, “Don’t touch me,” and the flinch appears. And then when she tells Frank she’s pregnant with Jamie’s baby and he almost hits her. Now this flinch was more reflex, but still. We shall call her David Flincher. Give her all the awards, please.
This episode again shows how Balfe and Heughan portray a marriage that is real. One minute it’s filled with joy, the next with despair and heartbreak but in every scene, there is support between these two characters and actors. Frankly, there’s a little too much despair, hoping season 6 is Jamie and Claire frolicking through a field and nothing bad happens ever. Ever. Or at least for one episode, please.
This episode again shows how Balfe and Heughan portray a marriage that is real. One minute it’s filled with joy, the next with despair and heartbreak but in every scene, there is support between these two characters and actors. Frankly, there’s a little too much despair, hoping season 6 is Jamie and Claire frolicking through a field and nothing bad happens ever. Ever. Or at least for one episode, please.
Claire Elizabeth Beauchamp Fraser – “Never My Love,” Season 5, Episode 12
“Faith” and the Season 5 finale, “Never My Love,” are two of Balfe’s most powerful and heartbreaking performances in the entire series. In both episodes, Balfe shows the audience the signature Claire Fraser strength and then what ultimately breaks her. In “Faith” it’s the loss of her child, in “Never My Love,” it’s a brutal sexual assault.
Balfe delivers a monologue that will haunt you. “I have lived through a f*cking world war. I have lost our child. I lost two husbands. I’ve been starved with an army, and I’ve been beaten, and I’ve been betrayed, and I’ve [groans and sobs] and been imprisoned, and I did not — I survived. And this. I am supposed to be shattered by this? Well, I won’t be. I won’t.” Balfe shows us that even strong women break, it’s what makes them strong.
Claire Almost Dies & Will Never Garden Again – “The World Turned Upside Down” – Season 6, Episode 6
The Ridge gets hit with an unknown virus, and Claire gets gravely ill. In fact, it looks like Jamie is about to be a widower. This is not a fun episode. Actually, there is one moment of pure joy and it involves Balfe and a hat. Though Balfe spends a lot of this episode unconscious, when she survives and wakes up, Claire has a new haircut. And it’s traumatic. For Claire, for Jamie, for us. Malva, of course, gave Claire a haircut while she was sleeping. Totally normal behavior. And then Malva accuses Jamie of being the father of her baby. L to the O to the L, Malva. Jamie would never cheat on Claire. And vice versa. At least not while the two of them are both alive! Balfe’s slap she delivers Malva is epically satisfying, and Jamie and Claire’s barn fight, is the Jamie and Claire conflict that keeps this show going. Now about Claire and that hat, Claire goes to ask Tom Christie for a sample of his feces. (Such a Claire move!) Tom is horrified, and tells her he’s taking her home! But first he tells her to put on her hat before they go. And when Balfe puts on that hat, try and keep a straight face. Some fans believe that hat belonged to Murtagh. Only Balfe knows.
It is in the final scene, when Claire finds a dead Malva in her garden, and then tries to save the baby by performing a c-section with her gardening knife, that we see Balfe shine in even the darkest of scenes. Balfe revealed that she and the on-set doctor (whose real name is, Dr. Claire) were both pregnant at the time, so this was definitely not the easiest scene to film. Let’s just say, Claire will not be cultivating her own herbs going forward.
Claire’s Confession – “Sticks and Stones” – Season 6, Episode 7
Jamie and Claire’s relationship spends much of season 6 in silent turmoil. Claire is suffering from what happened to her in season 5 and keeping secrets of how she is dealing with it – hitting the ether – from Jamie. When Claire finally breaks, we see this relationship yet again define what love is. Claire saved Jamie when he was suicidal in Season 1 after the brutal attack by Blackjack Randall. And though they are older, we see once again how the key to this long marriage is vulnerability and trust. Balfe’s delivery of Claire’s monologue, as usual, will have you holding back the tears. And Heughan’s silent support as Jamie fights back his tears is the perfect reaction to such a pivotal moment. Right when we begin to breathe a sigh of Claire and Jamie relief, Outlander sh*t hits the fan. Richard Brown arrives to arrest Claire. And he has a bunch of gun-packing losers with him. But Jamie and Claire got guns too, Richie! Oh, this episode also includes one of the funniest scenes in Outlander history between Balfe and Caitlin O’Ryan. Balfe and O’Ryan no doubt had fun filming this, when Lizzie confesses she pregnant and in love with twins. And doesn’t know which twin is the father of her baby. Balfe manages to keep a straight face, the audience does not.
Claire & Jamie Whip Their Guns Out – “I am Not Alone” – Season 6, Episode 8
This episode has it all. It is quite simply, peak Balfe and Heughan at their best. There is drama, action, (mild) comedy, romance, and of course love and heartbreak. Because it’s Outlander, and it’s Jamie and Claire, and they don’t do happy. At least not for more than 5 seconds. In “I am Not Alone,” season six goes out with a bang, in more ways than one. First off, Jamie and Claire are in a shootout for their lives. Balfe once told us they morph into Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid, and that they do. And to think Balfe filmed this shoot out when she was extremely pregnant! Don’t mess. Claire Fraser will shoot you, and heal you, you just never know which. This episode also includes a love scene, that again shows the Balfe-Heughan chemistry is still as strong as when they played these star-crossed lovers when Jamie was 23 and Claire was 27. Now in their 50s, their love scenes, although a little more tame, and usually not including a knife – (what?!), Claire had her reasons – still carry the fire and passion from the very beginning. As for the comedy in this episode, it occurs right after Jamie and Claire are stoned – and not in a fun way. In a way that people threw actual rocks at their head, rude I know. After Claire punches some little rock throwing fella, she utters the phrase, “Oh crabbit my arse.” And it is perfection. And finally, the episode would not be complete without Jamie and Claire being ripped apart, hopefully not for 20 years.
Balfe and Heughan showed the audience they always have each other’s backs, whether they’re shooting guns or love scenes, this might be one of the few shows in history where the leads are so incredibly captivating and beautifully in sync no matter what they are doing.
The list could go on for best Balfe scenes in Outlander, but with season 7, which will be a whopping 16 episodes, to look forward to, we will be adding to this in no time. And in the meantime, you can get your Balfe-Heughan fix by bingeing Outlander seasons one through six or check out the book series that started it all, including Gabaldon’s ninth book in the series, Go Tell the Bees That I’m Gone. So while Outlander has been renewed for its seventh season, technically Balfe and Heughan could potentially keep us stuck to our televisions for years to come, if we’re lucky.
Balfe earned rave reviews and multiple award nominations for her performance in Kenneth Branagh’s movie, Belfast and everyone discovered what the Outlander audience has known all along: Balfe is a person you will watch in any time period. She’s just that good. Now go watch every one of these episodes again, and prepare to be Balfed.
https://www.sheknows.com/entertainment/slideshow/2485598/caitriona-balfe-best-outlander-episodes
