Top 20 Best Jamie & Claire Moments on Outlander

It’s eerie enough when Jamie awakens to see Claire working at her desk, having dreamt of her doing just that. What’s more incredible is that he recalls her being lit by electricity. In the 1770s, electric light was still decades away. Jamie’s seemingly mundane description reflects how vividly he can understand the future in relation to his time-traveling wife. It may be more than that. In “Outlander”’s pilot episode, a ghostly Jamie observes Claire by a lamp in the 1940s. Fans have thus discussed Jamie’s dream as potentially foreshadowing his own journey into the future. This scene, featured in the book, may tease one of the show’s biggest mysteries, but it’s truly a poetic dialogue on its own.

After a long day of strategizing with the Jacobites, Jamie holds a sleeping Claire in their bed and prays in Gaelic for her safety. When she wakes up to ask what he was saying, he coolly dismisses his words. Jamie preserves his façade as Claire’s romantic protector. His literal and spiritual nakedness, however, acknowledged his limitations. Jamie’s prayer in his native tongue was a private, vulnerable plea for his beloved’s divine protection. With the first episode she wrote herself, Diana Gabaldon understood the importance of this poignant scene from her book in expressing the Frasers’ bond and emotional depth. Never underestimate the beauty of even the simplest moment in Gabaldon’s storytelling.

The Frasers need some reprieve after Fanny Beardsley leaves her newborn in their care. Jamie shows off his dance moves at a Brownsville militia gathering, then walks through the woods with Claire. Light flirting inevitably turns to a discussion about baby Bonnie. Jamie assures his wife that he’s willing to raise the child as their own, only to learn that Bonnie is set to be adopted. His suggestion wasn't entirely for Claire’s sake, as Jamie never got to raise his daughter or illegitimate son. Claire in turn assures him that she’s happy with their life together and with Brianna’s own family. With that, this moonlit heart-to-heart subtly rounds out the joy that the Frasers’ familial hardship has brought them to.

Jamie is a pariah around Fraser’s Ridge after Malva Christie falsely accuses him of being the father of her child. Afterward, he finds Claire in their barn, then upholds his innocence the hard way. Jamie confesses that, in addition to his other indiscretions during Claire's return to the future, he slept with Mary McNab the night before he surrendered to the Red Coats as a rebel. Claire understands his need for connection at that desperate time, but asserts that Jamie has nothing to prove. She trusts that he would never jeopardize their family by cheating with Malva. It was a cathartic exchange for a couple that has had a complicated marriage, but will always stand by one another.

Before William John Grey became the Frasers' dearest English ally, they met under hilariously harrowing circumstances. The 16-year-old soldier doesn't bend to interrogation after he attempts to ambush Jacobite leader “Red Jamie”. Claire thus steps in to pose as an English captive. Jamie runs with her ruse by threatening the good lady’s virtue, when he's really just getting handsy with the wife. This finally pushes the noble John to give up British forces’ movements. He may not have found the couple’s role-playing amusing, but the edgy bit thrives on their chemistry. Never mind Murtagh’s perfectly awkward expression. It was also the first of many great moments with Lord John, who would more than repay Jamie sparing his life.

Jamie’s rescues aren't always romantic or, sadly, punctual. Claire’s controversial article about birth control prompts Lionel Brown’s gang to abduct and repeatedly assault her. Upon seeing the state of her after catching up, Jamie orders his men to execute the kidnappers. It's an uncompromising depiction of the violent moralism of men in this era. Throughout the ordeal, Claire copes by imagining a peaceful life with Jamie in her era. This juxtaposition illustrates her complicated feelings about the man she loves and the realities of his world. The unusually hard-to-watch reunion marks an important breakthrough in the couple's characterization. Despite Jamie’s comforting words after the bloodbath, the traumatized Claire has a long and lonely road to recovery ahead of her.

A snake bite, of all things, lands Jamie at death's door. As Claire holds him in what seems to be his final moments, he makes a rather predictable final request. Thankfully, Brianna later converts the snake’s fang into a syringe to administer the penicillin Claire invented. Jamie makes a full recovery without losing his leg. However, he credits his wife’s touch the night before with giving him the will to live. It seems that their physical chemistry has its practical functions. It was certainly a saucy twist for Claire to rescue her savior at his most vulnerable moment. Jamie’s close call at last put his mortality into perspective, alongside the protection, devotion and passion that define his marriage.

Passing up an opportunity to return to her time, accused witch Claire lays low at Jamie’s family home of Lallybroch. It takes a while for her to settle into what is now also her home. It took even longer for Jamie to admit that he didn't just marry Claire for her protection. There's nothing new about him flirting right before they turn in for the night. But this time, he tells Claire for the first time that he loves her, as he did when they first met. It had to be a given, with everything they've been through in the early days of their marriage. This long-overdue moment of peace at Lallybroch merely formalizes Claire’s place in the Fraser clan.

This is undoubtedly one of the saddest moments in the entire series. The battle of Culloden is on the horizon and that inherently puts everyone’s life at risk. Claire is pregnant and Jamie knows the only place she can be safe is through the stones, and in her own time. Jamie knows that his chances of survival are low so he convinces Claire to leave. It’s a moment born of pure sacrifice and it will break your heart, but it’s also a reminder that sometimes, that’s what true love involves.

“Outlander” can be divisive in its period accuracy, particularly with normalized domestic violence. Only after Jamie first rescues Claire from Black Jack Randall does he realize his wife should at least feel safe at home. The newlyweds have a difficult conversation about mutual respect and differing views on corporal punishment. Jamie shows his serious commitment to being better when he gives her his vow of loyalty. Claire wants no threat of violence at all, but assertively accepts this deal in the following fit of passion. This marked the moment their intergenerational marriage became more than an arrangement. The Frasers would now only see each other as protectors, with Claire reluctantly holding the ultimate power.

If you love something, set it free. After Claire finally tells Jamie the truth about where she comes from, Jamie takes her back to the stones so that she can go home. Jamie leaves her alone to make her very hard decision; stay in the 18th century or go back to her husband in the 20th. After some serious soul searching, she follows her heart and chooses Jamie . She goes to find Jamie to tell him the good news and finds him crying! They share a kiss of pure joy that just melts your heart. Wise choice Claire, wise choice.

Claire’s first wedding ring was simple but personal. It saw her through 20 years of separation from Jamie, and it had been made from the key to Jamie’s childhood home, Lallybroch. After the ring was stolen (curse you, Stephen Bonnet!), Jamie wanted to make something just as special. He had his mother’s silver candlestick melted to make this delicate and detailed ring with interlace and blooming thistles. He picked a perfect time to give it to her too - while she’s unwinding in a bath after a long day of treating the measles. It’s a tender moment and fans of the books had been waiting for this ring for a while.

Claire always manages to get herself in the worst situations. After Jamie is sent away, Claire soon finds herself accused of witchcraft. And you don’t need to be a historian to know that things didn’t end well for women accused of witchcraft in the 18th century. She’s thrown into a hole, goes through a sham of a trial and is ultimately condemned. An angry mob surrounds Claire, her clothes are torn and she’s being whipped. But just when all hope seems lost, in comes Jamie! He fights the mob off with fists, righteous fury and two swords to get his wife out of there. It’s after this that Claire finally tells him everything, and yeah… we’d say he earned the truth.

Now, this may not have been the perfect wedding, what with Claire being rushed into it to save herself from the red coats and all… but it’s their wedding and it’s perfect in its own special way. First of all, look at that dress! The shape, the color, and the metallic details are just amazing. Jamie planned the entire event to make it perfect for Claire, with a little help from his friends, including finding a last minute wedding dress and having a ring made. He walks her through the Scottish ceremony with such tenderness that you can literally see her falling more in love with the kind-hearted Scot with each passing second.

Jamie and Claire are no strangers to starting over. Between running from the law and fires, they’ve done it before. A shipwreck takes them to the New World where they have to build everything with their own two hands. When their cabin on Fraser’s Ridge is nothing more than a frame, Jamie takes Claire on a tour, and shares his vision for their new home. Ever the romantic, Jamie swoops her up and carries her over the threshold. This moment reminds us that so long as they have each other, they have everything they need.

The Frasers’ exile in France comes to a bitter conclusion. While Jamie is arrested for dueling, his and Claire’s baby is stillborn. Claire then secures a royal pardon for her husband by sleeping with the King and holding a witch trial that kills a friend. The couple have much to discuss when they reunite, but Jamie is remarkably understanding of his wife’s trauma. With their bond reaffirmed, they resolve to return to Scotland. But first, they have a funeral for their daughter Faith. It’s one of the most heartrending moments the show has ever had. As harshly as the France arc ends, the Frasers’ cathartic confrontation gives hope to them being stronger even for their darkest shared experiences.

While sailing the seven seas searching for Ian, Claire is taken by a British Navy ship infested with typhoid. Jamie is helpless to save her, but Claire is a resourceful badass and takes care of herself. After she treats the disease, she jumps off the boat, in the middle of the ocean, and washes onto a beach. When she finally sees Jamie’s ship, she uses glass to reflect the sun and get his attention. Like we said… seriously resourceful. Once he spots her, he gets to shore and they run across the beach to each other and hug. While we love all the reunions, we’d love it if they could stop getting separated so much - our hearts can’t take it!

By the time Jamie is saved from Black Jack Randall, he has endured unspeakable torture and sexual assault. The shame is so great that Jamie resolves to end it all, until Claire aggressively forces him to open up about what Randall did. This allows Jamie to face his trauma with his wife’s guidance. It was a vulnerable, empathetic resolution to all the violence in Season 1. But the first time Claire saved Jamie’s life is more intense than any of his swashbuckling rescues. It may just be one of the most painful, yet important moments in “Outlander”’s gender dynamics. As the Frasers set sail for France and Claire announces she's pregnant, Jamie is sure he has a reason to live.

The wedding itself was pretty unforgettable, but there’s something extra special about the wedding night… and we’re not just talking about the sex. This is the night that Claire truly lets herself love Jamie. They start off slowly, talking for hours about their family and their childhood. Claire is conflicted about her feelings for Frank, but the more they talk, the more her walls come down. Jamie’s innocence and his consideration for her feelings wins her over and they both give in to their emotions. Eventually, their night of talking turns into something much steamier.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Claire’s Red Versailles Dress Revealed, “Not in Scotland Anymore”
Jamie Is More Worried About Other People’s Reaction to His Wife’s Flattering Outfit

Bolt the Door, “Uncharted”
Illness & Exhaustion Can’t Keep the Couple From Making the Most of Their Island Reunion

Surviving a Hurricane, “Eye of the Storm”
With the Kiss of Life Following a Shipwreck, Jamie & Claire Arrive in America

Jamie's Birthday, “The Ballad of Roger Mac”
Claire Confirms Jamie’s Vitality at Age 50 Just Before Battle

Claire Saves Jamie in Saratoga, “Turning Points”
Claire Scolds Her Husband for His Near-Fatal Exploits, Then He Thanks Her For His Life

After returning to the 1940s, Claire raised Jamie’s baby with Frank and tried to get on with her life. For 20 years, she thought Jamie was dead but a Robert Burns poem changed everything - so she traveled back through the stones to find him. Not knowing if he still loved her, she walked into his printshop, only for Jamie to be so overwhelmed by her sudden appearance that he faints. Once he wakes, their reunion is awkward, sexy, beautiful and everything we wanted it to be. They may have only been separated for 5 episodes, but it certainly felt like 20 years to viewers.

What “Outlander” moments do you think are worth traveling back for? Let us know in the comments.