Outlander has delivered drama, romance, and angst for the last four seasons. As we get into season five, let’s discuss what draws us into the series.
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I recently watched “Free Will”, episode three of the fifth season, and couldn’t stop thinking about the series as a whole. An overwhelming feeling hit me when Jamie stood above Claire while she was sleeping and said:
“Deo gratias.”
She wakes up and asks:
“What are you thanking the Lord for?”
“For the sight of you, Sassenach.”
Y’all, this is what we’re here for. What we come back for, season after season:
Jamie and Claire together and in love.
More than ever before, Claire is Jamie’s counselor, and he recognizes and embraces that fact.
“You need my help.”
“I have. And I always will.”
Over the last couple of seasons, a growing number of viewers haven’t been pleased with the amount of screen time that Jamie and Claire are getting as a couple. Yes, their love is still present, but it’s been on the backburner to other dramas and side plots. It appears, so far, that the writers took all that into consideration because older Jamie and Claire are my favorite Jamie and Claire.
They’re solid in their relationship. They’re comfortable with each other, and they’re partners in everything.
I mean, just the way Jamie carries himself this season is more confident and self-assured than in the past. Claire’s hesitance to not shake up history is going more and more out the window as she uses her medical knowledge to treat their tenants. She’s even attempting to make penicillin!
They’ve matured as individuals and as a couple. This season we’ve seen that family is the one you’ve made for yourselves. Jamie’s family is Claire, Bree, Jemmy, Roger (grudgingly), Marsali, Fergus and their children.
Anything that threatens their peace, isn’t something he wants to roll with. No matter who’s doing the pushing. He loves his godfather, but he won’t go to bat for Murtagh if that means his family’s livelihood is in danger.
At the same time, we see that Jamie’s family saved him from the same fate as Murtagh. He’s told Claire before and others that he feels like war and fighting are all he knows. If Claire had never returned to him, he would have died fighting, too.
Their love saved Jamie’s life.
For Claire, we see her in her element in this time period. Even though she thrived in the future, part of her was always missing. In the end, all the things she learned during her time in Boston are helping her survive now that she’s been reunited with Jamie.
Sidenote: I truly believe that Claire loved Frank, but how she loved him (after being with Jamie) wasn’t enough for either of them. There was always a third party in their marriage. Much like there was always a third person in Jamie’s relationships.
The younger couples in the series, Breanna and Roger, and Marsali and Fergus are in a space that Jamie and Claire were in during season one and two. There are trials to go through and things to learn, but these kids will do fine with Jamie and Claire there to talk them through it.
I’m not saying that Jamie and Claire are without their difficulties. There are still misunderstandings from time-to-time, but they talk about things now more than they ever did before.
I’d be remiss if I also didn’t mention that their passion for one another is still simmering, too. And Jamie’s broad shoulders are just as lovely.
How are you enjoying this season of Outlander so far? Let us know what topics you’d like us to hit on in our weekly episode posts!
