Caitriona Balfe just landed her second consecutive Golden Globe nomination for her role as Claire Randall Fraser on “Outlander.” To celebrate our favorite time-traveling nurse, click through our photo gallery of Balfe’s best episodes from Seasons 1 and 2 of the Starz hit.
-By Amanda Spears
Season 2, Episode 11
Claire is no damsel in distress and she proves this by fooling British soldiers that she was taken prisoner. Jamie (Sam Heughan) exchanges her in order not to surrender. While at the home of the Duke of Sandringham (Simon Callow) she is reunited with Mary (Rosie Day) and hatches a scheme to escape after sending word to Jamie. This to date is the only episode written by Diana Gabaldon, who penned the books.
Season 1, Episode 8
Claire in her early days of marriage to Jamie (Heughan) is in love but still very much conflicted. When the opportunity arises to return to Frank (Tobias Menzies) she takes it, only to be captured by Black Jack Randall (also Menzies).
Season 2, Episode 5
Jamie (Heughan) is Claire’s choice but she does still love Frank (Menzies). After an altercation at a garden party finds Jamie and Black Jack Randall ready to duel, Claire pleads for Frank’s life at the cost of the vengeance Jamie seeks.
Season 1, Episode 1
The episode that introduces us to Claire and “Outlander.” Claire starts in the 1940s on a second honeymoon and ends up transported in time to the 18th century. Balfe proves from the beginning that she can play a fish out of water, and one that’s able to quickly adapt.
Season 1, Episode 14
Who knew Caitriona could sing?! As she sets out to look for Jamie (Heughan) she is joined by Murtaugh (Duncan Lacroix) who once was in love with Jamie’s mother. The odd couple are a delight to watch as they sing and sword dance around Scotland and #everybodylovesmurtaugh was born along with Claire’s appreciation for his loyalty.
Season 2, Episode 13
The finale of Season 2 features Claire saying goodbye to Jamie. These scenes are intercut with the introduction of an adult Brianna (Sophie Skelton). And Balfe for the first time plays Claire in the 1960s.
Season 1, Episode 11
Claire and her fellow healer Geillis (Lotte Verbeek) stand trials as witches. But this episode is best known as the one where Jamie (Heughan) learns the truth about Claire. Jamie gives her the chance to go back to the 1940s but she chooses him.
Season 2, Episode 9
Jamie (Heughan) spends the episode training soldiers, as Claire struggles with PTSD. The episode gives Balfe the opportunity to play Claire during WWII in elaborate flashbacks of her trying to save soldiers’ lives when her Jeep is overturned by enemy fire.
Season 1, Episode 7
In order to not be turned over to Black Jack Randall (Mezies) Claire must marry Jamie (Heughan). The scenes of Jamie and Claire’s wedding day are intercut with Frank (Menzies) and Claire’s spur-of-the-moment WWII wedding. “The Wedding” was the most highly anticipated of the season and it was Balfe’s performance of feeling both the thrill of falling in love and guilt for betraying Frank that made the episode great.
Season 2, Episode 7
This was Balfe’s showcase from start to finish, revisiting all of the Parisian characters we loved (Mother Hildegarde and Master Raymond) and hated (Comte St. Germain one last time). We get many looks at her talent from holding court in Versailles to comforting Fergus (Romann Berrux). But it is the scene of her cradling and singing to her stillborn daughter that haunts viewers long after the episode ends. “Faith” should’ve landed Balfe a much-deserved Emmy nomination.
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