17 of Jamie & Claire’s Steamiest ‘Outlander’ Moments, Ranked
When it comes to Outlander‘s leading couple, Claire (Caitriona Balfe) and Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan), they’ve become synonymous with steamy TV moments.
As we gear up to bid the duo farewell with the series finale, “And the World Was All Around Us,” airing May 15 on Starz, we’re taking a walk down memory lane by reflecting on their hottest scenes. From the wedding night in Season 1 to their memorable reunion in Season 3’s “A. Malcolm,” there’s no shortage of swoony sequences to enjoy.
An example of the term soulmatism, Claire and Jamie’s love has kept viewers entertained for more than ten years onscreen, and while their story may be coming to an end, there’s no limit to the number of times you can relive these must-see moments. Scroll down to see how we rank their hottest scenes so far ahead of the series’ end, and let us know your favorites in the comments section.
Outlander, Season 8, Fridays, 8/7c, Starz (Midnight on the Starz App and On Demand)
17. Claire and Jamie Reminisce
Season 8, Episode 1 – “Soul of a Rebel”
Eight seasons in, Claire (Caitriona Balfe) and Jamie’s (Sam Heughan) love for one another continues to burn bright, and while the steam may be dialed back a bit, reminiscing on their past is all it takes to put them in a special mood. In this particular instance, Jamie brings up a particular encounter that he believes resulted in Claire becoming pregnant years prior. While the tone is more sentimental than anything, the couple proves that you’re never too old to relive the past.
16. Jamie Makes Claire Forget
Season 7, Episode 12 – “Carnal Knowledge”
Jamie returns to America after Claire thinks he perished in a ship sinking. In the time between his presumed death and return, Claire married Lord John Grey (David Berry) for protection from British forces amid Revolutionary War tensions, leading to a surprise hookup amid their mutual grief. In an effort to make Claire forget her brief time with Lord John, Jamie takes a somewhat aggressive approach in their first time back together.
15. Jamie Gets Possessive Over Claire
Season 7, Episode 4 – “A Most Uncomfortable Woman”
Jamie tells Claire he sympathizes with men who fall under her spell. Kissing her, he also notes his wife’s hair has yet to turn white, which Cherokee healer Adawehi (Tantoo Cardinal) said was when Claire would come into her full power. Claire asks why Jamie mentioned it, and he says, “I was thinking, I still had a wee bit of time yet before you become too dangerous for me to bed ya.”
14. A Pre-Battle Birthday Boost
Season 5, Episode 7 – “The Ballad of Roger Mac”
Hours away from the Battle at Alamance, where Jamie must join the redcoats to fight Regulators, Claire tries to distract the Highlander, who also happens to be ringing in a special birthday. Another concern for Jamie: Will turning the big 5-0 take away from his charms? (As if!) Seizing the opportunity, Claire initiates a morning tryst while approximating Marilyn Monroe’s breathy, sultry spin on “Happy Birthday.”
13. Romp in the Hay
Season 5, Episode 6 – “Better to Marry Than Burn”
At the nuptials of Aunt Jocasta (Maria Doyle Kennedy), Jamie (Sam Heughan) finds himself in a gambling bind and puts Claire’s (Caitriona Balfe) rings up for collateral, causing a fight when the couple later meet in the stables. At one point, he retorts: “You’re a woman like no other, Sassenach.” He then adds, “But don’t forget…you’re still a woman.” Claire slaps him in the face, and the two collide with pent-up frustration.
12. Homecoming
Season 6, Episode 2 – “Allegiance”
When a diplomatic trip to meet with the Cherokee takes an unexpected turn for Indian Agent Jamie, who wakes to find two women pawing at him in his tent, he turns them away and focuses his attention to Fraser’s Ridge. As he arrives home, he yells for Claire and runs up the stairs to find her in their bedroom, where he announces, “I missed you, Sassenach. I must have you!” Claire enjoys her husband’s enthusiasm, eagerly asking Jamie to show her what he means.
11. Heavenly Love
Season 6, Episode 1 – “Echoes”
Following the arrival of the righteous Tom Christie (Mark Lewis Jones) at Fraser’s Ridge, Jamie recollects the time he spent with the man while they were in Ardsmuir Prison, when Jamie often pictured his time-traveling bride to help him survive. During a moment when they’re alone, the memory inspires the Scotsman to tell his wife, “You are always with me. Sometimes I think you’re an angel.” She decides to show her appreciation in a less angelic, but no less sweet, way. “Would an angel do this?” she seductively asks her husband.
10. Before the Storm
Season 3, Episode 13 – “Eye of the Storm”
After rescuing their kidnapped nephew, Ian Fraser Murray (John Bell), Claire and Jamie enjoy some alone time aboard a vessel headed home for Scotland, unaware of the impending shipwreck that will resettle them in North Carolina. Radiating joy, Claire begins touching Jamie. He catches her hint, saying, “I have given much thought about what I want to do to you when we arrive on dry land.” But wait for dry land they do not.
9. American Dreams
Season 4, Episode 1 – “America The Beautiful”
The New World poses many potential dangers, and after learning that truth firsthand, Jamie and Claire settle into a cozy and safe sleeping spot in the woods. By a crackling campfire, the two engage in deep conversation, making the earth-shattering professions of love that the drama’s fans have come to yearn for. “Don’t you see how small a thing death is between us?” Jamie asks. “When my body dies, my soul will still be yours.” Swoon! And with declarations like that, they allow their passions to kindle like the flames beside them.
8. All Aboard
Season 3, Episode 9 – “The Doldrums”
Asail on the Artemis to Jamaica, Jamie and Claire find themselves stranded at sea with no wind and a dwindling water supply. They’ve also been separated at night due to a unique rooming situation with the yet-to-be-wed Marsali (Lauren Lyle) and Fergus (César Domboy). A long-overdue rain is reason enough to celebrate. As they stumble through the passageways, their giddy mood quickly transforms into an urgent joining together in an unoccupied storage room.
7. Turtle Soup
Season 3, Episode 11 – “Uncharted”
With Marsali and Fergus married, Jamie and an injured Claire kick off a rowdy evening aboard the ship. Devouring a sherry-laden turtle soup made by dedicated companion Mr. Willoughby (Gary Young), Claire can only barely administer herself with much-needed antibiotics before the aphrodisiac takes hold. “Bolt the door,” she drunkenly commands Jamie.
6. Kiss and Make Up
Season 1, Episode 9 – “The Reckoning”
In this scene, the newlyweds still have a lot to learn about each other. After Jamie rescues Claire from vicious Black Jack Randall (Tobias Menzies), putting his men in jeopardy to do so, he punishes her for not listening to him. But she has her own boundaries to set, wishing to be seen as his equal. And he understands. “If ever my hand is raised in rebellion against you again,” swears Jamie, dagger raised, “then I ask that this holy iron pierce my heart.”
5. Confessions
Season 2, Episode 8 – “The Fox’s Lair”
Rising tensions between England and Scotland bring Jamie and Claire back to Lallybroch. There, Jamie makes an admission about his lineage, telling Claire his father was a bastard. “I’m sorry,” he apologizes for the secrecy. “It was cowardly of me.” Claire reassures him that it makes no difference to her. The honest and quiet moment, which leads to Jamie hoisting Claire up and carrying her to bed, proves that sometimes less is more when it comes to being sexy.
4. Come Find Me
Season 2, Episode 4 – “La Dame Blanche”
Jamie’s traumatic abuse at the hands of Black Jack dampens their blossoming romance, but Claire won’t be deterred in helping her husband heal. They briefly fight, and Jamie leaves to sleep in another room. But Claire has other ideas. She sneaks in and straddles him. “Come find me, Jamie,” she pleads. “Find us.”
3. A Rare Woman
Season 2, Episode 13 – “Dragonfly in Amber”
The Battle of Culloden is mere hours away when Jamie makes the devastating decision to send a pregnant Claire back to her own time through the magical stones at Craigh na Dun. Claire is at the clearing before she realizes where Jamie has taken her. With no time to spare, he begins their goodbyes. The couple relishes their “final” moments together.
2. 20 Years Later
Season 3, Episode 6 – “A. Malcolm”
Two decades of separation and suppressed desires were as unbearable for viewers as they were for a newly reunited Jamie and Claire. After a tearful hello kiss in Jamie’s print shop, he later learns that Claire’s reason for returning from the future was based purely on a need to be with him. And that’s all it took for things to heat up. “Will ye come to bed wi’ me, then?” he asks. What follows is a nightlong rediscovering that leaves both very satisfied.
1. Wedding Night
Season 1, Episode 7 – “The Wedding”
This early episode’s title (“The Wedding”) might as well have been “The Consummation.” Jamie and Claire’s steamy first evening together as spouses is chronicled in depth, including their first (awkward), second (much better), and third (with pearls) time in bed. But it’s the couple’s building confidence with each other that leads us to want to watch this episode again…and again. “Take off your shirt — I want to look at you,” Claire requests of her new husband. His response after her slow walk-around appraisal? “Well, then, fair is fair. Take off yours as well.”
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G
I'm 76 years old. I've read the books and novellas - all 24 of them - watched the show over 100 times and I have never...EVER!...watched any adaptation where even the bit players are known by name (their own and their characters) the world over. When the show first aired, how many had even heard of Sam Heughan, Caitriona Balfe, Duncan Lecroix, Tobias Menzies, even Finn den Hertog, Lauren Lyle, Lotte Verbeek, and Cesar Domboy outside of their own countries? And they are loved (or hated 😉) by millions of viewers. Granted, this show is not for everyone (my #2 daughter says it's too personally violent (S1 E15), but her hubby loves it! #1 daughter feels as I do). But the casting has captured the spirit of each character. And, honestly, I don't know of ANY adaptation, with such a huge cast, that has been able to cast an author's imagination 100%!
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R
Did you forget about the scene where Claire was getting ready to go back through the stones and Jamie walked away and said he wouldn't leave until daylight but she came back and didn't go through the stone that was so romantic and sexy.
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G
You forget about that amazing scene at the governor’s ball where they stare at each other and make love with their eyes. That was so good in its unusualness.
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O
I just love the person who wrote this...the commentary is so on point
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G
How about the time Claire was having a hot flash and stood at the window trying to cool off and jaime came up behind her and realized she wanted to lay with him and he hooked her up at the window, she was hanging out of it at the end!
W O W!
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P
I loved the scene in the woods when Jamie tells Claire when his body is gone his soul will still be hers.
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G
That is my all-time favorite! When he says "I want to watch you" and then just trades breath with her and finally...FINALLY!...kisses her! OMG! It just doesn't get any better than that! 💖
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C
It was amazing.
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C
Most poorly cast show taken from a great book series, EVER!
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G
ITA I read the entire series and gave up on the show almost immediately. I guess it's great for anyone who hasn't read the books.
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O
I read the books and watch the series, but if next season isn't any better than the last, I won't continue to watch. I don't like the changes the writers have made. Should have stuck closer to the books. This series may have run its course.
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