#ecampbellsoup

Sam Heughan deserves an Emmy for his performance in Outlander 5x07

Well hello there @ecampbellsoup!!! What a fun ask! As per usual, I also think I gave it way more thought than necessary LOL xD

*deep breath* Okay, so this one required some thought… and I think the answer surprised me. As much as I love the Big™ episodes like The Wedding, Faith, Dragonfly in Amber, A. Malcolm, The Birds and The Bees, I honestly think my answer wouldn’t be any of those. Faith and DiA simply because I can hardly even rewatch those now without bawling my eyes out. And as much as that pain hurts so good, I don’t think I could only do those for the rest of my life.

So one really good overall episode that has a little bit of everything (fun and humor; angst and bittersweet; action and drama; and, of course, Secksay Frasers Time!) that I keep coming back to is…

3x09, “The Doldrums”

Even though I didn’t choose it, it was one of the episodes that I was debating over for my Season 3 pick on my favorite eps list. I think it’s probably an unpopular opinion and very much an underrated episode, but it honestly is just so well-rounded and has some of my favorite elements in it.

Goodnight, Moon (feat. Parent!Frasers and Cuddly!Frasers Part I)

Claire x Marsali relationship development (feat. Sassy!Claire)

“You look like a pincushion” (feat. Ridiculously Cute!Frasers)

Flirty!Frasers

Secksay!Frasers

“I like the grey” (feat. Cuddly!Frasers Part II)

Not to mention some great side character moments like Yi Tien Cho’s epicness, a really great Milord x Fergus conversation (“If you were forced to marry Milady, then I am forced to breath. My heart, it is forced to beat.” 💜), Claire getting to showoff her BAMF healer skills (and JAMMF’s understanding of her need to heal), the introduction of Elias Cinnamon Roll Too Pure For This World Pound, and separation drama (which inevitably leads to amazing Jamie x Claire reunions)! There was just so much to love in this episode and I go back to watch it frequently.

It also just felt like Classic Jamie x Claire, the kind that we all fell in love with. When the show purposefully and dutifully puts them at the heart of the story where they belong and lets the rest of the characters / plots flow around them, that is when we get the type of television other shows should be envious of.

Thank you again, Campbell, for such a fun ask!

Dearest Campbell - how can a simple question be so difficult to answer?

I’ll have to say that it’s the conversation between Jamie and Claire in 01x13 “The Watch”:

Perhaps it’s for the best. There are so many things that can go wrong. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you.

I wouldn’t mind the pain.

I would. I can bear pain myself - but I canna bear yours. That would take more strength than I have.

This conversation is the core of Jamie and Claire’s relationship.

And Sam and Cait play it so, so perfectly. They truly embody everything about Jamie and Claire.

Claire being vulnerable with Jamie. Jamie reassuring her - this strong, confident woman who trusts him with her vulnerability.

Jamie vowing he will do everything in his power to protect Claire.

OHHHHHH-KAYYYYYY.

I think the first scene I rewound and replayed was in episode one-

Yeah... you definitely hear this photo. 

And then well... this scene..

I was so intrigued by the premise of the show- it sounds absurd because it is. But somehow in this moment it all made sense.

I knew I was all-in with this look.

This interaction sets the tone for the whole show to me. Outlander continues to thrive when moments like this are cultivated. That’s why I love this show and why I.just.can’t.seem.to.quit.it.