Outlander Season 7, Part 2: Caitríona Balfe & Sam Heughan Break Down Claire’S Grief And Shocking Reunion With Jamie

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Claire feared Jamie was gone from her world for good at the end of last week’s Outlander, but episode 11 turned her world upside down once more — and in more ways than one. Based on Diana Gabaldon’s beloved book series of the same name, Outlander has garnered a strong and passionate fanbase over the course of its decade on STARZ. The beating heart of said fandom is none other than the love between Claire (Caitríona Balfe) and Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan), which has been tested countless times across time and space.

Outlander season 7 dealt the couple one of the hardest blows in years when Claire believed Jamie had drowned at sea, leading her to marry their mutual friend John Grey as protection for their remaining family. Newly wedding and mourning Jamie, for John loved him in the same way as Claire, the two commiserated by consummating their marriage. When Jamie returns with the redcoats on his heels at the end of “A Hundredweight of Stones,” the characters have several issues to contend with: Claire’s recent vows, Jamie’s status as a wanted man (made worse when he takes John hostage as cover), and John’s adopted son William learning that Jamie is in fact his biological father.

ScreenRant interviewed Balfe and Heughan about the latest of Jamie and Claire’s trials and tribulations in Outlander season 7, with Balfe describing how she approached Claire’s desperation in the last two episodes. Heughan also teased how Jamie’s reckless choices during their reunion will affect the pair throughout the rest of the season — and well into Outlander season 8.

Why Claire’s Pain Hit Harder In Outlander Season 7, Episode 11

“[It’s] an amazing gift to be still surprised and challenged this deep into a show.”

Screen Rant: This is not the first time that Claire has lost Jamie, but I felt like it hit the hardest. Was it harder for you acting this moment out?

Caitríona Balfe: It’s a tough storyline because I think, as an actor, you’re aware that the audience is not really going to believe that Jamie Fraser is gone. You have to almost try extra hard to make it so believable that your character is going through it. And she does these very surprising, out-of-character things, which is also hard to wrap your head around as an actor sometimes, but that is an amazing challenge and an amazing gift to be still surprised and challenged this deep into a show.

I was so lucky that David Barry was an amazing scene partner for all of that stuff. And also we worked with [intimacy coordinator] Vanessa Coffey really well, who’s just an amazing asset to our show, on finding what that new language [would be]. Because obviously Sam and I do scenes of that nature together so often, but we’ve been doing it for so many years and we have such a shorthand and such an understanding. It comes so easy, but this was a whole new world.

But that grief and that going to that state is tough. It always is. I think it was definitely a week where I was going to bed very early, and then on a Monday morning when you get up at 5:30 AM, you’re like, “Well, I’m going to be crying all day today.” That’s when you really have to dig deep.

Jamie’s Actions In Outlander Season 7, Episode 10 Will Have Consequences Through Season 8

“Perhaps it’s Jamie of old, or some deep-rooted pride or fear, but it’s a pretty brutal punishment…”

Screen Rant: Sam, speaking of Jamie coming right back, that’s such a tension-filled moment. You’re reuniting with Claire, you’ve accidentally spilled the beans that William is your child, and the red coats are at your door. How is he processing all of this, and can you tease what the fallout will be?

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Sam Heughan: Yeah, it’s a huge moment. Obviously, Jamie doesn’t know what he is walking into in terms of the relationship with Claire and John Grey, but that needs to be played out – and it does in quite a dramatic fashion. And then the William of it all is a huge shock. Jamie and John Grey and everyone around them has tried to protect that information, and there’s a great many secrets being kept. It’s also been dangerous for William to find out, but I guess he doesn’t really get a chance in that second to process it with the red coats there. He needs to escape, and he uses John Grey as his alibi, taking him prisoner.

I think Jamie doesn’t really have time to think; he probably doesn’t think, and he just reacts. Perhaps it’s Jamie of old, or some deep-rooted pride or fear. But it’s a pretty brutal punishment that he deals out, and then the repercussions of that play out throughout the whole of season 7 and actually season 8 as well.

But it’s a huge moment for Jamie and Claire and probably one of the most testing moments they’ve had as a couple for a long time.

Screen Rant: How does that affect your future scenes together? Obviously, you can’t just tell me how it all ends, but can you guys discuss where your minds are at and how that reflects in your scenes?

Caitríona Balfe: I think the one thing [is that], at this point in their relationship, we’re beyond the kind of will-they-won’t-they. Their bond is so strong and so deep. But it does create a huge rift and it’s about, “Well, how do they repair that? How do they get over that?” I think that’s a really interesting examination of a marriage. How do they fix that?

Sam Heughan: Yeah, and I think it plays out in a very typically Outlander way. It’s one of these big scenes that perhaps isn’t your stereotypical scene from a TV show. It’s very much book-orientated.

But Jamie and Claire, that’s what they’re good at. They’re good at hashing things out. I think it probably would break another couple, but they do find a way. Or do they? But, yeah, they do. I think it makes them stronger and makes them a tighter couple.

More About Outlander Season 7, Part 2

Coming off the first half of Outlander Season 7, we find Claire, Jamie and Young Ian leaving the colonies and arriving in their beloved homeland: Scotland. The perils of the Revolutionary War force them to choose between standing by those they love and fighting for the land they have made their new home. Meanwhile, Roger and Brianna face new enemies across time, and must battle the forces that threaten to pull their family apart. As loyalties change and painful secrets come to light, Jamie and Claire’s marriage is tested like never before. With their love binding them over oceans and centuries, can the MacKenzies and Frasers find their way back to each other?

 

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