9. Episode 305, “Freedom & Whisky”: Brianna tells Claire to go back through the stones
Be still my beating heart! This episode is one of my favorites for plenty of reasons, but mostly for the beautiful chemistry shared between Caitriona Balfe and Sophie Skelton (Brianna). Mother-daughter scenes bring out the best in both actors, and this is one of their sweetest moments to date.
There are a lot of emotions in this episode, including Claire’s shock over Roger potentially learning where Jamie ended up after the Battle of Culloden. She’s quite angry at first, because ignorance is bliss and Roger has shattered her’s, but things change as the episode goes on.
After a heated argument between Brianna and Claire regarding Brianna’s future, Claire tells Brianna what Roger has uncovered about Jamie, and without a moment’s hesitation, Brianna tells her mother to go find her man.
I think Caitriona Balfe and Sophie Skelton really blow these scenes out of the water. Skelton must show us a Briana who is vulnerable and openminded, while Balfe has to show us Claire slowly realizing what it is she has to do. The conflicted emotions on Claire’s face are spellbinding; she’s excited at the potential of seeing Jaime, of course, but impossibly sad because it means she may never see her daughter again. I still get goosebumps recalling this scene.
Plus the scenes of Claire getting ready for the trip give us all life!