Caitriona Balfe’s Top 10 Best Moments as Claire Fraser on Outlander

Outlander Season 1 — Courtesy of STARZ

8. Episode 101, “Sassanech”: The first time Claire travels through the stones

This is the moment that forever changed our lives, and Claire’s. What was supposed to be an innocent trip to the stones of Craigh Na Dun to pick flowers turned into a life-changing experience back in time.

I have so much nostalgia for the Outlander series premiere. It was a new experience for everyone watching, and the start of a riveting journey for Claire. She had no idea how much would change that day, and Balfe is sublime in portraying her curiosity, shock and surprise.

Claire is a resilient woman, and so even under these ridiculously strange circumstances, she somehow manages to keep herself relatively composed. This is an aspect of Claire’s personality Balfe knows how to play very well. Perhaps it’s because Balfe is very similar to Claire in that way, and can resonate with Claire’s strong-willed unflappability.

What I love most about this sequence is seeing how Claire handles the many curveballs thrown at her. From the minute she steps back in time, she’s faced with one obstacle after another, including meeting the vile Black Jack Randall (Tobias Menzies). But Balfe meets it all head-on, even if she’s confused and scared sometimes. I think this was the moment all of us fell in love with her, and with Claire.