outlander couple

11 most heartbreaking Outlander moments, ranked 

What do you think are some of the saddest moments on the show? 

TV & Film Editor
September 14, 2021

Outlander is currently filming season six, and while we wait for Droughtlander to end and for our hearts to be broken all over again with plenty of new drama for the Fraser family, we have taken a look back at some of the most heart-wrenching moments on the show. Check out our top picks - and let us know what tear-jerker moments had you reaching for the issues! 

MORE: 9 time travel shows like Outlander to watch while you wait for season six

John Grey's unrequited love

Lord John is stricken with measles while visiting the Frasers with Jamie's son Willy, and he and Claire have a heartbreaking heart-to-heart as he confesses his love for Jamie, while knowing that it will always be unrequited. There's a reason this man is a fan favourite, give him his own spin-off already! 

Blood of My Blood, season four, episode six 

Claire's 60s escape dream

Possibly one of Outlander's most shocking moments is in the season five finale when Claire is kidnapped and assaulted repeatedly as Jamie tries to track hr down and rescue her. During her traumatic kidnapping, Claire imagines herself safe in Jamie's arms in the 1960s to distance herself from the reality of her situation. It is both beautiful television and truly heartbreaking to watch the steadfast character go through such horrors. 

Never My Love, season five, episode 12 

Brianna's attack 

Brianna attempts to buy back her mother's ring from the villainous Stephen Bonnet, who assaults her while everyone at the tavern listens, and does nothing. It is a horrible moment for Claire and Jamie's daughter, and has major repercussions throughout the rest of the series. 

MORE: Sam Heughan sets pulses racing as he shows off toned torso in sunny snap

MORE: Outlander star Caitriona Balfe and Jamie Dornan's new movie gets major update

Wilmington, season four, episode eight 

Jamie's father's death

By now, we know that Black Jack Randall is a bad egg, but Jamie's heartbreaking tale about his father Brian's death shows just how far the damage that Jack inflicted on the Fraser family goes. In the episode, Jamie reveals to Claire that his father had a heart attack during his flogging, and that his sister Jenny blames him for his passing, thinking that he must have provoked Jack. The flashback of Jamie's dad collapsing in the crowd is an absolute heartbreaker. 

Lallybroch, season one, episode 12 

Jamie meets Brianna

We had to put at less one happy tears moment in here, right?! Jamie meeting Bree was a moment that fans couldn't wait to see, and it did not disappoint. Their reunion is both joyful and bittersweet as they realise how much of each other's lives they have missed, with Jamie admitted he has always imagined her as "my babe". Be right back, sobbing. 

The Birds and the Bees, season four, episode nine 

Claire finds out what happened to Fergus

Part of the most devastating elements of the episode is Claire's fury at Jamie's betrayal for duelling with Jack Randall despite promising he wouldn't. However, his decision finally makes sense to Claire after poor Fergus confesses to her that Jack attacked him, and Jamie saved him. It is difficult to watch, and the young actor playing Fergus absolutely nails it. 

Faith, season two, episode seven 

'There's no more Claire' 

Jamie is put through psychological and physical trauma at the hands of Black Jack, who tortures him until he hallucinates seeing Claire. However, he realises that she isn't really there and begins crying, saying: "There's no more Claire," meaning both that he can't see her anymore, and also believing that he'll never see her again. Excuse us while we bawl. 

To Ransom a Man's Soul, season one, episode 16

Murtagh's death 

Jamie's reaction to his godfather's death is absolutely fantastic acting from Sam Heughan, as he struggles to accept Murtagh's passing and begs Claire to heal him. We think we broke down fully after Jamie began telling Murtagh that he doesn't release him from his oath, saying: "You cannae leave me."

WATCH: Jamie's reacts to Murtagh's death, The Ballad of Roger Mac, season five, episode seven 

'How can you have me like this?' 

An episode so devastating we had to include it twice, one of our most heartbreaking moments has to be when Jamie finally tells Claire the extent of his trauma, while telling her his belief that he can no longer be her husband after what happened to him. Of course, Claire vehemently disagrees and talks him around, but we were most definitely crying along with the two of them! 

To Ransom a Man's Soul, season one, episode 16

Claire says goodbye to baby Faith

Faith is probably the most heart-wrenching episode in all of Outlander, and it looks at the horrendous loss of Claire and Jamie's stillborn daughter, Faith. In the episode, Claire also nearly dies following her loss, and refuses to hand over Faith - until her friend Louise de La Tour gently tells her that it is time to say goodbye. How the entire cast wasn't sobbing, we'll never know. 

Faith, season two, episode seven 

Like this story? Sign up to our newsletter to get other stories like this delivered straight to your inbox.

Sign up to Off Camera for all the gossip and goings-on from the wonderful world of TV and film

Email Address

By entering your details, you are agreeing to HELLO! Magazine User Data Protection Policy. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information, please click here.

More TV and Film

See more