As a birthday present to Brianna Ellen Randall Fraser, here’s a look at her best moments in Outlander so far.
On November 23, 1948, Brianna Ellen Randall Fraser came into the world. At the time, she was only known as Brianna Ellen Randall, since her father was in 1746 and believed to be dead. She was raised by her stepfather, Frank Wolverton Randall. Little did anyone know, but her stepfather’s death would open a can of worms and introduce her to time travel, her real father, and much more.
Brianna is a strong character in the book series. Outlander fans have seen very little of her so far that would show that. Sophie Skelton has done a beautiful attempt to bring the character to life onscreen, but her best parts are still to come. That being said, there are some excellent moments in Outlander season 3 so far. Here’s a look at those top moments that show fans signs of the things to come.
#7. Brianna’s goodbye to Claire
Despite knowing that she wants Claire to be happy, there’s always a part of her that doesn’t want to lose her mom. She may have her paternal grandmother’s pearls, but they don’t replace everything she is losing by Claire going to the 18th century. There’s no telling whether they will see each other again.
More from Top Moments
- 3 best Brianna moments in Outlander Season 7, Episode 8
- 3 best Roger moments in Outlander Season 7, Episode 8
- 3 best Young Ian moments in Outlander Season 7, Episode 8
- 3 best Claire moments in Outlander Season 7, Episode 8
- 5 best moments from Outlander Season 7, Episode 8
In that final hug between mother and daughter, there’s a hint that Brianna doesn’t really want her mom to go. There’s a hint of fear that Brianna has about the future. While Claire doesn’t know what she will find in the 18th century, Brianna also has a parallel unknown walk in the 20th century. She’s alone for the first time, with no way of communicating with any of her parents (dead or in the past).
#6. Brianna deciding to go her own way
It wasn’t included much in the series, but there was a glimpse of the stubbornness and spark in Brianna’s personality. There was a hint of the things to come.
After learning she is failing at Harvard (where she wouldn’t be due to the time, but it’s a historical inaccuracy to look over for now), Brianna decides to pull out of school. She also chooses to leave home. It’s time for her to spread her wings and enter the big wide world.
Part of this will be Brianna pulling away from her mom. While Claire has stopped her research, there’s always a chance that there will be something about Jamie that comes up. Brianna could have to say goodbye to her mom at any minute, so she needs to start standing on her own two feet.
There’s also the hint of the Fraser stubbornness in her. It’s not just the red hair she inherited from Jamie.
#5. Brianna tells Claire everything on her mind
Learning your father isn’t your biological father is always going to be hard. For Brianna, she’s 19-20 years old and learning the man she called Daddy wasn’t her father at all. Claire had an affair and she’s the product of that. While Claire attempts to explain the truth, no sane person would initially believe something like that.
Brianna showed just how hurt she was at the end of Outlander season 2. She wasn’t just angry at the past lies, but angry at what she viewed as the current lies. As a historian, she couldn’t possibly believe that there were stones that could take someone to the past.
Everything she believed was being tipped upside down. And it certainly didn’t help that she was never really that close to her mom. There’s a powerful moment where Brianna tells her mom everything that she’s thinking at the time, showing the spark of anger and fierceness that will be part of her character in the future.
#4. Realizing that time travel is true
Brianna is one of those people who has to see things to believe them. It’s understandable and reasonable. When she finally does see Gillian travel through the stones, she finally accepts that everything Claire has been telling her is a lie.
There’s a sort of apology for not believing at first, but it’s easy for everyone to understand why she didn’t believe Claire. As Roger goes for help, Claire and Brianna share a moment as Brianna comes to terms that not only is time travel real, but the whole story that Claire was telling her is real. She’s the daughter of an 18th century highlander.
This is also the moment that she gets to deliver some news to Claire. That highlander never died on Culloden. There’s hope of Claire and Jamie
#3. Admitting she fears losing her mom
After saying goodbye to the man she viewed as her father, Brianna learns that she may need to say goodbye to her mother. Throughout season 3, Brianna earnestly helps her mom find Jamie Fraser in the records after learning from Roger that he survived Culloden. They comb through ship logs and prisoner reports and do eventually find him.
However, it’s a moment between Roger and Brianna that’s beautiful. During the middle of their research, she admits that she’s scared about losing her mom. While she knows that Claire and Jamie are soul mates, she doesn’t completely want to give up her last remaining, living family member just yet.
It’s an honest and bittersweet situation. Roger doesn’t really know what to say and they just sit in silence, contemplating the things to come.
#2. Giving Claire up for Jamie
While Brianna doesn’t want to say goodbye to her mother, she knows that it’s time to do so. They’ve found Jamie and need to get to him before he moves on or gets in more trouble. But it’s a tearful and emotional goodbye.
The two sit in the window seat, as Claire tells Brianna about the information Roger found. Brianna shows that she isn’t selfish and just wants her mom to be happy. Her mom gave up Jamie for her, now it’s time for her to give her mom up for Jamie. Even if they never see each other again, Brianna just wants her mom to have the love of her life again.
#1. Brianna asking about Frank
After the memorial for Frank, Claire and Brianna discuss who he was and who Sandy was to him. It’s in those moments that her fears about Frank come out. She worries that he must have hated her. After all, she reminded Claire so much of Jamie and that would have hurt Frank to know that.
Claire quickly corrects Brianna, sharing that Frank had always loved her as his own. That leads to Brianna fearing that her mother resented her. Because of Brianna, Claire was forced to leave Jamie and return to the 20th century. Of course, Brianna was never someone Claire resented. It was just the situation, but there was only love for his red-haired girl.
Next: Outlander writers answer questions about Heaven & Earth
What were your favorite Brianna moments in Outlander so far? Share in the comments below.
Outlander season 3 continues on Sundays at 8/7c on Starz.