#MCM: Jamie Fraser’s #1 moment in Outlander Season 4

Sam Heughan had some standout performances throughout Outlander Season 4. Just what was the #1 Jamie moment? For #MCM, I’m sharing my favorite of the lot.

There were some excellent Jamie moments throughout Outlander Season 4. As much as he didn’t get nearly the same amount of development as others, it was all about some of the smaller, emotional moments for the character. This week for #MCM, I’m looking at my #1 Jamie Fraser moment from Sam Heughan in the season.

It wasn’t easy to choose this moment, but it came down to the episode “The Birds and the Bees.” For those who don’t follow titles or episode numbers (it was Episode 9, by the way), this was the episode that saw Brianna finally find her parents.

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Before I get into the number one moment, though, there are a few honorable mentions. I did think of when Jamie saw Murtagh in “Savages” and his moment protecting Willie in “Blood of My Blood.” But it all came down to this one moment.

Not the moment you’re thinking of

Now I’m sure you think that Jamie meeting Brianna for the very first time is the number one moment and it may be for many of you. For me, it was later in the episode, when Jamie takes Brianna bee hunting. The more I rewatch Outlander Season 4, the more this moment stands out.

It was a raw moment for Jamie. He was vulnerable but supportive at the same time. Having Brianna in the past was his dream come true, but this wasn’t the daughter he necessarily dreamed of having in his life. This wasn’t a woman raised by him or in this time and this was where the vulnerability came into play, something that Sam Heughan portrayed beautifully.

Jamie had to admit his thanks to Frank Randall, a man he was also intensely jealous of. Frank had the daughter that Jamie had wanted. Sure, he’d spent 20 years imagining that Claire had a boy, but even so, he had to remember that Frank was the one being the father figure. And that would have hurt.

Yet, at the same time, Frank had managed to do something that not every man could. He raised a child that wasn’t is but never once made it known to said child that he wasn’t the biological father. At no point did Brianna even question her red hair or Frank’s decision to teach her how to shoot. Frank had managed to separate his dislike (more like hatred?) for Jamie and his love for Brianna.

Understanding Brianna’s predicament

While showing his gratefulness to Frank, Jamie also managed to help to make Brianna feel at ease. She understandably felt guilt for going to the past. “Down the Rabbit Hole” focused on this, as she thought about Frank and saw him give his support at the docks. It was the image she needed to know that Frank would have stood by her need to save Claire and Jamie.

During her time at Fraser’s Ridge, she’s struggled with the name to give Jamie. As she said, “Daddy” was the term she used for Frank and “Father” was too formal. Other men may have felt threatened by this. Brianna didn’t want to replace her adopted father with her biological father. But Jamie isn’t like other men.

Instead of feeling threatened, he understood. He was able to separate his own feelings towards Frank and his feelings for Brianna. This was the man who raised her until she was an adult. Of course, she was going to feel loyalty towards him and guilt when it came to getting to know her biological father.

Instead of berating Brianna, Jamie accepted it and found a way around it. He offered “Da” as the name, and it’s certainly stuck.

I may be in the minority, but I didn’t like it in “Drums of Autumn” when Brianna did called Jamie “Daddy” during childbirth. That was the name she gave Frank and something just didn’t sit right with me. I’m glad that after this scene in “The Birds and the Bees,” we didn’t get that moment later to, in a way, ruin it all for me.

What was your number one Jamie moment in Outlander Season 4? Which performances from Sam Heughan stand out for you? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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