Outlander Season 3, Episode 10 ratings look back: Separation brings slump

By Alexandria Ingham | Nov 19, 2019

Outlander -- Courtesy of STARZ -- Acquired via STARZ Media Center /

Continuing the look back at the ratings for Outlander Season 3, Episode 10, we assess the slump that came with another separation.

Outlander Season 3, Episode 10 aired for the first time on this day two years ago. Continuing our look back at the ratings, we assess the slump that occurred in the Live + Same Day ratings.

Arguably, “Heaven and Earth” wasn’t the worst episode of the season. Yet, it pulled in the lowest total audience of the entire third season at just 1.234 million (a 17% drop), according to TV Series Finale. The demo was the second-lowest of the season at 0.28 (a 15% drop). That would suggest fans weren’t interested in Claire and Jamie being separated.

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And maybe that was why the ratings were down. At the end of Episode 9, Claire had left the Artemis and joined the crew of the Porpoise. The sailors were in need of a surgeon after the crew had fallen ill, and Claire knew immediately what the illness was. She could help, and there’s no way she wouldn’t try to save lives.

However, the promo soon made it clear that Jamie would act somewhat out of character. Something not written in the books, the show writers decided to have him commit mutiny. At least, he attempted mutiny, after realizing that the Porpoise was sailing away. Would he do that? Well, personally, I thought he might in a desperate need to get Claire back, but I know I’m on the minority side for that.

Anyway, I digress. Outlander Season 3, Episode 10’s slump may have also come from the fact that the quality of the season had gradually gone downhill at this point. Some fans may have decided it wasn’t worth waiting until 8 p.m. to watch and would wait to catch up at a later time. Or others may have been so happy about the season that they finally got the STARZ app and watched at midnight.

And yet, this was one of the most emotional episodes when it comes to Claire’s part of the story. While trying to treat her patients, she had a young officer by her side. Sadly, he would become her last patient, and left us with a haunting and moving moment at the end.

Next. Ranking the Outlander Season 3 episodes from worst to best. dark

What did you think of Outlander Season 3, Episode 10? Why do you think the ratings saw such a large drop? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Outlander Season 3 throwbacks continue through Droughtlander. Follow Claire and Jamie on Facebook to get them straight to your feed.