Someone give Caitriona Balfe an Emmy after the Outlander Season 5 finale

If there’s one thing we know for sure, it’s that Caitriona Balfe deserves an Emmy and a Golden Globe after the Outlander Season 5 finale.

The Outlander Season 5 finale was difficult to watch, but it also showed off Caitriona Balfe’s acting abilities perfectly. She deserves an Emmy and Golden Globe after her performance.

This episode was no easy feat. Throughout it, Balfe had to show a multitude of emotions. There was the fear, the anger, the sadness, and the need to survive. At one point, she couldn’t breathe and panicked. At another point, she had to separate herself from everything that was happening around her.

But it’s not in the moment that Balfe showed she needs the award. It’s the aftermath.

When Claire is back home, she breaks. This moment is powerful, as she fights to stay whole. After living through a world war and losing her and Jamie’s daughter, she’s managed to remain strong. Sure, there has been PTSD. Yes, there’s been grief. But she’s always fought to the other side. She refuses to let herself be broken by everything Lionel Brown and the other men put her through.

Yet, her mind and body betray her now and then. He is scared and angry around Lionel in the surgery to the point where she considers breaking her oath. Yet, she fights back and we get that moment in the corridor where she does break down. The emotions are raw and heavy.

Caitriona Balfe continued the emotions throughout the episode. There’s the scene with Brianna in the bathtub; we get the moments after her rescue as John Quincy Myers offers her the knife; there’s the moment on the balcony as she watches everyone have a normal happy day. Each scene offers a different side of Claire, a different emotion and form of storytelling.

And let’s not forget the fantasy world. Balfe doesn’t say a word but you can tell her thoughts just from her facial expressions. You can see when she’s happy and safe; there’s the confusion of the water and empty chairs; there’s the heartbreak when the police are at the door. We get all these feelings while there’s happiness around her.

While this may not be a favorite episode for everyone as not all will like the stylized approach, there’s no doubt that Caitriona Balfe gave it her all. Can she win the Emmy and Golden Globe for the year, please?

Watch Outlander with a FREE 7-day trial of Amazon Channels!