8. Episode 2: Making Marsali her apprentice
I know many have expected Malva, but there’s still time for this character to show up. Instead, the writers went for the option of making Marsali Claire’s apprentice. After all, it was immediately clear that it wasn’t something for Brianna.
Marsali could handle blood, being used to butcher the animals. She wasn’t squeamish and she certainly has a good head on her shoulders.
The one thing I loved the most about Claire’s decision was the show of trust. Claire and Marsali didn’t initially like each other for understandable reasons. However, over the course of their time together, they have grown a bond that is very much like mother and daughter. Marsali has even called Claire “Ma.” Claire turning to Marsali for this showed the trust and respect that Claire has gained of her daughter-in-law.
7. Episode 4: Giving Roger a much needed boost of confidence
Roger was struggling with life in the past. Claire could understand that. After all, this wasn’t a man cut out for the 18th century and he only stayed for Bree and Jemmy. Jamie wasn’t Roger’s fan, so Claire had to be the one to help smooth things over.
At the end of Outlander Season 5, Episode 4, Claire had to go back to Fraser’s Ridge. She needed to make sure the penicillin was ready among other things. When Jamie told Roger to escort Claire back, Roger immediately thought that Jamie didn’t trust him.
Claire was able to give him a boost of confidence by telling him that Roger had been tasked with the most important thing to Jamie. Whether she meant it or not, it looked like she did.