Claire’s standout moments from Outlander Season 6
There were some standout Claire moments throughout Outlander Season 6. We’re looking back at the season with the 10 best from the episodes.
There is no doubt that Outlander Season 6 is one of the strongest. The season was very close to the book, and it focused on Claire’s way of dealing with trauma.
I, for one, adored the use of the ether to self-medicate. There are a lot of comments about it’s a “21st century plot device” used in a period show. That’s not the case. Self-medication happened in the past, but it wasn’t talked about. It was a taboo subject overlooked, and it remains a belief that people only do it today because things are accessible.
Also, using the ether didn’t make Claire weak. She was struggling and didn’t know how to turn to anyone for help. As a C-PTSD sufferer (it never goes away but we learn to manage it!), this storyline was so important to me and I’m glad the writers added it in. That doesn’t mean it’s one of Claire’s best moments from the season, though.
I’m going to go through each of the main characters and pick out their best moments throughout the season. Here are Claire’s 10 best.
10. Scurrying away from the Browns
In the premiere episode, we watched as Claire saw the Browns and then quickly scurried away. This was the first sign of there being something wrong; of her still suffering from the memories of the trauma.
It would turn out throughout the season that it wasn’t just the memories of the trauma. Claire blamed herself for a lot of the bad things that had happened in the past. However, we needed to see all this build up to the point where she couldn’t keep it in anymore, and this was the start of it.
We saw a very different side to Claire. We’d never seen her hide away from a fight before, making it very clear that we should pay attention.
9. A discussion with Brianna about skills
Also during the premiere episode, Claire and Brianna talked about what they were going to do in the past. More specifically, they talked about what Bree would do.
I love seeing the motherly side to Claire. It wasn’t something we got to see in the third season as Claire put her focus on finding Jamie and getting back to the past. It was only as Bree came to the past that we had the opportunity to see Claire guide her daughter.
This is another one of those cases. Bree is also more receptive to her mom being a mother to her.
8. Bringing Malva in as her apprentice
We knew that Claire would need a new apprentice. Marsali would have her hands full with the birth of another baby. Plus, there was the chance that Marsali would choose not to work on patients after killing Lionel Brown.
Claire’s motherly nature came out with Malva. We saw her try to encourage a young girl at the Ridge to be something more than just a wife or mother. If only things could have been different.
7. Time out for the women at the event
When Claire and Jamie heading to Wilmington for Flora MacDonald’s event, we got to see her take a time out. This wasn’t just for her, but for Jocasta and Flora, too.
I loved seeing Claire and Jocasta’s relationship blossom. There were tensions when Claire lived at River Run, but that didn’t mean Claire didn’t like Jocasta, and she wasn’t going to make her suffer with pain. She also had a lot of respect for Flora and wanted to give Flora a chance to escape the pressure.
We got to see a more relaxed side to Claire. It’s also nice to see her in female company now and then.
6. Reacting to the whistling
At the end of her time in Wilmington, Claire heard someone whistling. It was a tune she recognized—a tune that only she and others from the 20th century would recognize. Someone was whistling the Colonel Bogey March.
She brushes it off, but I love the initial reaction. She’s trying to figure out if she did hear it or not. Was it the wind? For now, she’s brushed it off, but this is foreshadowing something for Outlander Season 7.
5. The reaction to Lizzie’s confession
Outlander Season 6 needed some humor thrown in. One of those moments came when Lizzie admitted that she is pregnant. Not only that, but she doesn’t know who the father is.
Lizzie tells Claire all about the first time she was with both the Beardsley twins. There is a lot of information; information that Claire doesn’t really need to hear. Claire’s expressions are priceless. You can tell just what she’s thinking.
4. Shooting her attacked
In the Outlander Season 6 finale, Claire and Jamie had to defend their house. When someone came in the back, Claire fired a shot. She hit a man in his gut and didn’t even flinch. She didn’t care about doing this.
Was this against her character? She had made a vow of “do no harm,” after all.” However, this shows that she is still going to defend herself when she needs to; something that she is allowed to do. She also has to survive in the past, and this shows her ability to adapt when necessary.
3. Fearing she killed Malva
Toward the end of the season, Malva shared that she was pregnant and Jamie was the father. Of course, when Malva later turned up dead, she was the first suspect. In fact, Claire even wonders if she did it.
She was in an ether stupor and had a dream that she threatened Malva. Was it possible that it wasn’t a dream after all? I love we see her doubt herself. Was she capable of killing someone despite the oath she took and all the lives she’d saved over the years?
2. Trying to save the baby
When Claire does find Malva’s body, she immediately tries to save her. She can’t save Malva, though. That doesn’t mean the baby has to die.
Claire immediately performs a c-section. There has to be hope, right? She has to be in time to save this innocent baby. It doesn’t matter how the baby came into the world, this baby deserves the chance to live.
1. Refusing to leave the baby behind
The baby couldn’t be saved, so there was a funeral for Malva and the baby together. When Malva’s coffin was carried out, the baby’s coffin was left behind.
There was no way Claire could allow this baby to be left behind. Sure, someone would have come back for him, but Claire was there. And so, she didn’t care what anyone said and rushed forward to this child. Despite everything, she showed her love for an innocent being.
What were your favorite Claire moments in Outlander Season 6? Share them in the comments below.