Past seasons of Outlander have taken us all over the world and through various time periods, from World War II and the swinging ’60s to the Parisian court of King Louis XV, the Scottish Battle of Culloden, and across the Atlantic to the Caribbean and finally the American colonies. But which seasons were our favorites—where do we want to return to again and again while we wait for Season 6? Here are our favorite Outlander seasons, ranked. Do you agree?
Outlander Seasons ranked
1. Outlander Season 1
The season that started it all has to rank as the best of them all. First introducing us to these unforgettable characters and the world of Outlander, Season 1 immersed viewers in the life of the clans of the Scottish Highlands, which is really at the heart of the story. Viewers journey with Claire back in time through the magical stones at Craig Na Dun, as she unexpectedly finds herself transported from post-war Scotland and her husband, Frank Randall (Tobias Menzies), back 200 years into the past. Menzies plays a dual role, also appearing as arguably the best villain Outlander has ever had, the sadistic British soldier Black Jack Randall. When Claire and Jamie first meet, the chemistry between them is palpable—and although their love deepens throughout each subsequent season, their first encounters with each other sweep viewers up in their new romance. Plus, Jamie’s clan is full of colorful characters including his beloved godfather Murtagh (Duncan Lacroix), and uncles Dougal (Graham McTavish) and Colum MacKenzie (Gary Lewis). We’re introduced to other fan favorites as well, including sly, suspected witch Geillis Duncan (Lotte Verbeek) and Jamie’s feisty sister, Jenny (Laura Donnelly). As we travel the gorgeous Scottish landscape, we visit Castle Leoch, the seat of the Laird of clan MacKenzie, and Jamie’s home of Lallybroch. It’s prestige TV at its best, combining fantasy, history and romance with a strong female lead and a true man of honor in Jamie.
2. Outlander Season 5
After a slow start to the show in America in Season 4, Season 5 picked up as Jamie and Claire become more settled on Fraser’s Ridge. Although we do still miss Scotland, we’re also loving their new home in the American colonies, and the world they have built for themselves here among their new “clan.” Jamie is torn between his duties to the British governor, who gave him his land, and the revolutionary forces at work, led by Murtagh. Claire—who, of course, has knowledge of future events—knows that war is coming, but she and Jamie are still figuring out how to best position themselves for the conflict. The pre-war Battle of Alamance is a highlight of the season, in which Murtagh sadly dies in Jamie’s arms. In addition, we also loved Claire and Jamie’s adopted son Fergus’s wife, Marsali (Lauren Lyle), who’s assisting Claire in her surgery and is becoming a total badass in her own right. We also got to see Claire and Jamie’s daughter, Brianna (Sophie Skelton), finally taking charge against Stephen Bonnet, the man who sexually assaulted her, and also—no joke—fighting off a charging buffalo! (Who knew there were buffalo in North Carolina?) The wildlife here is apparently very dangerous, as Jamie also almost dies of a snake bite in one of the season’s most emotional episodes. Viewers also get a little more time travel intrigue in Season 5 as, for some reason, Brianna, her husband Roger (Richard Rankin) and their son Jemmy are unable to travel through a stone circle in America to get back to the 20th century. And in the final episode of the season, Claire meets another time traveler, Wendigo Donner, who will likely make a future appearance. A final highlight that plays with the theme of time occurs as Claire imagines the entire Fraser clan in the 1960s, as a way to disassociate from a brutal attack she’s enduring.
3. Outlander Season 2
Season 2 is basically divided into two parts: In the first half, Claire and Jamie have traveled to France as fugitives, and are now embroiled in palace intrigue at the court of the French King. Some viewers aren’t fans of this detour, and thus don’t love Season 2; but we can’t help but be drawn in by the amazing costumes (that red dress!) and gorgeous sets. We’re also introduced to Prince Charles Edward Stuart, aka Bonnie Prince Charlie, memorably played by Andrew Gower, who Claire and Jamie get close to in order to try and change history. As Claire knows, the Scottish prince will otherwise be defeated during the rebellion against the English at the Battle of Culloden. In France, Claire also gets a reputation as La Dame Blanche, with her modern ways again arousing suspicion of witchcraft. Black Jack Randall makes another appearance and duels with Jamie. Finally, there is the heartbreaking loss of Claire and Jamie’s stillborn child, Faith. The second half of the season returns to familiar Scottish territory as Jamie and Claire continue with their ultimately futile plan to stop the battle. We know from the first episode of Season 2 that Claire is headed back to the 20th century—and we’re dreading it, but still can’t wait to see how events will unfold. The increasingly desperate and dramatic lead-up to Culloden includes raising the Jacobite army, the battle at Prestonpans, and Claire and Jamie’s plan to kill Prince Charles; which goes awry when they have to kill Jamie’s uncle Dougal to keep their secret. The last episode of the season, “Dragonfly in Amber,” is one of the best of the whole series, as a 1960s-era Claire returns to Scotland after living in America for many years. Viewers are also introduced to a now-grown Brianna, who learns that Jamie, not Frank, is her biological father; and grown-up Roger, who we last saw as a child in season 1. Brianna and Roger do some digging about past events, and meet Geillis Duncan, or rather Gillian Edgars, a Scottish nationalist who then travels back in time through the stones. This is interspersed with a moment-by-moment countdown to Culloden—before which Jamie sends Claire back through the stones to the 1940s to keep her and her unborn child (who will be Brianna) safe. But when 1960s Claire learns that Jamie actually survived Culloden, she decides she has to go back to the past.
4. Outlander Season 4
Season 4 is a bit jarring in that viewers find themselves completely out of their element as they realize Claire and Jamie may not be going back to Scotland (at least not anytime soon). The couple, along with Jamie’s nephew Young Ian (John Bell), Fergus (Cesar Domboy) and Marsali, have been shipwrecked in America, and have to figure out if and where to settle in their new home. The show faced some controversy this season in its depiction of slavery and its handling of storylines with indigenous Americans; both could have been executed better. Another negative of Season 4 is that previously nice-guy Roger begins acting controlling and prudish toward his new girlfriend and later wife, Brianna, which drew ire from fans. Highlights of Season 4, though, include the return of fan favorite Lord John Grey (David Berry), stopping by with Jamie’s illegitimate son, William, who Lord Grey is raising and who doesn’t know Jamie is his biological father. Jamie also meets Brianna for the first time, as she travels back in time to find her parents. These heartbreaking moments display Jamie’s love for his children, neither of whom he was able to raise himself.
5. Outlander Season 3
One highlight of this otherwise uneven season comes in the first episode, as viewers finally get to see the Battle of Culloden, which we have spent the past two seasons anticipating. But, like the second season, the third is split into segments, with the initial five episodes depicting what happened during the 20 years Claire and Jamie were apart. After finally getting to see Culloden and the death of Black Jack, these episodes are a bit anticlimactic. They’re also absolutely heart-wrenching for viewers as our two main characters are leading separate, miserable lives, which is partly why this season lands last on our list. Claire, returning to Frank to become a 1950s housewife, finds herself in a loveless marriage and stifled by the limited role she’s allowed by society. Jamie’s situation is even worse, as he lands in prison and then later works as a stable hand at an estate aptly called Helwater. We later learn during their time apart Jamie married Claire’s hated season 1 rival, Laoghaire (Nell Hudson), which at least allowed Jamie to experience parenting, as she had two daughters from a previous marriage, Joan and Marsali. Another highlight of Season 3 is the introduction of Lord John Grey, who befriends Jamie while he’s a prisoner at Ardsmuir. Claire eventually becomes a doctor, and Jamie runs a print shop, where they (finally!) reunite in episode 6. That reunion is the highlight of the season, and we wish they could just settle at Lallybroch and stay in Scotland forever. But that’s not to be; after an all-too-brief time there, they find themselves chasing after Young Ian, who has somehow been captured by pirates, across the Atlantic. Little do they know that’s the last they’ll see of Scotland. The couple then embarks on a strange Pirates of the Caribbean-like sailing adventure, eventually landing in the Caribbean itself, with the last two episodes of the season playing out in Jamaica, where they have their final confrontation with Geillis Duncan. Despite Culloden, Lord John Grey, and Claire and Jamie’s eventual reunion, this season is a bit too all over the place in terms of setting and tone, which is why it’s our least favorite. How would you order your favorite seasons? Revisit them all streaming on Netflix (seasons 1 to 4) or Starz, before Season 6 premieres on Starz March 6. Next, 50 Outlander Memes to Celebrate Droughtlander’s End and the Return of TV’s Greatest Love Story
