Certain episodes of a TV show are popular for a reason. For example, episodes that upgrade romantic characters' relationship status' are usually near the top of the list because people love the 'Will They Or Won't They?" trope. The Outlander episode "The Wedding" from season 1, is fairly popular for this reason, as it's the episode where Claire (Catriona Balfe) and Jamie (Sam Heughan) get married and consummate their relationship.
With the series already in the middle of its 5th season, we have to jump forward a bit. Therefore, we present the 10 best episodes of Outlander's season 3, according to IMDb. After season 2's Battle of Culloden, Jamie forces Claire back to the future, and they spend the next 20 years apart as Claire raises their daughter, and Jamie serves time for his actions against the English. When they finally do reunite, Jamie's nephew Ian goes missing, spurring the couple on a whirlwind journey to find him.
"Of Lost Things", 9.3/10
Season 3's 4th episode sees Jamie serving time at Helwater as a groom to the wealthy Dunsany family. In 1968, Claire, Brianna, and Roger fully team up, researching Jamie's whereabouts through the years, since they now know he survived Culloden. Meanwhile, in the 18th century, Geneva Dunsany, one of the daughters of the house, has her eye on Jamie.
Long story short, Geneva threatens Jamie with the safety of his family, and they have sex. Naturally, this results in a child: Willie. Years later, Willie has a special connection with Jamie, who has stayed to serve as a father figure to the boy. Reviewers praised the episode for handling tough subject matter well. Jamie's sacrifice for Willie is touching, and we hope the care continues throughout the rest of the season.
"Freedom and Whisky", 9.2/10
In 1968, Brianna and Claire are having a hard time. Claire is debating going back to the 18th century to find Jamie, while Brianna is still wrestling with all the revelations she's had to deal with. Roger comes to Boston with a 1765 article where the author quotes Robert Burns, who would have been a child at the time, which proves it's Jamie.
Claire speeds up her preparations to leave for the past, while Brianna stays behind. The ending is what gets us. Claire walks into Jamie's print shop, and says his name. He turns, sees her, and promptly falls over in a faint. Now we have to binge at least the next episode.
"All Debts Paid", 9.2/10
In "All Debts Paid" Claire and Jamie try to move on with new friendships, and foes. In prison, Jamie discovers the new warden is old enemy Lord John Grey, and they navigate a strange quasi-friendship. Claire makes her way through medical school, and finds a friend in Joe Abernathy, a Black man who can understand her struggles in the medical field. Frank, meanwhile, has affairs.
Claire suggests they divorce, and he vetoes that option, not wanting to lose custody of Brianna. Once Brianna graduates high school, he changes his tune, and Claire tells him that she could never forget Jamie. A few hours later, Claire learns that Frank has been in a car accident, and he's dead. Cue the best acting of the episode: Claire tells Frank that she did love him, and kisses him goodbye.
"Eye of the Storm", 9.1/10
From the beginning of the episode, the popularity meter shifts abruptly to the end. The last episode of season 3 sees Jamie and Claire arrive at Geillis Abernathy's (Lotte Verbeek) Jamaica plantation in search of Young Ian (John Bell).
Claire and Geillis dance around the other's true purpose for a while, before Geillis gets impatient and asks Claire about the prophecy. When Claire denies any knowledge of this, she is let go and she and Jamie start tracking Ian with more accuracy. Once they find him, the title of the episode comes into play, as their ship enters a storm and blows them not to Scotland, but America, where season 4 picks up.
"The Bakra", 9/10
One episode prior, Jamie and Claire have landed in Jamaica, only to face several past ghosts. We witness Ian's kidnapping, as well as how he is kept alive for 'the Bakra' who apparently likes young boys. The Bakra turns out to be none other than Geillis Abernathy, who plies Ian with pastries.
Claire and Jamie learn that the governor bought slaves off the same ship Ian was on. They are also offered an invitation to a ball he's hosting, which seems a perfect place to get some information. The penultimate episode has a lot of plot to set up the final reveals of the season.
"The Battle Joined", 9/10
The first episode of the season picks up where the past segments of season 2 left off: the battlefield of Culloden Moor. Jamie finds himself on the battlefield and hallucinates Claire walking across the field toward him. In the future, Claire and Frank learn how to grow back together again, albeit slowly. Sadly, the temporary peace is shattered when Claire and Jamie's daughter Brianna is born with red hair, proving that she's not Frank's.
Meanwhile, Jamie is not shot with the rest of his Jacobite companions but is instead secretly brought back to Lallybroch. Turns out the commanding officer has a brother, who Jamie spared during the rebellion in season 2. That would be Lord John Grey, who turns out to be very important in future episodes.
"A. Malcolm", 9/10
We back up to see the beginning of the day Claire returns to the past, but now from Jamie's perspective. After he faints in the print shop, Claire rouses Jamie, and they reunite. Claire shares the photos of Brianna that she brought, and Jamie tells Claire about Willie.
The moment we've all been waiting for since the end of season 2 has occurred, and our favorite couple are together once more. Naturally, they go run errands, and Claire meets some of Jamie's new acquaintances. Luckily, after that, they have time to catch up before Jamie leaves on a mysterious task.
"First Wife", 8.9/10
Claire and Jamie return to Lallybroch with Young Ian in tow. Just as Jamie is getting the courage to tell Claire something important, two girls burst in, calling Jamie "Daddy". Laoghaire (Nell Hudson) quickly follows, telling Claire that she and Jamie are married. Jamie tries to explain what happened to Claire, who refuses to listen.
If you're curious, they've only been married a few years. Ned Gowan (Bill Paterson) comes to the rescue to help Jamie sort out his marital issues. Laoghaire, however, requests compensation for the breaking of her marriage, and Jamie, Claire, and Ian set off to find some treasure. This is an action-packed episode of Outlander, so it's no surprise to find it here.
"Heaven and Earth", 8.8/10
Claire sails further from Jamie this episode as she treats diseased men on the Porpoise. Jamie, meanwhile, investigates a way to seize control of the ship he's on, the Artemis, and go after Claire, despite the fact that both ships are going to Jamaica.
Claire finds a man to help her, Mr. Elias Pound, and they start distilling alcohol to use as medication. Meanwhile, Jamie has convinced Fergus (Cesar Domboy) to help him, by promising he'll give Fergus his blessing for his marriage to Marsali (Lauren Lyle), one of Laoghaire's daughters. This episode leans into Claire and Jamie's friendships with others, and it is a delight to see, despite the typhoid.
"Uncharted", 8.8/10
Claire must make her own way, after being convinced to jump overboard in the last episode. She has washed up on the island of Hispaniola, far from her original destination of Jamaica. With some help from Father Fogden (Nick Fletcher), a priest on the island, Claire tries to set off for the village.
That goal is put on pause when she finds Jamie and others from the Artemis on the beach, having docked to fix the sail. They share a reunion, and Fergus and Marsali are married by Father Fogden, which is a lovely way to wrap up a tumultuous episode.