5 Reasons We Love Claire Fraser (and Outlander)

The Starz TV series Outlander, based on the international best-selling books by Diana Gabaldon, will finally be back tonight with the season premiere of its highly-anticipated second season, bringing an end to what has become known as Droughtlander – that long period of time between new episodes of the show.

In honor of that long-awaited return, it only seemed right that we pay tribute to Claire Elizabeth Beauchamp Randall Fraser, the time-traveling World War II nurse who falls in love with larger than life Scottish Highlander James (Jamie) Alexander Malcom MacKenzie Fraser.

Here are the five reasons we love Claire:

1. Strong-Willed – As we have seen since the first episode, Claire is an extremely strong-willed woman, standing up for herself against all that the 18th Century could mete out. She was able to deal with all the horrors of World War II as well as all that the Scottish Highlands could deliver – the worst being Black Jack Randall.

2. Smart – Claire has proven, time and time again, just how smart she is in adapting to life in 1743, using the skills not only taught to her by her uncle but the history lessons she learned from her 20th Century husband Frank.

3. Enterprising – As we will see throughout the second season (very much like the book upon which it is based), Claire uses her knowledge of the future to help her and Jamie work from within to attempt to stop the Battle of Culloden that brings to an end the Highlander life and takes the lives of countless thousands.

4. Dedication – It is not surprising, really, that Claire has a great deal of dedication. She showed it in her attempts to get back to Frank during the beginning of the debut season and she has continued to show her dedication to Jamie as their relationship developed. We will assuredly see that same dedication throughout the second season.

5. Compassionate – Where her ability as a nurse is concerned, Claire is compassionate about any patient who seeks her out for healing, who are brought to her for healing or for those who she attempts to help in any way she can.

As fans know, this season of Outlander will focus on Claire and Jamie being in Paris as they work within the French Court to stop Culloden from happening. This season will also bring about changes within their marriage especially given the fact that Claire is pregnant.

On a lighter note, the cast will be seen in very different costumes from last season at least during the first half of the second season with Claire wearing voluptuous gowns and Jamie being seen in trousers more often than the kilt to which we all became accustomed to seeing him wear.

It should also be noted the following were the highlights from when the Outlander cast appeared at Comic Con last July:

• Diana Gabaldon will write one episode of the second season;
• Co-Executive Producer Maril Davis shared they “hope to do justice to (the second) book”;
• Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan joked about how difficult it was for her to be working with all of the new handsome French men that will be featured in season two;
• Claire will time travel again during the second season;
• Caitriona joked about how difficult it was to get around in the Paris-based costumes she wore throughout the first half of the new season; and
• Sam shared that the latter half of the second season will find them returning to Scotland.

Outlander will return to Starz tonight at 9/8c.