Outlander is one of the most popular shows around right now, and it definitely deserves all the praise it gets! It's such a unique series that brings a fresh story to us every season. It never feels repetitive or boring. There's many wonderful elements to it like the historical setting, political intrigue, and of course the romances!
Shippers and lovers of love just can't help rooting for some of the wonderful couples on the series. Of course Jamie and Claire are the ultimate OTP. Though Outlander has given us some other wonderful romances, and some that have not been so great. And so, we've ranked 13 Outlander couples from worst to best below!
Jamie and Laoghaire
Honestly, do we really need an explanation for this one? I think if you talk to any Outlander fan, you won't find one who actually likes Laoghaire. Look, she's been through some tough times. She's been married twice (before Jamie), and her second husband, Simon MacKimmie, was abusive. I get it. But she was acting like a child and very petty even before. She wanted Jamie, was very jealous of Claire, and never got over "losing" him. This "relationship" was just all sorts of wrong from the beginning. Jamie was an eager young lad when he was fooling around with her at the start of the show. But I still cannot fathom how in the world these two married each other. Laoghaire is a toxic and annoying character. Definitely the worst couple in my books.
Dougal and Geillis
If there's one word to describe this duo, it's chaotic. The two passionate Scots were made for each other, loving Scotland to a point that was just a little too patriotic. But it's funny to say how this relationship brought about problems and was chaotic when Dougal and Geillis never actually share a scene together except for one. At Castle Leoch, Geillis' husband Arthur collapses and dies, and we find out she poisoned him to be with Dougal as she was pregnant with his child. So yeah. They were all sorts of wrong. Poisoning people, cheating on their spouses, and overall just being a bit crazy.
Louise and Prince Charles
Another couple that ranks low on our list is Louise and Bonnie Prince Charlie. For starters, Louise was married and cheating on her husband with Charles. The prince was jealous of her husband. But excuse you. Why? He's her husband, your royal highness! Louise ends up pregnant with Charles' baby, but she lies and says it's her husband's. Ultimately she stays with him rather than the prince. This relationship was full of cheating and secrets and wrong from the very start.
Claire and Frank
I think what's heartbreaking about Claire and Frank is that at the beginning, they were actually a really good couple. We also can't forget how hard Frank looked for Claire and didn't believe she'd run off and left him to be with someone else despite what the authorities were telling him. He didn't give up on her quickly. And she did the same, desperately trying to get back to him and even felt guilty on her wedding night with Jamie.
With that being said, once Jamie came in the picture fully there was no going back for Claire. He would always be in her heart and she just couldn't move on even though she thought our favorite Highlander was dead. She carried him with her for 20 years. What made it more difficult for her I think was not being able to talk about him, and trying not to think about Jamie as much as she could because Frank asked her not to. She couldn't process and grieve her loss because she didn't have an outlet.
Though Frank was put in a tough spot, he was selfish in this request. Especially because he kept looking into Jamie and actually finds out that Claire ends up going back to him before his death. This couple just becomes absolutely resentful of each other as the many years pass, and they are spiteful towards one another. It turns into a very unhealthy and unhappy marriage. They really should have called it quits earlier.
Frank and Sandy
Frank ends up starting a years-long relationship with Sandy, and the two get very close. Close enough where Frank has given up on pretending to be with Claire and decides to move to England with her. Sandy and Frank also get engaged. We don't really see them onscreen together, but there must have been a good relationship there since they were together for so long. Even though we could argue Frank and Claire stayed together for 20 years and it wasn't great. Yes, he was technically married to Claire but I don't really see it as cheating. They both acknowledged their relationship wasn't going to work but they stayed together for Brianna. And Claire knew.
I will say where it really got ugly is when Sandy showed up at the house after Frank told her to meet him there, thinking everyone would be gone by then. He never should have done that. But again, this was the breaking point between Claire and Franks' relationship if you can even still call it that at this point. So while Frank and Sandy aren't necessarily bad, after Frank's death Sandy admits to Claire that she knew Frank still loved Claire and would have taken her back. But I guess she decided to stay with him despite knowing that. Though that's not the best kind of relationship to be in.
Mary and Alex
Mary and Alex were actually a sweet couple, not knowing the tensions between the people around them. In particular Claire and Jamie, and Alex's brother Black Jack Randall. They were cute and it's a shame that Alex died of disease and they couldn't be together because of that. Frank's direct ancestors really cared about each other. Even after Mary was attacked by the men who assaulted her, Alex stood by her. At that time, and unfortunately even today, that doesn't always happen. But he took care of Mary and stayed by her side. My heart still aches for these two.
Lizzie and the Beardsleys
This one here is actually a throuple: Lizzie, Josiah, and Keziah. It was kind of funny when this relationship was first revealed, and I love the reactions of Jamie and Claire. They really portrayed the shock us viewers felt as well. I think Outlander fans are still trying to process Lizzie and the Beardsleys a bit. At least I am. Though what's obvious is that they're happy and in a healthy relationship. The three stand by each other, and the twins certainly love Lizzie very much and she does too. They've created a family together and are definitely committed.
Young Ian and Rachel
We don't know much about Young Ian and Rachel's relationship or whether it's really going anywhere at this point. It's kind of just gotten started in Outlander season 7 part 1, and I'm guessing it's going to be a bit on the back burner now that he left for Scotland with Jamie and Claire. Though from the start, the instant connection between the two is obvious. I can't get over them making eyes at each other. They slowly kept getting closer before that very passionate make out session! I think they're adorable and definitely ship this relationship! Hopefully they're endgame.
Brianna and Roger
Brianna and Roger being on the lower end of the ranking might surprise some of you. I don't know if you would agree with me. But to be honest, I'm still not 100% a Roger and Bree fan. I feel like the two are so different and don't see eye to eye when it comes to a lot of instances. Of course in a relationship, you don't have to agree on everything. That's not going to happen. But I felt like these two had different views on the big picture things. Their struggles and the back and forth of the tension between them honestly became kind of tedious to watch as a viewer. I will say that in season 7, Bree and Roger finally seem to be on the same page. They're working together and have grown through the difficult experiences they've been in. Roger still feels a bit problematic to me at times, but overall I think they're getting to a better place I guess.
Jocasta and Murtagh
This couple was shocking but sweet, and I was all for it when it happened! Though unfortunately, Jocasta and Murtagh's story becomes tragic and they weren't meant to be. For years and years, Murtagh loved Jocasta's sister Ellen, aka Jamie's mother. But Ellen never loved him back, choosing Jamie's father Brian. However years later, a spark bloomed between Jocasta and Murtagh and I actually thought they were great as a couple. With Murtagh not giving up on the Regulators and being their leader though, the couple knew their future was not going to happen. Jocasta couldn't go through the pain of losing someone again, and we definitely couldn't blame her. She needed to be with someone who was stable, and she found that with Duncan Innes. Murtagh knew he had to let her go because of this, and he did. Their goodbye scene still makes me tear up. This showed just how much the two really cared about each other.
Jenny and Ian
I love Jenny and Ian, and I miss seeing them together! Thankfully the story is now back in Scotland in the second half of Outlander season 7, and we're returning to Lallybroch (even though Jenny actress Laura Donnelly is not reprising her role and the character has been recast to be played by Kristin Atherton). Jenny is definitely a stubborn and fiery Fraser and Ian's calmer and quieter nature is a great balance to that. He's stood by her after she was assaulted by Randall, and she's never made him feel less than because his leg is amputated. The two are a strong team, being a great example at a good and healthy marriage.
Marsali and Fergus
Another couple that's stood by each other is Marsali and Fergus! Though they were young, they knew they were in love and meant for each other. And so even if Jamie wasn't happy about their relationship, they stuck together and proved that what they had wasn't just fleeting young love. It was true. They've supported each other, and clearly can't keep their hands off one another with the amount of kids they have. When Fergus went through his downward spiral in season 6, unfortunately he was not treating Marsali well at all. But she stayed strong and eventually gave him a wake up call, kicking him out which he deserved. However, they come back together and work through the issue. Marsali helped him grow up into a more mature person and family man, while he has never backed away from her strong spirited nature.
Claire and Jamie
Speaking of strong women, there's the best one of them all. And that's Claire! Where do I even start with this couple? I'm sure it's no surprise to anyone that we've ranked them No.1. But they really do deserve to be in this spot! They have an absolute devotion and love for each other that even death won't separate them. Claire and Jamie have saved each other countless times, and even in their 20 years apart couldn't forgot about the other. This couple is the epitome of love and sacrifice. I think they've been through literally any hardship a person can go through: assault, loss of children, a 20-year separation, kidnapping, the loss of their home, false claims of cheating, and so much more.
They have literally been through it all, but only come out stronger each time. And even if something like Malva claiming her baby is Jamie's does come up, Claire and her Highlander are so devoted and sure of their love for each other that there's no room for doubt. Claire and Jamie constantly support each other and work together as a team. The commitment between these two knows no bounds, and their love story is of course the heart of Outlander!
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