Caitriona Balfe on how Outlander’s sixth season puts weight on Claire’s recovery
“That’s what we get to do as storytellers, show things that aren’t palatable, but also try to bring something positive to the tough conversation”

Outlander has never shied away from tackling intense issues during its run. Starz’s historical sci-fi drama centers on World War II nurse Claire Randall (Caitriona Balfe), who accidentally travels back 200 years in time and falls in love with a Scottish Highland warrior, James Fraser (Sam Heughan). The show is revered for the chemistry between its two leads and their characters’ unrelenting, time-spanning romance. But the show also excels at placing Claire and Jamie Fraser in some seriously tragic situations.
The show finally returned for its eight-episode sixth season on March 6. The first episode, “Echoes,” kicks off Claire’s journey of recovery after being kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and rescued in the season-five finale (which aired all the way back in May 2020). The installment also introduces game-changing new characters from Diana Gabaldon’s novels, the inspiration for the show. Malva Christie (Jessica Reynolds) arrives on Fraser’s Ridge along with her strict father and sibling.
The A.V. Club spoke to Balfe about how this season focuses on Claire’s PTSD, her inputs on the story arc as a producer, the evolution of Claire’s relationship with her daughter Brianna (Sophie Skelton), and how Malva might shake up the Outlander universe.
The A.V. Club: What was it like coming back for season six after a long break, and what was it like to step into Claire’s mindset this time? Once again, she’s reeling from a brutal experience.
Caitriona Balfe: First of all, we were so excited to get back to work. We’ve all had quite an intense lockdown in the U.K. It was a privilege to go back to doing what we love. The production worked hard to make sure we were able to film our show the way it always has been, with the same expanse and scope.