Take our Outlander Quiz and Poll!

Curiosity about paganism caused 20th-century nurse Claire Randall to tumble through a portal, which landed her in 18th-century Scotland without her husband Frank.The year 1743 doesn’t have much going for it, but there is the dreamy Jamie Fraser. His likes include rebelling against the British, handsoming all over the place, saving Claire from dire predicaments and making ovaries explode. Claire’s hobbies include mind-blowing sex with Jamie and not understanding how 200 years ago works. She has one friend, suspected witch, Geillis Duncan, and one enemy, the charmless Laoghaire MacKenzie who understandably wants Jamie for herself. When Jamie left on a mission, Laoghaire set Claire up to get charged with witchcraft.

One minute you’re in 1945 with your husband Frank Randall and then you’re in 1743 to unresolved sexual tension all over the place with Jamie Fraser. That’s what happens when you go snooping around pagan ceremonies, Claire. The first person she encountered was Frank’s doppelganger, Captain Black Jack Randall. His curriculum vitae includes attempting to rape Claire and flogging Jamie until he nearly killed him. Claire’s been staying at Castle Leoch with the MacKenzie clan, Black Jack interrogated her with his fists and now the MacKenzies will have to turn the English woman over to the redcoats— unless she becomes a Scot by marriage. Rebel leader Dougal MacKenzie plays matchmaker and arranges for Claire and Jamie to have a quickie wedding.

Ever since becoming trapped in 18th-century Scotland, Claire has been trying to reach Cragh na Dun, the ancient stones, which caused her accidental time travel. Claire passed the time (no pun intended) by marrying dreamboat Jamie Fraser (it’s complicated), Jamie is nearly perfect, so perfect that after Claire finally confessed her bizarre secret, he took her to the stones so that she could return to 1945. When Jamie walked away so that Claire could go back to Frank, modern conveniences and disinfectant — which the nurse is always yammering about. No woman in her right mind would want to live in the dangerous and violent year of 1743, right? Have you seen Jamie? Buh-bye, disinfectant.

Nurse Randall returned to poke around. Inability to mind her own business led to unintentional time travel to 1743 Scotland. The welcome wagon consisted of Frank’s ancestor, Captain “Black Jack” Randall. He welcomed her to the century with a rape attempt. That’s how he behaves on a good day. BJR is a torture enthusiast. Claire was rescued by the MacKenzie clan and met Jamie, who is brave, noble and handsomes all over the place. He agreed to a hastily arranged marriage to keep her from Black Jack’s clutches. Because Jamie is perfect, when he found out about his bride’s bizarre story, he returned her to Cragh na Dun so she could be with her 1945 husband. Frank who?

That whole accidental time travel thing has been rough on Claire Randall. She left her husband, Frank, back in 1945 and ended up in 1743. One thing led to another and now she’s married to dreamboat Jamie Fraser. I mean, it’s not like she has a Tardis. Have you seen Jamie and his crazy hair? Welp, that’s that. I guess she’s over that plan to escape the 18th century. Just clear sailing from here on out.

Claire is taken to meet Colum MacKenzie, laird of the castle and Jamie’s maternal uncle. Gotta be honest, he’s no Dougal. Claire has the good sense to keep mum about her ride on the Tardis, so she makes up a cover story about being a widow, who was traveling to France. She does tell the truth about nearly being raped by Black Jack Randall, but wisely uses the surname Beauchamp since a tie to Black Jack is the kind of thing that gets your throat slit.