In last season’s finale of “Outlander,” Claire (Caitriona Balfe) and Jamie (Sam Heughan) were separated with him left in the 18th century while Claire returned to the 1940’s. She and her first husband Frank Randall (Tobias Menzies), who spent years searching for his missing wife, finally got reunited.
In the premiere of “Outlander” Season 3, Frank and the pregnant Claire are headed to Boston, hoping for a fresh start on their marriage. At this year’s San Diego Comic Con, Menzies and Balfe along with Heughan shared about the emotional premiere and what’s in the future for the Randalls post-return.
Menzies talked in particular about the powerful last shot of the “Outlander” Season 3 premiere. Even knowing that the baby isn’t his, Frank instantly falls in love with her according to Vulture. He thinks that the baby brings hope for their marriage, that maybe they can make it. Frank hopes that it could be the start they needed.
Balfe, however, thinks that her character’s marriage to Frank is totally doomed. The actress said that at that point in Claire’s life, Jamie is dead. She knows that nothing can live up to the all-consuming love she experienced with him. In “Outlander” Season 3, Claire will focus on her career while she tries to slot Frank in her life. “That leads to disappointment and resentment. It's a broken marriage,” revealed Balfe.
In another interview with TV Insider, Balfe said it is not just time travel that will come between the couple. Claire’s love for Jamie will create walls between them. In fact, her time with Frank will not be the happiest time of her life.
Viewers will also see an older and wiser Claire in “Outlander” Season 3 based on the third book in the book series titled “Voyager.” She will study to be a doctor and will find a friend in Dr. Joe Abernathy. As time passes, Claire will distance herself from Frank.