‘Outlander’ season 3: While you wait, here are the episodes to re-watch

Peak TV is upon us. There are more television shows out there than ever before, and with that, free time to play catch-up or re-watch some of your favorites is at a premium. We’ve enclosed a graph, compiled by FX Networks Research, at the bottom of the article that gives you a sense of precisely how many different scripted television series are now on the air. Not even including reality series, there were 455 original series on last year alone! It’s a stunning figure, and a reminder that sometimes you do have to pick and choose how you spend your viewing time.

If you’re a diehard “Outlander” fan, odds are that you’ll find the time to re-watch every episode of the show — but what if you’re a new fan, or someone who just wants to re-live the Greatest Hits in the time that you have? We’ve compiled for you a list of some of the episodes that we consider to be the strongest in terms of either plot development, performance, or emotional impact as a viewer. This is a part of an ongoing series that we’ve set up; if you missed our recent piece discussing notable episodes of another Starz series in “Power,” check that out over here.

Here’s a little bit of insight into how difficult it was to narrow down this list rather than just saying “watch every episode” — originally we had charted out to do five episodes, but we ended up doing six just because we couldn’t let go of any of the ones we’ve included.

“Sassenach” (season 1, episode 1) – Obviously, you need to watch the pilot if you’ve never seen the show before! Even if you’re just hungry for a re-watch, there is a delightful sort of nostalgia that comes from seeing many of these characters for the first time within this world. It reminds you where Claire comes from, which is very important for understanding the journey ahead.

“Both Sides Now” (season 1, episode 8) – It should not come as a surprise that many premieres / finales are on this list, given that they are critical in terms of development; yet, at the same time they deliver so much more beyond the dramatic cliffhangers that you see elsewhere. This episode was an exceptional showcase for Caitriona Balfe as Claire faced both the person she was with Frank, but also the person she was becoming in the past.

“To Ransom a Man’s Soul” (season 1, episode 16) – In terms of content, this is not the easiest episode to watch due to what happens to Jamie — yet, at the same time it features an Emmy-worthy performance from Sam Heughan and it was one of the most emotional episodes of any show in 2015. It demonstrates the full extent of Jamie’s torment, the horror of Black Jack Randall, and sets up a future full of hope and new beginnings — even if some ghosts from the past do eventually find their way to both Jamie and Claire.

“La Dame Blanche” (season 2, episode 4) – The first part of season 2 was more strategic and political than what we saw at times during season 1, but through the dinner-party scene we saw what was a slow simmer begin to boil. It showed the stress that many of our heroes were under, and established the wickedness of the Comte St. Germain and many other characters in France. This episode also happens to be when Claire informs Jamie that Jack Randall is still alive, and the consequences of that will ring for some time.

“Faith” (season 2, episode 7) – The strongest Balfe performance of the entire series, as Jamie and Claire discover her daughter is stillborn and she also loses her own life due to fever. It is a gut-wrenching story in so many ways, whether it be the end of Jamie and Claire’s time in France, the perversions of the King, or the farewell they give to Faith’s grave in the end (hopefully you had some tissues nearby during this). It also marked the end of St. Germain, though we can’t imagine anyone was too upset over that given the rottenness of this man.

“Dragonfly in Amber” (season 2, episode 13) – Maybe it is recency bias, or maybe it is because it runs longer than the standard hour — either way, this is our favorite episode of the entire series. It was a chance to leap forward to meet Roger and Bree, and in the process view the show through multiple timelines and perspectives. There were battles, adventures, schemes, and a whole lot more; it felt almost like a brilliant standalone movie. This is an episode we may watch a couple more times over before season 3 premieres later this year.

What “Outlander” episodes are on your own personal re-watch list? Be sure to share below, and head over here to receive some further news / features when it comes to the show. (Photo: Starz.)