I first came to know of Jamie Fraser when I saw a commercial for an upcoming Starz show called Outlander. Not knowing anything about the show, I thought the premise looked interesting and decided to look up the series online. After reading that the show was based off a series by the same name and involved both time travel and romance, I knew I had to read the book. After finishing the book Outlander, I fell in the love with the male lead character, Jamie Fraser, a proud red-headed 18th century Scotsman that our heroine, Claire Beauchamp, meets during her travel back in time.
You can imagine my excitement after finally being able to watch Jamie’s character come to life on screen with the first season of Outlander. All I can say is, actor Sam Heughan is the perfect Jamie Fraser. If you need any more convincing on why you should read the books/ watch the series, below I have given eight reasons to love our favorite redhead, Jamie Fraser.
1. His Scottish accent is to die for.
One of Jamie’s best features has to be his accent. A true Highlander born and raised, his Scottish lilt always shines through. The way he rolls his R with words such as Claire, Lallybroch, and Craigh na Dun, what I call “common Outlander terms”, makes me want to fly over to Scotland right now and immerse myself into the culture. There is something special about a Scottish accent, and Jamie definitely makes it known with his perfect one.
2. He not only pulls off a kilt- he makes it look sexy
I’m sure we’re all familiar with the infamous kilt. It makes a fairly common appearance in popular culture. I’ve even watched an entire movie involving men wearing kilts (I’m looking at you, Brave). But seeing Jamie Fraser wearing a kilt marks the first time I’ve seen someone not only pull off a kilt, but made it look sexy. I honestly don’t know how he manages it, and sitting here writing this, it still doesn’t seem possible. However, I can’t argue with the facts and the fact is: Jamie can keep wearing that kilt for the entirety of the series if he wants to.
3. He speaks the language of love- bien sur.
When I learned that Jamie spoke fluent French, my heart melted a little…okay, a lot. Also, the fact that he looks utterly adorable speaking it doesn’t hurt his case (I have attached a picture above for reference). Although this becomes much more evident in season 2, as well as book two, we still get a glimpse of Jamie’s French skills in Outlander’s first season. Before pledging loyalty to his uncle Column MacKenzie, Jamie tells Claire “Je suis prest”: I am ready. As if Jamie could be any more interesting than he already is, we can add French to his already long list of talents.
4. Two words: Shirtless scenes
Does this one really even need an explanation? I mean, look at him. That six pack and arm muscles are visible even when his shirt isn’t off. Jamie continually proves that he is beautiful both inside and out. I swear, some people just have it all.
5. He is completely devoted to Claire
As much as we all secretly (or not so secretly) want to be with Jamie, you can’t help but love the devotion he has for Claire. As soon as Claire makes the jump back to 1740s Scotland, Jamie is always there to protect her. He is the definition of a true gentleman from the start. One only has to hear his loyalty pledge to Claire to know how serious her safety is to him. He always thinks of Claire first and puts her needs above his own. His loyalty to her is extremely admirable, especially in the face of temptation (I’m looking at you Laoghaire). If the devotion Jamie shows Claire isn’t true love, then I don’t know what it is. He makes all of us girls want to have our own personal “Jamie” in our lives.
6. He has a gift with animals
I am an animal lover at heart. I remember asking my parents my entire childhood if I could have a horse (sadly, it never happened). So the fact is, when I learned that Jamie had a gift with horses and was a “horse-whisperer” of sorts, I fell in love with him even more, if that’s actually possible. The way he is around animals shows a soft side to him that is extremely lovable. It also shows his nurturing side, yet another trait I’ve added to my list of Jamie traits I love.
7. He puts others before himself
Whether it’s being flogged by Captain Jack Randall to protect his sister Jenny or risking recapture by the British to protect Claire, Jamie always put others before himself. I’m convinced he has to be one of the most selfless people alive. He holds his family and those he loves in high esteem and does whatever he can to protect them. In fact, his entire life is a reflection of the sacrifices he’s made for those he cares about (one only has to look as far as the scars on his back to see that). Though these sacrifices rarely benefit him, he still endures them because of his love for his family and friends. His selflessness is truly a respected trait that I think we can all strive for in our lives. There Jamie goes again, being a perfect human being.
8. His wit and sense of humor
The more I watched the Outlander series, the more I came to the love the Scottish characters that inhabited it. They have a great sense of humor, funny yet witty at the same time. Jamie is no exception to this rule. Some of my favorite moments, in fact, have come from banter between Jamie and Claire. Through these interactions, I’ve been able to see the development of Jamie’s character. I love how he’s always able to crack a joke or deliver a line at just the right point. This sense of humor just makes me love him even more.
Well there you have it. Those are my eight reasons I love Jamie Fraser. If you haven’t seen it already, I highly recommend watching the Outlanders series on Starz, especially considering the fact that season two recently began this April. However, if you’re one like me and don’t get the Starz channel, season one is available on DVD as well.
