Outlander's Sam & Caitriona Off-Screen Friendship is Too Wholesome to Ignore

From the moment Starz premiered its time-travelling drama Outlander in 2014, fans knew it would be one of the most compelling fantasy shows in history. This wasn't just due to the fantastic direction, intelligent writing, and impressive cinematography but also the incredible on-screen chemistry between Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe.

It turns out that the key to their tantalising chemistry lies in their genuine connection off-screen.

Caitriona and Sam are well-known for their real-life friendship, often making filming Outlander a real challenge with their constant laughter and pranks. However, their bond isn't just about having fun together; they have a very close and caring relationship.

In various interviews, both actors have expressed heartfelt sentiments for each other, each referring to the other as family and the closest of friends.

It's no surprise that, given their strong off-screen friendship and on-screen romance, fans have been eager to see Caitriona and Sam become a romantic couple. However, the stars have consistently dismissed the idea, fearing that a romantic involvement would jeopardise their close connection.

When their characters were separated on-screen, viewers were disappointed not to see the beloved duo together and counted the episodes until their reunion. While Claire Randall and Jamie Fraser are now married and happy together in Season 6, it seems the time apart affected the actors considerably. Sam explained how challenging it was to work on the show without Caitriona.

'Actually, having scenes away from her, and time apart from her, is kind of like losing someone in your family. A loved one. It's very strange, and I don't enjoy it. Whenever we're together, it feels right, and I look forward to the days when we get to work together again,' Sam told Popsugar in 2016.

Fortunately, the two friends are reunited both on-screen and off, which genuinely delights their fans.