One of my favorite things about Outlander is the character Jamie Fraser.
With the end of a series coming up, I thought a reflection on him was fitting.
For context, I watch the show through VidAngel to remove the heavy intimate scenes and unnecessary exposure — things I don’t feel the need to see. With those filtered out, what remains is a story rich with courage, loyalty, faith, and integrity.
Jamie is not perfect — no man is — but the strength and virtue written into his character are rare to see portrayed on screen. Watching him made me reflect on the kind of qualities I want to pass on to my son. The kind of traits that shape boys into steady, honorable men.
And something else I should say: my husband lives out these qualities beautifully in real life.
Seeing them in a fictional character simply allows me to observe them from the outside — to notice, articulate, and appreciate what I already admire at home. Sometimes fiction helps highlight goodness we may otherwise take for granted.
Here are the virtues Jamie embodies in Season 1 that I believe are worth passing down.
1. Jamie Protects a Woman’s Dignity
There’s a moment in Season 1 when Jamie sleeps outside Claire’s door to protect her. Claire invites him inside — out of concern for his comfort — and you can see he is genuinely tempted. He likes her, he’s young, and the opportunity is right there.
But he refuses.
Not coldly, not with pride — but with a quiet respect.
He knows what it would cost her reputation, and that matters more to him than indulging his desire.
He chooses her dignity over his impulses.
I want my son to understand that kind of strength: the ability to protect a woman even when no one is watching and even when temptation is real.
2. He Deeply Loved His Mother — and Still Wants to Make Her Proud
Throughout Season 1, Jamie speaks of his mother, Ellen, with a tenderness that reveals how deeply she shaped him. Even though she is gone, she remains a moral anchor in his life. He still thinks about what she would say, what she would think, and whether she would be proud of the man he has become.
That kind of devotion doesn’t fade with childhood — it forms the foundation of who a man is. A boy who learns to cherish and honor his mother often grows into a man who respects women naturally.
It’s a reminder of how powerful a mother’s influence can be.
3. Jamie Sacrifices for Love
From the earliest episodes, Jamie repeatedly puts himself in danger for Claire — even when they barely know each other.
Whether it’s taking punishment meant for someone else, riding into danger to bring her back, or risking his standing at Leoch to protect her, he consistently chooses sacrifice over comfort.
His love is shown in action, not sentiment.
I hope my son understands that real love — for family, for a future wife, for God — is often measured by what you’re willing to give up, not what you insist on keeping.
4. Jamie Loves God Quietly and Steadily
Jamie’s faith is not flashy or performative.
In Season 1, we see glimpses of how deeply rooted it is — the way he prays, the way he speaks about right and wrong, the way he carries a sense of honor that doesn’t depend on who’s watching.
His relationship with God isn’t loud.
It’s lived.
That’s the kind of faith I want for my son: not a show, not a pressure, but a quiet anchor that guides his choices.
5. He Refuses to Sink to the Level of His Peers
Jamie Fraser is constantly surrounded by men who drink excessively, make crude comments, or speak disrespectfully about women.
Yet he never joins them.
One scene from Season 1 shows the men joking crudely. Jamie is there — listening, aware — but he doesn’t participate. There’s no smugness, no judgment. He simply chooses not to engage.
He doesn’t let the environment reshape his values.
That’s moral strength.
I want my son to walk into adulthood with that same sense of internal direction — the ability to stand firm without needing applause or validation.
6. He Is Strong — and Unafraid to Show Emotion
Jamie is physically strong, brave, and resilient — but what makes him compelling is his vulnerability.
In Season 1, there are moments where he openly expresses how precious Claire is to him. He doesn’t hide his feelings, he doesn’t downplay them to look tough, and he doesn’t act embarrassed by depth.
The way he looks at her, the way he admits fear or admiration — it’s honest.
He isn’t afraid to feel.
Strength without softness becomes hardness.
Softness without strength becomes instability.
Jamie embodies both — and that balance is powerful.
I hope my son grows up knowing that emotional openness is not weakness, but courage.
A Closing Thought
Jamie Fraser may be fictional, but fiction often reveals truths we recognize in real life.
Watching Season 1 with an eye for character has only deepened my appreciation for the qualities my husband already has — integrity, faithfulness, protectiveness, and that rare combination of strength and tenderness.
These are the virtues I hope to nurture in my son as he grows:
honor, courage, faith, restraint, devotion, and emotional honesty.
Qualities that build good men.
Qualities the world desperately needs.
