Sam Heughan Breaks Down Jamie’s “Explosive” Reunion With Laoghaire in ‘Outlander’: “A Character That We All Love to Hate”

Outlander Season 7 Episode 9 “Unfinished Business” is all about reunions, both long-awaited and completely unexpected. The Starz show finally takes Claire (Caitriona Balfe) and Jamie (Sam Heughan) back to where their love story began, in Scotland. There, we get to catch up with Jamie’s beloved sister Jenny (Kristin Atherton) and her darling husband Old Ian (Steven Cree). However, Jamie didn’t just leave his sister back in Scotland; he also left Laoghaire (Nell Hudson) and with her, some major unfinished business.

**Spoilers for Outlander Season 7 Episode 9 “Unfinished Business,” now streaming on Starz**

We first met Laoghaire all the way back at the very beginning of Outlander. She was a lovesick teenager whose crush on Jamie only intensified after he willingly took a beating meant for her on principle. Young Jamie used Laoghaire as a means of making the mysterious Claire Beauchamp jealous, creating a toxic bond between them that would only become more messy in Outlander Season 3.

Because Claire had to return to her own time period with daughter Brianna (Sophie Skelton), Jamie was forced to live his own life alone in 18th century Scotland. After fathering William Ransome (Charles Vandervaart) with Geneva Dunsany (Hannah James), Jamie eventually married a widowed Laoghaire and helped raise her daughters Marsali (Lauren Lyle) and Joanie (Layla Burns). When Claire returns to the 1700s, Jamie and Laoghaire’s marriage is already on the rocks and he’s more than happy to leave her.

An older, wiser Jamie understandably feels a little icky about this. So he lets Claire know that he wants to make amends with Laoghaire. The only problem? Laoghaire is less than inclined to make peace with Jamie, especially since he will take away her home and livelihood if she chooses to marry her lover, Joey Boswell Murray (Sandy Jack).

“I think it’s a shock for the viewer and also a huge shock for Jamie,” Sam Heughan said. “Laoghaire is a character that we all love to hate, really. Beautifully, brilliantly played by Nell.”

“It was so fun,” Outlander executive producer Maril Davis told Decider. “Laoghaire is always a favorite because everyone loves to hate/like her.”

“It was pretty explosive stuff,” Heughan said.

While it initially appears that there’s no way for Jamie to settle matters with Laoghaire, Joanie approaches him with her own challenge. You see, Joanie doesn’t want to marry. Rather, she wants to become a nun. However, so long as her mother is living in sin with her groundskeeper, she cannot morally leave Laoghaire behind for the convent. It doesn’t help that Laoghaire is vehemently against Joanie’s wishes, preferring she marry a man who can take care of all them.

“Yeah, Jamie has unfinished business,” Heughan said. “You know, I think he cares greatly for Joanie and wants to be able to look after them. But obviously, things have never run smoothly with Jamie and Laoghaire.”

Jamie eventually agrees to amend his original agreement with Laoghaire. She’ll marry her Joey and keep the house, while Jamie will pay for Joanie’s fees at the convent.

“I think it’s Jamie putting things to rest,” Heughan said. “You know, finishing off unfinished business before that he can return back to to America, which is now his new home.”

It’s been over ten years since we first met Laoghaire in Outlander and now, at long last, her tale is told.