When STARZ decided to take the beloved series of books penned by author Diana Gabaldon and turn them into a television show, no one knew exactly what to expect. It’s always a risk to try and bring to life characters that people have already imagined in a certain way in their heads, but Outlander managed to do it with a lot of success. So much so, that audiences are now anxiously awaiting the return of the fifth season, with another one already promised after.

As of right now, the show as a fantastic rating of 8.4 out of ten on IMDb. And with a fresh new batch of exciting episodes coming out, there are reasons to believe this winning streak will keep on going. But what have been the most acclaimed episodes so far? The show is great, but there were episodes that simply blew everyone away. Let’s take a look at the ten best episodes of Outlander according to IMDb.

Savages

Season four of the show saw Claire and Jamie sailing off into the New World. This was far from being a huge departure for the show, considering they had already sent our characters throughout Scottland, England, and France. The fifth episode remains one of the favorites amongst the entire season.

What makes this such a good episode in the eyes of fans was the return of Jamie’s godfather Murtagh, who everyone assumed had tragically died in the Battle of Culloden. It came as a huge surprise to those who had read the books since the character stays dead. We have to thank Duncan Lacroix for bringing such an amazing performance, and a stellar 9.1 rating to the overall episode.

All Debts Paid

It’s no secret that fans are here for any episode that features Lord John Grey, and the third episode of the third season finally brought him back as the grown-up governor of Ardsmuir Prison, and future savior of the Fraser family. All Debts Paid marks the official return of a character that still remains one of the most beloved in the entire show.

Adding to this, and making the episode even better, is yet another glimpse into Claire’s world as she tries to make her marriage with Frank work. We’re introduced to her new BFF Joe, and the two bond over the fact that they are minorities trying to make it big time in the medical field. Overall, a fantastic episode, that was rewarded with a 9.2 rating.

Eye Of The Storm

One of the things Outlander does best is season finales. It’s always hard to find a middle ground between tying up loose ends and leaving enough issues unresolved in order to both keep fans happy and wanting for more. Eye Of The Storm marked the end of the third season of the show and, as usual, it did not disappoint.

The episode was a whirlwind of emotions, from Claire almost dying after a Titanic-like drowning, to Geillis’ surprise return. But it was definitely the latter that drove the point home. After threatening to kill Claire and Jamie’s daughter to fulfill her patriotic prophecy, Geillis meets her untimely end at the hands of Claire, who swings an ax her way and ends her life. People like their bloody scenes, after all!

The Garrison Commander

Arguably one of the best characters to have ever made an appearance on the show was Frank’s ancestor, Black Jack Randall. he was sadistic, evil, and put Jamie through some of the most horrible things a human being possibly could. The first few seasons of the show wouldn’t have been nearly as exciting or dramatic without him.

Season one’s The Garrison Commander shows Claire and Dougal being questioned by the English. But the few scenes that truly make this episode worth a thousand rewatches are the ones between Claire and Randall. The moment when she thinks she’s got him, he completely turns it around and shows the audience what is true nature is. A round of applause to Catriona Balfe and Tobias Menzies for such a mesmerizing performance, awarded with a 9.3 rating.

Of Lost Things

After having two entire seasons focusing exclusively on the love story between Claire and Jamie, having the task of producing episodes where they are not together and, instead, two separate timelines and realities take place can be a daunting task. But much like everything else, Outlander pulled it off spectacularly.

The emotional power of this episode is incredible. We witness a hardened Jamie unknowingly fathering a child, we see him grow, and we see Jamie be forced to leave him behind because of their resemblance. And on the other side of time, we see a desperate Claire trying to find clues about Jamie’s life after the battle. The storytelling is nothing short of brilliant, and truly deserving of its 9.3 ratings.

Freedom & Whisky

Boy oh boy, there was never more tension in this world than the one every single fan of the show felt on this episode. We catch up with Claire after she decided that all she can do is resume her life in the 20th century Boston. That is, of course, until Roger comes visiting for Christmas and gives everyone the news that he knows where Jamie can be.

There are a ton of great moments throughout the entire episode, from Claire making her outfit, to her jumping on a cab and coming out of a carriage. But the moment she is finally reunited with Jamie…hearts stopped and sighs were realized. Upon hearing his long lost love’s voice, Jamie faints. And honestly, major mood.

The Devil’s Mark

We couldn’t really expect Outlander to stay away from something as important as witch trials. As much as some people wish we would forget, there was a time in history when women were burnt at the stake because they were believed to be witches. And in the world of Outlander, Geillis and Claire happened to be two of those women.

The entire episode is conducted beautifully, keeping everyone in the audience at the edge of their seat. Plus, we get to see Jamie bravely save Claire, and Geillis reveals that she is also from the future. A lot to unpack here, and there wasn’t a single person watching the episode that didn’t treat themselves to a Xanax and some camomile tea afterward.

Faith

When we tune in to watch Outlander, we already know that there’s a pretty good chance we’ll end up crying. This show has endless tear-jerking potential and the writers are pretty good at milking it for their advantage. Faith is aptly named after the daughter that Claire miscarries, and spends the entire episode mourning.

Once again, Catriona Balfe gives an award-worthy performance, holding her dead baby and crying while her husband is imprisoned for breaking the law. The flashforwards of an older Claire with what we now know to be a toddler Brianna only add to the sadness that accompanies the entire flow of the episode. What it lacks in action more than makes up for in emotion.

The Birds And The Bees

The Birds And The Bees gave fans something they’d be waiting for a long time, and book fans in particular. It deserves special praise because the original book the fourth season is based on isn’t exactly easy to translate onto the screen. However, everybody was happy when it aired, including Diana Gabaldon.

What makes this one of the all-time favorite episodes is, of course, the reunion. At this point, everyone was simply dying for Jamie to finally meet his daughter. When Brianna is finally reunited with both her birth parents, audiences probably heard fireworks. Beautifully written, beautifully acted. 9.5 out of ten!

Dragonfly In Amber

Yet another instance where everyone was quick to turn on the waterworks was the final episode of the second season. Flashing forward to the 1960s, we finally meet adult Brianna and Claire, who is now visibly older and back to her own time. The mastery of this episode lies in the constant transition between the day of the Battle of Culloden and Claire and Brianna in the 60s.

It’s heartbreaking in many ways, including Claire’s visit to what she believes to be Jamie’s resting place, and the revelation to Brianna about her true parentage. But nothing beats the emotionally-charged moment of Claire and Jamie’s goodbye. It’s so finite, so unbelievably sad, and so devastating, it could only be considered the best episode to date.

Next: Outlander: 5 Relationships Fans Were Behind (And 5 They Rejected)