‘Outlander’ Season 2 Spoilers: Sam Heughan Talks Jamie’s New ‘Purpose’ And His Relationship With Claire

“Outlander” Season 2 won’t be easy for Jamie (Sam Heughan). The Scottish Highlander was abused, branded and raped at the end of Season 1 of the time-travel drama, and then he and Claire (Caitriona Balfe) escaped the country. They headed for France, and Claire revealed that she was pregnant. According to Heughan, that announcement was what really saved Jamie’s life, and viewers will see that in “Outlander” Season 2.

“It’s all about Claire, really, because she has given him a purpose and a reason,” Heughan told Variety about next season. “It’s all in a state of flux now that she’s pregnant as well — he has that responsibility and that excitement and fear.”

Heughan emphasized that Claire has really become Jamie’s reason to live. Now that they’ve both seen each other at their lowest points, they’re stronger than ever. “She is the center of his world and he’s there for her. As long as he’s got her, I think he’s pretty happy,” he added. “It definitely made their relationship stronger and more complex, more grey. It’s the whole process of a relationship and growing up, as well.”

They’ll need a strong relationship to get through “Outlander” Season 2. The couple wants to change history and stop the Battle of Culloden, and that requires them to go to France. They’ll spend a large part of the next season there, but they don’t know the country the way they know Scotland. It might be a bit of a culture shock for both the characters and the viewers.

“There’s a familiarity, but also there’s this slightly unsettling feeling about it because you don’t actually know this world that you’re in,” Heughan explained to CarterMatt. “It’s been really interesting because we know these characters and their relationship, but they’ve been thrust into this new world and it’s been really a journey of self-discovery.”

Even fans of Diana Gabaldon’s best-selling books could feel unfamiliar with the material. In May, showrunner Ron Moore warned that changes are coming. “There will be twists and turns that aren’t in the book,” Moore revealed to Deadline. “The second book is more complex than the first book is. It’s a little tougher challenge to adapt it.”

“Outlander” Season 2 premieres on Starz in 2016.