It wasn't hard for Outlander's Jamie Fraser to make his way into fans' hearts. He has a becoming accent, and is good looking and decidedly masculine. The character is also well cast, with talented Sam Heughan having stepped into the role as a convincing Jamie.
There are moments in the series when Jamie has the audience's full . For example, in one scene, he offers to look after a baby overnight so that the baby's mom can get some rest. Sadly, even ardent fans would have to it that not everything Jamie does is honorable. He has some shady attributes, and some of the things he does are unforgivable. As heroic as some of his acts are, there are many times viewers are left completely disillusioned by the character.
He Speaks French and Gaelic (Love)
Jamie Fraser is not just good looking. He is eloquent, meaning he has a way with words. Put this together with his naturally romantic nature, and this becomes a recipe for the proverbial 'ideal man'. Jamie also doesn't just speak English. He is fluent in Gaelic, German, Italian, Spanish, and Greek. Fans of Jamie's will agree that the sweet nothings he is seen whispering into Claire's ears, possibly sound even more romantic using the many languages which Jamie is familiar with.
He Is Too Good To Be True (Can't Stand)
There are certain things about Jamie Fraser which seem too good to be true. Small things leave viewers questioning the integrity of his character. For example, his perfect teeth. Though living in 18th century Scotland, Jamie's teeth are absolutely perfect.
Then, there is the way that he smiles in his sleep. This is something Jamie has been doing his whole life, and one has to wonder what he is smiling about.
He's A Natural With Horses (Love)
Jamie is a natural leader, and his ability to lead is extended to his talent at commanding animals, with which he seems to have a natural rapport. It is evident from early on in the series, that he is talented at handling horses. He makes riding a horse look effortless and heroic.
One could go as far as to call him a 'horse whisperer' because of his natural affinity with the animals - and he ends up working with horses when he is a semi-prisoner because he is so good at it.
Overprotective (Can't Stand)
Jamie is a believer in a husband taking care of his wife, and when it comes to Claire, he is a zealous protector. However, as the series progresses, this protective zeal is replaced with overprotective mistreatment. He watches over Claire's every move, he tells her what to do, he shows that he doesn't trust her alone, and thinks she needs his protection all the time. Viewers have come to know him as Claire's protector but at times he definitely oversteps the mark, into possessiveness.
He's A Born Leader (Love)
Jamie takes Claire under his wing, and guides her with love. He also is great at leading the troops into battles, as he does when he steps up as commander in the Jacobite rebellion, and later when he becomes the leader at Fraser's Ridge.
He's not just a great leader but he is a man of action - he is someone who will actually follow through on any plan, and bring his men with him. He also puts his people (whether those are the men he commands, the people on his land, or his family) first, and himself second - which is a true leader's trait.
His Criminal Side (Can't Stand)
Jamie doesn't do everything ethically, and this isn't always to fans' approval. When Jamie began his printing work in Edinburgh, it was with the intent of covering up an illegal smuggling business. He was smuggling goods across the country - and it's a flat out crime. The printing business was to his Jacobite sentiments and eventually burned down, but it's hardly the first (or only) crime that he commits.
He Is Selfless (Love)
Jamie will go to extreme lengths to protect his loved ones. This is demonstrated during Season 4 when Jamie offered to take Roger's place when a Native American tribe refused to let him go.
He was actually the one who was responsible for Roger's capture in the first place, however, he showed he was willing to give everything to reunite Roger with his beloved Brianna. This noble gesture is possibly the flip side of Jamie's perceived possessiveness. He definitely watches over those whom he loves.
His Abuse Towards Claire (Can't Stand)
As gentle as he appears, Jamie Fraser definitely has a rougher side. At times, he treats Claire harshly, and he is downright physically abusive in some of the scenes. He whips her with a belt in the early days of their relationship, and uses his size and strength against her on multiple other occasions. While many fans like to excuse this with the fact that physical punishment was the norm for the time period, it's definitely something that goes against him as a romantic hero.
His Kilt (Love)
It may be a little obvious, but one of the biggest reasons that fans love Jamie is that he just looks so good! His slightly ruffled hair and rolled-up sleeves, accompanied by the heavy weave of his tartan kilt, makes him a force to be reckoned with. His copper hair and blazing blue eyes, accompanied by this Scottish attire and his lilting accent make for the perfect combination to make any fan swoon.
Leaving His Son (Can't Stand)
Fans of Jamie Fraser, who have diligently followed the Outlander series, will have witnessed the good, the bad, and the ugly about the character. One of the most unforgivable things which Jamie did, was to abandon his son William. His seeming indifference towards his third child, Willie, is hard to accept by those who love him. William was conceived after Jamie had a one-night-stand with Geneva. Even though Jamie was blackmailed into having the one-night-stand, this wasn't exactly the child's fault, and his son shouldn't have had to have paid, by having an absent father.
Initially, he stayed with the Dunsany family so that he could bond with his son. However, when things got a little uncomfortable, and people started to remark how much he looked like William, Jamie made a decision to leave the boy and the Dunsanys.
