TVLine's Performer of the Week: Outlander's Sam Heughan 

THE EPISODE | “To Ransom a Man’s Soul” (May 30)

THE PERFORMANCE | You can just imagine the thoughts that must’ve crossed the mind of

‘s Sam Heughan upon hearing his character’s trajectory at the end of the season: “I’m going to do

?” Indeed, Jamie’s rape by Black Jack Randall in the finale was a nasty, graphic, terrifying violation rendered heartbreakingly honest by Heughan’s performance. The fearless actor shifted Jamie from defiant to resigned to seemingly removed from the proceedings, until Randall — not satisfied with merely ravaging the Highlander’s body — decided to sully his soul, as well. As a disoriented and gravely injured Jamie realized that he’d inadvertenly experienced a moment of pleasure at his rapist’s hand, Heughan infused one facial expression with enough regret and sorrow to last several lifetimes.

Outlander Boss on Jamie’s [Spoiler], Season 2 in France and Why [Spoiler] Went Full-Frontal in the Finale

After his rescue from the prison, the actor played Jamie’s torment and shame unflinchingly, relating his attack to Caitriona Balfe’s Claire in detached manner far removed from Jamie’s normal vibrance. And though the episode ended on a positive note — Heughan’s smile as Jamie learned he will be a father was like seeing your porch light suddenly come into view after a long time away from home — here’s hoping that

allots the space and time in Season 2 to properly process what’s happened to its hero. Heughan is more than capable of handling it.

iZombie‘s freshman season, star Rose McIver has proven herself to be extremely versatile as Liv took on the characteristics of an overly passionate Lothario painter and a PTSD-suffering sniper, to name a few. But in

episode, McIver truly impressed us with her range. First, she made us laugh repeatedly after consuming the brains of two distinctly different high schoolers, a Christian cheerleader and a stoner. Then she gut-punched us during an emotional moment with her friend Peyton, in which she came clean about her true zombie nature. As unprepared as Peyton was for that shocking revelation, we were even more unprepared for the wonderful revelation that is McIver.

— are full of big personalities, all with varying degrees of emotional stability and straight-up cattiness. And yet, it was Constance Zimmer‘s executive producer Quinn King who stole the show in Monday’s series premiere. Even at Quinn’s most sensitive moments — particularly her mid-episode heart-to-heart with Shiri Appleby’s disgraced Rachel — Zimmer’s every movement and line-reading was tinged with I-know-better-than-you attitude. All the more impressive was Zimmer’s ability to get us on Quinn’s side, despite her penchant for humiliating the

girls on camera. We expect to see even more of Quinn’s colors throughout

‘s freshman season, and we can’t wait to watch Zimmer explore every one of them.

Which performances knocked your socks off this week? Hit the comments!

Agree with all of these! I actually finished watching Outlander about an hour ago so the episode is fresh in my mind. Sam Heughan was freaking fantastic and heartbreaking and gut wrenching and many more descriptors that don’t fully do him justice. Well deserved!

100% agree about Sam’s performance. Eyes really are windows to a man’s soul. If he doesn’t get an Emmy nomination for his performance on Outlander then there is something seriously wrong with the system.

God…his eyes. I rewatched the episode a few times just marveling at his eyes……how full of rage they were at one point, hollow and almost black at another, blank and empty at other times…….it’s was startling and impressive.

Sam Heughan’s performance in Outlanders was heart-breakenly fantastic . I couldn’t stop crying. He has to win an Emmy. An once-in-a-lifetime performance that will be remembered for a long time!

Tatiana Maslany should be in this every week.

I agree, but this was one of the few weeks where she didn’t deserve to win it. Sam Heughan’s performance in the “Outlander” finale was extraordinary.

IMHO comments like this actually serve to dilute her reputation as an actress. As a fan of hers, I wish people would be a bit more discriminating in hailing her performances because it probably sounds like white noise to the press by now.

Honestly i think it;s too late for Tatiana. She should’ve won already by now and plotwise Orphan Black is not as good as it used to be.

Sam Heughan is just so damn good! Where has this guy been? He was the absolute perfect choice to play Jamie Fraser. Look forward to what he does next season. (Having read the book & knowing what’s coming, I believe he is up to the task, especially the ending which maybe broke my heart more than book one since book one ends on a more hopeful note). Definitely a worthy choice you made.

Both “Wentworth” and “To Ransom A Man’s Soul” were two of the best hours of television I’ve even seen in my life. Every emotional played, every sinew of my body tense, tears…..I see them over and over in my brain. All three actors, Tobias Menzies, Catriona Balfe and Sam were perfect, nuanced and moving, but I agree with the above, Sam Heughan’s performance as Jamie Fraser’s physical, emotional and psychological rape and torture at the hands of Black Jack was the most amazing performance I have ever seen from an actor not just on television, but ANYWHERE. Just hand him the Emmy already.

After watching the last 2 episodes of “Outlander”, I’m still absolutely blown away by Sam Heughan’s performances. He can express so much without saying a word. The facial expressions he used made you feel what Jamie was feeling. Sam Heughan is, by far, one of the best actors I’ve ever seen. He is just absolutely amazing. Can we just hand him the Emmy now?

The performance Sam Heughan gave in the final 2 episodes of Outlander was nothing short of magnificent. As a book fan, his complete embodiment of Jamie Fraser all season has been a gift, but what he brought to the screen during Jamie’s darkest hours was so visceral and raw. A week later and I am still feeling it. It was extraordinary.

Wow I actually watched all 3 shows and I agree with the choices.

Ugh, everything about UnReal. What an awesome show.

Sam has one of the most expressive faces on television. He showed so many emotions during this episode – vulnerability, shock, resignation, anger, desperation and shame. He gave an incredibly brave and heartbreaking performance. He showed us Jamie’s shattering devastation when he physically responded to Randall’s deceptive moves during their last counter, and he showed us hope when he smiled on the ship and told Claire that yes he was happy about the thought of becoming a father. Sam Heughan more than deserves all of the accolades coming his way. I’m so glad that you acknowledged his stand out work on Outlander.

Usually you pick actors from shows I don’t watch for these accolades, but strangely (and awesomely) this week I saw all 3 performances you singled out and I couldn’t agree more, particularly about Sam. His face says so much without uttering a single word, and he absolutely broke my heart in that finale.

Definitely Sam Heughan in Outlander finale. Those scenes were tough , but so remarkably well acted. Outstanding.

Agree wholeheartedly! Endless kudos to @samheughan. By the way, you are a hell of a writer. Excellent encapsulation above of the episode.

Agree 100% with your choice – Sam heughan does this kind of acting every episode! So, my thought is that Tobias Menzies / bjr deserves a nod as well – he makes us hate him so much!

Big fan of Rose McIver & iZombie. Wish we had another 10 episodes his season. Still not sure about Unreal.

Thank you for recognizing Sam Heughan’s amazing and heartbreaking performance. It was indeed worthy of the attention.

Outlander!! There aren’t enough superlatives you can give this cast! Sam Heughan esp in To Ransom a Mans Soul, is a performance for the ages, along with Tobias Menzies as the sadistic Jack Randall. The eyes (and ayes) have it for the series. Fantastic acting that doesn’t seem like acting at all!!

Excellent choice in Sam Heughan. Brave, groundbreaking performance. Emmy-worthy!

Heck, give Cait, Tobias, Ron, Terry, the whole show an Emmy!!

100% perfect #1choice in Sam Heughan! That face…..those eyes….his voice and body language that took us to his pain is unforgettable. In my 62 years, and in my love of cinema, I have never seen and experienced an actor with his qualities. The show is magnificent, kudos to everybody involved. But Sam just anchored this series and all its endless possibilities! Thank you!

Sam Heughan gets my vote. I am totally in awe of his talent. I’ve never seen some one with such an expressive face.

Sam Heughan was beyond brilliant in the Outlander finale. It will be a travesty if his performance is not awarded an Emmy.

Sam Heughan totally deserves the Emmy, his performance specially episode 15 and 16

were absolutely brilliant, this man is one superb actor he has so much depth in his work and

Could not agree more about Sam Heughan! Sam, Cait and Tobias have been outstanding in the entire first season. These 3 and the show itself all deserve Emmys!

As I started watching Outlander, I also began reading the books, becoming totally captivated by the story of Jamie, Claire and Frank/Jack. As weeks passed, my admiration of the talents of the three pivotal characters deepened…eventually encompassing the full cast and what an amazing,

talented cast it is. A list of superlatives precede this missive with my total agreeance.

The last two episodes were well acted, as usual by all involved but the performances of Sam

Heughan and Tobias Menzies, alone in the darkened, rat infested cell, were staggering. Witnessing Black Jack gradually dismantle the proud man that was Jamie…physically, emotionally and mentally, moving from utter brutality to a twisted, almost gentle act of love was gut wrenching and difficult to watch. But watch I did, swallowed up in the experience of two men whose acting bordered on brilliance. I believe I stopped breathing at one point.

I read that the two principles worked hard in preparation and with all involved on the closed set, barely speaking when a scene had been filmed…No small talk between takes. How could there be!

Filming was a totally draining experience, with Sam going hill climbing afterwards to clear his mind…then getting drunk.

I expect a fistful of Emmy’s to be awarded, including an Ensemble.

it was most definitely Sam Heughan’s Jamie. It was very heartbreaking to watch, His performance was so real you could almost feel his pain, It had me crying for almost the whole show. He deserves an emmy nomination for his performance.

Gilmore Girls Reunion Tackles Luke & Lorelai\'s Future, Rory\'s Best Suitor, Those Four Words and So Much…

Gilmore Girls Revival: Series Creator Amy Sherman-Palladino Addresses Reunion Project Buzz

Gilmore Girls\' Amy Sherman-Palladino on That Final Season (\'S–t Happens\'), Fighting for Melissa McCarthy…

The Vampire Diaries: Kevin Williamson, Julie Plec Reveal 7 Fun Show Secrets

1Ask Ausiello: Spoilers on Bones, iZombie, Fear TWD, Empire, New Girl…141

2Girl Meets World Boss on Farkle\'s Mystery Mom: \'You\'ll Love the…83

3Will Hannibal Feast on Bedelia? Dance Judge Redo? Disingenuous…82

4Gilmore Girls\' Amy Sherman-Palladino on That Final Season (\'S–t…58

Gilmore Girls Revival: Series Creator Amy…

Life Story Sneak Peek: Welcome to the World, Baby…

Grey\'s Anatomy Ups Jason George to Series Regular…