Diehard Outlander fans have already seen the video of its stars’ chemistry test, and now Sam Heughan is sharing more behind-the-scenes details of his and Caitriona Balfe’s audition in his memoir Waypoints: My Scottish Journey. The actor recalls the “intense” audition that would later inspire a beloved Jamie and Claire fight scene from Outlander Season 1, Episode 9, “The Reckoning.” He writes that this audition marked his and Balfe’s first meeting, and that “the chemistry had to be just right” as the show searched for its Claire.

Heughan describes the scene as both physically and emotionally demanding, saying, “In the heat of that moment, born from love and frustration, we literally began tearing at each other until the director called time on us. It left us breathless. She was wrapped in my arms, and I think we both knew that Jamie and Claire had just come into existence together.” The pair reprised the scene for Episode 9, capturing the fiery tension of newlyweds navigating love, conflict, and differing perspectives — Claire from the future, of course.

Heughan also reflects on how his protective instincts toward Balfe on set mirrored Jamie’s care for Claire, noting, “It was a big leap for her. I felt that I needed to be protective towards her… In some ways, that dynamic developed between us as actors and then went on to amplify in front of the cameras.” He continues to hold a major secret, revealing that author Diana Gabaldon shared the ending of the Outlander saga with him early on, a secret he has kept since the first season alongside perhaps only executive producer Maril Davis.

Waypoints also includes dozens of never-before-seen photos from Heughan’s life — from adolescence to Scottish Highlands hikes — as well as candid behind-the-scenes Outlander shots. The memoir explores his personal challenges, including a difficult relationship with his father, drama school rejections, missed auditions, and struggles with disordered eating. Outlander has now wrapped its seventh season and is gearing up for its emotional final eighth season on Starz.