Outlander hinges on Jamie and Claire’s relationship being plausible and engaging. Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe talk about how that evolves on set.

At San Diego Comic-Con, Sam Heughan, who plays Jamie, and Caitriona Balfe, who plays Claire, spoke with Hypable about what it was like to meet the fandom, film in Scotland, and why the Jamie and Claire dynamic works.

What unfortunately doesn’t come through in any transcript of any Q & A is the tone of voice of the actors involved. What’s obvious as you sit and watch Heughan and Balfe speak is how much they generally enjoy each others company. They have a great chemistry as colleagues on and off set. This interview was conducted on day three of a very high-stress weekend the morning after their red carpet premiere. Despite being exhausted, they still had tons of energy and enthusiasm for the franchise.

What are your most memorable fan experiences?

Caitriona Balfe: They are very well behaved fans. There’s been no untoward activity–

Sam Hueghan: I know, I’m disappointed (laughter)

We’ve heard that fans were visiting the set in Scotland because apparently the law there does not allow the crew to apply to close off public land. What was that like?

CB: People in Scotland are very respectful. They come. The stand to the side and watch when we are filming, but no one has ruined any takes. I take care of doing that myself.

SH: There was one place that we filmed where there is this village, and it’s beautiful. There was this one homeowner who was adamant that he was not going to let anyone onto his property to adjust it for filming. He had this “For Sale” sign outside and he wouldn’t let them do any set dressing on it to hide it. So they had to sort of shoot around it. It was in the middle of this street, and his is the one modern building.

CB: This place that Sam is talking about is incredible because the entire village still looks like a village of the 1700s anyway. But this homeowner did what seemed to be the only modern renovation. Kind of an eyesore.

SH: Generally across Scotland it’s (the filming) been very well received, It’s brought a lot of interest, a lot of industry, a lot of crafts being used on the show, and I think they are delighted.

CB: I’m excited because Scotland is a huge character in the show. I’ve been to Edinburgh a few times before I did this show, but I’d never really been outside the city. I’ve completely fallen in love with the countryside. It’s so gorgeous, and I think everyone is excited for Scotland to be shown in a really positive light. I think we are doing that.

It seems in the book that Jamie and Claire have this shifting balance of —

SH: Who wears the pants?(laughter)

Exactly. Well there are areas when Jamie knows what he is doing, and areas when Claire knows what she is doing. Can you talk about finding that from one scene to the next?

CB: I think that’s the great thing about this relationship. Firstly, it’s not an instantaneous thing. They really get to know each other kind of as friends first. They are two very strong personalities. The great thing about their relationship, what makes it so timeless, they really push each other to be better people, and better versions of themselves. She won’t ever let him get away with being stubborn and thick-headed and he’s the same. He will call her on her stuff. There are very few little things that she does that might not always be the best.

SH: You may not see that the first week, but he’s trying to teach her how to survive in this world and this time that they are in.

CB: And she’s telling him how archaic this time is, and how he needs to evolve (poking Sam in the ribs).

SH: Absolutely. (smirking) And sometimes he’s wrong , but generally he’s right.

And then you have sex. (all laugh)

CB: And then they have sex…a lot of it. (more laughter) And she’s teaching him all about that. (more laughter still)

SH: (mock frustrated) Maybe he doesn’t need teaching. (laughter) He’s a natural.

Is there a trait in your characters that you wish you had more of, or is it a trait you already have?

SH: I like Jamie’s resilience. I think I’m quite resilient. I’m also quite stubborn, but his resilience, it just brushes off his back. He doesn’t let anything really affect him. I like that.

CB: I think her gutsiness. I could use it a bit more.

SH: I think you’ve got that. You jumped into this role feet first. She (meaning CB) doesn’t stop to look back. She’s taken it by the scruff.

Did you know anything about the books before you got the roles or was it all brand new to you?

CB: No, I didn’t know about the series. When I first got the audition, I knew that I was going to put it onto tape four or five lines maybe two scenes. I didn’t know it was a book series. It wasn’t until they wanted to see more that I was like “Oh, it’s a book!” I got more information. I realized and I went off and bought the book, and read it in four days (mimics speed reading) because they were testing me on Tuesday. I was so excited reading the book. It’s a page turner anyway. I just like the idea of getting to do all these things. It seemed like an exciting prospect, and I wanted that job.

Have either of you read ahead, beyond the first book?

CB: I haven’t because I haven’t had time. I also think it’s that I have enough information to last me at this moment where we are filming in my brain.

SH: I have read ahead a bit. I’m in the middle-ish of book two. I think again it’s about not confusing what we are doing now. I know generally what will happen in the other books. Someone will come on and say something and then I’m like “Oh cool,” but the future for them that is sort of fully mapped out, we don’t know yet.

Have you sat down with Diana Gabaldon, and spoken with her about the characters?

CB: I got a beautiful email from her at the very beginning, but we didn’t meet in person until January (filming began in late October). We’ve now met a couple of times since then. She’s amazing, and she’s available always to converse. The guys have talked more about their characters with her. I don’t know. I still think I am a little intimidated. She’s not an intimidating person, but she, herself, is such an inspiration for me as playing Claire. She (Diana) is such a strong, amazing woman. I just kind of admire her.

SH: We’ve talked a bit by emails and such. She’s given me materials to look at. Generally it’s been more about little things about the characters. Sometimes it’s been quite funny. There was one moment when there was something I was double checking very early one whether he would have a ring or not. We were shooting out of sequence, after the wedding, before the wedding, after the wedding and so on. I couldn’t quite remember if he’d have a ring and I secretly ran to the bathroom to call her on my mobile and ask, “Does he wear a ring?” But generally, she’s just very supportive, and there if we ever need her.

This seems to be a very physical show from horseback riding, to fighting. Can you talk about the training?

SH: We had a boot camp. Before that I had a trainer in London who made me do terrible things to bulk up for six weeks.

CB: Oh he has bulked up a lot.

SH: It was about me putting on more muscle. Some of it was great fun. When we got to Glasgow we did horse riding and sword fighting and learning Gaelic.

CB: I got to meet with a herbalist. That was really interesting. I got out of doing Gaelic, but horse riding and some dialect work. Obviously I play an Englishwoman, but I’m Irish. From the time I got cast to the time we started filming, I think it was two weeks. It was very quick.

SH: They are very physical roles. You (meaning CB) spent a lot of time the first few weeks running around the forest. Sort of falling–

CB: But it’s funny there are times I’m running up hills and in corsets and big wool skirts and I’m like, “Why am I so out of breath? Oh yeah, that’s right, because I really can’t breathe.” It keeps you fit. The jumping on and off the horse, the damn skirt always gets in the way. I get a leg up and the skirt gets trapped.

SH: So many layers, it’s unbelievable.

CB: The guys are great in the fight scenes. It’s so much fun to watch them. The shinty too–

SH: Yeah that was a great part. There’s definitely more battles in it. It’s been great fun.

How has it been speaking Gaelic?

SH: For me it’s a huge part of Jamie. It’s the way he expresses himself. It’s his first language. It a wonderful part of the show. It adds color. I think the audience gets it from context clues. We’ve not subtitled any of it. They’ll eventually start to recognize words and phrases.

CB: It’s a great storytelling tool because Claire does not understand it. It shows her alienation really well.

If you are as in love with the Outlander sets as we are. Check out the video below to hear about what were Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe’s favorite sets to work on so far, and their crazy experience at the standing stones.

Outlander airs next Saturday on Starz 9:00 ET/PT