Warning! Spoilers for Outlander season 7 ahead!
Outlanderis creeping toward its ending, and the events of season 7 prove that the series' final episodes should revolve around one character in particular. The romantasy series has had quite a long run, and season after season, Claire and Jamie have gone through some pretty fantastic adventures. The lovers have been separated countless times, and each romantic reunion has been better than the last.Outlanderseason 7 gave Jamie and Claire their most dramatic moments yet—but what can season 8 do to follow this up?
Outlanderseason 7 concluded with episode 16in January 2025, leaving audiences to wait to find out how this story will end in season 8. While this Starz series is based on the books by author Diana Gabaldon, the TV show has basically caught up with the novels, which have yet to be concluded. This means thatOutlanderseason 8will be more or less on its own. Gabaldon has already confirmed that the on-screen version will end differently than her books, so the door is wide open regarding opportunities. Still, ifOutlanderhopes to bring its story full circle, season 8 will lean into Brianna’s story.
Outlander Season 8 Should Be More About Brianna Than Her Parents
Outlanderseason 7, part 2, placed a lot of focus on Jamie and Claire’s connection. Episode 15 especially was soaked in delicious content, between Claire getting shot, Jamie writing his resignation in her blood, and their heartbreaking scenes together in the sepia-toned moments under the stars. It was everything thatOutlanderhas been all about. At the same time, Roger’s story in 1739 was deeply intriguing since it leaned all the way into the time-travel paradoxes that have made this series so thrilling. Unfortunately,Brianna’s story was a little less compelling.
Brianna had some great moments inOutlanderseason 7, but she wasn’t the primary focus. Now, going intoOutlander’s eighth and final season, it’s the perfect time for Bree to be elevated to a more prominent role. The reveal about Jamie and Claire’s daughter Faith needs to be resolved, butBrianna has even more unsatisfied plotlines. It’s been clear since her birth that she carries an important destiny, butOutlanderhasn’t had much time to flesh this out fully. Between Brianna and her supremely powerful children, it’s evident that these are the power players of the series' ending.
It Would Be Hard For Outlander To Follow Up Jamie & Claire’s Season 7 Story
Jamie and Claire have gone through a lot inOutlanderseason 7. The limits of their connection have been tested, but they continue to prove that something profoundly magical keeps them bound to one another. Jamie and Claire were separated multiple times in season 7, and they fought through hell to get back to one another. Episode 15 took this to the very limit, and Jamie was shown to be more desperate than ever before when Claire was shot with seemingly no help for survival. Still, thisOutlanderepisode demonstrated how, even if Claire died, she and Jamie would never be apart.
Unless Jamie or Claire were actually to die, such empty conflicts would feel like rehashing the same old stories.
This emotional climax for Jamie and Claire’s relationship, paired with their peaceful moments together under the starry sky, felt like the perfect overarching resolution to their romance. Following this up with more chaos and unrest would be frustrating for these characters inOutlanderseason 8. Unless Jamie or Claire were actually to die, such empty conflicts would feel like rehashing the same old stories. Instead, it would be better forOutlander’s final episodes to see Jamie and Claire finally find a peaceful life together. As they do, Brianna can stand at the center of the series' final big conflicts.
Outlander
Cast
Outlander follows Claire Randall, a married nurse from 1945, who is transported back to 1743 Scotland. Amidst political intrigue and danger, she navigates life in the past and becomes torn between loyalty to her husband and the love for a dashing young warrior.
