Outlanderseason 7, part 2, will again see Jamie and Claire separated, and I’m not sure how much more I can take of this same old conflict. These two star-crossed lovers began their romance under impossible circumstances, and this same dynamic has continued to follow them from beginning to end. Of course, every period in which Claire and Jamie are apart is followed by a dramatic reunion, and such moments are what many watchingOutlanderlive for. While I have enjoyed these dramatic rises and falls as much as the next romance fanatic, I’m concerned about what another go at this will mean for season 8.
Outlanderseason 8is confirmed to be the last of the series, which is a bit of a disappointment since the book series by Diana Gabaldon has not yet concluded. The first half ofOutlanderseason 7 mostly follows the events ofAn Echo in the Bone, which is the seventh out of 10 planned books. Now, the plot details that stars Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan have teased forOutlanderseason 7, part 2 indicate thatthis next installment will continue to exploreAn Echo in the Bone’s story, including Claire and Jaime’s next big separation.
Jamie & Claire’s Outlander Season 7, Part 2 Update Makes Me Worried About Season 8
Repeating This Storyline Isn’t A Great Way To Set Up A Final Season
Leading up to the June 23, 2025, premiere ofOutlanderseason 7, part 2,Balfe and Heughan teasedthat the Frasers' trip back to Scotland would be interrupted when Claire is called back to America (alone) for some sort of medical emergency. During this time,she will come to believe that a devastating event has befallen her husband, which will only prolong Claire and Jamie’s time apart. This lines up reasonably well with the events ofAn Echo in the Bone, but with such limited time before the end ofOutlander, I’m a bit frustrated that the series is continuing the “tragically separated” course.
Claire and Jamie have been apart for a great deal ofOutlander, and each reunion has been a little less exciting than the last. It’s more or less the same storyline repeated over and over again. While this is also true in the books, the overarching tale is more drawn out and packed full of additional details that keep this story from feeling repetitive. In contrast, the ebb and flow of Claire and Jamie’s relationship has been far more jolting in the TV format. SinceOutlanderalready has no choice but to separate its story from the books,it might have been better if the big separation ofAn Echo in the Bonehad been left out.
Outlanderseasons 1 through 7 are available to stream through Starz.
My frustrations with this storyline being brought toOutlanderseason 7, part 2, only add to my curiosity regarding how the series will handle season 8. Wrapping up the story when the book series is ongoing will be no easy task, andClaire and Jaime will need another big climactic conflict before everything is resolved. The problem is that the Frasers' next big reunion (as described inAn Echo in the Bone) will be a tough act to follow.
Jamie & Claire’s Final Reunion Should Be The Series' Most Exciting One Yet
The Reunion Outlander Season 7 Is Setting Up Might Not Cut It
Jamie and Claire’s reunionsare always dramatic and full of passion, but the final instance of this inOutlanderneeds to take this to a whole new level. It must feel as if this is finally the last time that these two will have to tolerate each other’s absence until death ultimately parts them. As it is, the reunion already written inAn Echo in the Bonemight not be the best fit.Claire comes to believe that Jamie has been killed, so she marries a certain someone for the sake of survival (similar to her story with Jamie at the beginning ofOutlander). So, rather than passion and romance, Jamie and Claire’s next reunion will be chaotic and confusing.
There needs to be a final moment of high-impact romance in Outlander’s final season, and while the series has typically depended on separation and reunions to achieve this effect, it needs to switch it up this time around.
This could make for an exciting story inOutlanderseason 7, part 2, and season 8, which could see the pair repair what they believed to be broken. However, as the series' last hurrah, I worry that this wouldn’t be enough. There needs to be a final moment of high-impact romance inOutlander’s final season, and while the series has typically depended on separation and reunions to achieve this effect, it needs to switch it up this time around. A balanced story will be difficult to accomplish in season 8, regardless, and I’m concerned the story’s ending just won’t pack that punch.
How Outlander Season 8 Can Go Out On A High Note (Despite Its Biggest Story Obstacle)
The Outlander TV Series Has To Go Its Own Route
I am typically a strong advocate for book-faithful adaptations, butOutlandermay need to take an entirely different road for its final season. Claire and Jamie being separated and reuniting yet again after this next event in season 7 would just be a disappointment as a finale. Instead, the series needs to come up witha situation that would test their love for one another while keeping them firmly in each other’s arms—or else separated forever by time, space, or death. Whether they live happily together or pass on their legacy to their children, whatever final fate befallsClaire and Jamie inOutlander’s ending, they must be together.
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.
