Outlander could end any number of ways in season 8, but actor Caitriona Balfe’s costume in the coming episodes provides a significant hint. Balfe plays Claire Fraser in the Starz romantacy series, and this character has gone through massive changes over the last seven seasons. Though Claire started as a young woman in season 1, she and Jamie have aged several decades since they met in 1743. Naturally, this means changes in Balfe’s Outlander costume were necessary. Still, the actor’s final wig of the series may come with its own story.
Outlander season 8 will be the last of the series, and Balfe commemorated the final day of filming this installment by posting a video of her wig being removed for the last time. Claire is recognizable for her brown, curly hair, and Balfe’s own hair worked perfectly for the earlier seasons. However, since her Outlander character had to age much quicker than Balfe herself, it eventually became necessary for the actor to wear wigs. By the finale of Outlander season 7, Claire’s hair is touched with grey, predominantly in the front. However, the final wig Balfe removed is more salt than pepper.
Caitriona Balfe’s Wig Is A Lot More Grey In Outlander Season 8
There May Be Another Time Jump On The Way
Balfe removing her Claire wig after filming for Outlander season 8 was clearly emotional for the actor. However, this heartwarming moment has also provided a hint for the upcoming episodes. The actor’s final wig of the series is a lot more grey than the one she wore in Outlander season 7. Though Claire’s hair has gotten more streaked with silver over the years, Balfe’s final wig seems to indicate that several more years—maybe even decades—will pass in season 8.
Of course, the tease goes beyond even this. The color of Claire’s hair actually has some importance in Outlander’s plot since there is a prophecy stating that she will come into her full power when her hair turns white.
Claire’s Grey Hair Pays Off Outlander’s Blue-Aura Prophecy
Claire’s Hair Color Is Important To The Plot
Back in Outlander season 4, Claire befriended a Tuscarora healer and shaman named Nayawenne. The women learned a great deal from one another, but it quickly became clear to Claire that Nayawenne possessed special abilities that science couldn’t explain. She was very similar, in a way, to Master Raymond, who could magically heal and seemed to possess knowledge of the future. Nayawenne foresaw her own death in Outlander, but she also made a prophecy that Claire would come into her full power as a healer once her hair turned fully white.
The fact that her brown hair will be overtaken by white in Outlander season 8 indicates that she is on the way to mastering her full abilities.
Master Raymond explained in Outlander season 2 that some people, like him and Claire, have a blue aura, which indicates a magical ability to heal. It’s with this power that Raymond healed Claire from her infection following her miscarriage. It’s also implied in Outlander season 7’s finale that the mysterious man used this blue-light power to resurrect Claire’s baby, Faith. Claire herself is nowhere near this sort of healing ability. However, the fact that her brown hair will be overtaken by white in Outlander season 8 indicates that she is on the way to mastering her full abilities.
Claire Should Still Be Seen With Completely White Hair In Outlander Season 8
Balfe’s Season 8 Wig Still Wasn’t Fully White
While Balfe’s heavily grey wig in Outlander season 8 is a great sign that more magic is on the way, it’s tough to ignore that her hair can’t technically be called entirely white. Claire is destined to truly become La Dame Blanche, the “white” sorceress Master Raymond told everyone in France she was in Outlander season 2. If the wig Balfe wore on the final day of filming is the one Claire will be seen in in the final episodes, then the audience may not get to see Claire in her supremely powerful form after all.
Of course, crews don’t typically film scenes in order. Balfe’s final day of filming could have been for early episodes of Outlander season 8 or reshoots of essentially any moment from this installment. It can still be hoped that the ending of this fantasy series will see Claire as the magical and powerful healer she has always been destined to become. Even a simple flash-forward would pay this off—a scene of a much older woman traveling through time, healing, and guiding just like Master Raymond. Of course, only time will tell.