Outlander is 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. Outlander season 7 gave Jamie and Claire their most dramatic moments yet—but what can season 8 do to follow this up?
Outlander season 7 concluded with episode 16 in 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 that Outlander season 8 will 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, if Outlander hopes 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
Outlander season 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 that Outlander has 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 in Outlander season 7, but she wasn’t the primary focus. Now, going into Outlander’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, but Brianna has even more unsatisfied plotlines. It’s been clear since her birth that she carries an important destiny, but Outlander hasn’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 in Outlander season 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, this Outlander episode 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 in Outlander season 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 for Outlander’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.