Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander book series has touched audiences since its release in 1991, and very soon, the long-running TV show based on the novels will be coming to an end. Jamie and Claire, the story’s heroes, have been brought to life by Sam Heughan and Caitríona Balfe since 2014, and the actors have done an amazing job keeping the audience invested in their love story. Saying goodbye to them will be incredibly emotional. However, there is still some time before Outlander’s conclusion, and there are many concerns about how the final season will approach the source material.
The questions Outlander needs to answer before season 8 ends revolve around many intersecting storylines, but there’s also an overarching difficulty regarding the books. Gabaldon hasn’t released the final tenth novel, and as the premiere of season 7, part 2 approaches, there’s still more ground to cover in books seven, eight, and nine. While it seems that the writers and showrunners have a plan, and Gabaldon is on board, this still means that the final installments of Outlander will have to work quickly to give viewers the ending they deserve.
Outlander Has To Adapt Several Books In Its Final Two Seasons
This poses a problem in terms of pacing and volume of storytelling
Up until recently, most Outlander books lined up with the series fairly well, but the disruption of season 6 changed the trajectory of the show. However, it’s been confirmed that the adaptation plan for season 7, part 2, will cover the end of book 6, as well as books 7 and 8, while season 8 will track book 9. Gabaldon has also discussed how she has shared small parts of book 10, which will influence how the narrative plays out. Though Outlander has always had to move more quickly than the novels, this is extreme.
As a sweeping fantasy epic, Outlander has always been an ambitious TV show, but tackling so many storylines at once will be its greatest challenge yet. Getting the pacing right will be the biggest obstacle for season 7, part 2, and season 8. There are many more storylines and relationships that require development than just Jamie and Claire’s. However, balancing all of them at once runs the risk of underwriting certain characters and plots that need additional growth. So far, season 7, part 1, has been well received by critics and audiences alike, and Outlander needs to continue this trend.
Outlander’s Ending Has To Deviate From The Books
There’s no way that the books and show will have the same conclusion
It’s been confirmed by Gabaldon and the series’ showrunners that Outlander season 8 will change the book’s ending. This is unavoidable, considering the fact that book 10 likely won’t be published until after the show is over. Fortunately, Gabaldon has been involved in the plan for season 8 and has provided some information about how the last book’s story will play out. However, season 8 will have to encompass both book 9 and create a compelling original ending that connects with audiences. It will be impossible to please everyone, but Outlander must do justice to its characters no matter what.
Outlander has the ability to distinguish itself from the books and stand on its own, making creative choices that feel right for the direction the series has gone.
While this is a stressful turn of events, it also presents an exciting opportunity. Outlander has the ability to distinguish itself from the books and stand on its own, making creative choices that feel right for the direction the series has gone. Additionally, this means that if audiences don’t like how the show ends, they can turn to the books for an alternate conclusion, and vice versa. Not all viewers have read the novels, so this does alleviate some pressure on Outlander to sacrifice cohesion for the sake of perfectly adapting the source material.
Can Outlander Still Have A Satisfying Ending?
There’s a path forward for a touching tribute to the long-running series
There’s no question that Outlander season 8 will be divisive, but that doesn’t mean that the series won’t provide a just conclusion to the epic love story. Each season of Outlander has only further proved that Jamie and Claire are the driving force behind the series, and if season 8 is going to hit home for viewers, then it must provide plenty of drama but also keep its heroes together. It’s important to note that a satisfying ending doesn’t necessarily mean a happy one, as it’s likely that a sacrifice will have to be made before Outlander is over.
It’s been a long journey for Outlander since its premiere in 2014, and the stakes are higher than ever going into the final season. The show has been no stranger to loss and tragedy, and there are plenty of devastating twists set up by the remaining books. However, Outlander will need to strike a balance between how the characters behave in the novels and who they’ve become in the show. Though it’s faced ups and downs, Outlander has always understood how to capture what audiences want while giving the characters and story what they need.