Claire & Jamie Returning to Scotland Is the Best Twist That Could Happen in Outlander

When Claire and Jamie returned to Scotland in Outlander season 7, episode 8, it felt as much like a homecoming for the viewers as it did for the onscreen couple.

While even the scenes supposedly set in America were actually filmed in Scotland, there was clearly an effort made not to have any obviously Scottish scenery in the background that would spoil the illusion.

But when you think back to the early seasons of the show, it's hard not to remember how the stunning backdrop added to the charm of the show and drew us into its world. Scotland itself was like a supporting character that elevated the whole thing.

There were plenty of standout performances too. And let's not forget the costume department, who outdid themselves throughout.

Of course, a lot has happened since Outlander first hit our screens. But for all the deaths and troubles Claire, Jamie and others have faced in the intervening years, the show is and always has been a love story. Despite the myriad trials and tribulations that have plagued them wherever they've been, at the heart of Outlander is the unbreakable bond between a man and a woman.

So it's fitting that the finale takes place where it all began almost 20 years ago. Back then, we had no idea that this delightful but gripping combination of sci-fi and period drama would take us on such a rollercoaster journey.

But there was something magical about the hills, lochs and heather that transported us to Scotland and made viewers almost feel the wind in their faces. It helped that Sam Heughan was exactly what we all expected Jamie to be. And it was clear early on that Claire (Caitríona Balfe) would bring a no-nonsense 21st century feminism to the 1740s.

Throughout its run, there have been few opportunities to knock any of the show's characters. They've generally been well-developed and multi-faceted. And the story has taken so many twists and turns that, at times, the setting may not have registered as much as it did in the early days. But as the series draws to a close and the main protagonists return to Scotland, it certainly feels like a much-loved character has come back for a swan song.