Outlander's Potential Plot Twist: Do Jamie and Claire Die in the Books?
If you're apprehensive about what's in store for the Frasers, read on, but beware of spoilers.
Outlander fans eagerly awaiting the new season of the beloved Starz show, premiering on 16 June 2023, are concerned about the fate of its protagonists in the upcoming episodes.
The season's trailer reveals that the characters of the time-travelling drama will be involved in the American Revolution, teasing the potential death of everyone's favourite Highlander, Jamie Fraser, on a battlefield.
For those worried about Jamie and Claire's destiny, we're here to put your mind at ease. Fortunately, we can glimpse the future of the Frasers by consulting Diana Gabaldon's nine-novel series, upon which the show is based. We're happy to report that in Gabaldon's story, both Jamie and Claire remain very much alive and continue as protagonists. However, it doesn't always appear that way.
Outlander, both the series and the novels, has never been easy on its characters, and the next instalment is no exception. At the end of Book 7, titled Echo in the Bone, which serves as the basis for the upcoming season, Jamie gives Claire and the readers a genuine scare by vanishing at sea. In fact, after Jamie's ship goes missing, a heartbroken Claire truly believes she has lost her husband and even marries Lord John Grey for protection. Jamie's return in the subsequent book comes as a shock to all the characters, including Claire and Jamie's son.
Diana Gabaldon is currently writing the tenth Outlander book. When asked if she intends to end the series with the new novel, slated for release in 2024, the author said, according to Cinema Blend, that it remains a question even for her.
'Well, it depends on Jamie and Claire. If they're not ready to die yet then I guess I'll have to go on,' Gabaldon stated.
It seems the author is prepared to conclude her series on a tragic note if her characters and their arcs demand it. However, the Starz show may take a different direction from the books. It has already been announced that Season 8 of Outlander will be the last, and with at least two more books to adapt, the creators will likely have to make their own decisions regarding the fate of the main characters.
Let's hope the show will end on a positive note. After all the characters have endured, they certainly deserve it.
Source: Cinema Blend.