We Have Sam Heughan to Thank for Outlander Ending With Season 8

The latest episode of Outlander Season 7 had viewers on the edge of their seats, impatient for a resolution. The beloved characters face danger in two time continuums at once: in the 20th century, Brianna is trying to rescue her kidnapped child, while in the 18th century, Jamie and his son (oops, we mean his friend's son) William fight on the opposite sides of the Revolutionary War, which is already in full swing.

Now we still have one episode to go before the long hiatus, as the second half of Season 7 won't be out for a while. But as it turns out, this season could've been the last for the show, leaving fans with a very inconclusive and far-from-satisfying ending.

This might have happened if Outlander's biggest fan and lead actor Sam Heaughan hadn't intervened. The star convinced the producers to extend the series for another season.

'We were supposed to finish this season and I didn't want to finish without finishing the story and that is the reason why we are going back to do one more,' Heughan told The Herald. 'I want to finish the story, not only for myself but for the fans. It wouldn't feel satisfactory to just end it, left in the air.'

Naturally, the news that Season 8 will be the show's last is a bit disappointing, as the current installment is based on Diana Gabaldon's seventh book, An Echo in the Bone, and there are three more novels in the series, the last of which is still being written. This suggests that the writers will have to cram a lot of storylines into one last season, and the finale will most likely be different from the one planned by the author.

And yet, Sam Heughan, a Scottish actor for whom the Outlander story is very personal, is determined to make sure that the fans get a logical and rewarding conclusion to the show that's been on the air for eight years now.

'Whatever the writers do, I guess we will find out. I don't think it is ever going to be satisfactory for everyone, but hopefully we can get to a place where at least our Outlander is told. It won't be the full book, but at least it's our story, and it will hopefully give some sort of finality,' the actor shared his thoughts on the series' closure.

Episode 8 of Outlander Season 7 will be released on August 11, 2023.

Source: The Herald.