The drama pays homage to its past while hoping for the future

Several seasons ago, Outlander has looked quite different since the beginning of the TV show, but the first three episodes of Season 7, Part 2 still have some tricks. For the public who remained with Outlander From the beginning, the slow transformation into a family-oriented series has had its ups and downs. However, the second half of this extra-long season delivers some of the action the series needs. While Caitríona Balfe and Sam Heughan as Claire and Jamie Fraser will always be the heart of the series, there’s a lot to explore with the other characters.

Already, Outlander answered questions that led to season 8, with Roger (Richard Rankin) and Buck (Diarmaid Murtagh) going back in time, Jamie and Claire returning to Lallybroch, and the Revolutionary War marching on whether the characters like it or not. Questions about parenthood and what parents owe their children are overarching topics in the first three episodes of the season. The men are struggling with their scattered children and are ready to assume their responsibilities as caregivers and providers, even if they usually leave the continent shortly afterwards.

Outlander Gears Up for Accelerated Preparation for Season 8

The series knows it has a lot of ground to cover and is wasting no time getting started

The first episode, “Unfinished Business”, does exactly what the name suggests, as the story immediately begins tying up its loose ends. Many promised characters return in Outlander Season 7 picks up almost immediately, allowing Jamie, Claire and their family to resolve issues and deal with unanswered questions in time to let the series move forward with unfinished stories and push the story forward. Although this is good for Outlander in the long run, it ultimately presents the central question that the rest of seasons 7 and 8 will face.

There is still so much story to adapt from the books that Outlander It must move quickly or it risks leaving characters underdeveloped and forgotten. So far, Outlander successfully balanced references to previous seasons and the nostalgia factor, as even when figures from the past appear, the series doesn’t linger on them for long. This is necessary if Outlander will accompany the source material. On the other hand, this means that the reappearance of characters from the past feels more like a checkmark than a satisfying farewell to their arc.

As usual, the performances are solid, sometimes a little melodramatic, with the Fraser family taking center stage. However, Sophie Skelton is practically nowhere to be found during the first three episodes of the season. This isn’t a complaint, as Skelton’s portrayal of Brianna has been a source of contention for the series. Despite this, there are indications that Bree will have her own mission as the narrative progresses, since Outlander it’s not following the predictable path with any of the characters’ stories. The series’ ability to still surprise us is admirable.

So far, Ian (John Bell) and Rachel (Izzy Meikle-Small) have the most promise of passionate tension and romance in the upcoming season. However, Claire and Jamie still find many opportunities to be tortured for the sake of their destined romance, even though it may seem like it. Outlander Your tendency to keep your relationship on the asexual side will continue. Balfe and Heughan have moments to show off their acting skills in the most emotional scenes of the episodes. Claire and Jamie remain the most compelling characters in the series, and this is one way Outlander will never change.

For Outlander’s conclusion to work, the series must play to its strengths

Amid its overlapping stories, Outlander must return to what makes it great

It’s hard not to feel like Season 7 Part 2 is set to clean up as many loose ends as possible in preparation for the explosive final season. There are still many more episodes in part 2 and it already feels like lives have already passed. Episode 11, ‘A Hundredweight of Stones,’ ends on a compelling cliffhanger while also providing some hope that the remainder of the series will keep Jamie and Claire together. However Outlander has separated them since season 2, the latest installments should keep them together.

Outlander it works best when Claire and Jamie are side by side, fighting for their cause and doing whatever it takes to keep their love and family alive. The Revolutionary War is heating up and the series is carefully preparing their intertwined stories to meet somewhere in the future. While the characters’ screen time and storylines don’t receive the same weight and treatment, Season 7 Part 2 holds a lot of promise. Outlander You may be getting ready to say goodbye, but you’re not done fighting yet.

Outlander Season 7, Part 2 premieres November 22nd on Starz, with new episodes airing weekly every Friday at 8pm ET.