Outlander showrunner Maril Davis reveals which novels seasons 7 and 8 will be adapted. The historical fantasy series is based on Diana Gabaldon’s series of novels that explore how a WWII nurse travels back in time to 1743 and falls in love with a mountain man. Starring Catriona Balfe and Sam Heughan, the show began in 2014. Although season 7 has not yet been completed, it has been confirmed that Outlander season 8 will conclude the story.
Davis and Gabaldon opened for The direct about what to expect from the second semester Outlander season 7. Davis confirmed that season 7 will cover book six, A breath of snow and ashbefore exploring the events described in An echo in the bone and Written in my own heart’s blood. Season 8 will then adapt novel 9, Go tell the bees that I’m goneand elements of the unpublished and untitled book 10. They said:
Mary Davis: Season 7 actually covers the last part of book six, because we couldn’t finish it in season 6, then books seven and eight. Season 8 will be book nine… I wish we got more of book ten.
Diana Gabaldon: [And] small pieces of book 10.
Davis: I wish we got more of book ten… I mean I would love to finish it [all the books]. I mean, whether all the characters survive or not, they don’t survive Season 8. I would like to go back to book ten.
Davis then explained how the adaptation process became more complicated as the series progressed, with new traditions and the difference in mediums making it more complicated to faithfully translate each novel. The showrunner noted that this was especially notable in Season 8as Davis must attempt to tie up a story before its proper resolution.
Davis: I think for writers it gets a little more complicated because in the first book everything is new. Of course, the first book is the easiest. I mean, it’s very linear as you go, Diana is amazing on the page, but as a production, it’s very difficult to weave together all these things that are added.
Also, in the books some things happen that could happen again in another book, but since the books are so far from each other, it doesn’t bother you. But when you’re doing a show and everything gets truncated, suddenly it feels like you’re repeating something that didn’t seem like it in the book.
And I think that’s what fans don’t understand, that they –– you sometimes do that because reading is very different from when you’re translating into your [head].
So I think it got harder, actually. And it certainly feels like this last book is gearing up for book 10. So it was a harder book that I thought about finishing.
The program may not be able to find a balance
Davis’ observations leave some questions about how Outlander’The television adaptation will come to an end. Although it was initially confirmed in 2021 that season 7 would adapt the events of the seventh book into twelve episodes, the count was later increased to 16. While this may accommodate what was left out Outlander 6th season, the rest of season 7 will also feature an additional romance within its execution time.
Additionally, while Gabaldon’s involvement could ensure the series follows the same trajectory as the novels, it’s unclear how much of the tenth book will factor into the final season. Outlander isn’t the first adaptation to occur while its source material is in progress, with projects like Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and Game of Thrones offering positive and negative examples for such a situation. It is not clear where Outlander will still fall, but the increasing difficulty of adapting Claire and Jamie’s story could make this a tricky ending to achieve.
Our opinion on the Outlander season 7 and 8 books
Season 7 may have created promising expectations for the show’s finale
Although Season 8 is seemingly set to wrap up the main story, will not mark the end of Outlander franchise. A ten-episode prequel series titled Outlander: Blood of My Blood will explore the lives of Jamie’s parents, with the premise left open to be expanded. While this could have kept the franchise going long enough to allow Season 8 to be delayed, thus allowing Gabaldon to complete the tenth novel, it’s clear that both the author and Davis are working within the limitations they were given.
Despite any fears, however, the first half of the Outlander season 7 was positively received. It has a 100% critic rating and an 84% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, showing that viewers of all types are satisfied with the penultimate season’s run so far. As such, It seems fair to give the rest of the season a fair chance and wait to see how Outlander season 8 trembles before worrying about the final ending.
Source: The direct