Outlander's Caitriona Balfe dreads having to say goodbye after finishing final season

Outlander fans are gearing up for the second part of season 7, premiering in November. But we're also looking beyond to the final chapter of the series. We can't contain our enthusiasm for how the epic time-traveling love story will end, and there are so many questions about how the series will take its final bow.

Fans are chomping at the bit to learn more about the ending, and the cast members are apparently right there with us. While speaking with Collider, Caitriona Balfe (Claire Fraser) revealed that while she has read some of the final script, she hasn't read all of it. Basically, she's just as much in the dark as us. "The last script, I don't think any of us have read the full script," she shared. "I think they're still keeping parts of it to themselves until the very day that we film it. It's kind of interesting, I can't give any spoilers because I don't know."

It is a clever way to keep things protected and away from any potential prying eyes! Honestly, as a huge Outlander fan, I prefer for things to be kept secret for as long as possible, even if that means the cast has to be kept in the dark as well.

Caitriona Balfe: "It's gonna be so sad to say goodbye" to Outlander

While Balfe may not know exactly how the show will end, she knows it's going to be painful having to say goodbye to cast and crew members she's grown close to over the years. “I think we have about a month left to shoot, so I’m about teetering close to the nervous breakdown stage,” she told Variety earlier this month. “It’s been 11 years, so I’ve literally seen everybody that I work with more than I’ve seen my family or anything else.”

"These people are who I spend every day with, so it’s going to be so sad to say goodbye to everybody and not see them on a regular basis. It’s gonna be so sad to say goodbye to this character that’s completely changed my career and changed my life."

At least Balfe can see a silver lining: “It’s also an exciting time, you know. It’s nice to sort of step into the unknown and see what possibilities might be.”

Outlander will follow Game of Thrones beyond the source material

As for Outlander author Diana Gabaldon, she's already revealed that the ending of the series won't exactly match up to the way her novels conclude. While answering a fan post on her Facebook page, Gabaldon shared, "There's only so much I can say about the show, but what I can say is that it really won't resemble the end of the book series."

This is very much akin to how things went on Game of Thrones, as that series caught up to the source material before it was finished and had to go at partially its own way at the end. Like Game of Thrones, the Outlander show is ending before Gabaldon finishes her final book book. As of right now, she is writing the tenth novel in the series. Soon enough, we'll be able to see what liberties the show took.

Luckily, Gabaldon has given the writing team "a synopsis and pieces for dialogue" to write the final season, so they know something of how Jamie and Claire's story is supposed to conclude. But the details remain up for grabs.

It is truly a bittersweet moment for fans as we say farewell to the series. It will be tough to know that after some point, there will be no new episodes of Outlander, and there will be a permanent Droughtlander to live in. Luckily we do have the prequel series Blood of My Blood to look forward to which will hopefully create its own fandom.

Be sure to watch the premiere of Outlander Season 7, Part 2 on November 22, 2024 on STARZ.

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h/t RadioTimes.com