'Outlander' Season 8 Stars Tease Tears In The Series Finale - EXCLUSIVE

A beloved show coming to an end is always full of complicated feelings that are both satisfying and bittersweet. It's not a bad thing to say goodbye to a series that we've loved because it allows it to remain contained as its own medium that fans can revisit. Outlander (2014) stars, Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe, are all for this notion by telling JustWatch that they see the value in the show's legacy, as well as the fandom's attachment. But they also recognize what the new season will entail and how the myriad of feelings it'll leave viewers with.

With the new trailer hinting at a war and possible separations again, it can be daunting to think of where your favorite characters might end up. At the same time, there's the underlying trust issue of what if someone is killed off, making the last season utterly heartbreaking? Though the books are based on Diana Gabaldon's creations, the author has yet to release the final book, titled A Blessing For A Warrior Going Out, so fans are understandably going in without knowledge of the prior source material. 

'Outlander' Stars Tease Tears In Season 8, But That's Okay

In a conversation with JustWatch, Heughan said, "You're going to cry, you're going to laugh, you're going to be elated but probably not depressed." The idea that we'll cry is a given, considering Outlander and romantic shows tend to tug on the heartstrings a bit more. And again, a final season always carries a bit of sadness with it, no matter its genre. But since he noted that we probably won't be depressed, perhaps it's safe to assume we won't be as devastated as many of us were with Game of Thrones (2011).

Heughan also added that, of course, they have to tie things up, but they hope that in the end, "It serves the story, the characters, and the fans." Outlander has always had a loud and enthusiastic fan base, so the cast and crew being aware of this is also a positive piece to hold onto before the new season, knowing they wouldn't want to hurt those who've invested their time for eight seasons and twelve years now.

In addition, Balfe weighed in about how the actors cried themselves while filming because they were fully aware of the fact that Season 8 was the last season. We are living in a time where neither those making the shows nor the fans are ever fully promised another season, so the fact that Outlander gets to go off on its own terms is a positive feat that resulted in a lot of bittersweet final days of shooting. Balfe noted that, "It was so amazing because, you know, normally when you're shooting, the studio is very quiet and empty, and we had all the execs, all the producers, all the crew, all the cast had come in, and it was just Sam [Heughan] and I [Balfe] trying to get through a seven-page scene. And it was very, very emotional, and it felt very special and real."

Balfe also called Outlander Season 8 "a real celebration and mourning at the same time," to which Heughan added that it's "very bittersweet for sure." 

What Comes After 'Outlander' Season 8?

With the prequel series Outlander: Blood of My Blood (2025) renewed for Season 2, Balfe and Heughan confirmed they can now be fans, too, after the show's ending. Balfe called the fandom an "amazing community," going on to add that, "We've been so grateful to be a part of it. And, you know, that will continue. They have the prequel, and they have our show to watch over and over. And we can become fans now with them. But I mean, there's plenty to re-watch, to talk about. And there's, you know, this whole season for them to watch as well. So I think they're gonna, they're gonna really enjoy it."

There's always solace in the idea of the cast appreciating the fandom and understanding the importance that their show has had on the community. Outlander's legacy is big enough that its prequel series talks for itself, but the idea that the show can continue to be something that fans could revisit, especially with Valentine's Day right around the corner before the Season 8 premiere, is a lovely, hopeful note to leave viewers with.

The message that people will cry at the end of a series comes with a lot of predictions, but while we might not know what yet, the way Heughan and Balfe speak doesn't leave us uneasy or sad.