The Outlander pilot has a huge mystery for those who haven’t heard Diana Gabaldon speak, and now Sam Heughan has confirmed theories.
In Outlander Season 1, Episode 1, Frank comes across a man looking up at Claire through the window. He looks like he’s seen a ghost, and he most likely has. However, the identity of the man has never been mentioned and it’s almost like that moment has been forgotten about. Well, Sam Heughan confirms that the Outlander pilot mystery isn’t forgotten about and that it’s the same that Diana Gabaldon fans already knew.
A few years ago, Gabaldon confirmed that the man looking up at Claire was indeed our brave Highlander, Jamie Fraser. She’s never shared how he’s able to travel (and Caitriona Balfe recently confirmed that Jamie can’t time travel!) but that she would share all in the final book, which will be Book 10.
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It turns out that Heughan had already had the chance to read the final pages of that last book, despite Gabaldon only currently working on Book 9. The final moment will explain everything, showing just how Jamie can be in 1945/46 (depending on the book version and the show) despite not having the ability to travel through time.
Fans have spent years debating over how this is possible. One of the main theories is that he’s a ghost. The moment is on Halloween, also known as Samhain. This is the time the veil between the living and the dead is at its thinnest, allowing for ghosts to cross into the world of the living temporarily. Could this be ghost Jamie, finally getting the chance to cross over and watch Claire in the future before she even knew she would meet him? After all, he would have died in the past and this would be his future.
Yes, time travel is messy and the more you think about it the more you get a headache!
The important thing is the mystery will also be solved in the series. Heughan and the showrunners confirm this, but it likely won’t be until the Outlander Series Finale, whenever that is. The showrunners are confident they’ll get a Season 5, so it’s not anytime soon!
Next: Could Frank's return work for Outlander Season 4?
How do you think Jamie crosses to 1945/46? Is he a ghost or real? Share your theories in the comments below.
Outlander Season 4 is currently still filming. Follow Claire and Jamie on Twitter for more updates straight to your feed.