While there is a lot of focus on Outlander: Blood of My Blood right now, we're also keeping an eye on everything Outlander season 8 related. With the way Outlander season 7 was released, it's perfectly naturally for Sassenachs to be worried about how the final season will come out.
Outlander season 7 was released in two parts. The first half came out in early 2023, and then we had to wait until late 2024 for the second half of the season. That Droughtlander was hard and frustrating, especially since the second half of the season was ready way before late 2024. Will we have to put up with something like that for Outlander season 8?
We don't think so! Just keep in mind that we're not affiliated with STARZ and have no idea what the execs are planning.
Outlander season 8 is only 10 episodes
Let's just start with the main reason for Outlander season 8 not to be split in two parts. It's only 10 episodes long. The seventh season was 16 episodes, as four episodes of season 6 were tacked onto the beginning of season 7 due to a couple of reasons (including Caitriona Balfe's pregnancy).
Cutting 16 episodes in to two halves made sense, and there was precedence for this as Outlander season 1 was also in two halves. Poor Jamie was hanging out of a window for six months!
Other seasons have been between 12 and 13 episodes, and they all ran in one shot. There was a week break at some point for the majority of the seasons, but that was it. So, we expect to see 10 episodes run in one shot on STARZ.
Will STARZ want to keep people hooked?
The only concern for me personally is that Outlander season 8 is the last season. While we have Outlander: Blood of My Blood, there's no guarantee that that show will be renewed. It's not been billed as a limited series, so there is hope that it will continue, but there's no guarantee of it right now.
So, STARZ will want to keep the Outlander fanbase around for some time. What better way than splitting the season in two? If STARZ really has to do this then it better be a case of both seasons air in the same year, one at the start and one at the end, but STARZ better not do this. Five episodes will not be enough for one half of the story.
I don't foresee STARZ doing this, though. Whenever Outlander season 8 arrives, which I think will be in 2026, I think it will be in one, but with a week break likely before the series finale.
Outlander is available to stream in full (so far) on STARZ.
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