Diana Gabaldon has positive things to say about the Outlander series ending

Eyes are on the ending of Outlander. As much as we’re not ready for it, we know that it will arrive soon.

During the NYCC 2024 panel, the topic of the ending came up. Maril Davis made it clear that the TV show ending is not going to be the same as the book ending. That’s okay, though, and Diana Gabaldon has positive things to say about that.

Why Outlander season 8 will end differently to the book

There are a few reasons for the Outlander season 8 ending to differ from the way the books will end. The first is that the ending to the books hasn’t even been written yet. While Diana Gabaldon has shared some of the details with the likes of Matthew B. Roberts and Maril Davis, she hasn’t shared everything. With the way she writes, she wouldn’t even be able to do that.

Another reason is that some of the topics from the book haven’t been as important in the TV show. There just isn’t the time to add everything in the series, so it’s not surprising that some of the lesser important moments are skipped over. It’s more of the fantastical elements, such as Claire’s powers and Jamie’s ghost, that we’re not expecting to see as the TV series became more rooted in the personal and wartime drama.

Davis also shared during NYCC that she and the rest of the creative team wanted to be respectful to Gabaldon.

Diana Gabaldon is able to be objective about Outlander

Gabaldon shared that she isn’t upset about the way the TV series is ended compared to the books. She doesn’t mind that things are different. It makes sense for her, anyway, although she didn’t get into the fact that nobody even knows how the 10th book will end yet.

The Outlander author went on to share that she was able to be objective about the TV series ending. She has positive things to say, sharing that the show ends well for the storylines set up in it. She made it clear that “it was well done,” according to A.V. Club.

"I was not upset by [the different ending]. It was possible for me to be objective about it because it was well done and will work nicely for the show."

The final season is still some time away. We’re still waiting for the second half of season 7, and we’re not expecting Outlander season 8 until 2026.

Outlander season 7B premieres on Friday, Nov. 22 on Starz.

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