We know Fergus and Marsali will return in Outlander season 8, after taking a season off. However, we’re not expecting every single storyline from the books to be included. One particular storyline about Fergus is likely to be skipped over.
Of course, never say “never.” There’s just so much packed into the books that can’t be included in the show. There just isn’t the time for it, and Matt B. Roberts has already said that only storylines that affect Jamie and Claire in some way can be included. Well, one particular Fergus storyline doesn’t currently seem to connect to Claire and Jamie.
Percy Beauchamp is around for other reasons in the Outlander books
In Outlander season 7, Claire met Percy Beauchamp, who was curious about Claire having the same last name. There was a conversation about whether their family lines connect, but it sounds like they don’t. In the books, Percy is around for other reasons. He is there to see John to help find Fergus, who he believes is the son of Le Comte St. Germain.
This sets up a side story for Lord John Grey, while also bringing Fergus more into the mix. Those who have read The Space Between, which claireandjamie.com is currently doing in our read-through, will know that Le Comte St. Germain survives being poisoned and is a time traveler. There is a hint in the books that maybe Fergus could be a time traveler, and there are even theories that Fergus is an ancestor of Claire’s in some sort of way.
Without the series already bringing Percy’s other reason to be close to Lord John Grey, it doesn’t look like this particular storyline will be used. That doesn’t mean we won’t see Percy again, as he is used later in Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone and we’ll likely see him again in the 10th book. I expect the end of Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone will be used with Outlander season 8 offering its version of the ending.
Why skipping this Fergus storyline isn’t a bad thing
We would all love to see more of Fergus, especially since he wasn’t see at all in the seventh season. Just because we want something doesn’t mean we need it, and this Fergus storyline is one that we don’t really need. It adds just too much extra to the story that isn’t necessarily going to have a pay off.
It felt like Outlander season 7 already set up the fact that the Beauchamps Percy has married into are not the same Beauchamps that Claire comes from. This would mean that making Fergus the son of Le Comte and Amelia Beauchamp wouldn’t have the same payoff as it could in the books. Anything included in the TV series at this point needs some sort of payoff.
We know that Fergus and Marsali will return. With that in mind, I suspect we’ll see a certain devastating moment for Henri-Christian, which we at claireandjamie.com have gone into before. This has a much bigger payoff in the overall story, especially for the entire Fraser family, so that’s the one that makes the most sense to include.
By leaving out a lesser-needed storyline, there is time to focus on what really matters for each of the characters in this final season. We get the closure we're needed, along with drama and fun.
Stay up to date with the latest Outlander news and theories with Claire and Jamie.