The penultimate season of “Outlander” was 16 episodes long and split into two parts. The second half found Jamie (Sam Heughan) presumed dead, then back from the dead, Claire re-married, and then Claire (Caitríona Balfe) on the brink of death. The signature love, heartbreak, and reunions filled these last 8 episodes, leading to a shocking season finale revelation that deviated away from the book series.
IndieWire sat down with the creative team behind “Outlander” to discuss the highlights and challenges in bringing Diana Gabaldon’s book series to life for the second half of Season 7. Executive Producers Maril Davis and Matthew B. Roberts, Production Designer Mike Gunn and Costume Designer Trisha Biggar shared their favorite moments from this season, explained why Balfe and Heughan’s chemistry is the glue that holds their show together, and also teased what to expect in the eighth and final season. Watch the full panel discussion to find out why Jamie and Claire’s big reunion love scene had to be changed from the book.
Watch the full video above.
Davis kicked it off by sharing that her favorite scene was the very last scene in the season finale episode, “A Hundred Thousand Angels.” Claire hears Fanny singing, “I Do Like to Sit Beside the Seaside,” and realizes that Faith, her daughter with Jamie who was stillborn in Season 2, might have lived. “It’s just so heartbreaking. It was such a beautiful scene. I just remember the look on Caitríona’s face when, as Claire, the pieces are falling into place.”
Roberts talks about two scenes that stand out to him, the first requiring Gunn to bring a large ship in when Jamie, Claire and Ian arrive in Scotland. “It was no small feat to sail a ship up from the south of England, get it dressed. That scene worked out so great. It reminded me of when we were in South Africa, doing all the ship scenes (in Season 3).”
When Claire comes down the stairs in a beautiful dress, it’s a moment that Biggar and the costume department executed perfectly. Roberts said, “It’s kind of reminiscent of the red dress (from Season 2).” Claire, the new Mrs. Lord John Grey, must make her first public appearance in this very dress. Biggar said, “It took weeks and weeks to make. Pure lace. I wanted to make it without there being any seams in it, so it was pretty complicated for (our team). There were many people working on different parts at the same time. We covered it eventually in little sparkles so that the candle light would be picking it up.” And how did Balfe handle having to dance in the dress? Biggar lights up: “She’s great with costume. She just sort of puts things on, wears them and behaves as if they’re just regular clothes. She’s marvelous. She just pops things on and off she goes.”
For seven seasons and over 11 years of filming, the heart of “Outlander” has always lay with its central love story between Jamie and Claire. Heughan and Balfe have long been hailed as the king and queen of chemistry. Davis confirms, “They always surprise me. Their chemistry is so good. We’ve gotten so used to them being so good together, that we take it for granted. That chemistry, you can’t buy.”
Davis revealed that Jamie and Claire’s reunion love scene was supposed to be bigger. “There’s a very iconic scene in the book where Jamie and Claire get in a big fight. Jamie is jealous of Claire having slept with Lord John. They have this big, break tables, throw things to the ground, lovemaking scene and an argument. We wanted to do it like the book. It’s this potting shed. Mike tried very hard to do that for us. We found a great greenhouse. But then the lighting and the weather. We ended up putting it into the house on Chestnut Street. There were many debates about that too. ‘Are they going to fight about Lord John, but yet they’re going to make love in Lord John’s house?’ It all came together. That’s a true testament to Sam and Caitríona, they make everything work.” Jamie and Claire reunite on a dining table. And luckily that table survived.
When Jamie is first presumed dead, Gunn said, “The audience knows that Jamie is not dead, but (they) need to believe that Claire thinks that Jamie’s dead. Sam and Caitríona pull that out every single time because of their chemistry. She was stunning in that episode.”
Gunn talks about the set for when Claire is shot. “We wanted it to be quite dramatic, because it’s the finale. It had to house the ending of their journey for that season. We wanted that exact contrast from the violence of the war that’s outside and the horrid nature of the fact that Claire has been shot to the serenity that’s inside.”
Davis and Roberts explained that the book scene where Lord John and Claire sleep together was not easy. Davis says Balfe and David Berry struggled with the storyline. “Why would Claire and Lord John sleep together?” Balfe first spoke about it at ATX Festival at the beginning of season 7. Roberts says, “I don’t even like to think of it as lovemaking, or them having sex. What they were doing is they were grieving.”
The team also addressed the season 7 finale twist that shocked the audience. Claire tells Jamie, “I think our daughter Faith lived.” Davis confesses that everyone in the cast first said, “What? How is that possible?” Season 8 will explain it all they promise. Cue George Michael, “You gotta have Faith.”
Roberts revealed they didn’t just film one ending for their series finale. “We filmed multiple endings. It was important that it not get out what we were doing. We were very careful. I knew it would be very emotional. I would say, probably four that went out into the world.” Biggar, Davis, Gunn, and Roberts ended by teasing the final season in just a few words. Gunn went with alliteration and said, “Epic epic end.” Biggar said, “Surprise,” because she didn’t work on season 8, she left to work on the prequel, “Outlander: Blood of My Blood.” Davis brought it home with, “Emotional, heartbreak, tears.” Gunn added, “Maybe of joy!” Roberts summed it up with one word, “Satisfying.” But which of the four endings is the real ending one has to wonder?
A little heartbreak, a little satisfaction, and a lot of tears, sounds like a perfect ending to “Outlander.” As long as it’s not “Four Endings and Jamie or Claire’s Funeral,” the “Outlander” audience will be happy. Watch the full panel discussion to hear the team break down all the Season 7 moments that made it one of the strongest seasons yet.
“Outlander” is streaming now on Starz. The prequel show, “Outlander: Blood of My Blood” will premiere on August 8 on Starz.
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