After winning over audiences for seven seasons and more than a decade, Outlander has reached a pivotal moment. Diana Gabaldon, author of the bestselling book series, has written nine installments so far, with her long-awaited tenth and final novel, A Blessing for a Warrior Going Out, still without a release date.
Instead of waiting for Gabaldon’s conclusion, Starz will move ahead with Season 8 — the show’s final chapter. It’s an ambitious gamble, and one that mirrors the most controversial decision ever made by another fantasy juggernaut: Game of Thrones.
Diana Gabaldon Speaks Out on the Ending
Showrunner Matthew B. Roberts revealed that Gabaldon shared “little pieces of book 10” with the writers, and those details will appear in the last season. But the author has been clear about one major difference:
“There’s only so much I can say about the show, but what I can say is that it really won’t resemble the end of the book series.”
For the first time since its 2014 debut, Outlander will tell a story without a completed roadmap from Gabaldon. That uncertainty raises the same fears that haunted HBO’s Game of Thrones, whose final season remains one of TV’s most divisive endings.
Learning From ‘Game of Thrones’ Missteps
The fall of Game of Thrones has been dissected endlessly. Once celebrated for its political intrigue, shocking twists, and dragons, the series faltered in its rushed final season. Critics argue that showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss strayed too far from George R.R. Martin’s vision, pushing characters into arcs that felt unearned and accelerating plotlines at the expense of depth.
Like Martin, Gabaldon has kept the biggest secrets of her final book under wraps. But unlike HBO’s drama, Outlander has remained deeply loyal to its source. Gabaldon has been a consultant throughout the series, even writing episodes herself. The prequel, Outlander: Blood of My Blood, also stems directly from her outlines, proving how involved she remains in shaping the franchise.
This gives fans hope that, even without book 10, the Starz drama can stay true to the story’s heart.
The Pressure on Season 8
Still, the final season faces an uphill climb. Season 8 must cover events from the penultimate novel while also crafting a satisfying conclusion — all within 10 episodes. That’s shorter than the show’s usual 12 or 13-episode format, and significantly less breathing room to wrap up multiple character arcs.
Gabaldon herself acknowledged the challenge:
“Obviously, they’re going to have to cherry-pick some prime scenes/threads to film, and try to fit them into a framework that makes sense for one season, and that they can bring to a reasonably satisfactory conclusion.”
The author may be taking her time with her novels, but television runs on strict schedules, budgets, and contracts. Starz ultimately had to make a call, and according to Sam Heughan, it was the cast and crew themselves who pushed for an additional season to give the story a proper ending.
A Different Ending in Sight
One promising move: the team filmed several possible endings for Season 8. This flexibility gives the showrunners space to see what works best in the editing room before locking in the finale.
Executive producer Maril Davis admitted she would have preferred to adapt all 10 books exactly as written, but still believes the final season is “satisfying,” “emotional,” and “fitting.” Roberts agrees.
Even Gabaldon, known for being candid about her work, approves:
“I was not upset by it. […] It was well done, I think it will work very nicely.”
Can ‘Outlander’ Avoid the ‘Game of Thrones’ Curse?
The stakes couldn’t be higher. A rushed, off-book ending tanked the legacy of Game of Thrones. But Outlander has one key advantage: Gabaldon’s consistent involvement and a creative team determined to respect her world.
Whether Claire and Jamie’s journey ends in triumph or heartbreak, fans can be sure of one thing — this cast and crew are doing everything they can to give Fraser’s story the farewell it deserves.