Believe it or not, Outlander is nearly halfway through the eighth and final season in the 2026 TV schedule. Claire and Jamie are dealing with the added complications of Frank’s book foretelling Jamie’s death during a Revolutionary War battle. But even before he has to take up arms again, the pair has had to process the worst kind of news they got about their daughter while also welcoming Fanny into the family. It was a grim way to start the season, with Claire feeling what Caitriona Balfe described as “seething hatred." That said, it also helped Outlander break its own ratings record.

Outlander’s New Viewership Record On Starz

The final weeks of the very last Droughtlander were filled with teases of the executive producer penning multiple endings and the possible deaths of fan favorites, and the result was the season premiere delivering the largest viewership of an episode of Outlander in four years.

Starz confirmed that the premiere attracted nearly three million viewers across platforms, marking a four-year series high and getting the final season off to an extremely strong start. That number was also enough to elevate Outlander to ranking as the #1 scripted cable program for that week.

It remains to be seen how many people keep tuning in for the full ten-episode final season, but the millions of viewers for the premiere indicates that a hiatus lasting more than a full year wasn’t enough to deter fans from coming back. Then again, this wasn’t Outlander’s longest drought over the twelve years since it premiered. That dubious honor goes to the break between Seasons 5 and 6, which lasted just under two years in the wake of COVID production complications.

So, the show got off to an excellent start in 2026… although Claire herself didn’t, and Caitriona Balfe opened up about her game-changing first move in the premiere.

Claire Acted On Her Hatred (And It Made So Much Sense)

Season 8 wasted no time in establishing that Claire and Jamie weren’t just sitting idly on the discovery that their daughter Faith may have survived after all, but took action in the wake of the Season 7 finale revelation from Fanny. While it’s still not clear how Faith could have survived what seemed like her very definitive death as an infant in Season 2, the Frasers encountered a man who recounted how he’d met Faith as well as her two daughters, who fans know as Jane and Fanny.

Unfortunately, that man turned out to be one of the more disgusting characters of the series to date, and that’s saying something for a show that has featured villains like the terrifying Black Jack Randall and the pirate Stephen Bonnet. Not knowing that he was addressing her parents, the man recounted how he murdered Faith by throwing her overboard a ship when he captured the vessel carrying her, her husband, and her two daughters. He assaulted Jane, and only spared Fanny the same horrific treatment because she was too small at the time.

And Claire has kept calm and carried on through a lot over the years on Outlander, but this was too much for her. To the shock of the man, his crony, and even Jamie, she drew a knife and stabbed him in the back, killing him for what he’d done to her daughter and granddaughters. When I spoke with Caitriona Balfe ahead of Season 8, I had to know: what was it like for her to revisit the Faith storyline in this way, after that story had seemed quite finished back in Season 2? She explained:

The two may not have been perfect characters from start to finish on Outlander, but they can hardly be blamed if the story is true that Master Raymond somehow hid that Faith survived birth. Claire was dealing with the traumatic loss of her daughter and the arrest of her husband, while Jamie was paying the price for deciding to duel Black Jack. Master Raymond seemingly took advantage of them in their most desperate time… unless there’s more to the story than we know so far. Balfe went on:

For as shocked as fans may have been when watching Claire commit murder, Caitriona Balfe was shocked as well while reading it. Still, the man gleefully recounting all the awful things he’d done to her family was bad enough that I was half expecting Jamie to snap before his wife did. Balfe sees where her character was coming from:

Even Claire has her limits, and killing that man may well have been the catharsis that she needed to start building a life for Fanny in Fraser’s Ridge. She didn’t have to worry that the man would be coming for them, and she could focus on the good of having her granddaughter in her life rather than the bad of what happened to Faith and Jane.

What's Next For The Frasers?

So, Outlander’s eighth season got off to a very intense start in March, and plenty of people tuned in to see it. While I don’t doubt that Claire still has plenty of “hatred” in her for what she’s endured over the years, she may have gotten about as much closure as she possibly can after the death of the man who killed Faith and kidnapped her daughters.

Plus, the return of Buck in Episode 4 seemingly wrapped up the loose end of Rob Cameron, so the extended Fraser family can at least cross Rob off of their list of things to worry about as the Battle of King’s Mountain approaches to decide Jamie’s fate. Interestingly, Buck's return happened while Roger and Brianna actually weren’t present at Fraser’s Ridge, with Bree in Savannah to connect with her half-brother. For his part, William is getting closer to connecting in an entirely different way with Amaranthus, with the actors hyping their “enemies to lovers” romance in Season 8.

The siege of Savannah seems to be imminent as well, which could mean viewers finally get an explanation for the trailer showing some troubling clips of Fergus and his sons in a fire, as well as a sobbing Marsali. I’m still hoping for a twist that doesn’t wreck that branch of the Fraser family, however. All bets are off now that the end is approaching, and at least one character’s survival has never felt more uncertain. After all, Outlander still has to address that Ghost Jamie clue from the pilot all those years ago, right?

For now, you can keep finding new episodes on Fridays at 8 p.m. ET on Starz, and/or via the STARZ App, and all Starz streaming and on-demand viewing platforms. Who knows? Perhaps Outlander can break another one of its own viewership records before the final credits roll.

Well, Sassenachs, we are only three weeks into Outlander Season 8 on the 2026 TV schedule, and already we’ve had a huge found-family revelation, a totally senseless but appropriately old-timey death, and a(nother) magical resurrection. If nothing else, we can 100% say that the traumas of the final season are also expounding on some of the show’s remaining questions, and now fans are wondering about Claire and her apparent ability to bring folks back from the dead with non-medical methods. I was quite surprised that star Caitríona Balfe and the showrunner have differing ideas on whether or not Mrs. Fraser actually has “power.”

What Caitríona Balfe And Outlander’s Showrunner Said About Claire And Her Healing Powers

I have to admit, with the very vague thread that’s been sparsely woven throughout seven previous seasons of Outlander, I hadn’t really given much thought to Claire having literal magic at her disposal, beyond what she can already wondrously do when it comes to time travel to and from the 1700s. However, the final season has now made it very clear that medical doctor Claire Beauchamp Randall Fraser has some kind of access to supernatural healing ability, with Season 8, Episode 3 seeing her save a newborn babe from the clutches of the grim reaper.

I’m like many fans and am still trying to wrap my head around what that means for the rest of the Fraser family and friends as this sweeping romantic adventure comes to a close, but I was still shocked to see that lead Caitríona Balfe and showrunner Matthew B. Roberts have such different thoughts on Claire and her healing capacity. When speaking with TVLine about it, Balfe said:

The friendly favor-giving star also noted that she, in real life, feels that some folks can “have a very strong connection to their ability to transfer energy,” which is why she likes to believe that it’s possible for Claire, especially because:

Exactly! Why assume Claire doesn’t have any control over her La Dame Blanche talents (Going back to Season 2 for that reference!) when her being able to call upon it in dire times of need is much more fun? Roberts also explained his position, and said:

Cool. Then I will decide that Claire is, by the time the credits roll for the final time, able to control this gift enough that she can save Jamie and that they will live together in eternal supernatural happiness on some other plane of existence. There. How’s that as an alternate ending?

Outlander just returned to the 2026 TV schedule, yet its comeback has been bittersweet. That’s because Starz announced the series would be ending with Season 8 while Season 7 was still in the mix. The droughtlander had been long, and will soon be permanent. Plus, given there are more books to come in the written series the TV show is based on, I’ve been extremely nervous about where all of this is going.

However, author Diana Gabaldon is more bullish about the future, and has a message for the fans like me who are a bit tepid about what is coming next. She said after the Season premiere:

About a million years ago, and when I say a million years ago I really mean 10, Gabaldon was doing press while Outlander was still in its infancy. Someone asked her about the very famous scene from the pilot in which Frank sees a shadowy figure watching Claire from the window in Inverness. He approaches the ghostlike figured, revealed to be a shadow of Jamie Fraser, but the figure disappears. Gabaldon said years ago the explanation for that scene would be the very final thing she wrote into the series, which she believed at the time would be Book 10. (Gabaldon published Book 9, Go Tell The Bees That I Am Gone, back in 2021.)

Despite this, I don’t realistically know if we are getting a return to this scene in the final season of Outlander. I’ve recently been re-watching the series in anticipation of the final episodes, and the moment in the pilot really does serve to kick off all of the strangesness that comes next. In order to buy into Outlander, you have to buy into the concept of time travel in an historical setting, and that scene really serves to set the tone, and to share how vivid and poignant the connection between Jamie and Claire is, even before we’ve met Jamie.

So, How The Heck Is Outlander Going To Wrap?

The cast knows, of course, having finished filming the series back in 2024. Though Sam Heughan admitted at the time even he didn’t really know how the series was going to end, which made me wonder then if they had filmed multiple possibilities. His boss, EP Matthew B. Roberts, later confirmed multiple endings were filmed.

Meanwhile, Gabaldon has seen all of Outlander Season 8, and she’s throwing positivity at the restless fans like me who are very apprehensive about what’s next. She told TV Insider:

Most of the seasons of the series have loosely followed the books, but that timeline was sped up later in the series. We’ve seen some elements of Written in my Own Heart’s Blood in Season 7 already, but that book does have a lovely, memorable ending, and I half thought at the time when I read it that it might be the last book. That didn’t turn out to be the case, however.

Season 8 will reportedly draw on Book 9 (Go Tell The Bees That I am Gone) and Gabaldon also said here that it will not dive into her unpublished Book 10. Ergo, because the window scene is supposed to be how the series wraps, I’m concerned some character stories, including the moment by the window, will be left unfinished.

I will certainly miss the TV series not making it to the end of Diana Gabaldon’s written narrative. What I’m not tepid on is Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan. Though I love all the characters, they have admirably carried this drama for over a decade, and managed roles in major movie productions on the side. They’ve worked for months on scenes with warfare and action, they've somehow managed to keep love-making scenes fresh, and they have dealt with so much in the way of makeup to age them up and down. They are, simply put, the beating heart of Outlander, and the reason the show has gone on.

Despite all of the love, and Diana Gabaldon’s voice of reassurance, here, I’m still nervous Outlander is going to pull a Gilmore Girls, and make us wait for the return to the scene by the window when her final book comes out. There could be worse things, I suppose.

Outlander Season 8 is fast approaching on the 2026 TV schedule, and while fans have always loved things like the drama’s romantic sexy scenes, incredibly revelatory opening credits, and the very real chemistry between stars Caitríona Balfe and Sam Heughan, something they also adore is knowing that the duo are real life friends. They’ve talked about their sibling-like bond many times over the years, but now the Belfast star has opened up about one time when she actually let others think she had diarrhea to help her pal out on set.

What Caitríona Balfe Said About Letting Others Think She Had Diarrhea To Help Sam Heughan While Filming Outlander

Anyone who’s been blessed to have at least one really good friend will likely agree that they would do pretty much anything for them, and vice versa. Well, the cast and crew of Outlander became a tight-knit bunch after filming in Scotland for over a decade, with leads Caitríona Balfe and Sam Heughan being such “firm friends” that they praise each other’s accomplishments away from the time travel romance and have even openly argued over Balfe’s pet peeve about Heughan.

Something else that they’ve done is support each other during the frequently grueling and incredibly time-consuming shoots, with The Couple Next Door star saying the show’s success is because of their “equal energy and input.” However, it now kinda sounds like Balfe may have put at least a teensy bit more into their camaraderie. After saying that their friendship was “probably one of the things I’m the proudest of from the whole show,” she told Vogue that she once let their colleagues assume she had some digestive troubles to help her pal out. As she told it, while being interviewed alongside her co-star:

Wow. This might seem like a small task, but I think it really can be classified as her taking “one for the team” when it comes to helping a friend out. I mean, no one wants to have diarrhea, but it might be even worse for other people to know/think you have it, right? But, she realized at that moment that her friend needed some time to process something. So instead of putting his business in the street and letting everyone know that he was upset, she put the idea of her intestinal fortitude on the line to plead for a sudden potty break.

Though he responded to her confession with a somewhat glib-sounding “Did you? So nice!” he did admit to how much he’d felt that his co-star would “protect” him as they worked on the series, and said:

Balfe letting everyone think she needed an emergency poop evacuation does give big sis energy, doesn’t it? I love this friendship for them, and I’m sure that if Heughan ever returns this type of favor, neither of them will shy away from talking about it.

Sassenachs? We are now just a few weeks away from the 2026 TV schedule delivering not just an end to another long Droughtlander, but the last one we’ll experience (for the main series, anyway), as Outlander Season 8 will begin the show’s final run on March 6. Though I had always assumed that working on the long-running series was probably incredibly intense, after hearing how star Caitríona Balfe talks about the experience of being in that “bubble” while filming, I’m really appreciating my PTO way more!

What Did Caitríona Balfe Say About Being In The Outlander Bubble While Working On The Show?

Fans who’ve followed along with the adventures of Claire and Jamie over the years could still be fuzzy on some things about Outlander. We’re all wondering, for instance, how the action-packed romantic drama will wrap up, still have questions about how Outlander’s time travel really works, and desperately want to know what’s the deal with “ghost” Jamie from the pilot. However, one thing we do know is that the cast and crew pretty much adore each other.

Caitríona Balfe and many of the show’s other stars have spoken a lot about the “camaraderie” they formed while filming in Scotland for so many years, and how they all knew they’d miss each other once the series was done. While speaking on the She’s A Rec podcast recently with host and Outlander co-star Lauren Lyle (who’ll return as Marsali in Season 8), the Belfast talent noted that filming the series meant being in a “bubble” which included their “very strong, tight-knit group.” But, she also opened up about the sheer intensity of filming, and I kinda want to take a nap just hearing about it! Balfe said:

Woooooo, boy! I realize that there are a lot of people who work incredibly long hours, so whenever I hear stories like this is makes me so glad I'm not in the 80-hr-workweek camp. A lot of people’s first instinct when hearing about the unbelievable amount of time that went into making the romance would likely be to note how Balfe and her co-star, Sam Heughan, were simply acting on a TV show and not digging ditches or attempting to save lives that whole time.

While that’s accurate, let’s remember that they had to spend hours in wigs and period costumes, while enduring lots of time running, screaming, and stressed out from Claire and Jamie’s on-screen trauma and, you know, away from their families and friends on top of it. I totally get the idea that this would lead to the stars “just sort of surviving,” while filming, especially during those first few seasons while they adjusted to what Heughan previously called the “pretty tough, pretty full on” routine.

Luckily, having all of the past year to relax a bit has helped Balfe. While she did say that she basically feels like a different person from the one she was when the drama began, she also admitted that she’s now feeling “probably more similar to that person who started.” As she put it:

Feeling “centered” is always a plus, and it’s almost sure to help her through the next rounds of press and realizing that her work on Outlander is finally, completely done.

Like every other Outlander fan under the sun, I’ve had quite a journey with the romantic fantasy/historical drama. It’s made me laugh, made me cry, and delivered so much shock and awe in just a couple of handfuls of its best episodes that I sometimes can’t believe how much has happened to Claire, Jamie and all of their friends and extended family. Seeing as how we’ve known that Outlander Season 8 is going to be the final go-round for a long time now, I had actually gotten used to the fact that this Caitríona Balfe and Sam Heughan-starring ride was coming to an end. However, now that Heughan’s been out here praising his co-star, I’m all in my feels again.

What Did Outlander’s Sam Heughan Say About Caitríona Balfe Before Season 8 Airs?

Even though we are quickly approaching the end of the 2025 TV schedule, we are still a ways off from the 2026 television debut of Outlander Season 8. So, while we are, technically, still in a Droughtlander (though Outlander: Blood of My Blood is helping by providing a new 1700s time travel story), I’ve been able to adjust to the fact that a series I’ve loved for over a decade will soon no longer bring me new adventures.

During a recent interview with the New York Post, though, Sam Heughan had to go and stir my emotional pot by sweetly talking up his co-star and buddy, Caitríona Balfe. When speaking about being done with their roles as Jamie and Claire since Season 8 wrapped filming nearly a year ago, the Men in Kilts star said:

Welp, that’s it! Once again, it’s hard to imagine a world where these two aren’t on screen together at least every couple of years. Sassenachs! Whatever shall we do!

I mean, sure. For many years now it’s seemed very apparent that Balfe and Heughan became friends because of the show. From him talking about how she’s “like a sister and best friend,” to her calling him her “work hubby” and them arguing about Heughan refusing to return Balfe’s phone calls, they clearly have a tight bond that we can all hope won’t end just because…sniff, sniff…the show that brought them together does.

Hopefully, they’ll continue to at least share their friendship with fans, and post the odd photo of them at lunch together once in a while. He continued, and noted that they even met up not long ago:

Awww! I love that for them. Listen, folks, all I can really say is that we better prepare ourselves for the “traditional feels” Outlander's final season will bring, because it’s sure to be an emotional ride that might last well past the end credits rolling for the last time.

Warning: spoilers ahead for the first two episodes of Outlander: Blood of My Blood, available streaming now with a Hulu subscription and the STARZ app.

The long-awaited Outlander spinoff has officially premiered with two back-to-back episodes in the 2025 TV schedule, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who was glad to get the double dose of time travel romance in one night. After the first episode focused largely on Brian (Jamie Roy) and Ellen (Harriet Slater) in the 18th century, only the last ten minutes of the premiere focused on Julia (Hermione Corfield) and Henry (Jeremy Irvine) before the second episode really delved into their story.

As it turned out, their story on screen in those last ten minutes of the premiere started with a sex scene that seemed reminiscent of Claire and Jamie on Outlander, so I asked the stars for their thoughts on working with intimacy coordinators after Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan spoke highly of the practice. First things first!

What Caitriona Balfe And Sam Heughan Have Said

Outlander didn’t have an intimacy coordinator in the earliest seasons, as staffing somebody in that role wasn’t common when the show kicked off back in 2014. That changed for Season 6, and both stars only had good things to say about the new practices. Speaking with EW, Balfe recounted that it was previously a "constant negotiation between the director and the producers and how much do the producers want versus how much we feel comfortable with,” which were “never comfortable conversations, and sometimes it can cause tensions.” She went on to say this about Vanessa Coffey, who came on as the intimacy coordinator:

Sam Heughan, who brought Vanessa Coffey into the production in the first place and then worked with her again on Starz’s The Couple Next Door, shared his own thoughts in the same 2022 interview while reflecting back on the earliest days of Outlander:

Charles Vandervoort, who plays William on Outlander, also praised working with the show’s intimacy coordinator. She made sure that he and his scene partner “were very comfortable with what was going to happen” with “established boundaries.” So, what about Blood of My Blood as the spinoff wasted no time in getting steamy with two of the four leads?

What Hermione Corfield And Jeremy Irvine Told Us

I’d predicted that Outlander: Blood of My Blood might take a few episodes before getting into any sex scenes, but I clearly underestimated how much of Julia and Henry’s love story we’d see in the 20th century before Claire’s parents accidentally traveled back a couple hundred years. The actors’ first such scene took place in the premiere, when Henry and Julia took a brief break while driving through the Scottish countryside for a romantic rendezvous before the car crash that took them away from their young daughter.

It was an intimate scene for two costars so early in a show that will run at least two seasons thanks to an early renewal, so I took a moment while speaking with Hermione Corfield and Jeremy Irvine during Starz’s Blood of My Blood press day to ask about about their experiences with an intimacy coordinator after what Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe said. Corfield, who previously recounted how paparazzi almost spoiled a huge Blood of My Blood twist, shared:

Fortunately, the two actors clearly have a strong working relationship as well as the advocacy of an intimacy coordinator. Vanessa Coffey fills that role on the prequel after doing the same on Outlander, so the show certainly recruited somebody with experience in that world of period drama romance. Jeremy Irvine shared his own take:

It remains to be seen just how much romance Outlander: Blood of My Blood will deliver for Julia and Henry in Season 1. While Brian and Ellen only seem to be getting closer, Julia and Henry were separated before traveling back in time, and Julia currently doesn’t even know that her husband is anywhere other than post-WWI Scotland. If nothing else, I predict that fans should probably prepare for some yearning!

See what’s next for the love stories of Outlander: Blood of My Blood on Fridays at 8 p.m. ET on Starz, or streaming on Hulu or the Stars app. After Harriet Slater wore more than thirty feet of tartan silk for the premiere and the promise of a second season, there’s plenty of buzz surrounding the new show.

The wild ride of Outlander will end after the upcoming eighth and final season, but it remains to be seen if Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan will be back on the small screen as their iconic characters before the end of the 2025 TV schedule. As a fan of the fantastical time-travel romance period drama going back to the beginning, I always keep an eye out to see if Outlander will be recognized on the awards circuit, and even asked one star for their thoughts about why the popular drama always gets snubbed by the major events like Emmys, Golden Globes, and Critics Choice.

Now, months after Balfe lost out on a major award, she's been nominated for another that I think could be perfect for her work on this series. She's in the running for Best Actress in a Science Fiction/Fantasy Series, Limited Series Or Made-For-TV Movie at the Critics Choice Super Awards. The nomination was announced just months after she was in the running for Best Actress in a Drama Series at the main Critics Choice Awards. That trophy went to Kathy Bates for Matlock, beating out Found's Shanola Hampton, Black Doves' Keira Knightley, The Diplomat's Keri Russell, and Shōgun's Anna Sawai as well as Balfe for Outlander.

Now, I'm certainly not saying that Kathy Bates didn't deserve the award, and I was actually thrilled to see a network TV show getting some recognition, but Sophie Skelton's comments about why Outlander doesn't get awards love have stuck with me since I spoke to her back in February. The actress, who plays Bree on Outlander, told me:

If Outlander strays too much into genre for any wins in general drama categories, then what better event for Caitriona Balfe to take home a trophy than a category from the CCA that literally has to give the award to a leading lady from a Science Fiction/Fantasy Series? It's right there in the category title, after all! No legal procedurals for the win on this one.

Balfe is admittedly up against some stiff competition for Best Actress in a Science Fiction/Fantasy Series for the Critics Choice Super Awards. Also in the running are Adria Arjona for Andor, Kathryn Hahn for Agatha All Along, Britt Lower for Severance, Cristin Milioti for Black Mirror: USS Callister: Into Infinity, and Michelle Yeoh for Star Trek: Section 31, and all are worthy options. Still, I think it bodes well for the Outlander star that she's at least up against actresses who are also from genre series, and each of them put in solid work on their various projects.

But with only one season of Outlander left and no sign that Caitriona Balfe will be in either season of the recently-renewed Blood of My Blood prequel, time is running out for the leading lady and her show to get the awards attention I think they deserve. Even if she doesn't win at the Super Awards, I will at least enjoy that she got a nomination as I continue to try to get over how hard she was snubbed for her standout (albeit heartbreaking) work in Season 5 .

The winners of the Critics Choice Super Awards will be announced on Thursday, August 7, which just so happens to be exactly one day before Outlander: Blood of My Blood premieres on Starz and two days before the anniversary of Outlander's first-ever episode.

Outlander finished the second half of Season 7 in the 2025 TV schedule with a finale that was eventful to say the very least, with news breaking shortly after that Sophie Skelton – a.k.a. Brianna MacKenzie – would be getting an award while Caitriona Balfe was in the running for a major category at the Critics Choice Awards. Alas, that was Outlander's one and only CCA nomination, and I took the chance to ask Skelton just hours before the ceremony why the Starz drama never gets the awards love it deserves.

As a longtime Outlander fan, I always look through lists of awards nominations in the hopes of seeing the show getting some love. Whether for the acting or the directing or the writing or even composing, I'm always hoping for at least some nominations. That rarely happens, though, and the Critics Choice Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series went to Kathy Bates for Matlock instead of Caitriona Balfe for Outlander.

And I'm not saying that Kathy Bates didn't deserve the win after her emotional Matlock performances, but I do wish that the major awards ceremonies – Emmys, Golden Globes, and CCAs in particular – at least nominated the show in more categories more regularly. Believe it or not, the show has only ever been nominated for four Emmys, and never in the major categories.

So, when I was fortunate enough to speak with Sophie Skelton on the SCAD TVfest red carpet ahead of her receiving the Lumiere Award, only hours before Caitriona Balfe would find out if she won for Best Actress at the CCAs on February 7, I had to ask for her take on why Outlander just never gets love at awards shows. She shared:

It's hard to argue against Sophie Skelton's stance, as Outlander is more than just a drama since it crosses genres. She also pointed out that it could be a good thing that the show defies normal categories, even if that means a shortage of trophies for the cast and crew of the Starz mainstay. Until there's a category for dramas that combine drama, romance, war, historical fiction, a period setting, and time travel, Outlander may get no more awards love than the occasional nomination.

Sophie Skelton didn't seem bothered that the show doesn't get the kind of critical buzz that has gone to shows like Succession and Game of Thrones, and had a very thoughtful answer when I asked what she was most proud of out of the recently-ended seventh season of Outlander. She said:

While Outlander's main characters have all gone through pretty horrifying ordeals by this point ahead of the eighth and final season, Brianna has really gone through hell and back a few different times over the years so far. For Skelton, that has resulted in seeing the positive ways that her character's endurance has affected fans.

We can only hope that Bree catches a break in Season 8 after finally bringing her little family unit back together in the same timeline to end Season 7, but would it really be Outlander if things were too easy for any members of the extended Fraser family? After all, she and her parents aren't even in the same decade of the 18th century when the final credits rolled on Season 7.

For now, all we can do is hope, wonder, and speculate, as Starz has not yet announced a premiere date for the eighth and final season. Outlander is expected to return one last time before the end of the year, but whether than means the first half of 2025 or closer to December 31 at midnight remains to be seen. As for the shortage of awards nominations and wins... well, congratulations to Sophie Skelton for receiving SCAD TVfest's Lumiere Award!

Spoilers ahead for Episode 11 of Outlander's seventh season, which aired on December 6.

The long-awaited second half of Outlander Season 7 in the 2024 TV schedule keeps delivering huge twist after huge twist, ranging from the death of the elder Ian Murray to William saving Rachel and Ian from Arch Bug. That said, I'm not sure if the Starz hit has ever been more chaotic than the Episode 11 ending. Jamie returned from the dead, Claire and Lord John were newlyweds, William found out who his real biological father is, and Jamie took Lord John hostage when the house was stormed by redcoats. Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan spoke with CinemaBlend about it and the upcoming repercussions!

Admittedly, a lot of Episode 11 – called "A Hundredweight of Stones" – was a somber affair, since the characters weren't as lucky as viewers to have a pretty good idea that Jamie was 100% alive. Claire and Lord John sleeping together was certainly a curveball, but nothing compared to the final three minutes. (Yes, I timed it when I streamed to rewatch via my Hulu subscription with Starz.) When I spoke with the Outlander stars during Starz's Season 7B press junket, I had to ask about the wild sequence with all the moving pieces, and Sam Heughan shared:

A "huge rift" – as Sam Heughan put it – seems inevitable, given that Jamie has come back to find out that Claire quickly married Lord John after word of his demise made it back to Philadelphia, with Claire once again stuck in a situation of accidentally having two husbands still alive... but without an Outlander time travel twist this time like her situation with Frank and Jamie (and possibly Jamie's ghost).

So perhaps it's no wonder that Caitriona Balfe described Claire's situation with Lord John as "very shocking," prompting Sam Heughan to joke that "she does know how to pick them" and Balfe to laugh that "she just likes to collect rings and husbands." More serious, the actress went on to share her reaction to Claire's latest marriage:

The Outlander team kept intimacy coordinator Vanessa Coffey on board after Sam Heughan brought her in for Season 6, and the sex scene between Claire and John – in which they both knew the other was imagining Jamie in their place – was filmed differently than most of the other intimate sequences on the show. Which is probably for the best, considering the circumstances for both characters, deep in mourning!

Caitriona Balfe went on, acknowledging that fans pretty much knew that Jamie wasn't really dead, which was a safe bet based on the trailer that came with the premiere date and the stars sharing messages when they wrapped on Season 8. She said:

Based on the fact that Season 7B is only partway finished and how Heughan teased the rift on the way, I'd say that there's plenty more drama and challenges on the way, even if not every episode ends as chaotically as "A Hundredweight of Stones." For a taste of what's up next. check out the promo for Episode 12 with Jamie openly among the living:

Don't miss the next episode of Outlander, airing on Friday, December 13 at 8 p.m. ET on Starz. All in all, for as much as fans have been rooting for Claire and Jamie for seven seasons now, part of me can't help but feel bad for Lord John being pulled into their chaos whenever their paths cross. It sure is entertaining to watch, though!

In addition to new episodes weekly on Starz, you can also check out previous episodes streaming with a Netflix subscription now.

It’s one thing to ken that Outlander will be ending, but it’s quite another to see the evidence piled right before your face from cast members like Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe. But all good things must come to an end, and that is what is happening with Starz’s flagship TV series, as the cast and crew took to social media to say their goodbyes this weekend.

The drama is getting an outsized run before it finishes. Outlander Season 7 (Part 2) will hit the 2025 TV schedule, with Season 8 still to follow. However, the show takes time to edit and put together, and the cast and crew have wrapped on filming over the last few weeks. This weekend, showrunner Matthew B Roberts announced the show is finally well and truly finished with a sweet post paying homage to the team, the fans, and of course, Scotland. He noted it’s been the” journey of a lifetime,” writing,

He also wrote the series has “changed” him “both personally and professionally” and had fond thoughts about starting as a writer and shifting into the showrunner role later. His words spoke to the “brilliant cast and the crew” and also the fans who have “kept us going and made this all possible.” See his full Instagram post.

If I wasn’t already in my feels before getting to the end of his three paragraph comment, I certainly was after. Yet, he’s not the only part of the Outlander family to wrap this week. Sam Heughan also shared a post over the weekend, and while it’s tragically more tricorn hat than kilt, his sentiment was also very memorable. The actor wrote that it’s been “hard to say goodbye,” which makes sense.

The show has been on the air since August of 2014 and started filming nearly a year before that in October of 2013. It’s been more than a decade for leads like Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe, who were a part of the series from the very beginning. That’s a huge swathe of one’s career to spend on one show, and for the two leads, it was a role that really helped both of them break out in mainstream Hollywood.

For Balfe, the theme she really wanted to hammer home after pickups and reshoots were finally over was how much playing Claire changed her life. Her post also spoke to the fans, cast and crew, though I like how she shouted out Ron Moore and Diana Gabaldon too. Classy move.

Outlander has been slow roll wrapping over the past few weeks and the final day of regular filming for Season 8 went down on September 27th. Sophie Skelton, who plays Brianna Randall Fraser on the series, actually shared her post wrapping a few weeks ago, but her sentiment was very similar to what the remainder of the cast was feeling this weekend.

In addition, the cast shared a fun video as some people were finishing up a few weeks ago in which they admitted what they wanted to steal from the Outlander set. So, yes, it’s been a bit of a slow roll for people to say goodbye to the series. And again, there’s more to come with the Season 7, Part 2 premiere slated for November 22.

Now, Starz, can we please can we get more Spartacus updates?

The Droughtlander is going to be over sooner than you think, because the second part of Outlander’s supersized seventh season is hitting the 2024 TV schedule on November 22. However, that’s not all the exciting news we got on “World Outlander Day,” because the Starz series also announced some exciting additions to its eighth and final season.

Starz Announced Outlander’s Season 7 Premiere Date With A Teaser Trailer

Following the thrilling events of Outerlander’s Season 7, Part 1, Starz finally announced when the second installment will premiere. Starting Friday, November 22, fans will be able to see where Claire and Jamie’s story goes as the beloved couple and Young Ian travel from the colonies to Scotland. In the weeks that follow, you can witness this tale unfold as new episodes debut every Friday on the Starz network at 8 p.m. ET and midnight ET on the Starz app. 

The premiere date also came with a little look into what we can expect from the eight episodes that are coming, check it out:

That trailer sure has me intrigued. Following Outlander’s mid-Season 7 finale last summer, we knew that Jamie, Claire and Young Ian would be heading back to where this story began per Simon’s request for his remains. Plus, Roger and Brianna are facing “new enemies across time,” the statement from Starz read, adding to the ever-present suspense that comes with time traveling in Outlander.

The release begs the question: “Can the MacKenzies and Frasers find their way back to each other?” And the teaser confirms that tension and violence are coming in the second half of Season 7, which is both thrilling and nerve-wracking, especially since we now know exactly when we’ll see it all go down.

However, that’s not all the exciting news we got, because we also received a thrilling update about the final season of the beloved fantasy series.

Outlander Season 8 Has Added Three New Cast Members

Along with Season 7’s massive update, we got some great news about Season 8, which is currently filming in Scotland and will be ten episodes long. It was announced by Starz that Kieran Bew, Frances Tomelty and Carla Woodcock will be joining the cast for the final episodes. 

While details about their characters were kept fairly under wraps, but we do have their names and very short descriptions. 

Kieran Bew will play the retired British soldier Captain Charles Cunningham. Frances Tomelty is taking on the role of Captain Cunningham’s mother, Elspeth Cunningham. And rounding the new cast out, Carla Woodcock will play Amaranthus Grey, a member of the Grey family, however, her specific association with them is unknown.

It’s obviously a bit of a bummer to think about the Outlander era coming to a close with Season 8. However, it’s going to be wonderful to see how this sweeping epic comes to an end. 

All around, both these updates are so exciting for Outlander fans, and it only adds to the anticipation for the second half of Season 7 as well as the final season of the long-running romantic fantasy series. So, make sure you go back and watch the first six seasons with a Netflix subscription, so you are ready to dive back into this epic tale when it returns in November on Starz.

Fans of Outlander have gone without any new episodes since back in August 2023, and the latest Droughtlander wait for the second half of Season 7 isn't ending any time soon in the 2024 TV season. Production on the eighth and final season in underway, however, and stars Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan shared a behind-the-scenes look at what's going on. While there's not much to glean from the set around them, they do reveal the exciting returns of two familiar faces: Lauren Lyle and César Domboy as Marsali and Fergus! And honestly, the first footage of them BTS is already making me excited to see them again.

Lyle and Domboy haven't been back as Marsali and Fergus since the back half of Season 6, which in Outlander teams means nearly two years ago. The characters had plenty to tend to off-screen while Jamie, Claire, and Co. were in the early stages of the American Revolution, but the stars are back in costume behind the scenes on Season 8. Take a look:

An era truly is ending for Outlander! While I of course love the banter between Lauren Lyle, César Domboy, and the actors who play their characters' adoptive parents, the moment that put the biggest smile on my face was seeing Lyle and Domboy playing a hand clapping game – known as "Slide" in my neck of the woods – in the background before Caitriona Balfe turned the camera their way.

That would be pretty cute for any co-stars behind the scenes, but it's particularly fun with Lyle and Domboy considering Fergus lost his hand back in Season 3 due to some violent English soldiers. His struggles with having to wear the 18th-century version of a prosthetic have been a continuing story for him, and that storyline got pretty dark for Fergus and Marsali in Season 6. But the actors don't have the same issues to deal with together, and seeing Domboy playing a hand clapping game while wearing Fergus' fake hand definitely made me laugh.

Plus, the Outlander Instagram account hit the comment section to promise that the video is "NOT April Fool's" and therefore not a fakeout. I for one was more than ready for some exciting news on the Outlander front beyond just the upcoming Blood of My Blood spinoff, since the latest update on the second half of Season 7 was less thrilling. Also via Instagram, Outlander confirmed that Part 2 of Season 7 won't premiere until November, with no official date confirmed. So, that could mean as soon as just after Halloween or as late as nearly December.

The second half of the seventh season seems poised to deliver some good old-fashioned Outlander time travel. Although I wasn't 100% sold on the Jemmy plot twist in the midseason finale last August, I'm as bummed as anybody that Season 7B won't be back until November. The assumption had been that a supersized Season 7 would mean less of a Droughtlander between blocks of episodes, and that clearly won't be the case.

For now, you can revisit every season of Outlander so far streaming with the Starz add-on to a Hulu subscription and the first five seasons streaming with a Netflix subscription.

We may be in the midst of yet another Droughtlander as we await word on when Outlander Season 7 Part 2 will finally air, but it appears that such is not the case for those involved with bringing the romantic drama to our ever eager eyeballs. It was in January 2023 (before filming on Season 7 was done) that fans found out their beloved time travel story would end with Season 8, and we’ve been dreading the beginning of the end ever since. Now, I’m looking at this pic of the hit prepping its eighth and final season, and it’s really hard to believe it’s the end of an era!

What Have We Seen Of Outlander Prepping Season 8?

Uggghhhhhgghghg…Guys? As excited as we all are to hear news on what’s next for Claire and Jamie after the Season 7 midseason finale (not to mention when we can see it for ourselves), and get updates about the spinoff, Outlander: Blood of My Blood, what we actually want is for the time traveling romance with some of TV’s sexiest moments to last until every Fraser we’ve come to know has been buried in the family graveyard at Lallybroch. 

Alas, this shall not come to pass (unless the series finale is especially tragic), as Season 8 will see our last set of Outlander adventures. The episodes are about to begin filming, and, like, I cannot believe it. Just look!

Le sigh…It was difficult to believe that stars Caitríona Balfe and Sam Heughan had already been working on the show for a whole seven years back in 2021, now it’s coming up on a full decade since the historical drama debuted, and they appear to be quite happy to celebrate by getting to work on the final season.

Of course, the two have already fully admitted that filming this season is probably going to get them choked up. After all, they’ve become such good friends in real life and delivered such amazing on-screen chemistry that there’s a segment of the fandom that thinks they’re secretly a couple in real life, and that’s despite the fact that Heughan simply refuses to call Balfe back!

Not only have the Frasers been a big part of the actors’ lives, and led them to fame and more career opportunities, but they’ve also met and worked with a lot of amazing people during their time on Outlander. In late 2022, Heughan said he’d miss the “camaraderie” of the cast and crew whenever filming wrapped for good, and revealed that the vibe on set changed last year, once everyone began to “feel it” and realize that the end was nigh.

On top of that, well, there’s us! The fans are going to be devastated to see the show end, regardless of how fulfilling or hoped-for that finale ends up being when the eighth season delivers closing credits for the last time. But, at least we still have several episodes of intrigue and additional hot romance times to look forward to until then. Again, though…siiiiiiiigh.

We are now, finally, very close to the premiere of the new season of Outlander, with it joining the 2023 TV schedule on June 16. As those who follow the series know, much of the cast and crew, including stars Caitríona Balfe and Sam Heughan, have become quite close after working together for the past decade, and on a show with some famously intense scenes and some of television’s sexiest romantic moments. So, it makes sense that Balfe would have a pet peeve about her on-screen husband. Not only did they just argue about it, but I’m not sure who I agree with more.

What Is Caitríona Balfe’s Pet Peeve About Sam Heughan?

I realize that it can sometimes be difficult to fully separate actors from the character they’ve portrayed for a long time, especially when those actors are like Balfe and Heughan and seem to gleefully enjoy a real life friendship. Though they’ve done things like celebrate the anniversary of when Outlander first aired, with him saying Balfe is like a “sister and best friend” to him, there does appear to be a sticking point between them. 

While speaking with the Happy Sad Confused podcast recently, however, the Belfast actress revealed that she’s not too thrilled with Heughan’s refusal to call her, as he only leaves voice notes. After they argued about it, though, I really don’t know who’s position I support more:

Balfe: If you’re going to spend the time talking into the phone, just fucking call me. It’s not a monologue. It should be a conversation. 

Heughan: Counter argument here, I don’t have time to call you and I don’t really want to call you. 

Balfe: Exactly, that’s the point. It’s a fucking bullshit call. It’s like, ‘I kind of want to say something but I don’t really have time for you, so I’m just going to talk at you.’

Heughan: You like to text and texting you lose a lot of intonation, you lose the tone. Also with a voice note, you can leave someone a beautiful message, they can hear your voice, and they can reply in their own time. It’s a lot more personal than a text.

Balfe: Or call, and just have a fucking conversation.

First off, if anything, it’s very clear from Balfe’s salty language (which I totally approve of) that her co-star’s tendency to avoid actual phone conversations is really a problem for her. Secondly, while I agree with her basic argument (if you're gonna be talking into the phone anyway, it makes sense to just call), I also can’t fault the Love Again star’s position in this battle.

On its face, it likely sounds rather rude for him to succinctly say that he doesn’t have time to call his friend, or even, in fact, want to call her. But, really, who actually wants to talk on the phone? Is that a thing that people enjoy? I don’t know every person in the world, but I’m gonna say no; no one truly likes making phone calls or talking during them, even with people we really want to speak with. Heughan is just being honest and saying what we all think, so, kudos to him.

Also, he makes a very good point about texting. It can be very easy for the person on the other end of your missive to mistake a joke or sarcasm for something more serious, for example, because you can’t get the tone across as easily as with your voice. Though, I will say, I do prefer all written forms of communication to doing anything with my live, actual voice, but maybe that’s because I’m literally a writer, whereas the man who’s played Jamie Fraser for seven seasons actually talks for a living.

Look, I like both of these people, so I’m just hoping that because this argument over phone calls/voice notes hasn’t already broken their friendship beyond repair, it never will.

As Outlander fans rejoice in these last few days leading up to the premiere of the new season, we have lots to think about in our excitement. But, I’m sure that many viewers, while thrilled that this Droughtlander is nearly done, are already looking ahead to the not-too-distant future, as it was announced in January 2023 that Season 8 will be our final outing with Claire and Jamie Fraser. They’re not alone, either, as stars Caitríona Balfe and Sam Heughan talked recently about “getting choked up,” and more, when they realized the end was coming.

What Did Caitríona Balfe And Sam Heughan Say About Realizing That Outlander Would Be Ending Soon?

Though fans know that another on-screen love story is coming from the work of author Diana Gabaldon in the form of the prequel series, Outlander: Blood of My Blood, not to mention the quickly approaching Outlander Season 7 and the eventual debut of Season 8, we’re still lamenting the end of the romantic drama. As you might imagine, the same goes for those who’ve already spent a decade working on the series. 

When speaking at a 92nd Street Y event in New York City (via Parade) to celebrate the upcoming episodes, both stars were asked about their feelings once they fully realized that the eighth season will be the last, and Balfe said:

Both actors had worked in film and TV before nabbing their coveted roles in the beloved series that’s given audiences some television’s sexiest romantic moments, but were basically unknown to many before landing on our screens as Claire and Jamie. As Balfe noted, not only did it immediately raise their profiles, but that also brought them millions of fans and helped them on toward bigger careers than they’d had previously. And, while they’ve admitted to some downsides of the fandom, they’ve also maintained that many of the fan interactions have been “incredible,” so it’s good to know that they’ll miss us as much as we’ll miss them as the Frasers.

Heughan opened up in the fall of 2022 about knowing he’d miss the “camaraderie” of working with his co-stars and the crew when the show is over, and said in May 2023 that the vibe on set changed when they started to feel the end coming, while filming Season 7, a sentiment he echoed at this event, adding:

It makes total sense for everyone involved with the historical drama (and all the fans who’ve stuck with it for years) to be sad that it’s going away soon, but as Heughan noted, at least we know we’ll get a real end to the romantic and action-packed journey we’ve been on for so long.

Outlander has become a major hit for Starz since it premiered back in 2014, and while the story has of course kept the show going strong for the better part of a decade, stars Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe have the chemistry to keep fans hooked. The series is currently in the midst of another Droughtlander – a.k.a. long hiatus between seasons – but Sam Heughan has opened up about the first casting session with Caitriona Balfe all those years ago, and it was intense. 

Sam Heughan looked back at the early days of Outlander when the show was still in the casting process in his memoir, called Waypoints: My Scottish Journey. When he and Caitriona Balfe read together early on, they tackled a scene from the Season 1 episode called “The Reckoning,” which saw the two characters fighting in the aftermath of Jamie’s daring rescue of Claire after she’d been captured by Black Jack Randall. 

It was an emotionally intense scene in the first season with both of them saying some things that they would ultimately regret, with Claire still not used to the constraints of her life as a wife in the 18th century and Jamie still not used to a wife who won’t just do as she’s told. In his memoir (via Variety), Heughan commented on the scene for Jamie and Claire, and how he and his future co-star got into the moment:

Personally, I wish that there was video available of this casting session, because it sounds like their performances here solidified them as the perfect actors to play Claire and Jamie. It would also be interesting to compare it to the finished product that aired in “The Reckoning.” That episode was the first to air after the show’s first long break, as more than half a year passed between the end of the first half of Season 1 and “The Reckoning” as the start of Season 2. A lot had happened between the casting session and when they actually filmed the scene!

If this casting session is what led to both of them landing their roles, then fans should be happy that they went all-out. Their chemistry has kept the show going strong for six seasons and counting, to the point that some viewers have speculated that they were secretly in a relationship.The two actors also came to Outlander with some very different levels of experience. 

Heughan was an established actor with many credits on the U.K. side of the pond along with some roles for the U.S. market, including a Hallmark Christmas movie that he still remembers fondly. For her part, Balfe was a model before transitioning into acting as well, with a far shorter list of pre-Outlander credits than her co-star. Heughan addressed how he felt “protective” of his co-star when Outlander began, writing:

Even though there were no guarantees back when the show was still in the casting stage that it would become a hit, the series is based on a popular (and still ongoing) novel saga by Diana Gabaldon. With the beloved source material and a lead pair with the chemistry and talent to keep the action going through location changes and major time jumps, Outlander is still going strong nearly a decade after it first premiered, with a spinoff in the works.

Unfortunately, there’s no word just yet on when Season 7 will launch on Starz, although there have been some exciting updates on the casting front. Sam Heughan also promised a “huge” seventh season that picks up with Claire in prison, Jamie on a mission to rescue her, and the Revolutionary War still brewing. Season 7 is in fact set to be the longest since Season 1. So, even though the show won’t be back any time too soon, fans are in for a lot of action when Season 7 does premiere. 

If you want to revisit the earlier seasons of Outlander with pre-time jump Jamie and Claire, you can find the first five seasons streaming with a Netflix subscription. You can also start planning ahead for the new year with our 2023 TV premiere schedule.

The Droughtlander between seasons of Outlander isn’t over yet, but Starz is helping fans celebrate the holiday season with a first teaser trailer of what’s on the way in the super-sized seventh season following the shortened sixth, plus when the show will be back! Season 6 ended with the future very uncertain for Claire after being carted off to Wilmington and imprisoned for the murder of Malva, far from any ally aside from Tom Christie… if he can be relied upon. The first footage reveals what’s ahead of Claire in Wilmington, as well as a lot more, and the reveal has raised some big questions for me. 

Plus, Starz has also revealed that Outlander will return in Summer 2023, so happy holidays indeed to fans! Take a look at the teaser trailer above, and keep on reading for a breakdown of what we should be pondering over the next months.

What The First Footage From Season 7 Reveals About Claire

The teaser trailer is edited in a way that it’s hard to tell what exactly is dream, what is reality, and what could even be flashback, but the shot of Claire up on a gallows with a noose around her neck, the same short hair from the end of Season 6, and cuts on her face looks awfully real. While it’s just a couple seconds of footage, it reveals that Jamie, Young Ian, and the rest of her would-be rescuers aren’t going to arrive in time to stop her execution from being ordered. 

Now, given that Outlander stars Caitriona Balfe and Season 6 ended with several ways for her to be saved, it was never very likely that Claire was going to be killed off after being wrongfully accused of murdering Malva Christie. The shot of her with the noose around her neck really reveals how dire her circumstances will be until she finds a way to be saved, whether it by be her own wits with or a rescue from her husband or the mysterious Wilmington whistler who seems to be a fan of the 1957 film The Bridge on the River Kwai. 

Throw in all the footage set back on Fraser’s Ridge and elsewhere that also includes Claire, and the teaser that runs for less than a minute answers a lot of questions about her fate! I’m already wishing that either the shot of Claire about to be hanged that gives away how bad things will get in Wilmington had been left out of the footage, or the teaser had left out any shots of her set anywhere else to give away that she survives and gets back home.

That said, the teaser trailer also managed to raise a fair amount of questions in less than a minute!

What I’m Already Wondering About Season 7

My first big question about Outlander in its return for the seventh season is simple: how much of a time jump is in store? I’m basing this on two giveaways that I’m going to assume aren’t from Jamie’s dream sequence: several shots of Claire with longer hair than she has on the gallows and what appears to be Brianna in labor. Bree was still in the early enough stages of pregnancy at the end of the sixth season that she wasn’t showing yet, so there should be enough of a jump for several months to pass. 

I’m also guessing that the shot of Jamie and Claire in bed with her long hair is part of the dream, but there are shots of Claire with hair that’s longer than on the gallows but still short enough to be believable for a time jump of months rather than years. There’s also a shot of Jamie and Bree seemingly sharing a nice moment together outdoors on a log, when she doesn’t look visibly pregnant, presumably meaning it's either early in the season before she’s showing a lot or after giving birth. Jamie also looks pretty calm, so it seems safe to say that this is after Claire is saved and/or escapes from Wilmington. 

Sam Heughan did previously say that Season 7 will pick up shortly after the events of the Season 6 finale; if there is a time jump, it won’t be right away. He also mentioned the prophecy that Jamie and Claire are supposed to die in a fire, which was first mentioned in Season 4 with the foreshadowing picking up in Season 5. It looks like at least the big house on Fraser’s Ridge will burn in Season 7, unless the teaser trailer is entirely misdirecting. 

Lastly – but certainly not least – Starz released key art featuring the question of “When Do You Belong?” (seen above). That’s something that Brianna and Roger were asking themselves earlier when they decided to try to return to their own time for Jemmy’s sake; will they be wondering that again in Season 7? Or is this a question for somebody else to face?

Find out when Outlander returns with the Season 7 premiere in Summer 2023. Starz hasn’t announced a precise date in the 2023 TV premiere schedule just yet, but if it’s earlier rather than later in the summer, the hiatus may have lasted for just a little over a year. While that’s still rough for those of us who have been dying to know what happens next, it’s significantly shorter than the nearly two years between the end of Season 5 and beginning of Season 6! For now, you can always revisit past seasons streaming with a Netflix subscription.

Outlander is not a show to shy away from nudity and violence. However, Sam Heughan explained there was one scene where he felt like the nudity in it was “unnecessary” and that the decision to leave it in the show betrayed his trust. 

The scene Heughan is talking about comes at the end of Season 1, when his character Jamie is sexually assaulted by Black Jack Randall (Tobias Menzies). In the episode, there is a full-frontal shot of Heughan’s penis, and he said that it was “unnecessary.” He explained this further in his memoir Waypoints: My Scottish Journey (via Insider): 

Heughan did note that he is contractually obligated to film nude scenes, he also noted that the show does not shy away from tough topics like sexual violence. However, in this scene, he said he didn’t feel like his character needed to be nude. It was an incredibly brutal and difficult-to-watch moment in the series. He wrote: 

He later explained that his pushback on the scene caused a debate on set. Eventually, it was agreed that the explicit shots would end up “on the cutting room floor.” Heughan also wrote about how something like this would not happen today. 

The evolution of how sex is filmed and depicted on TV shows has been rapid over the last few years, and Outlander has been on the air through it all. The show has been on Starz since 2014, and has recently brought an intimacy coordinator onto the set to help make the filming of intimate scenes more comfortable and safer. 

Intimacy coordinators have started to be used more frequently, especially on shows where there are a lot of sex scenes. Bridgerton is a show that has famously started using an intimacy coordinator, and the show’s coordinator has explained what she does on set. She said her main role is to make sure everyone is comfortable, especially the actors. Along with Bridgerton, hit shows like House of the Dragon use intimacy coordinators as well and have spoken up about the importance of the job. This all comes back to Outlander because Heughan brought an intimacy coordinator onto the set in Season 6. 

The actor has been very open about what it was like working on the earlier scenes of Outlander, saying it was a “different time.” However, now with an intimacy coordinator, they are able to ensure everyone on set feels safe, and when there are sex scenes they are helping move the story forward. 

It’s good to know that show has evolved in a way to make the more intimate scenes safer and more comfortable, especially after hearing what Heughan went through in Season 1. 

We know that Season 7 of Outlander is on the way, which is exciting after that cliffhanger. However, it will be a while before Jamie, Claire, and co. make their way back to our screens. While you wait for the latest season of the hit show, you can stream Outlander on Starz, and you can watch Seasons 1 through 5 with a Netflix subscription. 

As one of the most passionately beloved cable series out there at the moment, Starz's equally romantic and brutal drama Outlander is set to follow up on 2022's shortened sixth season with its biggest batch of episodes since Season 1. What's more, it was revealed earlier this year that the network was kicking around ideas for a prequel project based within Outlander's historical setting. Now, Starz has given fans something to celebrate by not only confirming the prequel's in-development existence, but also by dropping some big details about it.

First and foremost, the project now has an official title: Outlander: Blood of My Blood, and don't go thinking this will open up the time-jaunting series for vampire mayhem. The use in this case refers strictly to family bloodlines, though I can easily imagine more than a little blood will be shed for reasons both blessed (such as childbirth) and malevolent.

Somewhat similar to the upcoming Winchesters prequel for The CW's longtime hit Supernatural, Outlander: Blood of My Blood will "follow the love story of Jamie Fraser's parents," per the announcement from Starz. Just in case anyone wondered where Sam Heughan's character learned to be so damned smooth, this show aims to prove that the sexy apple didn't fall far from the sexy tree. Or possibly something far more poetic and insightful than sexy trees.

The network confirmed that the writers' room is currently in session for the new prequel project, which will have Outlander multi-hyphenate Matthew B. Roberts as head writer and showrunner, as well as an executive producer. Roberts has been a writer and EP on Outlander since its earliest days, is the current showrunner for the flagship series, and has also served as director for one episode, and second-unit director across several more. The book series' author, Diana Gabaldon, will be involved behind the scenes as a consulting producer, while Outlander's TV developer Ronald D. Moore will be executive producing the new series.

Here's what Starz's President of Original Programming, Kathryn Busby, had to say about the new show:

Outlander Season 7 has added some new cast members as it plows forward far ahead of its eventual release. While waiting to hear more news about who might be portraying Jamie's parents, check out a bunch of other shows that will likely quench the Outlander thirst, and head to our 2022 TV premiere schedule to see what else is hitting the small screen this year.

Well, Sassenachs, seeing as how Outlander Season 7 wrapped the first part of its extremely action-packed run way back in August 2023, fans have long since been mired in the dreaded Droughtlander. Although that midseason finale delivered a big twist and left us with plenty of questions that will need to be answered when the action picks back up, there are still surprises to come with regards to Claire, Jamie, Young Ian, and their many friends, family, and foes.

So, what exactly do we know about Outlander Season 7, Part 2? If you feel like you’re in the dark about the upcoming episodes for this time-traveling hit filled with some of the sexiest romantic moments television has ever seen, never fear! We’ve collected all the information you need about the upcoming episodes!

What Is The Outlander Season 7, Part 2 Premiere Date?

It was a long time coming, but early June 2024 saw Starz finally announce that Outlander would return for Season 7, Part 2 on November 22, 2024. Obviously, with the initial part of the season having premiered in mid-June of 2023, this means we’ll be waiting for the debut of the eight-episode Part 2 for well over a year. Many fans are very unhappy with the wait time, but having a release date that’s far away is better than not having one at all, I say.

The Outlander Season 7, Part 2 Cast

The second half of the season is sure to have lots of intriguing things in store for viewers, and October of 2022 saw Starz announce that some surprising former Outlander actors will appear in the upcoming episodes, and we didn’t see them in Part 1, so they’re still on their way. 

These guest stars are Graham McTavish as Dougal MacKenzie (Jamie’s long-dead uncle), Lotte Verbeek as Claire's time-traveling frenemy/Young Ian's one-time captor, Geillis Duncan, Steven Cree as Ian (Young Ian's dad/Jamie’s friend and brother-in-law, who we've already gotten a peek at), Andrew Whipp as Brian Fraser (Jamie’s very long-dead dad), Nell Hudson as Laoghaire (Jamie’s vindictive ex-wife/Marsali’s mom), and Layla Burns as Marsali’s sister/Jamie’s stepdaughter, Joan MacKimmie. 

Starz also revealed several new cast members who’ll be introduced. Part 1 of the season already revealed newcomers Rod Hallett (as Benedict Arnold), Chris Fulton (Rob Cameron), Diarmaid Murtagh (Buck MacKenzie), Charles Vandervaart as Jamie’s adult son William, and those playing the Hunter siblings. So, it seems that we’ll have to wait for Part 2 to see Gloria Obianyo (Dune) as Mercy Woodcock, who is "a free Black woman navigating the hardships of life in Colonial America." Also, Kristin Atherton (Shakespeare & Hathaway) has stepped in to portray Jenny Murray (Jamie’s sister/Young Ian’s mom), who was originally played by Laura Donnelly for Seasons 1 through 3.

You Can Watch A Teaser For Season 7, Part 2 Now!

We all got an unexpected gift in early June, when Outlander finally revealed the first teaser for the upcoming episodes. You can enjoy it now, below!

As expected, anyone back in the colonies will still be in the thick of war, while Bree will be holding down the fort in the modern day as Roger and Buck look for Jemmy, and Claire, Jamie and Young Ian finally spend some time back in Scotland (which is where several of those characters we haven’t seen in years will likely show up). All in all, it seems as though the proceedings will be just as thrilling as fans hope! 

Where We Left The Frasers At The End Of Season 7, Part 1

Well, as per usual, there was no shortage of big, harrowing drama going on the last time we saw many of the extended Fraser/MacKenzie clan. The colonies are still in the thick of the Revolutionary War, and after Claire saves an unconscious Jamie from being murdered by scavengers on the battlefield and manages to get him back to camp, things get even more intriguing. Not only do they eventually have a chance meeting with possibly the world’s most famous traitor, Benedict Arnold, but Jamie refusing to shoot at his cousin during a later battle doesn’t do Simon Fraser much good, as another sniper got him and he’s dead before long.

That unfortunate occasion does lead to some relatively good news, though, as not only did Simon send for Jamie so he wouldn't have to die in the British camp alone, but it led to everyone’s favorite sensitive warrior being able to talk to an adult William (who’s currently safe after the Brits surrendered), after not having seen his son since he was a child. It also leads to a bit of a reprieve for Jamie, Claire and Young Ian, as the British allow them to accompany Simon’s body home, and the end of the episode finds them all, finally, back in Scotland.

Speaking of Young Ian, he had a bit more going on than fighting and heading home, as he actually dared to make a move on the outspoken Quaker he’s had his eye on, Rachel Hunter. The Scot lays a big ol’ kiss on her, and she rightfully slaps the mess outta him, but it’s clear that she wishes things could go further as much as Young Ian does. Later, when he leaves for Scotland, she agrees to watch Rollo for him, but runs into Arch Bug, who could very well decide to take his vengeance out on her/Ian’s dog while the young man is gone.

Back in the future (that’s the 1980s here), Bree, Roger and the kids are not having the best time, despite them finally knowing that the mysterious sorta troublemaker their children had been seeing was yet another family time traveler, Buck MacKenzie. As far as we know, he’s the only person from the past to travel forward to the future, and it turns out that Bree and Roger will need his help.

After new villain Rob Cameron got a look at Roger’s diary of time travel and letters from Claire and Jamie (things that really should have been in a vault somewhere, I’d say) he kidnapped poor, tiny Jemmy because the boy had once learned where all that stolen Jacobite gold had been hidden centuries earlier. Bree alerted Roger and Buck when they returned to Lallybroch, and the two men were taken to the stones to return to the past and save Jemmy. Something tells me that retrieving the boy and taking care of Rob won’t be easy for our time travelers!

What’s Coming In Outlander Season 7, Part 2?

Clearly, it will be quite a while yet before we know the full scope of what’s to come, but there are certainly some things we can guess at. With Jamie, Claire and Young Ian having spotted Scotland from their ship by the closing credits of the mid-season finale, we can bet that at least some of Part 2 will happen at or near Lallybroch in the 1700s. 

This should (almost definitely) treat us to appearances from some of the characters mentioned above who haven’t been seen in many seasons, like Ian’s parents, Laoghaire, and Joan. The trip could also bring back plenty of memories, which might be how we see long-dead characters like Dougal.

We know that Arch Bug is itching to get back at Ian for accidentally killing his wife, so it’s likely that Rachel and/or Rollo now have targets on their backs, though it remains to be seen whether or not the old man will strike while Ian is away, ro wait until his return to make a potentially deadly move.

With Roger and Buck going back in time to rescue Jemmy, that will obviously be a big part of the second half of Season 7, but I can’t help but wonder if the newly arrived in Scotland crew will happen upon one or all of the time travelers from the 1980s now that they’re back on the island. Aside from that, the teaser tells us that we’ll see pirate… I mean, Lord John again and with his wicked looking eyepatch. As for whether or not he’ll be around long enough to see his good buddy/biological dad to his adopted son William (a.k.a. Jamie) again, we’ll just have to wait and see.

How To Catch Up On Outlander Before Season 7, Part 2

If you’d like to get into your own way-back machine and revisit the first six seasons of Outlander, you can do that with your Netflix subscription. Meanwhile, Season 7, Part 1 is available through Starz.

Stream Outlander Season 1-6 on Netflix.
Stream Outlander Season 7, Part 1 on Starz.

Despite Season 7, Part 2 taking over a year to get to us, at least we now know that we have lots of good stuff to look forward to when it hits Starz in the near-ish future!

There’s no doubt that the Starz hit drama, Outlander (which has been delivering much drama to the 2022 TV schedule), has inspired millions of super fans since its debut in 2014. The time-hopping historical romance is beloved by viewers for many reasons, none the least of which is its dedication to bringing the love story of Claire and Jamie Fraser to life. Unfortunately, stars Caitríona Balfe and Sam Heughan have discovered that some fans are convinced they’re dating in real life, to the point that they’ve gone through extensive lengths in an attempt to prove their theories. Now, both Balfe and Heughan have opened up about the wild fan rumors.

What Caitríona Balfe Had To Say About Fan Rumors She’s Dating Sam Heughan

We know that there are a number of Outlander fans who haven’t taken Caitríona Balfe and Sam Heughan’s consistent denials of a real life romance to heart, as rumors about them supposedly hiding a relationship have been tossed around since basically the beginning of the show. Balfe spoke to Vanity Fair about the rumors and how they’ve impacted her since marrying Anthony McGill in 2019, and then having her first child in 2021, noting: 

As a huge fan of the series myself, I can attest to the fact that it’s pretty easy to watch Caitríona Balfe and Sam Heughan as Claire and Jamie and at least wonder about whether or not all that smoldering they do during Outlander’s sexiest romantic moments has ever taken place off screen. But, you know, that’s why Balfe and Heughan’s partnership on screen is a success; they seem like they’re truly into each other. 

In her interview, Balfe also opened up about what some fans have done to try and prove that she and Heughan have been lying about their relationship for nearly a decade. She noted that after she and McGill married, someone called the church where they were wed and harassed the secretary, not believing their marriage was legit. Some fan (or group of fans) also hired private detectives to try and prove that she and Heughan were a couple in real life.

Things got even stranger when Balfe announced that she’d had a baby last August (after having filmed Outlander Season 6 with Heughan, who frequently forgot that Balfe’s baby bump was real), with an Instagram post that simply showed her holding her newborn son’s hand. Several fans asserted that the baby is Heughan’s, simply because the sheets in that photo seem to be similar to those in a post of her co-star’s.

What Sam Heughan Had To Say About Fan Rumors He’s Dating Caitríona Balfe

For his part, Heughan also admitted to being taken aback by the fan rumors that he’s dating his Outlander co-star, saying that it’s changed the way they interact with the show’s fans a bit. But, during his interview with Insider, he did agree with Balfe’s thoughts that his fan interactions have been far from all bad:

Sam Heughan shocked fans in early 2020 by going public with claims of harassment and bullying from Outlander viewers (with Caitríona Balfe backing him up just a few days later), which included the creation of “false narratives,” so it seems that some people in the fandom have become dangerously attached. 

Seeing as how these rumors, and apparently way worse treatment, have been going on since nearly the beginning for Heughan and Balfe, it’s unlikely that it’ll stop anytime soon. Hopefully, though, the co-stars talking about it will make at least some of the people engaging in this behavior think twice before doing it again. 

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Outlander if you haven’t caught up on the show!

Starz’s Outlander series is finally returning in full force for Season 6! New characters are expected to be introduced as the historical romantic drama pivots deeper into the brewing Revolutionary War facing Claire, Jamie and the rest of Fraser’s Ridge. There would usually be some hot and heavy romance in store, too, but after Claire’s traumatic sexual assault at the end of last season, things are more than a little tenuous. Star Caitriona Balfe and other Outlander creatives, who previously teased a complicated dynamic for the show's central couple, discussed Claire and Jamie’s “sacred” physical connection a bit more ahead of the premiere.

As far as we know, the horrendous assault Claire suffered will drive something of a “wedge” between the couple, as Balfe's character grapples with her emotional pain in Season 6. (It’s something Jamie himself also struggled with in the first two seasons of Outlander.) Speaking to TheWrap, Balfe explained how the two characters’ deep chemistry acts as a bridge for healing in the show, saying:

Actor Sam Heughan, who portrays Jamie Fraser, affirmed that their characters’ “physical attraction” is important in its own way, but that the connection goes well beyond that. In his view, the dynamic in Outlander is also about how the two characters find an easy “lightness” between them. He shared that viewers will see Jamie and Claire still mentally “spar” and “flirt with each other” in the new season – even in their “old” age and even in the face of their ever-present troubles. Heughan, in fact, enlisted the show’s first intimacy coordinator, whom the actor thinks helped bring out the performances even more. 

Outlander’s executive producer Matthew Roberts added to the outlet that he believes the reason both the books and show resonates so deeply with fans is precisely because of the passionate romance being “part of the way they communicate.” They wanted to emphasize a “maturing relationship” that can transcend time and space, as well as age and difficulty. Roberts said:

In other words, don't be talking smack about how and why Jamie and Claire do what they do. Anyone who has been in the exact same position as either of them is welcome to speak up, but that's certainly not likely. 

Fans will surely appreciate whatever they can get, what with Caitríona Balfe speculating previously on Outlander maybe ending with Season 7. (Say it ain’t so!) In the meantime, we can look forward to the spinoff series in the works and catching the 90-minute Season 6 premiere episode tonight at 9 p.m. on Starz in the 2022 TV schedule!

Caitríona Balfe has been acting for more than a decade now, during which she has made some wonderful achievements. Most notably, she became the breakout star of a long-running, hit TV series - the fantasy period drama Outlander on Starz - and, more recently, led the cast of director Kenneth Branagh’s semi-autobiographical period piece, Belfast, which is up for Best Picture at the 2022 Academy Awards. Does this mean that there are upcoming Marvel movies in her future?

The Irish-born, former Victoria’s Secret model has starred in an action movie with both Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger (2013’s Escape Plan), did an Oscar-winning historical drama from director James Mangold also starring Christian Bale and Matt Damon (Ford v Ferrari from 2019), and has even leant her voice to two animated Christmas specials. How is it possible that, amid all of that refreshingly impressive variety on her resume so far, there are no superhero moves in sight? Well, judging from the similar career trajectory of some of her peers, it is likely only a matter of time before she gets a call from Marvel Studios and, when that happens, I have a few Marvel characters in mind, starting with one she already has a couple of things in common with.

Siryn

As I mentioned before, Caitríona Balfe was born Dublin, Ireland, and her nationality has already been reflected in some of her best known roles to date, including “Ma” in Belfast, of course. Well, she would have the opportunity to continue representing her native land in the Marvel Cinematic Universe if she were cast as this mutant with a truly booming voice.

Theresa Cassidy, a member of the powerful detective agency called the X-Factor, earned the nickname Siryn from her acoustikinetic abilities - meaning she can combine her powerful vocal chords with her limited psionic powers to create devastating sonic effects of a wide variety. She inherited these powers - and, later, the Banshee moniker - from her father Sean Cassidy, who was actually on our list of Marvel characters Sam Heughan should play - and he's Balfe’s Outlander co-star. So, this could also be a unique way to see these onscreen lovers share the big screen in a comic book movie together.

Lilith Drake

Speaking of the Outlander cast, there is a way that Caitríona Balfe could appear in a Marvel movie with another one of her former co-stars, Laura Donnelly - who starred in eight episodes of the Starz series as Jenny Fraser before joining HBO’s The Nevers cast. She is already close to becoming a Marvel star, having been cast in an upcoming Disney+ exclusive Halloween special that is reportedly focusing on the horror-centric character Jack “Werewolf By Night” Russell (who might be played by Gael García Bernal). The fellow Irish-born actress is rumored to be playing a vampire named Nina Price, which gives me an interesting idea.

Another bloodsucker who is even more notorious in the Marvel Comics Universe is the uniquely still-living Lilith Drake - whose loathing of her own legendary father, Count Dracula himself, inspired her to go rogue and use her vampiric abilities as a force for good. At one point, she would even cross paths with Nina Price as members of a special S.H.I.E.L.D. unit made of supernatural beings called the Howling Commandos, which totally needs to get its own movie (or even series) one day. When that happens, I think it would be fun to see Balfe appear as Lilith - not just to reunite with Donnelly, but because she already has enough preparation from the other gothic characters she has played.

Tempus

There is one other way that Caitríona Balfe’s role on Outlander inspired one of my choices of potential Marvel characters for her to play. Her character on the romantic, fantastic period drama, Claire Fraser (née Randall) was a combat nurse from World War II-era England before she was unexpectedly and inexplicably transported back to the early 1740s while on a honeymoon with her 20th century husband in Scotland. Well, as I see it, Balfe deserves to play someone who has a little more control of where she is in time, such as Eva Bell.

This Australian mutant is also known as Tempus, whom Doctor Strange once described as the most skilled person with the power of time displacement. This means that she possesses the ability to slow down, speed up, or put a complete stop to the flow of time in a specific area, all without affecting continuity anywhere else. It sounds like she is someone whom the last few X-Men movies could have used, and having this character as a way to poke fun at the previous franchise's puzzling narrative might be another reason to bring her into the MCU, and hopefully with Balfe in the role.

Mystique

Actually, while we are on the subject of Marvel Studios’ upcoming X-Men movies reboot, let’s just assume, for a moment, that is where Caitríona Balfe was destined to make her superhero movie debut. If so, why don’t we give her a part that is a little more iconic, such as Mystique.

Previously played by Rebecca Romijin and Academy Award-winner Jennifer Lawrence, the naturally blue-skinned, red-haired mutant otherwise known as Raven Darkholme is, indeed, one of the most acclaimed characters of the X-Men comics, and not just for her abilities to assume the appearance of any person she chooses. In the comics (and the movies alike), Mystique has also undergone a fascinating and complicated character arc that sees her struggle to side with the philosophies of either Professor Charles Xavier or Magneto. I would love to see how Balfe could portray the humanizing side of the role and take on the challenge of covering herself head to toe in blue makeup.

Moondragon

If blue body paint does not sound very appealing to Caitríona Balfe (and understandably so), she would not be required to undergo such a dramatic transformation to play Moondragon - save a shaved head. Born Heather Douglas, this telekinetic, Earthly native was trained to be a cosmic warrior by Mentor, the father of Thanos, after the purple guy killed her father, Arthur Douglas - who would later become resurrected as Drax the Destroyer.

That being said, the MCU’s interpretation of Moondragon would likely not be a perfectly faithful adaptation of her story in the comics, but I still think she is worth bringing to the big screen as a means to see more adventures in space after James Gunn wraps up the Guardians of the Galaxy’s story. Plus, in 2011, Balfe made her acting debut in J.J. Abrams’ Super 8 in the very brief role of Joe Lamb’s late mother, and this would be a great opportunity for her to lead her own action-packed sci-fi movie.

If and when Caitríona Balfe receives the opportunity to star in the Marvel movies, no matter what character she plays, I have no doubt she’ll kill it. Or, maybe she could follow in Sam Heughan’s footsteps and join the Valiant Universe, if there still is such a thing.

After the longest Droughtlander in show history, Outlander is finally only days away from premiering its sixth season on Starz, more than two years after the fifth debuted back in early 2020. With the Revolutionary War fast-approaching in the Colonies, and the Frasers knowing all too well what’s going to happen once the fighting breaks out, they have plenty on their plates when it comes to surviving what’s coming. For Claire, however, she also has to deal with the brutal attacks at the end of Season 5 that left her traumatized, and that trauma will affect Jamie as well. Stars Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan weighed in on the “wedge” that’s on the way, but hope is not lost for the Frasers!

The Outlander stars spoke with CinemaBlend and other outlets about what’s on the way, and they previewed how Claire and Jamie’s relationship in Season 6 will compare to earlier seasons, before Claire’s attack. Caitriona Balfe shared how Claire will be processing, and what that means for Jamie:

Claire put on a brave face at the end of Season 5, but since Outlander isn’t exactly jumping years ahead in time to begin Season 6 after the war, she still has a lot to process, and she evidently won’t be opening up to her husband about all of it straight out of the gate. Some of the early footage for the new season indicates that they’re still as much in love as ever when the show returns, but not even Claire can just shake off what happened to her. 

While fans surely aren’t rooting for a “wedge” between the two characters, it’s understandable that Claire has her own way of processing… even if it means keeping a secret. At least Sophie Skleton has previewed that Brianna will be keeping an eye on her mom, in light of what she herself went through because of Stephen Bonnet. Plus, none of this is to say that Jamie will be entirely blind to any ways that his wife is struggling. Sam Heughan shared his thoughts on the situation from Jamie’s perspective: 

Jamie certainly does have a lot on his mind for Season 6, even beyond the looming Revolutionary War and what happened to Claire. The Christie family will arrive in North Carolina, and Tom Christie’s history with Jamie at Ardsmuir doesn’t mean that Jamie will welcome him with the most open of arms. It sounds like Tom’s children, Allan and Malva, might bring their own share of trouble. Plus, based on some comments from Lauren Lyle, things might get dark enough for Fergus and Marsali that Jamie will have to worry about them too! Hopefully those distractions just won’t keep him from giving Claire the kind of support she needs. 

If the first five seasons of Outlander have proven anything, it’s that Claire and Jamie can pretty much survive anything as long as they have and rely on each other, so hopefully the show doesn’t go too far with any wedge between them. Neither of the stars’ words suggest that the sky is falling for one of TV’s most complex love stories, and it sounds like fans have a lot to look forward to when the show returns.

And luckily, that return is sooner rather than later! Outlander will be back for Season 6 with a super-sized premiere on Sunday, March 6 at 9 p.m. ET on Starz in the 2022 TV schedule. There’s even more to look forward to on the Outlander front as well, as a prequel spinoff is reportedly in the works. 

Outlander’s Caitríona Balfe surprised many of her fans last August when she revealed that she’d given birth to her first child during the extended Droughtlander for Season 6 of the hit drama. The show finally began filming on the now fast approaching season in early February of 2021, meaning that Balfe had a growing tummy for the entire shoot. And, her co-star, Sam Heughan, recently admitted that he sometimes forgot that Balfe’s pregnant belly was real while they were working, and was frequently tempted to “poke” her stomach. 

Why Did Sam Heughan Want To Mess With Caitríona Balfe’s Pregnant Belly?

Look, working on a TV show, especially one as deeply dramatic as Outlander, can be very taxing. As much as everyone involved was very excited to get back to work on the beloved romantic drama because they adore their jobs, all evidence also points to the cast and crew simply enjoying being around each other. Add those things up, and it means that they are likely to blow off steam behind the scenes and goof around from time to time, and pregnant belly-poking could easily come from that, particularly when several of your co-stars have had to wear a fake pregnant belly from time to time.

While speaking at a recent Wizard World convention (via Express), Sam Heughan revealed that he had just that instinct on set with Caitríona Balfe’s pregnant belly, after being asked about wanting to “poke” her stomach:

Oh, dear Mr. Heughan, you can bet that Ms. Balfe would have “punched” you back! And, I’m basically 99% sure of this, even without knowing her personally. Have you ever met a pregnant lady? Do NOT mess with the baby bump uninvited, lest you’d like to be met with a firestorm of cursing and / or (possibly mild…but maybe not) physical violence, OK?

But, luckily, Heughan managed to remind himself that this pregnancy wasn’t like so many others he’d witnessed on the Outlander set, and was a real life one, as opposed to being for the show only. Truly, though, I think we can all forgive him for some almost lapses in judgement here. 

Not only did Balfe herself have to wear a fake belly for two different on-screen pregnancies early in the show’s run, but Heughan has probably also been able to poke the fake bumps of actresses like Laura Donnelly (who played Jamie’s oft-pregnant sister, Jenny), Lauren Lyle (who portrays the even more typically pregnant Marsali), and Sophie Skelton (who plays Jamie and Claire’s daughter, Brianna). So, you can see where the man might have gotten confused a bit.

The cast and crew of Outlander were, mostly, able to film around Caitríona Balfe’s growing baby bump, but Sam Heughan did also say that they had to do reshoots for some scenes where it turned out she was still showing too much. Either way, we can all rejoice that Balfe didn’t have to beat him up for improper belly poking on set, and that Outlander Season 6 is all set to debut on Starz on March 6! 

For more to watch, be sure to check out the 2022 TV premiere dates.

Most adults know at least two things about life. One is that being famous might be fun, but celebrities also frequently have to deal with disconcerting fan encounters. The second is that pretty much no one enjoys going to the dentist, even if you manage to do it every time you’re supposed to. Unfortunately for Outlander star Caitríona Balfe, those two very disparate facts of life converged for her when she had a weird fan encounter of her own while at a dentist appointment.

How Was Caitríona Balfe’s Fan Encounter At The Dentist Weird?

I think it would be fair to say that Caitríona Balfe shot to stardom once Outlander fans saw her as our beloved feisty, devoted, and recently traumatized ​​Claire Beauchamp Randall Fraser on the hit Starz romantic drama. With Balfe and her co-star, Sam Heughan, having celebrated their seventh anniversary working on the series last August, you can bet that she has a ton of fans, and has had plenty of interactions with them. 

But, as Balfe recently told her Belfast co-star, Jamie Dornan, during a game for Elle UK, one fan decided to let their love for her and Outlander be known at a very odd time:

If your thoughts right now are somewhere along the lines of, “Eeeeeegad!” you can rest easy knowing that Dornan agrees with you. While he and Balfe both giggled during her retelling of the incident, he responded to her story by saying, “That’s terrifying!” and then wondering aloud about the possibility that this eager anesthesiologist took photos of Balfe with her cup while she was under, to which she replied, “Probably!”

My guess is that Balfe is just glad that she managed to get out of there alive, OK? I don’t know about you, but if I were the star of an immensely popular television show and someone sang the theme to me right as I was about to be unconscious and at their mercy, it would creep me the fuck out. 

This is especially true for the dreamy, lilting, ethereal-sounding Outlander theme, “The Skye Boat Song,” which made a big change for Season 6 and is definitely one of the reasons the show is the best on TV. It does my heart good to know that I, clearly, am not the only one cynical enough to see the singing of that tune by a stranger as I gently fade out under anesthesia as a preamble to murdering. I probably would have fallen right out of that dental chair in a drowsy, last ditch effort to get away. 

While Caitríona Balfe didn’t say that she did such a thing, luckily it wasn’t necessary anyway, as everything clearly turned out fine. Which is a very good thing for all of us! The complicated sounding Outlander Season 6 will finally hit Starz on March 6, but for more to watch, check out the other upcoming romantic TV shows, and all of the 2022 TV premiere dates! 

While we all know that this extensive Droughtlander has felt like an interminable one, we are truly coming toward the end point, which already has many of us near to bursting with excitement for Outlander Season 6. As we get closer to the show’s March 6 premiere date, we’ve been hearing more and more about the drama and action to come from Claire, Jamie and their many friends and foes, but now that I’ve heard the ‘complicated’ things that stars like Sam Heughan and Caitríona Balfe are saying about the new episodes, I can really barely wait until Season 6 gets here!

What Are Sam Heughan And Outlander’s Other Stars Saying About Season 6?

Look, after that emotionally devastating Season 5 finale, we realized that whenever Outlander returned it was going to have to go gangbusters to both show Claire dealing with her trauma after being kidnapped and raped, and move our beloved characters ever closer to the American Revolution. But, a new video about the upcoming season, which was posted to the official Twitter feed, has many of the stars saying a wide variety of wild things about Season 6 that are making it even harder for me to wait a few weeks to watch. Take a look, and we can discuss, below!

See?! Isn't this exciting?! But also troublesome?! But still very exciting?!?!

I mean, come on, Outlander! Give us desperate sassenachs a break, why dontcha?! In the clip, we saw everyone from original leads Heughan and Balfe to newcomers like Alexander Vlahos (who plays Allan Christie) and Jessica Reynolds (she’s our Malva Christie) talking at length about the new season. And, well, it sounds like it’s going to be pretty crazy right?

In fact, it’s Vlahos who specifically noted that something in Outlander Season 6 is going to involve a “complicated, nuanced, very dark storyline,” and I can’t help but think that it’s going to deal with his character, seeing as how he and his family will become quite a big deal around Fraser’s Ridge. We got our first look at the new characters nearly a year ago, and it was then that Vlahos teased Allan’s “dark history” from the books, so it definitely sounds like Jamie is correct to worry about the new arrivals to the Ridge.

Meanwhile, Heughan and Balfe make it sound like things will start in a tense place for the Frasers, as the family will be “slightly fractured” because of Claire’s attack by Lionel Brown and his men, while still “carrying on as if things are normal.” If you know anything about either pushing down your true feelings or moving on from tragedy before you’re even the tiniest bit ready, you will probably be aware that this combo is unlikely to be a good thing for anyone involved.

And, Balfe has talked recently about how Claire will put “on a very brave face” as she deals with her trauma, which will eventually lead to her not being “in control” as tensions on the Ridge and with the coming war mount, and as she (potentially) begins to doubt Jamie. So, it sounds like Bree is really going to have her work cut out for her when trying to care for her mom in Season 6.

Luckily, even though Jessica Reynolds said that we’re in for more “violence” and “tragedy,” at least she also noted that there will be “a lot of tender moments, too,” and it sounds like we’re sure going to need them. Now, if only there were a safe way for me to just sleep through the next several weeks so I don’t have to feel all of this waiting. The excitement is almost too much!

Outlander Season 6 hits Starz on March 6, but you can look into the rest of the TV premiere schedule, as well as the other upcoming romantic TV shows!

Even as Outlander fans haven’t yet been treated to the glories, emotional depths, or sure-to-be heartbreaks that await in Season 6, the Droughtlander is nearing its end. With that, many people are likely to already be thinking ahead and hoping that the hit will at least be able to complete filming stories based on all of the eventual 10 novels in Diana Gabaldon’s ever popular series. We’ve been told that those behind the time travel romance would like to get through the full story, but it seems that star Caitríona Balfe may feel a bit differently. Here’s why Balfe thinks that ending Outlander with Season 7 might actually be ‘nice.’

Starz took pity on all of us who were dying for any and all information about Outlander during this very extended wait for Season 6, and went ahead and renewed the series for Season 7 back in March 2021. We don’t know yet whether or not anything beyond that is officially a-go, but Caitríona Balfe recently intimated to Vanity Fair that Season 7 does seem like a logical stopping point, of sorts, to her. About the next season, Balfe said:

Alright! Alright! Everyone just calm down, OK? As Balfe also told the outlet, they don’t know exactly when the end will come for Outlander right now. With Gabaldon having recently released the ninth book and just beginning work on the tenth, it doesn’t seem likely that the drama will close the door on Claire and Jamie Fraser before she does. Plus, we still have two more seasons to look forward to, so there’s no real reason to panic.

However, I think most of us can see where Balfe is coming from with her thoughts on wrapping her role on one of the most popular (and steamy) dramas to hit the small screen. Because Outlander is consistently really, really good, and we’re fully immersed in the story, it can be easy to forget about all of the effort, hard work, and sacrifice that goes into making it.

Also, while 10 years (Balfe won the part of Claire in 2013) might not seem like long to have a steady job for most people, it’s rare for most actors to be able to return to one character and show for that many years. Balfe and the rest of the cast have certainly gotten to do a lot of amazing things during their time on the drama, but my impression is that lots of actors really enjoy taking on brand new challenges, and like being able to play very different characters who deal with a wide variety of intriguing situations. 

So, it does make sense that getting to the 10 year mark of working on the series (without completing the story of the books) would still seem like a solid stopping point for Caitríona Balfe.

Until we know more about Outlander’s not-so-immediate future, we can all prepare for Season 6, which will debut on March 6. For more to watch on the small screen, check out the other upcoming romantic TV shows and the 2022 TV schedule!

Over the course of five seasons, Outlander has thrown a true shit-ton at our favorite characters. There have been multiple battles (in and outside of war), spying, double-crossing, love triangles, imprisonment, beatings, torture, rape, and long separations of loved ones because of distance and time, just to name a few of the extreme circumstances faced by Claire, Jamie and their many allies. Claire was hit the hardest when she was kidnapped and sexually assaulted by a gang at the end of Season 5, and now her portrayer, Caitríona Balfe, has opened up about how the lady of Fraser’s Ridge will deal with that trauma in Season 6.

Claire went through a shocking ordeal in the penultimate episode of Outlander Season 5 when she was abducted by Lionel Brown and his men. The finale then showed her being repeatedly beaten and raped (though in a somewhat subtle way) by all of them until Jamie, Young Ian, Roger, and Fergus finally showed up to kill (most of) the men and take Claire home. As you might imagine, she’ll still, very much, be living with what happened when Season 6 rolls around, but from what Caitríona Balfe said in a Starz video about the new episodes, it’s not going to be easy for Claire, at all. According to Balfe:

Honestly, no one who witnessed what Claire went through while she was with Lionel’s men could have thought that she’d be totally cool by the time Outlander Season 6 starts, barring a pretty large time jump. And, seeing as how the show will pick up mere months after her kidnapping and sexual assault, the idea of Claire still being deep in the throes of trauma is understandable. However, I can’t be the only Outlander fan who is very worried by the thought of Claire beginning to “unravel” when we see her again.

Of course, it sounds like some of this will be due to the many, many difficulties already in the way for the Frasers, and how they’ve both always needed to try to bounce back quickly so that they could keep their wits about them in dangerous times. The Revolutionary War is getting ever closer, and tensions on Fraser’s Ridge will get to a fever pitch in Season 6, especially with the arrival of the Christie family, who are set to cause even more trouble for everyone.

So, while Claire is trying to get on with life, it will be a definite struggle for her, and Caitríona Balfe has hinted at Claire’s trauma possibly showing up in some intriguing ways. While Balfe seems to have enjoyed working though those scenes, you can probably bet that it will add a lot of drama to Outlander Season 6.

Outlander returns to Starz on March 6, 2022, until then, be sure to see what’s coming your way this month with our Christmas movies and TV schedule, and to look at all of the other upcoming romantic TV shows! 

Of the things which seem like absolutes about Outlander, fans can count on a few definite facts. On the show, certainly, we will see everyone we love suffer at some point (probably several points), and someone will deliver some seriously sexy romantic scenes. Off camera, meanwhile, we can count on most of the folks who work on the drama supporting and / or delightfully poking fun at one another, especially on social media. And, now that Outlander’s Sam Heughan has offered a totally perfect response to co-star Caitríona Balfe’s awards nomination, their real life friendship has proven that, once again.

The Golden Globe Awards revealed their nominations for this year recently, and Outlander’s Caitríona Balfe scored a nod for her performance in director Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast, with her first nomination for Best Supporting Actress, Motion Picture from the organization. After her nomination was announced, Sam Heughan stepped up and responded to the great news on Twitter, and said:

Awwww! OK, I know what you’re probably thinking. Seeing as how Heughan’s reaction to Caitríona Balfe’s Golden Globes nod is so simple and right on the nose, you’re probably wondering just how this counts as such a perfect thing for him to say. Well, the simplicity of his comment really is the key for me. 

How often do people who really know one another go on and on when congratulating each other on social media? Generally, it seems like they don’t, because what they want to do is give their well wishes to their buddy either in person, on the phone, or in some other personal way. The public notice is just so we all know that they know what happened, as opposed to being the truest form of the congratulations.

Plus, you know, he wrapped his simple comment with four exclamation points and two virtual kisses, so, come on, guys. What more do you want from the man?!

All you have to do is watch a joint interview with the Outlander stars to see that the affection that Claire and Jamie have for each other on the series has definitely turned into a great friendship off camera. The two of them have had to endure some rough stuff while filming the time travel series, which tends to be filled with heavy emotional work for both of them, and their care for each other has probably helped make a lot of that easier to deal with once the cameras stop rolling.

Balfe and Heughan have spent several years cultivating the knockout chemistry they have on Outlander, and fans love seeing that they (along with the rest of the cast) seem to really enjoy working those long hours together. 

The Golden Globes are set to be held on January 9, 2022, so we can all see how Caitríona Balfe fares then. She’ll be back with Sam Heughan for Outlander Season 6 when it hits Starz, on March 6, 2022, but in the meantime check out all of the other upcoming romantic TV shows headed our way soon! 

2021 was probably the worst year in the Golden Globes’ 77 year history. They were rightfully called out earlier this year for a total lack of Black members, as well as other unethical practices, resulting in NBC refusing to air their ceremony for 2022. 

The HFPA is currently in the process of making reforms to their organization, and has recruited 21 new members this year (their total prior was about 86). It was uncertain if the HFPA would even announce nominees and winners for the films of 2021, but on October 15th they confirmed they would hold a ceremony in some capacity, with nominations to be announced December 13th at 6 A.M. PST. 

A consequence of the chaos this year for prognosticators is that we don’t actually have confirmation on what films will be campaigned in comedy or musical, making predicting films like CODA much more difficult. So in my predictions below I’m also predicting category placements.

Motion Picture Drama

If Belfast, Dune, King Richard, and The Power of the Dog don’t all show up here, I’d be shocked. In my mind that leaves open one slot for a wildcard to sneak in. Part of the challenge predicting this year is that we don’t know which films will be slotted in comedy or drama. If CODA is in drama, I think it has a shot here. Despite underwhelming reviews, we shouldn’t underestimate Nightmare Alley or Being the Ricardos either. Spencer and The Tragedy of Macbeth could certainly contend, as could either of Ridley Scott’s films: House of Gucci and The Last Duel. Right now I’m hesitantly predicting CODA, but I expect to be swapping out this slot up until nomination morning.

Drama Actor

Will Smith (King Richard), Benedict Cumberbatch (The Power of the Dog), and Denzel Washington (The Tragedy of Macbeth) are near-locks in this category. The remaining two slots are tricky, as much of the competition they’ll face at the Oscars is on the comedy/musical side. Joaquin Phoenix has a shot for his understated performance in C’mon C’mon (assuming that’s in drama), and though it's a long shot, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Nicolas Cage sneak in for Pig. For now, I’m predicting Javier Bardem for his portrayal of Desi Arnaz in Being the Ricardos, and Bradley Cooper for Nightmare Alley.

Drama Actress

Don’t bet against these four: Kristen Stewart (Spencer), Jessica Chastain (The Eyes of Tammy Faye), Nicole Kidman (Being the Ricardos) and Lady Gaga (House of Gucci). As for that final slot, Penélope Cruz and Olivia Colman are certainly in the conversation for their roles in Parallel Mothers and The Lost Daughter respectively, but those films could be a little under the radar for the Globes. They love actors who play musical icons (see Andra Day’s shocking win last year), so I’m predicting they’ll nominate Jennifer Hudson for her portrayal of Aretha Franklin in Respect. 

Motion Picture Comedy / Musical

This was the best year for musicals in recent memory, and unlike some years, the Globes have plenty of riches to pick from in this category. West Side Story, Tick, tick… Boom!, Cyrano, and In the Heights all have a great shot to make it into this lineup. But they’ll be competing with comedies Licorice Pizza and Don’t Look Up. I expect the lineup will be pulled from these six films. In the Heights and Cyrano are probably the most vulnerable of the musicals. Though recency bias would favor Cyrano, I’m predicting it to miss, as it’s the least acclaimed the bunch. Or maybe both will show up at the expense of Don’t Look Up, whose divisive reactions could work against it.

Comedy / Musical Actor

There are four actors in this lineup that no one should be betting against: Andrew Garfield (Tick, tick… Boom!), Peter Dinklage (Cyrano), Leonardo DiCaprio (Don’t Look Up), and Anthony Ramos (In the Heights). The final slot is keeping me up at night. I would love for them to go with Simon Rex for Red Rocket, but that’s probably wishful thinking. I could honestly see them going for Ansel Elgort in West Side Story, but in a year where the organization is on thin ice, I think they’ll know better than to bring that sort of controversy their way. I’m perhaps optimistically going with Cooper Hoffman for Licorice Pizza. Although he is young and hasn’t been as seriously in the awards conversation as his co-star Alana Haim, it certainly helps that he is part of a bigger overall contender. 

Comedy / Musical Actress

The two no-brainers here are Alana Haim for Licorice Pizza and Rachel Zegler for West Side Story. I also expect Emma Stone may pretty easily get a nomination for Cruella, considering that things start to get a little thin beyond here. If CODA is in comedy, Emilia Jones will be nominated. And if Haley Bennett is lead for Cyrano, I’d say the same. If not, the most realistic options in my mind are Melissa Berrera (In the Heights), Jennifer Lawrence (Don’t Look Up), and Renate Reinsve (The Worst Person in the World). I am far too cynical to pick the latter, but I would jump for joy if it happened. I’m settling for Berrera and Lawrence for now.

Supporting Actor

I’m expecting both Ciaran Hinds and Jamie Dornan will make it in for Belfast and Belfast respectively. Jared Leto has a shot here for House of Gucci, especially considering he was surprise nominated for The Little Things last year. For the remaining two slots there are a lot of options. Jon Bernthal has a great shot at coat-tailing off of King Richard. And I’d love to see Robin de Jesus in for Tick, tick… Boom!, a film I expect they’ll adore. I’m predicting those two for now. Kodi Smit-McPhee has been garnering lots of critics awards, but I’m skeptical he’ll perform as well with certain major precursors. Troy Kotsur has been gaining steam for CODA, but like Yuh-Jung Youn or Paul Raci last year, he may be too unknown for the HFPA. I’m also watching out for Mike Faist (West Side Story), Bradley Cooper (Licorice Pizza), and Ben Affleck (The Tender Bar). Unfortunately I don’t have much hope for Jason Isaacs (Mass).

Supporting Actress

Four performances widely expected to be nominated here are Ariana Debose (West Side Story), Caitriona Balfe (Belfast), Aunjanue Ellis (King Richard), and Kirsten Dunst (The Power of the Dog). Fighting for that last slot we have Cate Blanchett (Nightmare Alley), Meryl Streep (Don’t Look Up), Ruth Negga (Passing), and Ann Dowd (Mass). I am also considering Rita Moreno for West Side Story. Though this is somewhat of a long shot, it could be a great moment for the Globes to pick a veteran all-star for what will likely be their favorite musical there. But considering how CODA seems like it’s starting to take off, I’m going with Marlee Matlin.

Director

The contenders who seem most likely here are Steven Spielberg (West Side Story), Kenneth Branagh (Belfast), Denis Villeneuve (Dune), and Jane Campion (The Power of the Dog). Many are predicting Paul Thomas Anderson for Licorice Pizza. I am skeptical. The director has never been nominated for a Golden Globe before. We can’t count out Adam McKay (Don’t Look Up), who was nominated for Vice and The Big Short. Nor should we underestimate Reinaldo Marcus Green (King Richard) or Guillermo del Toro (Nightmare Alley). However, I’m going with Lin Manuel Miranda for Tick, tick… Boom! Some would call this a long-shot, but I think the film is stronger than many are assuming and this feels like just the kind of celebrity actor-director nomination they’re notorious for embracing.

Screenplay

To make up for the director snub, I’m predicting Paul Thomas Anderson will land his first Golden Globe nomination in screenplay for Licorice Pizza. I also feel confident writer-directors Jane Campion and Kenneth Branagh will be nominated for their widely celebrated films. Despite Being the Ricardos’ lackluster reviews I cannot in good conscience underestimate 7-time nominee, 3-time winner Aaron Sorkin in this category. I’ve got my eye on Don’t Look Up here, as well as King Richard. But I feel the love for West Side Story will be so strong that Tony Kushner will take a nomination.

With the Golden Globe and Critics Choice Award nominations both taking place Monday the 13th, there will surely be a lot to discuss in terms of how it shapes the Oscar race. Check back here on Cinemablend for more awards analysis in the coming weeks.

Filmmaker Kenneth Branagh joins the show to chat about one of our favorite movies of the year, Belfast, starring Jamie Dornan, Caitriona Balfe, and Judi Dench. This film has immediately jumped to the top of our lists for this season’s race to the Academy Awards. Branagh talks with us about his lens choices, a very intimate moment of reading the script to Dame Judi Dench for the first time, and the film’s connection to his childhood and family. 

Stick around for our reviews on Rebecca Hall’s directorial debut Passing, Sean’s thoughts on Red Notice (starring Dwayne Johnson, Gal Gadot, and Ryan Reynolds) now that he’s had the chance to see it, and of course our rave reviews for our movie fo the week Belfast. 

Timestamps (Approx. Only)

00:04:35 - Weekly Poll

00:12:11 - Kenneth Branagh Interview

00:33:55 - This Week In Movies

00:35:00 - Passing Review

00:41: 59 - Red Notice Review

00:44:18 - Belfast Review

00:54:10 - Our Favorite Hans Zimmer Scores

01:04:17 - Outro

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For the past seven years, Caitríona Balfe has been linked to Sam Heughan as they’ve told the tragic and incredibly steamy romance between Claire and Jamie in Outlander. The time-bending love story has had its fans hooked for years, but now the actress will star opposite Fifty Shades Of Grey star Jamie Dornan in the upcoming drama Belfast. As the movie hits theaters this weekend, Balfe compared her Belfast experience to the hit Starz series. 

During CinemaBlend’s interviews with the cast of Belfast, Sean O’Connell asked the actress about how it was different to build chemistry with Jamie Dornan for the movie following having experience over a longer period of time with Outlander. She shared why it’s actually a lot more similar than we might think. In her words: 

It sounds like Caitríona Balfe and Jamie Dornan found a natural chemistry between them straight away and were able to implement it into the black and white film that's written and directed by Kenneth Branagh. The movie is a semi-biographical story for the filmmaker that chronicles the life of a working-class family and their young son’s childhood. It takes place in 1960s Northern Ireland during a rough time in the capitol's history. 

As Caitríona Balfe shared, her and Jamie Dornan’s paths only really crossed when it came to making Belfast, but they’ve oddly led similar lives. Both actors are Irish actors who have found a great deal of success in Hollywood starring in adaptations of massively popular romance novels. Both have also married and started families amidst being working actors. They’re each quite popular these days, but continue to make exciting and high-quality work they are passionate about. 

Belfast has been highly-praised by critics, including CinemaBlend’s own Mike Reyes, who awarded the movie a 4.5 out of 5 stars in our review. He said the movie includes “top notch performances” along with the movie having “technical precision.” The movie also stars Judi Dench, Ciarán Hinds and Colin Morgan. It sounds like we could be talking about Belfast into award season. You can check out the movie in theaters now and check out what else is next with our 2021 new movie release schedule. 

The cast of Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast including Jamie Dornan, Caitriona Balfe, Ciarán Hinds and Jude Hill, join CinemaBlend to discuss the thrilling tale of restless 1960’s Ireland. They discuss the uncanny chemistry between Ma and Pa, the incredible set pieces, Jamie Dornan’s likely award-contending ballad, and more.

Video Chapters

• 00:00 - Intro
• 00:11 - Caitriona Balfe Compares Building Chemistry With Outlander’s Sam Heughan And Her Belfast Co-Star Jamie Dornan
• 01:31 - Jude Hill Got To Read A Real Vintage Copy Of Marvel’s Thor, And Loved It
• 02:00 - Ciarán Hinds On Belfast’s Beautiful Depiction Of Childhood Love
• 03:10 - The Belfast Cast Discusses The Film’s Portrayal Of The Cinema And Their Passion For It
• 04:58 - Ciarán Hinds Describes Being Transported Back To The Ireland Of His Childhood On Set
• 06:19 - Is Jamie Dornan Ready To Sing His Belfast Ballad On Stage At The Oscars?

It looks like Sam Heughan is taking a little break from being stuck in the 1700s, because the actor is apparently driving on the coasts of the US in a whiskey truck that has his face plastered all over it. While that basically sounds like the best life to lead, Heughan’s Outlander and Men in Kilts co-star Graham McTavish couldn't help but roast him with the perfect response. 

Sam Heughan is one of the latest celebrities to take up the task of creating their own whiskey brand and, admittedly, it’s very fitting. The Scottish actor named his equally brand after the pet name his Outlander character has for his love, The Sassenach, which is basically just Scottish for “foreigner”. Either way, it works and I’d wager a bet that fans of the period drama are about to trade their wine for some of his brew, if they don’t already indulge in it.

The actor took to his Instagram to announce that he’s been driving around the US with a truck full of The Sassenach Whiskey in order to visit restaurants and stores that will stock his new drink. Personally, I just can’t imagine seeing a truck with the star's face plastered on it and driven by the man himself. I guess I don’t have to imagine, though, because he has pics:

As awesome and exciting as the new venture may be for him, it, of course, was met with some slight roasting from good buddy Graham McTavish. The two previously traveled around Scotland together, drinking and getting pretty cozy for their Starz series Men in Kilts, and it sounds like McTavish has the low down on some of Heughan’s driving habits. Here’s how the actor reacted to his co-star’s Instagram post:

Fans are loving the exchange, and Graham McTavish’s comment has thousands of likes and countless laughing emojis in his replies. McTavish and Sam Heughan’s lovely Outlander co-star, Caitríona Balfe, seems to be thinking along the same lines, because she added a similar comment about Heughan’s driving skills. Here’s what she says, exactly:

Sam Heughan was hoping to promote his new business venture, but it looks like his friends and co-stars are set on exposing his driving skills as he does so. Heughan tells fans to watch out for him and his truck along his journey, but his colleagues seem to be warning the public that they may actually need to watch out for him. Either way though, fans seem to love everything about his post: whiskey, roastings, and all.

If you don’t see the star and entrepreneur out and about in his whiskey truck, don’t fret, because there will be plenty of him in the upcoming sixth season of Outlander. Production on it has already wrapped, and fans will be able to enjoy Season 6 when it drops on Starz in early 2022!

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The time-traveling Starz hit Outlander has a lot of plot threads to pick up when Season 6 finally comes around, and fewer episodes to do so in. As with most seasons of the romantic series, they'll probably hit the ground running when it comes to letting us in on how the (mostly) good folks up on Fraser's Ridge are doing, including Caitríona Balfe's Claire after the massive ordeal she went through at the end of Season 5. Now, Balfe is opening up about the new season, and, man, I really wish they'd hurry up with those new episodes!

Outlander is a show that's covered some troubling times in history, and the series has never shied away from delving into the many darker parts of life that have come from that. Claire, Jamie and their assorted friends and family have been through wars, sexual assaults, brutal personal fights, long prison sentences, and much more during their time on our screens, and things aren't going to be much easier for them when the new season begins.

We've already been told that there's going to be some trouble on the Ridge between inhabitants on the land, and some of that will come from new arrivals, Tom, Malva, and Allan Christie. In her chat with Entertainment Weekly about Outlander Season 6, Caitríona Balfe said:

Twisted? Heartbreaking? Destabilizing?! What the hell is going to happen in Season 6, you guys?!?! Those of you who've read the books will know that the Christie family does, indeed, end up causing quite a bit of trouble on Fraser's Ridge. So far, we only know for sure that the show will follow the novel's plot of Tom having been a former rival of Jamie's while they were each imprisoned at Ardsmuir, with him being a devout Protestant, while Jamie is a staunch Catholic.

While that would be enough for some shenanigans to start once the Christies arrive, it sounds like Claire's relationship with young Malva is also going to be potentially damaging for her already recently wounded soul. Balfe makes it seem as though things will be pretty peachy between Claire and Malva for a time, but then take a turn that becomes part of a "twisted narrative," which, honestly, sounds as though it will be thoroughly enjoyable and maddening to watch.

If you're wondering where this story could go, but don't want to know potential specifics, beware, because I've got some book spoilers ahead!

OK, in A Breath of Snow and Ashes, book six in Diana Gabaldon's series, the Christie clan brings much more trouble with them than just some religious differences. Tom begins to fall in love with Claire, which fans are already theorizing might be a bigger part of the show than it was in the book. Also, Malva will eventually get up to some business during her time on the Ridge, become pregnant, and claim that Jamie is the father! So, yeah. Heaps. Of. Trouble.

END SPOILERS!

Obviously, Outlander has veered from the plot threads of the books a bit in the past, but it would seem that there'd be no reason to bring the Christies in if at least some of these things won't be a factor in Season 6. Plus, Caitríona Balfe did describe them as villains, so it would appear that we'll all be in for some delicious twists and turns when the new season finally arrives, and I can't wait!

Outlander Season 6 doesn't have a set premiere just yet, but it is due on Starz sometime early in 2022, so until then, take a look at the other upcoming romantic TV shows!

The wait for the next season of Outlander, affectionately and seriously known as Droughtlander to fans, has been rather gruesome this go around. Questions continue to linger about how Claire Fraser will handle the fallout from the storyline in Season 5, not to mention how it will all depart in various ways from Diana Gabaldon’s novels. In the midst of our heightened stages of speculation, star Caitriona Balfe has taken to handing out some spoilers. Not about Season 6, but about the new addition to her life, as the actress recently gave birth to her first child.

Outlander’s Caitriona Balfe shared on Instagram that she had been taking time away from social media while “cooking up” her newborn son, shared with her husband of two years, Anthony McGill. It is unclear exactly when he was born or what his name is, though if he was named Brian, I’m sure Outlander fans would go through the roof. In terms of Balfe's personal life, though, it's not truly been a Droughtlander after all. About her new baby, she wrote,

In the post, Caitriona Balfe was also mindful of the “privilege” of the time and place in which her baby was born. Very apt, considering that her storyline in Outlander has always put focus on the level of safety for women and children in troubling historical times. She noted that in the present-day West, everyone is “so lucky” to bring life into the world, without fear of unimaginable dangers seen elsewhere. Along with including a picture of her baby's hand, Balfe asked fans to consider donations for several charities that would help children in need. See her adorable and inspiring post here:

It's surprising that Caitriona Balfe was able to keep her Droughtlander baby a secret for so long. It's almost as surprising as that Murtagh twist in Season 5 of Outlander, or the fact that it’s been 7 years since the series first started. I guess it helps that the crew captured enough behind-the-scenes videos to keep fans entertained during the hiatus, without raising much awareness to Balfe not being on social media much.

This newborn bairn is yet another addition to the Outlander family, joining Brianna’s fictional baby who was born in the last season. Perhaps it's no coincidence that Brianna, too, wished to protect her child from the dangers of the time period and return to the present day. However, that wasn't quite meant to be on the narrative side.

Season 6 of Outlander is slated for release sometime in 2022. On top of the interim Droughtlander slog, fans have been slightly disappointed that the show will be the shortest season to date, with only eight episodes. Hopefully, the new storyline will make the current lack of episodes worth it in the long run. Apart from Caitriona Balfe's real-life new baby, the only plot spoilers fans are getting are ones of their own making – namely about a certain someone who falls in love with Claire. (No, not Jaime.)

2022 isn't too far away, though. In fact, it’s practically a stone’s throw away. American Revolution, here Outlander comes. Now don't forget to keep track of all the new shows hitting the 2021 Fall TV schedule while waiting to return to the past.

Although Starz's Outlander is still in the midst of a Droughtlander between seasons, there's still a lot to celebrate. August 9, 2021 marked the seven-year anniversary of the hit series, and the occasion brought stars Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan out to share some throwback pictures and reminisce about where the show began, and how far they've come. Outlander premiered back in 2014, and viewers who hadn't read Diana Gabaldon's book saga couldn't possibly have guessed where Claire's journey through time would take her.

Back in the beginning, Claire's goal was to return to Frank in the 1940s after accidentally traveling back to 18th-century Scotland, even despite sparks flying with Jamie. Seven years later, and Claire and Jamie are grandparents, living in Revolutionary War-era South Carolina, and facing a future that could end in their fiery deaths. On the seven-year anniversary of Outlander's premiere, Caitriona Balfe took to Twitter with a touching message and a throwback pic that is a fun look behind the scenes, even if it wasn't exactly for a fun time for Claire. Take a look:

The image shows Caitriona Balfe's hair and makeup look for one of Claire's earlier scenes after winding up in rough circumstances, but certainly not the last. Claire's journey hasn't been easy, but her love of Jamie and then her extended family has kept her going, even to keep her oath to do no harm.

Caitriona Balfe hadn't yet had to undergo the aging process in the photo that she shared for the big anniversary since Claire was still a few seasons away from the big time jump, and I for one appreciate the look back at where the show began while waiting for where the show goes next. For his part, Sam Heughan chose a somewhat sillier series of pics to post:

In case there was any doubt that Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe were friends going back to the beginning, I think Balfe napping on Heughan (with a fake dead body on hand) while Heughan studies his lines is proof of how comfortable they've been with each other for a long time. The last photo in the series he posted also looks like he's wearing his Jamie costume but is missing the kilt.

And since Sam Heughan lost his previous phone while filming in the prison, it's probably safe to say that Heughan's pics are from filming the end of the first season. (I still say Heughan deserved some awards attention for those final episodes of Season 1!) The stars weren't the only ones from the show who hit social media to celebrate the Outlander anniversary either, as executive producer Maril Davis had this to say:

Executive producer Maril Davis certainly isn't kidding about Outlander having much more to share with fans. Not only is Season 6 on the way, but the show is making up for the shortened sixth season with a 16-episode seventh season that has already been ordered. The book saga that inspired the series also still has plenty of source material to be adapted, so the Outlander action isn't going anywhere... even if the hiatuses between seasons can be painfully long.

The good news is that there is an end in sight for the latest Droughtlander, as Outlander will return to Starz with Season 6 at some point in early 2022. There is no exact premiere date just yet, but "early 2022" beats not having any idea at all! Plus, with the future looking bright for fans – if not for Claire and Jamie ever catching a break – we can be confident that Outlander will continue hitting anniversaries for the next couple years. For some viewing options in the meantime, check out our 2021 fall TV premiere schedule.

Outlander is one of those shows that had a fairly large following before it even began, thanks to the fandom who adores the novels by Diana Gabaldon that the show follows pretty closely, though not entirely. With such a loyal and committed fanbase comes plenty of fan art, and apparently the romantic drama's stars Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe have not only seen some of those artistic endeavors, but they have some pretty fun thoughts about the fan tributes they've laid their eyes on.

For a behind-the-scenes video taken on the set of Outlander Season 6, stars Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe seemed to have a blast looking through an assortment of fan art pieces, created across a variety of different mediums. And while it can't be the most natural feeling to look at such a range of beautiful art depicting their own likenesses, they have some good-natured laughs about it all. Heughan and Balfe are complimentary to the artists for their jobs well done, to be sure, but their friendly chemistry and banter is on full display as they semi-roast each other over how they're depicted.

At one point, Caitriona Balfe spoke out about one artist whose take on Sam Heughan apparently also went back in time. The actress jokingly pointed out that Heughan is much older in real life than the fan art showed him to be, even going back to Season 1 of Outlander. While that may come off as harsh to someone else, it’s clear that the co-stars' relationship can weather those kinds of playful barbs, and the actors even welcome it.

While Sam Heughan may not have made any deep digs back at his friendly on-screen partner, he did point out that a doll with Caitriona Balfe's likeness captured her dark eyes pretty perfectly, which didn't give Balfe's real-life peepers much credit. While the doll was pretty cute and took a lot of talent to create, a cartoonish crocheted doll’s beady eyes probably don't make for the most glowing comparisons. That said, having a whole doll designed and crafted to emulate one's likeness is an insanely big compliment in the first place.

The two do joke around at one another’s expense quite often, but they also compliment each other just as frequently as they compliment the art itself. For one of the last fan art pieces, Caitriona Balfe lovingly pointed out that Sam Heughan's character was depicted handsomely and that it captured his likely very well. I'm sure plenty of fans would love to capture his likeness in other ways, if you catch my hurricane-force drift.

Hardcore Outlander fans are always ecstatic to see the cast hanging out and interacting off-script, and hopefully watching Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe poking fun at one another can stave off some of the hunger for more Outlander content, since we're not exactly sure yet when fans can catch the two stars back in character. Luckily, Season 6 has finished filming and is set to arrive on Starz at some point early in 2022, although unfortunately with a shorter season than usual. Be sure to keep a close eye on the 2021 Fall TV schedule to see what shows you can get busy with while waiting.

Former Outlander co-stars Graham McTavish and Sam Heughan recently reunited for their Scotland-based road trip series Men in Kilts, which saw the two travel through the country to show off some of the traditions and historical events which have made the land and its people what they are today. This involved a lot of competing for McTavish and Heughan, and it turns out that Outlander's Caitrione Balfe issued a warning to McTavish about his co-host which made him think he'd lose a naked sea run bet.

Previously, I'd say that I don't know who'd make a bet about running into the sea naked, but now that I think about it, it does sound like something someone who's very competitive would be wont to do. And, it turns out that this was the case for Men in Kilts stars Graham McTavish and Sam Heughan. Instead of just road tripping around Scotland and learning about their homeland, the two actors, who became friends while starring on Outlander, took part in a lot of challenges on the series to show how some things work.

Knowing this, Outlander's Caitriona Balfe warned McTavish that Heughan might go a bit harder than necessary on these occasions, and the actor told Express UK:

Obviously, Caitriona Balfe has spent a lot more time with Sam Heughan while working on Outlander for the past five seasons. Not only are their characters together nearly all of the time, but they've worked with one another much longer than Heughan worked with Graham McTavish, who was only on the series for the the first two seasons. But, apparently, Heughan has managed to make his competitive nature very well known to those who are still working on Outlander, while McTavish had missed that aspect of his personality originally.

As McTavish would eventually learn, though, Balfe was correct about her on-screen husband, and Heughan's competitiveness led to a bet between himself and his co-host when they both tried their hands at hammer throwing, golf, and a few rugby drills for Men in Kilts. For some reason, the duo decided that whoever did worse in these challenges would have to then run into the sea naked, with the punishment there, I assume, being that it would be nearly unbearably cold.

But, things ended up turning out in McTavish's favor, because he won and Heughan had to doff his entire outfit and enjoy a bit of naked sea time. As McTavish recalled:

Well, good for Graham McTavish, right? Something tells me that competitive Sam Heughan won't be holding any grudges over losing, and probably takes his nude sea jaunt (which McTavish watched with "unbridled glee" from a warm spot) as the cost of doing business when you like winning as much as he does.

Graham McTavish will be seen on HBO's House of the Dragon (but not with Heughan) and the upcoming season of The Witcher, while Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe will be back for Season 6 of Outlander, with both of those shows coming in the near-ish future. For more on what's up next, check out our guide to 2021 summer TV premieres!

Today marks the start of Sam Heughan’s 41st year on this earth and, much like his Outlander character, he just seems to be getting better with age. The Scottish actor’s special day has sparked well wishes from people he has left a positive impression on, including his co-star and on-screen time traveling wife Caitriona Balfe, other cast members and even one celebrity fan in William Shatner himself! The sweet wishes from work-wife Balfe are sure to put a smile on Heughan's face today.

Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe are quite the pair; they’ve worked alongside each other as partners for going on six seasons and have a chemistry that has people shipping them in real life. While the two are just friends, albeit supportive friends, I'd be remiss if I didn’t start off Heughan’s celebrity birthday wishes with the Tweet from his work wife to her work "hubby." You can check out Balfe’s cute message to Heughan below:

You can tell they’re both getting a little older by the fact that Caitriona Balfe forgot to tag Sam Heughan in her original birthday tribute - oops! On the other hand, Heughan’s young-at-heart-but-actually-older bestie Graham McTavish also wrote him an adorable birthday message. The two Scots fought alongside (and, at times, against) each other on screen in Outlander and also have a spin-off series together where the two basically travel Scotland and explore culture. Here’s the Men In Kilts star’s Instagram post:

Sam Heughan’s Outlander co-star and on screen daughter Sophie Skelton also sent “Big Ginge'' some birthday love. The actress posted a behind-the-scenes video of Heughan dancing toward the camera with pretty much the goofiest smile on his face. (I bet he's happy about that one being on the interwebs now.) Check it out:

Tim Downie, who plays alongside Sam Heughan and the rest of his on-screen family in Seasons 4 and 5 of Outlander, also sent a birthday tribute Heughan’s way. Downie’s Instagram post features Heughan with a top hat and some serious mustache action going on, and an equally proper caption:

It’s not just the Outlander cast that’s sharing their love for Sam Heughan on his 41st birthday, though. Celebrity fans are also weighing in, and William Shatner seems to follow the show, because his birthday wish calls Heughan out for being 300 years old. Of course, he is referring to his Outlander character being born in the distant past. Here’s Shatner’s cheeky post:

With Season 6 finally starting to get some traction and heading back to work, interest in the Outlander clan is high and it's nice to see the cast getting along well enough to go all-out on social for the actor's birthday. It's a good way to engage with the fans while we wait for new episodes, which will hopefully be hitting Starz before the end of the year, but with 12 episodes to film, we'll have to wait and see when the subscription cabler gives us an officially premiere date. In the meantime, I'd also like to add to the smorgasbord of well wishes with a big happy birthday to Sam Heughan - although it doesn’t look like he is lacking for them!

Outlander wrapped up its powerful fifth season back in May 2020, and while it hasn't technically been that long since it was around on a weekly basis, the show's fanbase is not one to sit around waiting with bated breath. One can only handle so many Droughtlanders before snapping, naturally. Thankfully, we know that production for Season 6 is in full swing, and as far as the prospects for Season 7 go, beloved star Sam Heughan sounds pretty optimistic that he won't be saying farewell to the cast and crew any time soon.

While promoting his new action movie SAS: Red Notice, Sam Heughan understandably can't go too long without the topic of Outlander surfacing. Speaking with Esquire, the UK actor talked about being in the middle of one season while waiting for news on Season 7, saying:

Let's all take a moment to even give thanks that Sam Heughan, Caitriona Balfe and other stars are finally out there bringing Season 6 to life. As many fans might already know, filming for the new episodes faced delays over COVID-related issues, and the producers had to figure out ways to make it all work as safely and effectively as possible. But those details were thankfully figured out behind the scenes in order for Jamie and Claire's story to continue anew, and new episodes began filming in early February.

Of course, as awesome as that is, the relatively recent nature of the production likely means weh won't be hearing anything too concrete about Outlander's future for a while. Starz execs no doubt want to make sure Season 6 is able to come together without any major snafus before they commit to locking down the show's future. So even though the show's sex scenes might look a little different in the near future, it's all for the greater good.

That said, there is definitely precedent for Starz to wear its confidence in Outlander on its (slightly puffy) sleeves. Months ahead of Season 4's debut in November 2018, the cable network announced the renewal order for both Season 5 and Season 6. So at that time, fans could take comfort in knowing that at least three more seasons were on the way. But now, three years later, the episode reserve is starting to dry up, so it might behoove Starz to go public with Season 7 renewal news as soon as the decision is made. (How obvious is my confidence in that order's impending existence?)

Sam Heughan has definitely kept himself busy in the long wait between seasons, even when he wasn't filming action movies with Ruby Rose and Andy Serkis. Plus, Heughan and Outlander co-star Graham McTavish are currently front and center for the quasi-spinoff travel series Men in Kilts, in which the actors travel around various countrysides, visiting show locations and generally just getting into good old-fashioned shenanigans. Plus, he has apparently also been honing his musical skills. Here's what else he had to say:

Should fans start holding out hope for Sam Heughan's Jamie Fraser to provide some piano-based entertainment for Claire in Season 6? Or maybe Claire can completely alter the timeline by showing him a John Legend or Fiona Apple song from the modern era. It probably won't happen, of course, but there's not much to do beyond speculate while waiting for new episodes, and so speculate we must.

While waiting to hear some good news about Season 7, remember that Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish are on the road for Men in Kilts every Sunday night on Starz at 9:00 p.m. ET.

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My, oh my, Sassenachs! This Droughlander has, indeed, been a very long one. Season 5 of Outlander wrapped up with a pretty brutal last couple of episodes in early May of last year, and fans have been dying to know just what kind of intense drama will lie ahead for Claire and Jamie Fraser. While we had been told that the producers were working on a way to get back to work safely, and the cast and crew had been hoping to head back to work early this year, the good news is that this dream has now come true. And, not only is Outlander finally filming Season 6, but we've also been treated to a new look at Claire and Jamie!

Poor Claire narrowly escaped her brutal kidnapping and torture at the hands of Lionel Brown and his crew at the end of Season 5, with Jamie and his men finally finding her and being able to take her home to recover after the trauma she'd suffered. Claire will, undoubtedly, have a long way to go before the events are far enough behind her for her to live life without everything seeming like a constant reminder of what she's now been through.

So, it's lucky for fans that our first look at Claire and Jamie from Season 6 is one that shows the couple looking like the healing process is pretty far along. Take a look!

This shot accompanied the news that Season 6 of Outlander had finally begun filming, and while Sam Heughan's Jamie and Caitriona Balfe's Claire are certainly not in the middle of a party (or any of their infamously sexy adult time), at least they both seem to be at peace while taking that horse and carriage out. I can't quite tell if this photo is of them leaving from Fraser's Ridge or about to return, but I'm sure glad that they don't seem particularly stressed. Claire seems to be chatting her husband up with a lot of determination, while Jamie looks slightly amused, so, hopefully, they're just in the middle of a normal, married-folks conversation here.

As we all know, there will likely not be much tranquility for Claire and Jamie as Outlander continues through Season 6, with their new homeland steadily marching toward the Revoluntionary War. And, as the synopsis for the new season states, they will be working very hard to protect that home, and their friends and family, from trouble without and from within, as we'll see that there is going to be "increasing strife and conflict in the community within their care." In addition, there's going to be a big question at the center of the new episodes:

Ooooh. There is going to be some majorly dramatic stuff happening in Season 6 of Outlander, isn't there? While we, obviously, still have quite a while to go until we get any actual footage, or can see the first episode, for that matter, at least audiences were also gifted a look at some of the prep work that went into making sure Caitriona Balfe, Sam Heughan and all of the cast and crew could get back to filming (though I don't believe we see that on-site testing facility which was built just for the production), which you can see for yourself, below:

It remains to be seen just how different Outlander Season 6 might be because of all the new filming guidelines which are now in place. However, I can tell you one thing for sure; being able to see the sets, hints of the costumes, and Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe back in character again is all it's taken for me to start getting very excited for the new season. And, I bet a lot of fans will feel the same.

We don't know right now when Outlander will return to Starz for Season 6, but you can check out our guide to early 2021 TV to see what to watch in the meantime!

Outlander fans are well-versed when it comes to delays affecting the release dates of each highly anticipated season, to the point where even the waiting has its own nickname in "droughtlander." Considering a large chunk of 2020 delayed the productions of nearly every show on TV, it's no surprise that Outlander Season 6 will arrive later than originally intended. However, the hit drama's producers made quite an impressive and expensive decision in an attempt to ensure the most limited delay possible.

The powers that be behind Outlander dropped over $200,000 on the construction of a private COVID testing facility that was built in the parking lot of Wardpark Film Studios, the Lanarkshire location in Scotland where the Starz drama films its non-location scenes. While it might sound somewhat extreme for a TV show to construct its own medical testing site, it speaks to how dedicated the producers are to the idea of avoiding any potential filming delays that might occur due to anything pandemic-related. While at the same time potentially making Season 6 look and feel like past seasons without limiting cast interactions and group scenes.

Cast members like Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe, as well as crew members, will be given rapid lateral flow tests at a rate of up to three times a week, according to the Daily Record. Only those whose test results come back negative will be allowed to work, while those who test positive will obviously be quarantined away from everyone else. Here's how the situation was explained by a source for the publication:

Outlander is already a pretty expensive TV show to begin with, what with all the locations, the time-period costumes, the gorgeous cinematography, the effects, and so on. This would have been a good time for author Diana Gabaldon to have introduced a major plotline in the novels where Claire and Jamie just sit around the house playing board games and cooking and dabbling in other inexpensive acts. But it looks like Season 6 might actually incorporate big moments from several different novels, helping to shake things up quite a bit.

Pre-production for Outlander's sixth season started up in early January, and it's expected that Sam Heughan, Caitriona Balfe and the rest of the cast will begin filming new scenes before this month has ended. One can only hope that the COVID test site's construction will serve as a successful maneuver in limiting production delays going forward.

No release date is set yet for Outlander Season 6, but fans can hopefully expect for it to begin at some point later in 2021. While waiting to hear more, don't forget to check out Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish's road trip series Men in Kilts, and then head to our Winter and Spring TV premiere schedule to see what new and returning shows are popping up soon.

My oh my. If you're anything like me and most Outlander fans, it will certainly seem like eons since we last laid eyes on Jamie, Claire, Brianna, and the rest of the Fraser / MacKenzie clan up on the ridge. While we already knew the Droughtlander between Seasons 5 and 6 was going to be a long one, life stepped in to increase our wait, as it has with many other television shows and movies. But, the Outlander cast had a special holiday message for fans, and did talk about how Season 6 is finally moving forward.

While Sam Heughan, Caitriona Balfe, Richard Rankin, and many of their Outlander co-stars spent some time over the summer talking about how desperate they were to get back on set and return to work, those who have followed the time traveling romance from the beginning will know that that was something which was not so easy for a show where close quarters, crowd scenes and many hot and heavy sexytimes are frequently required.

But, in a new message to fans for the holidays, which was posted on the show's YouTube page, the cast opened up about how things are progressing on Season 6. Here's some of what they had to say:

Caitriona Balfe, Richard Rankin and Sam Heughan joined Sophie Skelton in what appeared to be the wardrobe room for Outlander as they brought their message of holiday wishes to fans, and also teased some of what's to come in Season 6. While several productions were able to begin filming again over the summer, or at least by the fall, Outlander has had to deal with even more delays and a much slower start than was previously expected. Luckily, even though the show has had to take a longer time to gear up for the new season, it seem to be back on track.

It was just in late November that Sam Heughan revealed that the cast and crew of Outlander expected to be able to finally start filming on Season 6 early in 2021, and with the actors seemingly beginning to have fittings done for new costumes, it appears that that hope could become a reality very soon.

Richard Rankin may have joked about needing the extra time to grow out his Roger hair, but some major stuff happened in Season 5 which will surely set up some extreme challenges for the Frasers, their friends, and extended family whenever Season 6 finally arrives. While no one could give any specifics, it sounds like having a bunch of new people settle on Fraser's Ridge will make things even more difficult for everyone involved.

We still don't have a firm return date for Outlander Season 6, but you can stay tuned to CinemaBlend for updates. In the meantime, be sure to see what else you can peep in the new year with our guide to all the upcoming TV premieres!

Outlander is one of those long-running shows that make viewers get extremely attached to characters. Yes, there’s action happening, and yes, there’s history happening. Above all else, there are bonds so strong that magical Scottish time travel can’t break. The bond between characters doesn’t end on the screen, though. Sam Heughan, who plays Jamie Fraser on Outlander, reveals how he and Caitriona Balfe, who plays his wife Claire, have such great chemistry. He even goes as far as to claim it is the reason Outlander has had such an overwhelming success.

Followers of the show know that the cast of Outlander is a tight one, making memories on set and showing support of one another off. According to Express, Sam Heughan says that the bond between him and his co-star Caitriona Balfe started not only as a deliberate choice, but even a strategic one. Here it is in his own words:

These are strong words from Sam Heughan, as not all working relationships can easily be referred to as a partnership, and even more so for both partners to be on such equal, common ground. Through his words here, we see what the actor portrays so often on screen: a true appreciation and respect for his other half. Fangirls everywhere can squeal in delight.

However they may be doing it, they are doing it right. After five seasons and a sixth (eventually) on the way, Sam Heughan and Caitiona Balfe’s partnership continues to work. Like Heughan claims, their unique bond seems to be what makes the show work and keeps fans enticed. After all, there's nothing like a stable ship to keep a fandom afloat during a hiatus.

Fans aren't the only ones aching for Jamie and Claire Fraser to be together again; the tight-knit cast is also chomping at the bit to get back to set. The people behind the show being genuinely excited to be around each other can be the tell of a great show, and Outlander seems to qualify.

While Sam Heughan may be right about collaboration being the secret to a successful show, it also seems to be the key to making a partnership work, fictional or otherwise. The sixth season of Outlander is set to start shooting early next year, and continue checking back with CinemaBlend for more updates on the Frasers.

If there's one thing that Outlander fans know well before we even get the tiniest bit of footage from a new season, it's that Claire and Jamie Fraser will take a trip to pound town at some point. The time traveling historical drama is known for it's romance and the deep love story between its leads, and with that has come several scenes of them getting horizontal. (Or vertical...or diagonal, because the Frasers make it work, OK?) Now, actress Caitriona Balfe is opening up about all of those nude scenes and what she actually struggles with when deciding to do them.

While the love story of Outlander is a major factor behind the popularity of the show, fans don't just tune in for all those sweet moments where Claire and Jamie support each other and sacrifice their own safety to make sure the other will be alright. Oh, no. We also watch for the sexytimes, which are usually fulfilled by Caitriona Balfe and co-star Sam Heughan while in some state of undress. Balfe appeared on the Outcasts podcast recently, and when talk from hosts and fellow Outlander co-stars David Berry (Lord John Grey) and Tim Downie (Governor Tryon) turned to the love scenes, said:

Man, this must be tough. David Berry had shared his fears about potential Outlander nudity when he first signed his contract, and mentioned how most actors' thoughts would, naturally, turn toward the very human feeling of, if not shame, just wanting to keep your naked parts private as much as possible. And, it's clear that such things have come up for Caitriona Balfe during her five seasons on Outlander.

Even though she's done several nude scenes on the show, as Balfe said, she's constantly trying to figure out what the right balance is for her, because it's only normal to want to look your best if you're going to let potentially the whole world see you in your birthday suit. While there are many things available to people now to make sure that that's possible, very few of those things were available back in the 1700s when Claire and Jamie were doffing their breeches and bedding down for the night.

Not only did they not have gyms, and had to rely on hard, physical labor to keep them fit (which I'm sure worked pretty well, while not giving anyone a body which would mimic that of a modern fitness model), they were also without some things most of us would consider really basic. Reliable health and medical practices hadn't even been established, so there weren't very many ways to stay youthful-looking which could be counted on (if such a thing was even on the radar of most people). I mean, they didn't even have sunscreen back then, you guys. Think about how spotty Claire and Jamie should be by now, with all of their time outdoors.

So, Caitriona Balfe can easily admit that signing up for nude scenes isn't easy, especially when it will force you to unpack whatever insecurities you might have about baring your body publicly and what you think of that body. As she continued:

Alright, I can now officially say that I do not envy anyone who has decided to do a nude scene. I hadn't even thought about the public expectation for what a famous person should look like when they take their clothes off! It sounds like way too much to deal with and still, as Balfe said, "lose yourself in a scene," but I guess that's one of the reasons why actors get the big bucks. My sincere thanks to Caitriona Balfe and everyone else on Outlander who's taken the challenge and succeeded, so that we can get our perfect, romantic sexytimes.

Outlander will be back on Starz for Season 6 at some point, but since we have a pretty long Droughtlander ahead, be sure to check out our guide to fall TV to see what you can watch in the meantime!

There’s a lot of magic that goes into making a television show, from VFX to practical effects and much in between. Starz’s Outlander often likes to get practical with its effects. Recently Sam Heughan talked about one scene that was practically shot for the series with real-life maggots and I’m squeamish just thinking about it. In fact, I’m having almost the opposite reaction Caitriona Balfe seemingly did.

Speaking on a recent episode of “Catch Up with Caitriona and Sam,” both leads were asked about the maggots scene in the episode “Monsters and Heroes” and how it “was working with” them. Sam Heughan got really into detail about that bit, referring to the maggots as “demanding.”

Yikes, Sam Heughan literally said the scene was difficult to shoot because the maggots were trying to crawl up his real leg and not just the prosthetic one being used in the scene. I officially have enough nightmare fodder to last me the next few weeks. Furthermore, Caitriona Balfe went on to describe the maggots as “noisy,” comparing them to the sound of Rice Krispies, which has also subsequently ruined my favorite cereal for me forever. (I like ‘em with some sugar, natch.) She also said she was “fascinated” by them, noting,

If you remember the scene in question, it actually came fairly recently in Season 5 – and SPOILERS if you aren’t caught up yet. During the episode, Jamie was bitten by a snake and Claire has to doctor him, but things seemed dire for a while. Jamie and Roger even had a whole conversation about returning to the future if Jamie died. Ultimately, Claire used maggots to help deal with some of the rotting flesh related to the wound and all's well that ends with removing all traces of maggots from the set. At least I'd assume.

Outlander is often known for its practical sets and effects, which is why the actual Fraser’s Ridge set was built and more. But maggots are one stomach-churning step too far, in my humble opinion. Luckily, Sam Heughan was a total champ about filming the scene. Honestly, that’s probably something worth putting on a resume. Sam Heughan: Can wield 18th century weapons, successfully fills out kilts, and has experience with horses and maggots.

Outlander will return for Season 6 and we can all hope it will be maggot free. Please. For the love of all things Claire and Jamie.

Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe may bring to life one of TV’s greatest romances on-screen, but off-screen the two co-stars are also supportive of each others’ careers—at least when they aren’t joking about them. Case in point: News broke recently that Balfe would be starring opposite another rom-com great, Jamie Dornan, in an upcoming movie. Sam Heughan was nothing but excited for his Outlander partner.

Taking to Twitter, Caitriona Balfe first shared the news about the project, which will also feature Judi Dench, Ciarin Hinds, Dornan and now Balfe. Plus, it’ll loosely be based on the life of Sir Kenneth Branagh, who both wrote and will be directing the project. Of course, Sam Heughan had his own thoughts.

Adorable, and very gracious if I do say so myself. The movie, Belfast, will be loosely based on Kenneth Branagh’s growing up experience. The actor and director previously told Sunday Life that shooting during the restrictions related to the Covid-19 pandemic have been challenging, but the movie is full steam ahead. He noted:

I know I’ve mentioned the fact that both Sam Heughan and Jamie Dornan have made careers out of being in steamy romance franchises with very active fanbases, but one fan also took Heughan’s supportive post further with a great comment I really wish I had thought of.

Both Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe have risen in profile thanks to Outlander, landing movie gigs like Bloodshot and The Spy Who Dumped Me for Heughan and Ford v Ferrari for Balfe. Plus, Balfe got to do The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance and Heughan got to film Men in Kilts with Graham McTavish. With lots of additional good stuff on the horizon – the Sassanach whiskey, anyone? – it’s easy to see there are plenty of reasons to be supportive of one another.

Balfe also seems thankful for the Outlander experience and what it has brought herself and her co-star, recently sharing:

Meanwhile, Belfast had plans to get off of the ground quickly. Kenneth Branagh had mentioned he hoped to get the movie into production by the end of summer—aka just a few weeks after that interview. In addition, Outlander is prepping to get back to work. And from the sounds of things, it seems as if the cast is ready to get back. Lots of good things coming on the entertainment front and to see what movies will still -- hopefully -- be coming out before the end of the year, check out our full premiere schedule.