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After more than a decade of time travel, war, and romance, Outlander (on Starz) is staring down what may or may not be its final chapter. Speaking with Kyle Meredith, cast members Sophie Skelton, Richard Rankin, John Bell, and Izzy Meikle-Small — alongside showrunner Matthew B. Roberts and executive producer Maril Davis — look back on the long road to Season 8, a run that’s seen Fraser’s Ridge grow into something worth fighting for, even as the cracks begin to show. With the American Revolution still echoing in the distance and family secrets threatening to unravel everything, the series is aiming for closure without necessarily closing the door. Listen above or wherever you get your podcasts.
Skelton, who’s played Brianna McKenzie since Season 2, says she’s avoided the urge to revisit earlier episodes, even as the character reaches her most complete form. “I think I would not enjoy watching backwards,” she admits, before noting that the arc was always baked in. “Season 8 is a place where I’m really proud of her. I feel like she’s finally come into her own.”
Rankin echoes that long-game evolution with Roger, a character who’s endured just about everything the show could throw at him. “He’s always been trying to find his place and where he belongs,” Rankin says. “His thing was history, and then once he became part of history, things became a bit more challenging in terms of what his purpose was.”
That sense of purpose extends to the show itself, especially as the creative team tries to land the plane without veering into TV cliché territory. “I didn’t want to do ‘a very special episode of Outlander,’” Roberts says, referencing the kind of tonal left turns that can derail a finale. “I just wanted to do a really good episode of Outlander.” There’s also the matter of legacy — and maybe even continuation — hanging in the air. “With Outlander, what it’s proven over the years is we never say never,” Roberts adds, pointing to the time-travel mechanics that allow the story to move in any direction.
Meanwhile, the season gets an added jolt of prestige with Annie Lennox taking on the theme song, a choice Davis calls “an amazing way to end it,” even if the show itself isn’t quite ready to say that word out loud.
Listen to the cast of Outlander talk about Season 8 and more in the new episode above or by watching the video below. Keep up on all the latest episodes by following Kyle Meredith With… on your favorite podcast platform; plus, check out all the series on the Consequence Podcast Network.
