Newest Outlander Season 7B Theory Fuels Fans' Worst Concern

Summary

• We still don't know the release date for the new Outlander episodes, but one disturbing theory has already emerged.
• Season 7 will conclude the events of An Echo in the Bone, but with only 10 episodes of Season 8, it is more likely that it will also touch on Written in My Own Heart's Blood.
• If so, the final episode of Season 7 will end on a very nasty cliffhanger.

We've been in another Droughtlander for more than six months now, and there's no telling how long it will last. However, there is no shortage of intriguing theories in the Outlander fandom that will allow fans to hold out a little longer and keep the anticipation for the show alive with new discussions and gossip. Especially now that we know that Season 8 will be the final one, speculation has begun as to what approach the writers will take in adapting the novels. After all, Diana Gabaldon is still writing the tenth and final novel, but the adaptation will end much sooner.

Initially, some believed that the second half of Season 7 would cover the remaining events of An Echo in the Bone on which the first installment is based. At the same time, many feared that the final season would cover the events of the entire 820 pages of Written in My Own Heart's Blood (how disastrous the pacing could have been!). And now, we can assume that everyone's favorite Starz TV saga will indeed end with its eighth novel.

Only, according to this new theory, we'll have to endure an incredibly agonizing wait before we get to see the final episodes, because the last thing we'll remember will be a harrowing cliffhanger.

This article contains spoilers for upcoming events, so be careful if you don't want to ruin your anticipation!

What Do We Know So Far?

Last year, the Writers Guild of America West directory published the titles of episodes 9 and 10 — Unfinished Business and Brotherly Love, respectively. While this information was later deleted, it may prove to be a pretty good indicator of what's to come.

Many have speculated that if the information is true, then according to the book, episode 9 may cover the events in Scotland, and Claire will travel to the New World in episode 10, the title of which refers to both Lord John and his brother, as well as Philadelphia itself, The City of Brotherly Love. Together with Lord John, Claire learns that the ship on which Jamie followed her to America has sunk, leaving no survivors.

It was speculated at the time that the season would end with Jamie's arrival and reunion with Claire. However, it looks like Season 7 will go further and end on an even bigger cliffhanger.

Season 7 May End on a Major Cliffhanger to Set up a Fabulous Season 8 Finale

Since Season 8 will only be 10 episodes, there simply would not have been time to adapt all of Written in My Own Heart's Blood. So it looks like the second part of Season 7 will only cover the first half of the book.

What does that mean? Well, that the season will probably end at the end of June 1778, which is before or during the Battle of Monmouth. Just one day, June 28th, will prove to be incredibly unsettling for our beloved characters: William and Ian will be in danger, and John Grey will be captured.

But the most tense moment and the climax of the whole sequence will be the fact that Claire will be shot, forcing her into emergency surgery, and Jamie will resign. Apparently, this will be the cliffhanger that will stay with us until the release of season 8.

Well, we'll see what the writers decide, as production is in full swing. In the meantime, we should wait for the last part of Season 7, which is tentatively scheduled for release in mid-2024.