Somewhere along the line, Outlander began to shift genres, and this could be a massive problem for season 8 and the upcoming spinoff series. This installment will be the grand finale of the Romantacy series, timed to release on Starz after the premiere of the first spinoff, Outlander: Blood of My Blood. So, as Claire and Jamie’s adventures come to a close, the new series can take us even further into the past to introduce their respective parents. It’s certainly intriguing and exciting, but Outlander‘s somewhat confused genre could be an obstacle.
The Outlander franchise is Romantacy at its core, with the heavy influence of historical fiction. Claire traveled through time and space to meet and fall in love with a Scottish Highlander, and this certainly couldn’t have happened without a healthy dose of magic. Still, this series isn’t quite as fantastical as other popular fantasy shows. There have been full seasons with very little magical influence. Blood of My Blood may be taking this even further, since there is so far no indication that time travel will be involved in the story. In this regard, the on-screen Outlander franchise has made a massive shift.
Starz’s Outlander Cut Out Many Of The Books’ Fantasy Storylines
The Outlander TV Show Cut Down On The Magic By Comparison
Though it’s easy to forget about the magical elements of Claire’s story in the Outlander TV show, this is far from the case in the books. Claire herself is inherently magical, and it’s evident throughout the story that she is a unique figure in the world. Not only can she travel through time using the standing stones, but she also possesses the magical ability to heal people, just like Master Raymond. Though this was mentioned back in Outlander season 2, it has largely been ignored since. The books, however, tell a different story.
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Outlander season 8 may not be able to provide all the satisfying answers that Diana Gabaldon’s final book can, but Starz is set up with a solution.
In Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander books, Claire has been steadily developing her powers. Similarly, her magical family members have also continued to evolve. Claire can sometimes see magical auras, but her grandchildren, Jemmy and Mandy, are even more in tune with the magic. It’s evident through every stage of the story that Outlander is a fantasy, but the TV show has focused less on the magical and more on the historical elements of the story.
Gabaldon doesn’t have to worry about special effects when she writes a fantasy scene, but Starz has to weigh the cost of each fantastical moment on screen.
This is likely due to the budget constraints of TV. Gabaldon doesn’t have to worry about special effects when she writes a fantasy scene, but Starz has to weigh the cost of each fantastical moment on screen. Years later, it feels as though the Outlander TV show belongs to a different genre than the book series it’s based on. Overall, this has worked out okay. It seems TV audiences are tuned in more for the romance than the fantasy. Still, the story for Outlander season 8 makes this a bit more complicated.
Outlander Season 8 Demands More Magic Than Past Installments
The Final Season Will Jump Back Into The Traditional Fantasy Elements
Though Outlander has shifted away from the magic in comparison to the books, season 7 demonstrated a bit of a change. Roger’s adventure with his father is a prime example, since it brought back what is supposed to be an overarching concept of destiny and fate carrying characters through time. Then there are Claire’s final moments in Outlander season 7. She had a magical visit from Master Raymond and came to the conclusion that her stillborn daughter had somehow survived. Clearly, things are about to get more magical going into season 8.
A more fantastical Outlander season 8 would be more in keeping with the tone of the novels, but it may feel a bit disjointed with the TV show itself.
The problem with Outlander taking this direction is that these magical elements seem to emerge out of nowhere in the context of the show. It looks as if the Faith story will be used in season 8 to explain why Claire has decided to develop her healing powers. Still, this is an odd shift in comparison to the books, where Claire has been developing her abilities every step of the way. A more fantastical Outlander season 8 would be more in keeping with the tone of the novels, but it may feel a bit disjointed with the TV show itself.
Starz’s Outlander Spinoff May Have Even Less Fantasy Elements (& That’s A Problem)
Will There Be Time Travel Or Other Supernatural Elements?
Though it looks as if Outlander season 8 is going to bring back the magic, it’s currently unclear whether Outlander: Blood of My Blood will do the same. So far, it seems as if this spinoff will have even less magic than its parent TV show. The story will jump back and forth between Jamie’s parents in the 18th century and Claire’s in the 20th, but there’s no sign of time travel or magical auras and healing abilities. Once again, romance seems to be the central draw. While this will undoubtedly be entertaining, the Outlander franchise seems a bit more confused.
Outlander
7/10
- Release Date
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August 9, 2014
- Showrunner
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Matthew B. Roberts
