Entertainment
A Love Letter To Outlander, The Show That Changed TV For Me Forever
As the final season approaches, we asked Outlander fans to pen their own farewells to the groundbreaking show
Before I watched Outlander, the romantic historical fantasy series that premieres its final season on March 6 on STARZ, I had never dared to daydream about finding a mystical rock that could catapult me back to the 18th century where I’d fall in love with a dashing Scotsman. But like so many of my fellow fans, I’ve been utterly and completely transported by the journey of Claire (Caitríona Balfe), the WWII nurse who time-travels to the 1700s and embarks on a passionate, life-changing adventure with her soulmate, Highlander warrior Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan).
Across seven seasons, through battles and betrayals, birth and death, the Fraser family has expanded through the centuries, and fans have been breathlessly following every step of the way (sometimes literally — the show has become one of Scotland’s biggest tourism drivers in recent years). And while most of us — fine, all of us — will never manage to bend the laws of physics, Outlander has created a timeless world that resonates with fans on a deeply personal level.
One friend told me that watching Claire assert her independence and authority despite the skepticism of men has given her more courage to stand up for herself at work. (“She’s kind of a feminist icon, to be honest.”) Another shared that escaping into Jamie and Claire’s epic romance after a stressful day in the modern world felt “like an emotional weighted blanket.” There’s something about the bonds of love remaining unbroken across the spacetime continuum that makes Outlander so gripping for a generation of fans. You don’t have to have lived in a world without internet or penicillin to connect with the romantic ideal of finding your true belonging.
As the final season approaches, we asked Outlander lovers to pen their own farewells to the groundbreaking show as it sets out to cement its legacy as a sweeping fantasy for the ages. Here’s what they had to say.
