Warning! Spoilers for Outlander season 7 and the Outlander books ahead!

Outlander season 8 is on the way, and though it’s bound to be different from author Diana Gabaldon’s books, one key tragedy is all but guaranteed to play out. The upcoming season will be the Statz series’ last, which is concerning for book fans since Gabaldon hasn’t yet completed her final Outlander novel. Season 8 has no choice but to forge its own path and establish a unique ending. While this could go any number of ways, the surprise finale of Outlander season 7 hints that at least one moment from Gabaldon’s most recent book will be featured in the coming episodes.

Currently, there are nine published books in the Outlander series, the last of which, Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone, was published in 2021. Gabaldon’s tenth and final book is in the works, but it won’t be published before Starz Outlander releases season 8. The events of Outlander season 7’s final episodes line up with book 8, Written in My Own Heart’s Blood, but with one major difference. Claire’s revelation that her daughter Faith lived never happened in the books. While this means all bets are off for Outlander season 8, this twist essentially guarantees book 9’s Jamie disaster.

Claire’s Faith Revelation Sets Up A Dramatic Book Moment For Outlander Season 8

Claire Magically Heals Jamie In Outlander Book 9

The fact that Outlander season 7 ended with a major twist that didn’t happen in the books indicates that season 8 will take a different route than Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone. Additionally, Gabaldon has already confirmed that Starz’s TV show will not end the same way as her book series. Still, Claire’s revelation that Faith lived and Master Raymond had something to do with it is the perfect setup for Jamie’s “death” from Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone.

In Gabaldon’s 9th Outlander book, Jamie rejoined the American Revolution but was far less lucky than in the Battle of Monmouth. He suffered several bullet wounds and was left to die on the mountain. Claire desperately hunted Jamie’s body down and found him just moments before he lost consciousness. It’s never explicitly stated that Jamie died, but the implication here is that his wounds were too much for Claire’s medical skills to heal. Still, she managed to keep her love alive, not with science, but with her own magical healing powers—the same way Master Raymond likely saved Faith.

Outlander’s Faith Twist Didn’t Happen In The Books (But It Can Still Set Up The Canon Story)

Faith’s Story May Inspire Claire To Explore Her Powers

The reveal at the end of Outlander season 7 that Faith might have lived was a surprise to TV and book audiences alike. While Claire had a moment in the books when she wishfully considered that her stillborn daughter might not have died, she quickly concluded that this was impossible. Gabaldon has clarified since Outlander season 7’s ending that Faith’s survival is something she considered but decided against in the end. Starz, on the other hand, seemed to have loved the idea, and this big Faith twist was used to segue Outlander into uncharted waters.

Outlander has not yet confirmed that Claire’s theory about Faith is true, but Master Raymond certainly wants her to believe it is.

While Faith’s survival in Outlander is a sign that the TV show will end very differently than the books, it sets up Jamie’s apparent resurrection. It has been said multiple times in Outlander that Claire possessed the same magical ability to heal as Master Raymond, but the character has yet to actually explore her powers. The revelation that Raymond’s magic is enough to bring someone back from the brink of death (or even death itself) will inspire Claire to finally spread her magical blue wings. All of this will almost certainly lead to Claire saving Jamie on the mountainside in season 8.

Outlander Season 8 Will Have To Be Different From The Books In Every Other Way

Outlander Will End Differently Than Book 9

Outlander will have to make some major changes to give season 8 a satisfying ending.

The surprise, non-canon way that Outlander season 7 ended sets Claire on her canon path to save Jamie’s life in season 8. However, the rest of the Starz series’ final season is sure to be significantly different from Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone. This novel sees Jamie and Claire return to Fraser’s Ridge and explores the impact of the continued Revolutionary War on their family—all of which will surely happen in season 8. Still, book 9’s ending is no way to end the overarching TV show. Outlander will have to make some major changes to give season 8 a satisfying ending. Precisely how remains to be seen.