Monday, March 27, 2023

“Good Things come to those who wait” - a preview of what’s next in the world of Outlander from your Aussie Blogging Lass

 


If there’s one thing Outlander fans are good at, it’s waiting. Maybe it’s something to do with the whole uncertainty of time travel - no one ever knows for certain how long the separation is going to last. Multiple times throughout Diana Gabaldon’s amazing stories, characters have stepped through standing stones, gemstones in hand, not knowing for sure where or when they would arrive, or how long it would be before they saw their loved ones again, if at all. So, it probably stands to reason that fans of the series would have to learn to endure their own version of torturous waiting. 




Book fans have become used to tantalisingly long cliffhangers, with the wait between books 8 and 9 a record seven years - a number, ironically, that’s the same as the amount of seasons that have currently been filmed! But for some tv fans, the wait between those seasons has been almost too hard to bear. Thankfully, that’s all about to change.


The announcement of season 7’s premiere on June 16th has been met with both excitement and frustration, with the added news that only the first half of the season will be screened in 2023, with the remainder to follow in 2024. 


Fans that have been with the series since the beginning will be familiar with this formula - who could ever forget the 6 months that passed between the episode where Jamie appeared on that castle wall, pistol in hand, saying to Black Jack Randall, “I’ll thank you to take yer hands off my wife” and the episode where he actually ensured Claire’s rescue? It wasn’t only Jamie’s guts that had been torn out - it was ours too! Six months was certainly a long time for our hero to be crouching on that ledge!


But of course, we survived. Then, at the end of season 1, we endured a longer Droughtlander of almost 11 months before season 2 began. Subsequent Droughtlanders have always been around the year long mark, until a global pandemic stretched the wait to almost two years between seasons 5 and 6. Yet somehow, the cast managed to juggle industry lockdowns, social distancing, masks, testing and the pregnancy of the show’s star, Caitriona Balfe, in order to continue Claire and Jamie’s story - even if it was in a shortened season of only 8 episodes. Fans were then promised a bumper season 7, which only completed filming a few weeks ago. With 16 episodes, it is not surprising that editing will take time, so just like season 1, there will be a mid-season Droughtlander to endure before the entire season is screened. 


The good news, of course, is that fans will now be guaranteed new Outlander episodes in both 2023 and 2024, with a Droughtlander between the two halves that promises to be shorter than usual. Plus, season 8 will commence filming before this year is out, so it may well follow in 2025. (We won’t talk about *that* Droughtlander though, given that it will far more permanent…)









And that’s not all! Seasons 7 and 8 will be followed by “Blood of my Blood”, the prequel story of Jamie’s parents. Already a planned book, this new tv series will be in the safe hands of Matthew B Roberts, Ronald D Moore and Maril Davis, with Diana Gabaldon herself serving as a consulting producer. 


On top of all of that, book fans will be rewarded for even more waiting, with the tenth and final Outlander novel, the prequel novel about Jamie’s parents, a book about the mysterious Master Raymond and a tantalising story called “What Frank Knew” all due to be published in the years to come. There may well be more short stories, more Lord John adventures and another Outlandish Companion too. 





So, in short, dinna fash, Outlander fans! There is lots to look forward to for a long time yet! 


What’s that motto again? 


Oh yes, that’s right. 


“Je suis prest.” 

Thursday, March 23, 2023

Saturday, February 25, 2023

Season seven wrap party

 

The Platform bar in Glasgow Scotland was the sight of Outlander’s cast and crew wrap party for season seven.. where they enjoyed cocktails and dancing. 

Sam brought the booze.... Catered by Sassenach Spirits, from Sam's very own alcohol distillery!














Seaon seven wraps episodes!



220 days to film 16 episodes with just a wrap party left for fans wonder about until next year, when they start filming the last of Outlander on Starz! 












Tuesday, February 14, 2023

Happy Valentine's Day 2023 from Outlander

 Well, we've gotten a few nuggets from the production of Outlander today.


Bear McCreary has had a life long dream of working with Sinead O'Connor, he added her voice into the Skyboat song introduction for season seven of Outlander.





And... a Valentine's tribute to Jamie and Claire's love, from Sam and Caitriona.




 





Thursday, February 9, 2023

Thursday, January 19, 2023

Outlander renews for an 8th and final season

The 8th book ends with a bang, when the grand kids run up a hill to the Ridge (in the past) to escape the future. I've always felt that would be a great ending to the books too!