After Outlander’s Latest Episode Delivered Way Too Much Tragedy, One Star Told Us What Was ‘So Funny’ About Filming Their Death

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As an avid Outlander fan who has been following this captivating series since its inception, I must say that the recent turn of events in Season 7B left me both heartbroken and intrigued. The death of Ian Murray, or as they so bluntly put it, “Old Ian,” was a poignant moment that brought tears to my eyes. Yet, the humor with which Steven Cree recounted his final scene made me chuckle.

Warning: spoilers are ahead for Episode 10 of Outlander Season 7, called “Brotherly Love.”

In the 2024 TV lineup, Outlander Season 7 made its comeback after a long break, starting off with an emotionally charged midseason opener last week. The drama escalated in “Brotherly Love” as Ian Murray and Arch Bug met their ends in Scotland and Philadelphia respectively, with Jamie seemingly dead at sea. Even Jenny’s future seemed bleak as she prepared to manage Lallybroch without Ian by her side. Overall, this episode was filled with heart-wrenching moments in the popular drama series. However, Steven Cree offered a more lighthearted perspective on his character’s departure that added a touch of humor to Ian’s passing.

As a devoted Outlander fan, I can’t help but share a heartfelt moment I recently experienced. Old Ian Murray, or as the titles bluntly referred to him, “Old Ian,” and Jamie found themselves alone for a while. They shared a chuckle over the fascinating time travel aspect of Outlander and the age gap between Jamie and Claire – a detail that had just been revealed to the Murrays. The conversation seemed to drain the energy from the ailing man, and he peacefully passed away in his bed shortly afterwards, whispering “Jenny” as his final words. It’s moments like these that bring tears to my eyes!

In the series “Outlander,” this significant tragedy unfolded quite early in “Brotherly Love” and might still be considered the most impactful event of Season 7B up until that point, even by the end of the episode. Given Rachel’s near-death experience during Arch Bug’s reckless pursuit of revenge against Young Ian, it’s unlikely that many fans will lament Arch Bug’s demise. Additionally, it’s reasonable to assume that Jamie Fraser’s apparent death in the second episode back from hiatus was not a permanent goodbye for the character.

As a devoted Outlander fan, I had the chance to chat with Steven Cree during a press event. It was quite a moment for me, as he returned to the series after an absence of nearly six years since his last appearance in Season 4. Naturally, I couldn’t help but ask him about his experience coming back, especially given that we were on the brink of filming a heart-wrenching finale. He began by revealing a particularly emotional scene for him to shoot, even more so than Ian’s death, stating:

Among all the scenes filmed, the one with John Bell (in Episode 9) stood out as particularly poignant. This conversation scene carried a heavy emotional weight due to its heartfelt and tear-jerking nature. However, there was also a sense of joy present, as Ian attempted to impart his fatherly wisdom. The knowledge that this might be their final such discussion added an extra layer of emotion. In essence, it was a deeply moving scene.

There was certainly joy in the scene of Old Ian telling Young Ian to go and confess his feelings to Rachel during their conversation in the midseason premiere, but tinged with the sadness of knowing that the elder would likely already be dead by the time the younger and Claire arrived back in America.

As a fervent admirer, I can share that according to Steven Cree, filming the heart-wrenching death scene wasn’t as emotionally taxing as it was for us viewers. He elaborated by saying… (continue with the original explanation following this)

Looking back, the moment of my demise was surprisingly amusing, considering it happened right as the day ended. The scene just wrapped up, and that was it – no grand finale, no heartfelt messages from Sam Heughan, no ten-year anniversary acknowledgment, no trumpets blaring. In fact, I had to grab the camera myself for the final shot since everyone else had already vanished. “Wait,” I said, “I’m supposed to die here! Can we maybe add a bit more fanfare or some sort of celebration?” Alas, it was not to be.

During our conversation, it became evident that Cree didn’t harbor bitterness when describing Ian’s death scene as rather understated. It’s amusing to envision the low-key atmosphere on set that day, given how emotionally powerful the final product turned out to be in “Brotherly Love.” I, for one, am pleased that he returned for Season 7B, much like Nell Hudson as Laoghaire and Layla Burns as Joan MacKimmie did.

In Season 7, the role of Jenny was taken over by Kristin Atherton, who stepped in for the original actress Laura Donnelly. Atherton’s character had to develop and maintain crucial relationships with Jamie and Ian.

As a gamer, it’s a mix of joy and sadness, knowing I’ve been along for the ride with this character for more than a decade. It’s an incredible experience I’ll cherish. Yet, it’s also the end of the road, which is bittersweet indeed.

As a devoted fan, I’ve grown accustomed to seeing Steven Cree’s charming face throughout the first four seasons of Outlander. However, with the show shifting to the American Colonies, there’s been a noticeable reduction in screen time for characters like Old Ian Murray from Lallybroch. Sadly, unless he reappears through flashbacks or another time-travel snafu similar to Roger and Buck’s encounter with Geillis Duncan, “Brotherly Love” might mark the end of his appearances on the show.

The show’s progression is swift indeed, as evidenced by the fact that ‘Outlander’ has managed to conclude the Lallybroch and Arch Bug narratives, introduce Claire’s spy storyline, foreshadow Jamie’s apparent demise, and hint at future developments for William, Rachel, and Young Ian, all within a single episode.

The eighth season will serve as the final one, which means the creative team may have been busy cramming in as many storylines as possible for Season 7, to make it a fitting farewell. For the time being, catch new episodes of Outlander Season 7B every Friday at 8 p.m. ET on Starz. If you’d like to rewatch Steven Cree’s earlier appearances as Old Ian, you can stream the first six seasons with a Netflix subscription right now.

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2024-11-30 17:09