As a gamer who’s been around the block a few times, I can’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia when it comes to the long-running series, Outlander. Having grown up with shows like Buffy and Game of Thrones, watching Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan’s characters evolve over the past decade has been an absolute joy.
On Thursday, Starz unveiled a fresh trailer for the second part of Outlander’s seventh season during New York Comic Con. Meanwhile, the series’ cast members reminisced about their over decade-long association with the show, sharing insights into their experience.
In a 45-minute session, actors Caitriona Balfe, Sam Heughan, Sophie Skelton, Richard Rankin, and John Bell, along with executive producer Maril Davis and author Diana Gabaldon, gathered to share hints about the future of the Frasier family when their new episodes premiere on Nov 22nd.
Davis initiated the panel discussion by expressing to the audience, “Season seven has been quite the emotional rollercoaster – dealing with death, loss, and redemption. All the action happens in the latter part. It’s even superior to the first half.” Gabaldon echoed Davis’ sentiments, sharing with the convention, “The second half of this season is truly remarkable. I can hardly wait for everyone to witness it.
The episodes will feature several characters going back to Scotland, and Heughan discussed the heartfelt return with Balfe to the location where their storylines originated. “Don’t forget your whiskey, and a box of tissues. It’s quite emotional,” Davis commented, suggesting that this episode may spark much conversation in many ways.
Looking back on the 10th anniversary of the series, Heughan reminisced about his initial feelings of being “very inexperienced” joining the show. “We were quite innocent,” he shared with fans. “I think both of us believed it would run for just a season or two. Yet here we are, eleven years later, eight seasons, 101 episodes under our belts, and we are incredibly grateful.
Over the past ten years, I’ve had the privilege of growing alongside these characters, and I can’t help but reminisce about the pact Sam Heughan and I made at the start – to stand by each other through every filming challenge. We’ve held true to that promise, and it’s been an immense honor to bring these characters to life and witness their growth. Each scene we perform becomes a cherished memory, a moment we revisit as we continue to breathe life into them. And with each passing day, the characters we play seem to take root within us, growing more profound with every encounter.
Rankin and Skelton shared insights about their audition experiences. At one point, Rankin mentioned that he reviewed sides for Jaime’s character and was isolated from the main cast for a considerable period due to time zone differences. “When we first joined the show,” Rankin explained, “it felt like we were part of a separate TV series altogether because we were kept apart from the rest of the cast.
Bell felt grateful to have the opportunity to focus on an indigenous community as part of his character’s journey, stating, “Being a part of the Mohawk Nation and sharing their tales, and contributing to their narrative was the greatest honor of my entire existence.
During the discussion, Balfe’s debut direction this season was mentioned. The actress shared that she found directing more difficult than acting, yet she urged other women to explore filmmaking. She expressed her apprehension about potential criticism but felt it turned out wonderfully. Her first day of directing was with Sophie and Richard, whom she praised for their support and generosity. She found it nerve-wracking to lead the crew as a new director, but being surrounded by familiar faces like her co-stars made the experience incredibly rewarding.
At a certain stage, Davis clarified that, following comments made at PaleyFest, not all cast members have watched the finale in order to prevent spoilers. “Producer Matt Rogers didn’t want us to share the script widely,” she explained, “so we didn’t distribute it to everyone. We’re keeping quiet about the ending.” She also mentioned that author Diane Gabaldon is informed of how the series will conclude and that they took care not to disturb her plans since there is another book planned, so they are wrapping up the story in a specific manner.
Speaking about the approaching end of the series, Davis found himself becoming quite emotional. It’s been officially confirmed that the upcoming eighth season will mark the conclusion of the show, but concurrently, a prequel is being developed.
She remarked that this season was challenging in numerous aspects. She believes that the season serves as a tribute to our characters and their high points, aiming for an ending that audiences will find satisfying. However, she admits that it’s difficult to please everyone since the show is coming to an end. There’s a sense of sadness about this, and she’s unsure about it all. This season, she feels, had a particular atmosphere.
The main cast members like Bell and Heughan shared their thoughts on wrapping up the season and filming its finale. They both expressed how moving the numerous farewells on set have been, despite feeling a sense of “satisfaction” and “pride” over their accomplishments. Heughan added, “It’s been an amazing adventure, and even coming to Comic Con, which we always look forward to, is extra special this time because there’s this bittersweet mix of shooting and then promoting and doing press as the end approaches.
After the series ended, many were excited about finally having more time to rest, travel, spend with family, and work on other endeavors. However, everyone also expressed gratitude for the show’s experience. Bell noted, “The impact this show has made is enduring; we’ll still be discussing it for some time.
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2024-10-18 04:54