Top News

WARNING: This article contains major spoilers from the Outlander novels by Diana Gabaldon and Outlander season 8

Outlander season eight is fast approaching its conclusion as the Starz series prepares to sign off after a decade on our screens.

The final instalment is nevertheless expected to deliver a host of dramatic plot twists before the series reaches its finale, reports the Daily Record.

One of those twists could centre around Jamie Fraser (played by Sam Heughan), after readers familiar with the ninth Outlander novel Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon, which forms the basis for season eight, put forward a compelling theory.

In the novel, a Native American man known as the Sachem tells Claire Fraser (Caitríona Balfe) that he had died for several hours and now he sees ghosts.

The Sachem reveals he has seen Ian Murray (Steven Cree), Frank Randall (Tobias Menzies) and Faith Fraser.

This prompted Outlander book enthusiasts on Reddit to speculate about Jamie, who briefly "dies" in the novel, before an act of god.

One fan posted: "So..... Jamie was "dead" for several hours.... will he develop this ability? I don't think DG put that convo between Claire and the Sachem in there for no reason..... [sic]."

A second person responded: "A good theory, seeing as Jamie already seems to have the sight."

A third commented: "Jamie already seems to sense ghosts. Maybe not talk or see them, but there are scenes where he appears to sense either Ian Sr. or Murtagh or his father and even Dougal walking with him.

"Plus, his ability to dream of his family in the 20th century... I wouldn't be surprised if he also has a power that grows stronger as he ages, similar to Claire's [sic]."

Yet another viewer expanded upon this theory as they wrote: "I think that's a good theory especially with Jamie psychic abilities he could grow into it.

"It also made me wonder a little about Frank. Did he have a near death experience during WW2? Is that why he could see Jamie in the 1st book/S1? And did he ever see Jamie again? [sic]."

Another fan contributed: "Yeah I am intrigued to see where DG goes w/ the whole MI6-style spy plot line for Frank and/or how it ties into the people chasing after Bree for the gold [sic]."

The Sachem has yet to feature in the television adaptation, however, this would prove a fascinating development and heighten the supernatural elements of Outlander.

In the series, Claire was shown to possess resurrection abilities after she revived a newborn infant who had perished. Additionally, Claire possesses the ability to travel through time.

Meanwhile, Brianna (Sophie Skelton) and Roger MacKenzie's (Richard Rankin) children are depicted as having special abilities, which featured in series seven, alongside their capacity to time travel.

For now, we understand that Jamie cannot time travel, but he has recently begun experiencing dreams about the future and in the novels, it's suggested that through his dreams he encounters his grandchildren in the future.

Jamie has also been hearing Frank's voice throughout the series, which appears to be occurring solely within his mind. Yet could this hint that Jamie is developing additional powers, enabling him to sense Frank from beyond the grave?

This theory surrounding the ability to see ghosts following a near-death experience would also shed light on how Frank was able to see Jamie in the 1940s, potentially resolving one of Outlander's greatest mysteries. Perhaps Frank experienced a similar brush with death and subsequently acquired supernatural abilities.

Outlander devotees will simply have to wait and see how the series unfolds.

Only a handful of episodes remain before the highly anticipated finale.

Author Diana Gabaldon is also putting the finishing touches to the final novel in her Outlander series, A Blessing For A Warrior Going Out, which is widely expected to address some of the more supernatural elements of her story, including the mystery surrounding Jamie's ghost.

Outlander season 8 airs on Starz in the USA on Fridays and on MGM+ via Prime Video in the UK on Saturdays