“Lots and lots of tears”: Outlander star Caitríona Balfe teases an emotional finale of the period drama

Keep the tissues handy—because, says Outlander star Caitríona Balfe, the finale isn't just another TV wrap. It's an emotional hurricane about to hit. In her words, there will be "lots and lots of tears," both for viewers and for actors who’ve spent more than a decade bringing these characters to life.

In a recent interview with Collider, Caitríona said:

"Wrapping Outlander was very emotional. Everybody came to set, which was just very weird because they gave Sam [Heughan] and I a seven-page scene that was just full of dialogue to finish on, and yet the whole studio was full of execs and all the cast and everybody. So, there were lots and lots and lots of tears."

For Balfe, saying goodbye to Claire Fraser, an iconic role that has defined much of her career, has been nothing but bittersweet. She continued:

"I'm just very proud of the show and I'm excited for the fans to see it. I just hope we've done right by them.”

But does the finale hold out the promise of a dramatic twist or an emotional farewell? Balfe has been adamant: it's the emotional depth that gets top billing, not spectacle.

This is evident because, according to Collider, when Balfe was asked about how she believed Outlander would end, she said:

"I don't even know the ending. We've sort of filmed it in a couple of different ways, and Matt is going to decide, which I think is great so I can't lie. But I think they're going to be satisfied. We brought a lot of people back. A lot of the story is explained. I hope they are anyway."

Though tight-lipped about certain plot points, she underscored that the concluding episodes were handled with sensitivity to pay respect to the long and winding road the characters have traveled. So yes—the headline promises. There will be tears. And lots of them.

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Balfe on crafting a meaningful goodbye in Outlander

Balfe said the Outlander team seriously considered crafting a finale that would feel earned. Instead of concluding with action-packed dramatics, the last leg of the series takes a turn toward emotional depth and closure. The cast shot multiple versions of the closing scenes, and the ultimate decision was left to the showrunner.

Although not suggestive of a myriad of alternative endings, such a method intimates a well-considered weighing of the most effective ways to end a complex story. Balfe has been resolute in trusting the creative process and asserted that the series has always rested on personal intimacy over spectacle—the quality the finale is working to maintain.

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Outlander's development over time and genre

From war and time travel to personally intimate moments of love and loss, Outlander has evolved far beyond its initial status as a historical romance. Balfe recognized how the show has become an expanded exploration of identity, survival, and emotional resilience.

For her, playing Claire for all those seasons has meant growing up with the character throughout various periods in history and phases of life. That level of development is something that she thinks viewers will feel intensely in the series' final episodes.

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Loyalty to the books, but with a personal touch

Balfe has confirmed that Outlander remains loyal to Diana Gabaldon's source material but hasn't shied away from deviating when the narrative called for it. With Gabaldon still in the process of writing her last novel, the ending of the show is anticipated to take a cue from her vision but strike out on its own based on the emotional trajectories of the characters.

Instead of a direct translation of the books, the finale will center on thematic closure—being faithful to the heart of the tale and the paths of the characters.

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Emotional resolution over grand finales

When asked about what to expect from the finale, Balfe emphasized that the finale is not about big battles or cliffhanger drama. Rather, it is about reflection. The final scenes lean into memory, personal connection, and emotional truth—things that have always been part of the show's DNA.

According to Digital Spy, she said:

"God, it was so emotional. I mean it was an emotional scene anyway, of course, because a lot of them are."

She also said,

"There's a lot of goodbyes in the scene but then it has this double meaning because we're also saying goodbye."

The choice to focus on character-driven storytelling is at the very heart of Outlander's popularity: it's never simply been about politics or time travel—it's always been about the people experiencing it all.

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In the end, Balfe's secrets guarantee one thing: Outlander will not fade to a bang but to a moment of reflection that could leave audiences deeply moved. As the curtain drops on Claire and Jamie's unforgettable journey, it will be the sentiment—and not the showmanship—that will remain with audiences well beyond the series finale.

Also read: An Outlander spin-off on Master Raymond might solve mysteries better than Blood Of Blood and here's why