I’m incredibly excited to share that two of my all-time favorite <em>Outlander</em> characters will be making their much-anticipated return for season 8. However, I find myself desperately wishing that their heart-wrenching storyline from the books will be omitted from the series. As this is the concluding season of Outlander, it presents a unique opportunity for characters who departed in previous episodes to return for a final farewell. I am eagerly hoping that we will see several cameos from beloved characters in the upcoming episodes, but so far, only a select few have been confirmed. The showrunners of Outlander have indicated that only characters whose arcs significantly influence Jamie and Claire will be brought back, which does narrow down the possibilities.

Of course, Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan will reprise their iconic roles as Claire and Jamie in Outlander season 8, alongside Richard Rankin’s Roger and Sophie Skelton’s Brianna. Additionally, we can look forward to John Bell returning for another season as the newlywed Ian Murray, and David Berry will continue to portray Lord John Grey. Unfortunately, actors like Tobias Menzies, who portrayed Frank Randall, have confirmed they won’t be available for a cameo appearance, and Outlander’s showrunners have announced that Kristin Atherton’s Jenny will also not return. On a brighter note, César Domboy and Lauren Lyle will be back to reprise their roles as Fergus and Marsali Fraser.

Fergus & Marsali Are Set to Return for the Final Season of Outlander

César Domboy​​​​​​​ & Lauren Lyle Confirmed to Reprise Their Roles

When filming for Outlander season 8 kicked off in March 2024, Balfe and Heughan took to the official Outlander Instagram account to humorously announce the return of Domboy and Lyle as Fergus and Marsali. The dynamic duo was spotted in period-appropriate costumes on set, while Balfe and Heughan playfully referred to them as “very old” cast members returning for this final season. This revelation is particularly significant, considering Fergus and Marsali have not appeared on Outlander since season 6.

Fergus is the adoptive son of Claire and Jamie, whom they took in during their adventures in France back in Outlander season 2. Jamie raised Fergus during Claire’s absence in the future, and upon her return, she discovered that he had matured into a young man. Domboy’s character eventually fell deeply in love with Marsali MacKimmie, the daughter of Claire’s former adversary, Laoghaire. Together, Fergus and Marsali journeyed with Jamie and Claire to the Americas, ultimately establishing their home at Fraser’s Ridge. The couple quickly became fan favorites, and I wholeheartedly admit to being one of the many who adore their storyline, though I have some concerns.

My Hope is That Outlander Will Omit Fergus & Marsali’s Most Heartbreaking Book Plot

This Heartbreaking Tale Just Doesn’t Align with Outlander’s Conclusion

Although Fergus and Marsali have been absent from the Outlander television series since season 6, they continue to play a significant role in the books. They established a print shop in Philadelphia during the narrative of An Echo in the Bone, which transitioned into the beginning of Outlander season 7, part 2. Given that the TV series chose to exclude their involvement during this crucial period in Jamie and Claire’s lives, I initially anticipated that the tragic events surrounding Fergus and Marsali would be completely overlooked. However, with their return confirmed, I now fear that we might witness these heartbreaking circumstances unfold on screen.

In the book Written in My Own Heart’s Blood, the story takes a dark turn as Fergus and Marsali’s print shop is engulfed in flames, leading to a devastating loss: their son, Henri-Christian, tragically dies while attempting to escape the inferno. This little boy, who was born in Outlander season 6, has become a cherished member of the Fraser family, making his tragic death—falling from the roof of the print-shop while his brother Germain desperately tries to save him—almost unbearable to accept. I sincerely hope to avoid witnessing such a painful moment in Outlander season 8. Ideally, the upcoming episodes will provide Fergus and Marsali with a much more captivating and uplifting story.

Outlander Has the Potential to Enrich Fergus & Marsali’s Storyline in Season 8

There Are More Meaningful Ways to Incorporate These Beloved Characters

Given that Marsali and Fergus have been absent from Outlander for quite some time and considering the limited number of episodes left in the series, I sincerely hope that season 8 will avoid depicting the tragic death of their son. It would feel quite incongruous to resurrect these beloved characters only to subject them to such profound suffering. Instead, Outlander season 8 has the opportunity to reshape their narrative to better complement the development of Jamie and Claire.

Claire is likely to delve deeper into her healing abilities now that she believes Master Raymond was able to bring her daughter, Faith, back to life. There is a possibility that Outlander season 8 will present a version of Fergus and Marsali’s tragedy, but with a more optimistic ending, where Claire employs her power to heal Henri-Christian. Alternatively, the upcoming episodes may explore another facet of Fergus’ storyline from the books. Diana Gabaldon has indicated that Fergus is the offspring of a time traveler, which could serve as a fascinating plot point for his concluding arc on screen. As long as this beloved Outlander couple is not brought back solely to break my heart, I will be more than satisfied.