Outlander fans have vented their fury as the season seven finale has been pushed back by a week.
Starz’s popular historical fantasy drama returned for the second half of its seventh instalment last November, airing each Friday since its premiere.
However, the network has ruffled feathers with this one-week hiatus before the penultimate season comes to an end with episode 16, A Hundred Thousand Angels.
In the latest episode, Written In My Heart’s Own Blood, Claire (played by Caitriona Balfe) and Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan) prepare for more war and the possibility either of them could perish during a pivotal moment of the American Revolution.
While Jamie was in the thick of battle, it’s Claire fans were left fearing for as her concerns about the Battle Of Monmouth were correct and she’s left with a potentially fatal bullet wound.
Elsewhere, Brianna (Sophie Skelton) gets one step closer to reuniting with Roger (Richard Rankin), although no one was prepared for their daughter Mandy (Rosa Morris) running off through the stones, potentially leading to another MacKenzie lost through time.
One irate fan on X fumed, making liberal use of angry emojis: “Last Episode of Outlander E16 season 7 and you make us wait an extra week. Why????? Bring this forward.”
Someone else posted: “@Outlander_STARZ #OutlanderFans I was actually looking forward to the season finale at 12 am and nothing. What am I missing.
“When is it supposed to air & why make us wait more.”
“I’m getting so tired of #Outlander @Outlander_STARZ dragging out their seasons and their episodes- not having one this week, cuz why? Just to drag this season 7 out even longer. It’s a wonderful show, but why can’t they be normal?” another viewer demanded.
Many fans have even pointed accusatory fingers at Starz, claiming the network is extending the season to force viewers to keep paying for their subscriptions.
“And for us, they’re dragging it one day past our Starz renewal date. Argh!” one viewer replied to the above post.
To which the original user replied: “They totally are trying to get people to renew one more week and then maybe not cancel and just keep it. So aggravating!”
These accusations continued on Reddit, with one fan commenting: “We have not had a single skipped week through the holiday season and now they pull this scam for the finale?! So incredibly annoying and disrespectful.”
And a final fan went one step further, writing: “I was hyped ALL week, started refreshing at midnight and then came here when it didn’t show.
“Artificially extending the season so you get another billing cycle is predatory, scumbag behavior. F*** you, Starz. You won’t see another cent from me.”
Despite the backlash, the show’s loyal fanbase is still aching to tune in next Friday to discover Claire’s fate.
Outlander season seven part two concludes Friday, January 17 on MGM+ via Prime Video in the UK and on Starz in the US.