Warning – this article contains major spoilers for Outlander season seven
Outlander’s latest episode, Brotherly Love, delivered a shocking twist that one of its most important characters has been killed off, but will it stick?
Mere weeks after Claire Fraser (played by Caitriona Balfe) was called to Philadelphia to aid Lord John Grey (David Berry), she gets the news she never wanted to hear.
While crossing over the Atlantic to reunite with his wife, the ship Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan) was on was supposedly lost at sea with no survivors.
Claire initially refuses to believe it before she holes herself up in her room to grieve this unexpected loss.
To make matters more complicated, Lord Grey realises the British Army will soon be breathing down her neck thanks to Claire’s work for the rebellion and insists she marries him to clear her name.
Despite the tragic twist, there were plenty of dry eyes in the audience on Friday night as the majority of fans seem to refuse to believe the series would kill off Jamie off-screen.
In the episode discussion on Reddit, one viewer said: “Rule #1 of TV/Film: If we didn’t see them die on screen, THEY AREN’T DEAD.
“I won’t let them trick me. Cannot wait to see Jamie wash up on the beach to find Lord John and Claire married.”
Even fans who haven’t read Diana Gabaldon’s books weren’t fooled, with one comment reading: “Does anyone actually believe Jamie is dead?
“If you’ve read the books or somehow know either way PLEASE don’t spoil it, but I just think there’s no possible way he’s dead.”
Another user agreed: “I never believe they are dead until I see the death on screen.”
To which someone else replied: “And we’re talking about one of the two main characters.
“He’s not dying off screen in the 2nd episode of a new midseason… Very cheap and rushed cliffhanger imo.”
Similar complaints also surfaced on X (formerly Twitter) after the episode.
One fan quipped: “I appreciate the drama but not a single soul believes Jamie is dead.”
And a final viewer fumed: “… regarding this week’s episode of Outlander. I REFUSE TO BELIEVE IT.
“THEY BETTER PULL A supernatural and BRING HIM BACK this instance.”
Will Jamie make a miraculous return at some point in the coming weeks? Or will the rest of Outlander’s final two seasons look very different from here on out?
Outlander season seven part two continues Fridays on MGM+ via Prime Video in the UK and on Starz in the US.