After witnessing the shocking ending ofOutlanderseason 7, I’m more than ready to buckle in for the final installment of this iconic fantasy TV show. However, even though it’s exciting that Jamie, Claire, and the rest of the Frasers will be back before too long,it’s devastating to think that season 8 will be the last time we join them on their romantic adventures.Finding a series that scratches the same itch asOutlanderwill be difficult because few series understand how to handle the fantasy and romance angles of a story likeOutlanderwith the balance required.
For a long time, I was hoping that theA Court of Thorns and Rosesadaptationplanned at Hulu would be the perfect follow-up toOutlanderseason 8. The series would also be based on a beloved romantasy book series penned by Sarah J. Maas and would have the right amount of drama and intimate scenes to match the legacy ofOutlander. However, even thoughACOTAR’s following hasn’t diminished in the years since the series was announced,plans have stalled for the TV show, making me nervous about romantasy’s future on television.
Outlander’s Ending Will Create A Huge Fantasy TV Gap After Season 8
Outlander has been the biggest romantasy TV series since 2014
While there are plenty of fantasy and romance shows available to watch on TV today, there are surprisingly few adult series that blend these genes, as well asOutlander. Recent TV shows that could’ve filled the gap left inOutlander’s wake, like 2024’sMy Lady Jane, haven’t found a large enough audience base to warrant the budget and longevity ofOutlander. I’m worried thatin the wake ofOutlanderseason 8, there will be no series readily available to step intoOutlander's shoesand give the series' dedicated fanbase a new show worthy of obsessing over.
10 Biggest Changes Outlander Season 7, Part 2 Makes To The Books
Outlander season 7, part 2’s finale has left Diana Gabaldon’s books behind, but this isn’t the only thing Starz changed in this installment.
There are plenty ofromantasy books that deserve TV adaptations, and the success ofOutlandershould be a solid incentive for studios and streamers to continue bringing these stories to life. It’s hard to say what makesOutlander’s legions of dedicated fans so captivated by the series. However, the way it centers romance while providing ample character development is no small part of this. Whilefantasy television has been having a renaissance over the past decade,I don’t want niches like romantasy to be overlooked whenOutlanderends.
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Hulu’s Court Of Thorns & Roses Show Would Be The Perfect Outlander Replacement
Bringing ACOTAR to life on screen would fill the gap Outlander is leaving
When thinking about what series would perfectly fill the gap thatOutlanderwill leave in the television landscape,A Court of Thorns and Rosesis the clear answer. In bringingACOTARto life, there wouldn’t be as much risk as other shows sincethere’s already such a significant following of book readers.ThoughA Court of Thorns and Rosesshow would require changesto the source material,Outlandergot away with many similar alterations, and most viewers handled them well. I could see manyOutlanderfans easily transitioning to theACOTARfandom.
Despite being confirmed for some time, Hulu’sACOTARTV show is no longer in active development.
Despite being confirmed for some time, Hulu’sACOTARTV show is no longer in active development. Ronald D. Moore, the showrunner for many successful seasons ofOutlander, was briefly slated as the showrunner of theACOTARseries, but he left the show in early 2024 (viaEntertainment Weekly). Even though there’s a significant demand for anACOTARshow and Hulu has already started assembling a team to bring the story to life, there’s little hope that we’ll see anACOTARseries hit screens beforeOutlanderends.
Losing Outlander Makes Me Even More Disappointed That The ACOTAR Show Is In Limbo
If Outlander ends before a worthy successor emerges, this would be a worrying development for romantasy TV
The fact thatOutlanderis coming to an end around the same time thatACOTARis losing steam sets up a disappointing future for romantasy television.There’s still hope that Hulu will circle back toACOTARand make it a higher priorityfor the streamer, but with no showrunner and few positive updates in the past few months, things aren’t looking good. IfOutlanderwere continuing for a few more seasons, then Hulu andACOTARwould have plenty of time to set up a smooth transition from one show to the other.
Though the premiere date forOutlanderseason 8 hasn’t been confirmed yet, it won’t be long before the final season hits screens, and we have to bid farewell to the show. I wish that there were more positive updates about theA Court of Thorns and Roses, as when a series like this hits roadblocks, it could be years before fans see any concrete development. As fantasy continues expanding in the television sphere, overlooking romance as a space that many audience members gravitate toward would be a mistake.
Outlander
Cast
Outlander follows Claire Randall, a married nurse from 1945, who is transported back to 1743 Scotland. Amidst political intrigue and danger, she navigates life in the past and becomes torn between loyalty to her husband and the love for a dashing young warrior.
