Outlander producer breaks down season 7 return, Roger's shocking discovery

Warning: This article contains spoilers about Outlander season 7, episode 9, "Unfinished Business."

Time is a precious commodity — and it's also continually unpredictable when it comes to Outlander.

The droughtlander is officially over once again, and Claire (Caitriona Balfe), Jamie (Sam Heughan), and the rest of the Fraser clan are officially back on our TV screens with the Friday night premiere of the second half of season 7.

It doesn't take long for the Frasers to get back into trouble. Upon returning to Lallybroch, they discover that old Ian (Steven Cree) is terminally ill — and despite Jenny's (Kristin Atherton) pleas, there is nothing Claire can do to save him. While they all savor their remaining time with Ian, young Ian (John Bell) fills his parents in on his life in the Americas, including his love for Rachel Hunter (Izzy Meikle-Small).

When Claire receives a desperate letter from Lord John Grey (David Berry) requesting her help in tending to his nephew, Henry Grey (Harry Jarvis), she decides to return to the colonies ahead of Jamie, who stays until Ian has breathed his last. Jamie also uses the time in Scotland to tie up loose ends with Laoghaire (Nell Hudson) and her daughter, Joan, who needs Jamie's help to get her mother to agree to an arrangement that will allow her to enter the convent she wishes to join.

Young Ian decides to accompany Claire home, vowing to find Rachel and confess his love to her.

Meanwhile, in another timeline, Roger (Richard Rankin) and Buck (Diarmaid Murtagh) travel back in time in pursuit of Jemmy, who they believe has been kidnapped and brought through the stones by Rob Cameron (Chris Fulton). Only, they end up about 40 years further back than they hoped, which they discover when they encounter Jamie's father, Brian Fraser (Andrew Whipp), and a much younger Jenny. As Buck contends with an illness, they go to visit the local healer for assistance — only to discover that it is none other than their old enemy, Geillis Duncan (Lotte Verbeek).

We caught up with executive producer Matthew B. Roberts to get his take on why Claire decides to separate from Jamie to help Lord John, what this wrinkle in time travel might mean for Roger and Buck, and how dangerous this iteration of Geillis might be. Don your best tartan and get ready to dive back into Outlander.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: When Claire and Jamie return to Scotland, they find a lot more grief than they bargained for. How hard is it for them to return home to find so much sadness?

MATTHEW B. ROBERTS: The discovery of Old Ian's terminal condition transforms their hoped-for joyful reunion into something devastatingly bittersweet. Each character faces unique pain: Jamie must watch his oldest friend slip away; Claire carries the burden of being a healer who cannot heal someone she loves; and Young Ian confronts the guilt of having been away, knowing he'll lose his father — his anchor to his Scottish identity. For all three, this homecoming becomes a harsh reminder that time marches forward relentlessly, and their American adventures have come with a profound cost. Instead of the pure joy they anticipated, they face the complex emotions of trying to treasure their remaining time together while preparing for an inevitable loss.

Claire has to contend with Jenny's anger over her inability to help Ian. How hard is that for her in return? Can Jenny ever forgive her?

Claire and Jenny's relationship has always been complex - two strong-willed women who love Jamie deeply but have struggled to fully trust each other. Jenny's anger over Claire's inability to save Ian cuts especially deep, reigniting her long-held suspicions about Claire's mysterious nature and periodic disappearances. However, their shared experiences of loss and protective instincts finally bridge this gap. Jenny must accept that even Claire's modern medical knowledge has limits, while Claire needs to understand that Jenny's anger stems from deep love and helplessness. Their reconciliation comes not just from their love of Jamie, but from recognizing their shared experiences as strong women who've watched loved ones slip away despite their best efforts to protect them. This becomes a turning point where they finally see each other not as rivals, but as women who have more in common than they've ever admitted. Jenny's forgiveness comes not from accepting Claire's inability to save Ian, but from finally accepting Claire herself, completely and without reservation.

Ultimately, why does young Ian decide to return home to America? Is it something he might come to regret?

Finding his father dying would naturally trigger an intense internal conflict. The guilt of having been away, combined with his strong sense of Highland family duty, would make him feel torn between staying in Scotland and returning to America, where his heart truly lies with Rachel. It's a beautiful and poignant moment that Old Ian, who has always understood his son's free spirit, would be the one to give Ian permission to follow his heart one more time. It's a powerful passing of the torch moment, where a father's final gift to his son is the freedom from guilt and the blessing to build his own life. Ian's decision to return to America isn't just about choosing Rachel — it's about accepting that while his roots will always be in Scotland, his branches have grown toward a different sun. His father's blessing allows him to embrace this truth without feeling like he's betraying his family heritage.

Jamie and Laoghaire finally make peace. Why was it important to you to tie up that loose end?

Jamie's desire to finally make peace with Laoghaire represents something deeper than just wanting to tie up loose ends — it's about emotional freedom. Throughout his life, Jamie has carried the weight of obligation and guilt over how things ended with Laoghaire. Their return to Scotland forces a confrontation with this unresolved tension. The importance of finally resolving this relationship lies in its symbolic meaning for both characters. For Jamie, it's about releasing himself from the last vestiges of guilt over his past choices. For Laoghaire, it's potentially about finally accepting that her idealized version of Jamie was never real, and that holding onto that obsession has prevented her from finding genuine happiness. This resolution isn't just about finding peace between former spouses — it's about both characters finally being able to fully move forward with their lives, free from the weight of their shared past.

Honestly, Claire and Lord John aren't THAT close. Why does she decide to separate from Jamie and return home?

While Claire and Lord John may not be the closest of friends, their relationship is built on mutual respect and a shared devotion to Jamie. Lord John has consistently proven himself a loyal ally to the Fraser family, from protecting Jamie's secrets to saving their lives, yet he's never asked for anything in return. If he's requesting Claire's help now, it must be truly serious. Claire's decision to separate from Jamie to help Lord John would stem from her recognition of this debt of honor and her understanding of how much Jamie trusts him. It's not about her personal relationship with Lord John, but about respecting the bonds of loyalty that have become fundamental to their family's survival over the years.

Roger and Buck end up in what decidedly is not the timeline they were aiming for. Can you tease what that means for them this season? How will Roger be able to get out of this?

Roger and Buck's unplanned arrival in the wrong timeline may seem like a cosmic mistake, but it's actually destiny at work. While they didn't reach their intended destination, this 'wrong' turn will prove to be exactly where they needed to be, suggesting that sometimes fate has different — and perhaps better — plans than our own.

Brianna (Sophie Skelton) is so alone now. How is she going to cope?

Brianna embodies the best of both her parents — the resilience of her Highland warrior father and the resourcefulness of her surgeon mother. She also has what Frank taught her. Remember, she got into Harvard and MIT. When it comes to protecting her family, she's proven time and again that she's not just capable, but formidable in her own right. Being alone won't break her. If anything, it will reveal just how strong she truly is.

The last shot of the premiere is Geillis opening the door. How much trouble are Roger and Buck potentially going to be in now?

While Geillis's presence isn't an immediate physical threat (since she doesn't yet know who Roger and Buck are), the real danger lies in the emotional complexity of their situation. Roger carries the heavy burden of historical knowledge, anxiety about maintaining the timeline's integrity, and the fear that any misstep could have devastating ripple effects on their family's future. Their challenge isn't survival — it's navigating this delicate moment in time without altering the course of history.

As of now, Geillis doesn't know who Roger is (or Claire and Jamie, for that matter). Might that make her slightly less evil?

At this point in the timeline, Geillis isn't yet the antagonist we come to know. She's a passionate woman with an unwavering commitment to Scottish independence. Her ruthlessness isn't born from pure evil, but from absolute devotion to what she believes is a sacred cause. While her methods become increasingly extreme and her actions ultimately unconscionable, right now she's driven by conviction rather than malice. She sees herself as a soldier for Scotland's freedom, willing to make harsh choices for what she believes is a greater good. It's this misguided sense of destiny and righteousness, rather than inherent wickedness, that makes her such a complex and dangerous character.

 Can you tease the next episode?

After aiding Lord John's ailing nephew in Philadelphia, Claire receives devastating news. Alone and facing arrest as a suspected rebel spy, Claire finds herself backed into an impossible corner and makes a decision in that moment that seem necessary for her survival. The consequences of her choices during this dark time will echo devastatingly throughout the rest of the season.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

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