Christina Radish is the Senior Entertainment Reporter at Collider. Having worked at Collider for over a decade (since 2009), her primary focus is on film and television interviews with talent both in front of and behind the camera.
Summary In episode three of Season 8 of the Starz series Outlander, Brianna and Roger are still grappling with the reveal in Frank Randall’s book that the fate Jamie suffers may not be too far off. At the same time, bickering between Jamie and Claire over Lord John Grey resumes, with Claire revealing to Brianna what really happened when she thought Jamie was never coming back, leading them to having a bit of an unexpected laugh about it all.
And while there are challenges brewing around the Ridge, at least Brianna and Roger are at a place of strength in their own relationship now so that they can face it all together. During this interview with Collider, co-stars Skelton and Rankin discussed how grateful they have been for the fandom of the series, shooting different endings for the final season, the importance of having Brianna and Roger back with Claire and Jamie, the challenge they no longer have to worry about as a couple, how tricky it was to shoot episode two’s bear mauling, Brianna’s reaction to learning about Claire’s history with John Grey, and whether she spilled the tea to Roger. Collider: If you had been told on day one what the full journey for all of this would be and how it would all end, would you ever have believed it? Could you ever have imagined you would get to where you did with this show? SOPHIE SKELTON: I think we were lucky from the beginning that we had the book, so we always knew somewhat of what we were getting into. But no, the fact that the fans not only love it as much as they did on day one, the fact that we’ve gotten more and more of a bigger fandom, day by day, is probably more than we ever could have hoped for. RICHARD RANKIN: Yeah. I remember when Season 4 and 5 were commissioned back-to-back after we finished Season 3, that was a big surprise. Part of it was that you never know how long a TV show is going to run. TV shows very rarely run past four or less seasons, even if it’s based on a story that runs longer. I remember just being quite excited and quite surprised, at the same time, that it was going to be two consecutive seasons, back-to-back, that we were going to get the opportunity to work on. It was great. Related 'Outlander' Season 8 Review: Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe's Epic Fantasy Series Slowly Builds Toward a Stellar Finale 'Outlander' Season 8 premieres March 6 on Starz. Posts By Carly Lane We know that different endings were filmed for the show and that you didn’t necessarily know which would end up being used. What was it like to have an experience like that, at the end of all of this? Was it strange to not fully know exactly how it would all play out, or is it exciting to not fully know?RANKIN: It’s not that it doesn’t affect us. Obviously, it affects our characters’ lives. But you don’t really see the ultimate effect that has on our characters anyway. It didn’t really affect the playing of it. I think it’s just more interesting, in terms of how they’re going to finish the story. Sophie Skelton Was Happy To See Brianna and Roger Reunited With Claire and Jamie So Early in the Final ‘Outlander’ Season "I thought it was a cool reveal." This is a series that has always had some happy moments before things get dark, and in the first episode, we get one of those moments when Brianna and Roger and their family are reunited with Claire and Jamie. What was it like to have that reunion and have it play out the way that it did? Did you always know how that was going to play out? SKELTON: Yeah. I thought it was a cool reveal going off the doll. It was as nice for us as actors as it was for the characters. It was rare that we all got to film together, so that was a lovely way to start off the season, especially the last season, nonetheless. I thought it was great that we just turned up around the corner with no bells or whistles. They just rounded the corner and there we were. It was pretty cool.SKELTON: Yeah. Related ‘Outlander’ Star Sam Heughan Reacts to Claire’s Shocking Revelation and Jamie's Looming Fate Heughan also talks about how there's just nothing that can come between Jamie and Claire. Posts By Christina Radish I also love that Bree knows exactly which books to bring for her parents. She brings the medical book for Claire, she brings Lord of the Rings for Jamie, and she brings the book written by Frank. With this being the last season, did it also feel important and necessary to have the character of Frank involved in some way? SKELTON: I think so. And not just for Brianna, but for the story as a whole. Obviously, there is the unanswered question from Season 1, as to who the man in the courtyard looking up at Claire’s bedroom is, so it felt only natural to bring Frank back in. He really was where this story began, so for him to bookend it was important. And also, just to remind us that his search for Claire and Jamie and their ending was never over. Who knows? Maybe we’ll get the answer through him, maybe we won’t, but I think it was appropriate to bring him back. He’s never really gone, you know? Richard Rankin and Sophie Skelton Were Proud To See Brianna and Roger United Against the World in ‘Outlander’ Season 8 "What's nice is that their challenges aren't each other." What would you say are Bree and Roger’s biggest challenges this season? RANKIN: It’s a good question. They’ve got quite a lot coming up that they have to deal with. But I suppose their involvement in all the Revolutionary War prep. They both have some things to do and to get done to help with the militia. SKELTON: Yeah. For once, what’s nice is that their challenges aren’t each other. They’re at a point where they’re battling the world together instead of battling each other, so that’s a new dynamic to see them in, which is great. I’m proud of what they’ve become. They’re a great couple now. Well done, Roger and Bree!In episode two, Amy gets attacked and mauled by a bear and Claire can’t do anything to help her. It’s such a tragically sad moment because it’s so quick and random and because it could have happened to any of them. What was all that like to shoot? Is a moment like that particularly painful when you all just have to stand around and nobody can do anything to stop what’s happened? SKELTON: Yeah. It’s very hard when you have to watch someone be mauled, and you have to stay on your spot. Obviously, your gut instinct would be to run toward and try to help. Brianna thinks quickly on her feet, which is great. That’s the Jamie warrior in her that comes out. But unfortunately, it’s still just not quite enough. That was a tricky scene to shoot, logistically and also gut instinct wise. It’s hard to stay put when something like that happens. Subscribe to the newsletter for Outlander Season 8 insights Hungry for more Outlander Season 8 context? Subscribe to our newsletter for expanded coverage of cast interviews, scene analysis, and behind-the-scenes context fans value — plus broader series and related topic coverage. Get Updates By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. Richard, what was that like for you, having that moment with Roger being there to help her family pray? What was it like to find that with him? RANKIN: It’s all that he could really offer. It’s all that anyone could do. It’s very sad to see the mother of this family, passing away before her children and her husband. It was a really sad scene. You’re helpless in that situation. I think he felt that maybe he could provide some small comfort, and that’s really all he had. Sophie Skelton Loved Brianna’s Reaction to Claire’s Reveal About John Grey in ‘Outlander’ Season 8 "It's a great moment of showing Brianna's growth." One of my favorite moments this season is in episode three, when Claire has to tell Bree that Jamie and Lord John Grey had this falling out and are not on speaking terms because she married him when she thought Jamie was dead. And then, to make matters worse, she tells Bree they actually also slept together once. I loved Bree’s response of, “I don’t have to call him da now, do I?” I just thought that was so funny. What was your reaction to that scene? What was your reaction to Bree’s reaction in that moment? SKELTON: I was really proud of her reaction. It’s a great moment of showing Brianna’s growth. I love who she’s become, as a woman and just as a person, and that was a really good example of it. I think old Brianna would have reacted differently, and I think it’s a testament to how much she and Claire have been through, together and individually, and grown individually and together, that they can handle stuff like that now with such understanding and such humor. Brianna has been around the world a few times now, and she understands that things are a lot bigger than they seem and more complicated than they seem. To get some of that humor in was beautiful because I really miss that banter from the books. That was just a great, not even mother-daughter moment, but just friends chatting about something which I thought was very cool. It was nice for them to have that little moment together. I thought it was really great. Related ‘Outlander' Star Caitriona Balfe Reacts to What Episode 3’s Shocking Magic Reveal Could Mean for Claire Balfe also talks about how no one can hide from what's coming to the Ridge in the final season of the beloved fantasy series. Posts By Christina Radish Do you think Bree went home and told Roger about that conversation, or do they not have that kind of relationship? Do they share gossip together? SKELTON: That’s such a very good question. I think they do now. I think there’s an understanding between married couples that maybe doesn’t count as breaking the secret when it’s your partner. I don’t think she’d keep Roger in the dark about that, because I can imagine there’s going to be a moment where it’s going to come out with Jamie. And for Roger to not know, he’d definitely be caught in some kind of crossfire. It’s not really gossip, though. I think she would have gone and filled him in. I think him not knowing would probably cause more problems because Roger would probably push buttons and it would set Jamie off. Brianna is on damage control now, so I think it’s good that he knows. Outlander Like Follow Followed TV-MA Drama Adventure Romance Science Fiction Release Date 2014 - 2026-00-00 Network Starz Showrunner Matthew B. Roberts Directors John Dahl, Metin Hüseyin, Jamie Payne, Stephen Woolfenden, Anna Foerster, Brendan Maher, Brian Kelly, David Moore, Jennifer Getzinger, Mike Barker, Philip John, Joss Agnew, Lisa Clarke, Jan Matthys, Ben Bolt, Charlotte Brändström, Christiana Ebohon-Green, Denise Di Novi, Douglas Mackinnon, Julian Holmes, Norma Bailey, Richard Clark, Justin Molotnikov, Stewart Svaasand Writers Toni Graphia, Matthew B. Roberts, Ronald D. Moore, Luke Schelhaas, Anne Kenney, Karen Campbell, Shannon Goss, Joy Blake, Richard Kahan, Jennifer Yale, Megan Ferrell Burke, Ira Steven Behr, Diana Gabaldon Cast See All
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