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Guide to Seasons 5 & 6 of Starz OUTLANDER + OUTLANDER News & Updates

Maj Canton - January 19, 2022

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FOR AN ALL-NEW UPDATED SEASON 6 GUIDE TO OUTLANDER, CLICK HERE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adapted from Diana Gabaldon’s international best-selling books, Season 6 is based on material from the sixth book in the Outlander series, "A Breath of Snow and Ashes." The sixth season of OUTLANDER sees a continuation of Claire and Jamie’s fight to protect those they love, as they navigate the trials and tribulations of life in colonial America. Establishing a home in the New World is by no means an easy task, particularly in the wild backcountry of North Carolina – and perhaps most significantly – during a period of dramatic political upheaval. The Frasers strive to maintain peace and flourish within a society which – as Claire knows all too well – is unwittingly marching towards Revolution. Against this backdrop, which heralds the birth of the new American nation, Claire and Jamie have built a home together at Fraser’s Ridge. They must now defend this home – established on land granted to them by the Crown – not only from external forces, but also from the increasing strife and conflict in the community within their care. For the Frasers and their immediate family, “home” is more than simply a site in which they live, it is the place where they are laying the foundations for the rest of their lives. If Season 4 asked “What is home?” and Season 5 asked, “What are you willing to do to protect your home?” then Season 6 explores what happens when there is disharmony and division among the inhabitants of the home you’ve created: when you become an outsider, or an ‘outlander,’ so to speak, marginalized and rejected in your own home.

 

Plus, STARZ released this new cast photo for Season 6:

 


 

STARZ also recently announced the pick-up of the seventh season of “Outlander.”

 

On Saturday, October 9, 2021 at New York Comic Con 2021 (NYCC), STARZ released the teaser trailer and art (below) for the upcoming sixth season during a panel with OUTLANDER stars. OUTLANDER cast members including Caitriona Balfe, Sophie Skelton, Lauren Lyle, César Domboy, and John Bell joined the panel virtually from Europe while Sam Heughan, Executive Producer Maril Davis and Outlander author Diana Gabaldon were in-person from the Empire Stage at the Javits Center. Entertainment Weekly’s Ruth Kinane moderated the discussion.

 

 

On Tuesday, June 1, 2021, in honor of World OUTLANDER Day, Starz announced that Droughtlander will end in early 2022 as production wraps this week on the sixth season of the original series OUTLANDER. Reprising their starring roles, Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan as Claire and Jamie Fraser, Sophie Skelton and Richard Rankin as Brianna and Roger MacKenzie and John Bell as Young Ian.Plus, Starz released these four new photos from Season 6 of OUTLANDER:

 

 

 



“We are excited to get into the editing room to work on bringing the fans one step closer to reuniting with the family back on Fraser’s Ridge,” said Matthew B. Roberts, OUTLANDER showrunner. “Filming in 2021 has presented an unprecedented set of challenges which led us to the decision to truncate the season in order to bring the fans the most vibrant and dynamic season as soon as possible. Dinna fash, we will then film an extended season seven with 16 episodes next year as life returns to normalcy.”


“We are committed to telling the story fully with gripping and bold storylines in the upcoming eight-episode season that introduces viewers to new characters including Tom, Allan and Malva Christie (Mark Lewis-Jones, Alexander Vlahos and Jessica Reynolds) who create tension on the Ridge,” said Christina Davis, President of Original Programming for STARZ.


Sunday, March 14, 2021 Starz announced that it picked up an additional season of OUTLANDER from executive producer Ronald D. Moore and Sony Pictures Television. Matthew B. Roberts will continue as showrunner. Adapted from Diana Gabaldon’s international bestselling book, Starz has committed to this 12-episode order for “Outlander,” assuring the hit time-travel saga will run a seventh season. Season 7 of the hit series will be based on the seventh of the eight books in the Outlander series, entitled "An Echo in the Bone." Ronald D. Moore, Matthew B. Roberts, Maril Davis, Toni Graphia, Andy Harries and Jim Kohlberg will executive produce. Caitriona Balfe (Claire Randall Fraser), Sam Heughan (Jamie Fraser), Sophie Skelton (Brianna Randall) and Richard Rankin (Roger Wakefield) will return for the seventh season.

 
“Starz is committed to investing in unapologetic, bold premium storytelling that amplifies diverse voices and shines a spotlight on women in front of and behind the camera through our #TakeTheLead initiative,” said Christina Davis, President of Original Programming for Starz. “The hit series ‘Outlander’ embodies everything about our initiative including a powerful female lead character and an amazing team of storytellers. We look forward to following the adventures of Claire and Jamie in America during the Revolution as well as more time travel during this next season.”
 
“We are so excited Starz has given us the opportunity to continue the epic OUTLANDER journey,” said Roberts. “We can’t wait to get into the writer’s room and start breaking Echo in the Bone and look forward to giving the fans another season of this exhilarating story.”


To mark the start of production of OUTLANDER's sixth season, Starz released a 1-minute video and the following photo:



On Sunday February 16, 2020 at 8pm ET/PT, STARZ premiered the fifth season of OUTLANDER, based on material from “The Fiery Cross,” the fifth of eight books in Diana Gabaldon’s international best-selling "Outlander" series. Season 5 of OUTLANDER finds the Frasers fighting for their family and the home they have forged on Fraser’s Ridge. Jamie must find a way to defend all that he has created in America, and to protect those who look to him for leadership and protection – while hiding his personal relationship with Murtagh Fitzgibbons, the man whom Governor William Tryon has ordered him to hunt down and kill. With her family together at last, Claire Fraser must use her modern medical knowledge and foresight to prevent them from being ripped apart once again. However, while focusing on protecting others, she risks losing sight of what it means to protect herself.  Meanwhile, Brianna Fraser and Roger MacKenzie have been reunited, but the specter of Stephen Bonnet still haunts them. Roger strives to find his place – as well as Jamie’s respect – in this new and dangerous time. The Frasers must come together, navigating the many perils that they foresee – and those they can’t. We have seen the first four episodes (sorry no spoilers) and all we can say is that the new season is filled with plenty of spies, lies and naked thighs!  There’s terror, tension and tenderness plus a few medical miracles and a raucous Scottish wedding.  Oh and, the family gets a too cute pet cat named, Adso. All your favorites get plenty of twisty good storylines that makes for a first-class fifth season. You won’t be disappointed. Welcome back clan Fraser!

 


 


Character Descriptions



 

CLAIRE FRASER (Caitriona Balfe)



After years of hardship and sacrifice, Claire has united her family and built a home. Determined to protect the people she loves, Claire uses her knowledge and medical expertise in an attempt to make Fraser’s Ridge a safe haven from the dangers of life in the eighteenth century.




JAMIE FRASER (Sam Heughan)



In Season 5, Jamie fulfills his destiny by becoming patriarch of Fraser’s Ridge – providing for his family and the settlers, who look to him for guidance and protection. This new mantle of responsibility will pit him against his godfather, Murtagh Fitzgibbons Fraser, leader of the Regulator Rebellion – and the man Jamie has been ordered to hunt down and kill.




BRIANNA RANDALL (Sophie Skelton)



Brianna has been reunited with her husband at last, but the shadow cast by Stephen Bonnet looms over her, Roger, and their child, Jeremiah MacKenzie. Against a backdrop of dramatic socio-political upheaval – and as she and her husband struggle to lay the foundations for their life in the wild backcountry of North Carolina – Brianna must overcome her demons and find her place in the eighteenth century.




ROGER MACKENZIE (Richard Rankin)



Though Roger has spent much of his life studying the past as a professor of History at Oxford, he finds himself ill-equipped to navigate the trials and tribulations of life in the eighteenth century. For the sake of his wife and child, he must learn what it means to be a man in this harsh time from an unforgiving teacher: his father-in-law, Jamie Fraser.




JEREMIAH “JEMMY” MACKENZIE (Matthew Adair / Andrew Adair)


 

Jemmy is Brianna’s son. Though his parentage is uncertain, Roger has unreservedly claimed the boy as his own.




MURTAGH FITZGIBBONS FRASER (Duncan Lacroix)


 

Hunted as an enemy to the Crown by his own godson, Murtagh refuses to abandon the Regulator cause, and continues the fight against the injustice he perceives as penetrating the daily lives of the common people. His increasingly intense relationship with Jocasta Cameron is, however, an unexpected complication that leaves him with a dilemma: how can he reconcile his love for Jocasta with his duties to his fellow Regulators? An honorable man, Murtagh will fight for his cause, no matter the personal cost.




LORD JOHN WILLIAM GREY (David Berry)



A truly loyal friend and ally, the magnanimous Lord John Grey comes to the aid of the Frasers, once again, by assisting Jamie in hunting down the greatest threat to the Fraser family: Stephen Bonnet.




FERGUS FRASER (Cesar Domboy)



Fergus Fraser finds his place and purpose as the resident distiller at Fraser’s Ridge, intent on making the best whisky in the New World, while raising a beautiful family with his beloved wife, Marsali.




MARSALI MACKIMMIE FRASER (Lauren Lyle)



Marsali is Fergus’s wife and mother to their children, Germain and baby Joan. Practically adept, trustworthy and hardworking, Marsali is drawn into Claire’s quest to make the eighteenth-century world a safer place to inhabit, albeit in a rather unexpected way.




GERMAIN FRASER (Robin Scott)



A playful and mischievous little boy, Germain is Fergus and Marsali’s first-born son.




JOCASTA CAMERON (Maria Doyle Kennedy)



As mistress of River Run plantation, Jocasta is a well-versed in maintaining order and overseeing the daily lives of those around her. What is more difficult to control, however, is the fact that her heart belongs to the rebellious Regulator leader, Murtagh Fitzgibbons – at odds with her desire for stability and companionship in the winter of her life.




STEPHEN BONNET (Ed Speleers)



The villainous Stephen Bonnet, having escaped death once more, has returned to his licentious, smuggling ways. His confrontation with Brianna at the end of Season Four, however, has inspired him to pursue a life of refinement and civility, seeing him transform from coarse sea-captain to aspiring gentleman – but can he quell his violent nature.




GOVERNOR WILLIAM TRYON (Tim Downie)



Angered by the escalation of the ever-increasing Regulator movement, Governor William Tryon is determined to restore order in his Province and to crush the rebellion once and for all. He calls upon Jamie Fraser to fulfill his obligation to the Crown and destroy the rebels – and their leaders -- by any means necessary.




LIEUTENANT HAMILTON KNOX (Michael Xavier)


 

 




GERALD FORBES (Billy Boyd)



Gerald Forbes is a wealthy lawyer and friend of Jocasta Cameron, whose greed leads him to acquire some unsavory business interests and associates.




PHILLIP WYLIE (Chris Donald)


 

A North Carolinian socialite and dandy with a passion for beauty, vice... and Claire Fraser. Jamie is forced to work with him in order to set a trap for Stephen Bonnet.




LIONEL BROWN (Ned Dennehy)


 

Lionel Brown is the volatile younger brother of Richard Brown – patriarch of Brownsville. intervenes in a Brown-family matter, she makes a dangerous enemy in Lionel. When Claire intervenes in a Brown-family matter, she makes a dangerous enemy in Lionel.




RICHARD BROWN (Chris Larkin)


 

Richard Brown is the well-mannered but intimidating patriarch of Brownsville. He agrees to lead his men from Brownsville to join Jamie’s militia, but comes into conflict with the Frasers when Jamie and Claire choose to help a young man who interferes with his niece’s marriage.




JOSIAH BEARDSLEY (Paul Gorman)


 

Josiah Beardsley is a young, talented hunter, and one of Jamie’s settlers. As a child, he and his twin brother, Keziah, were indentured servants to Aaron Beardsley – a cruel master who mistreats the lads and causes Josiah to be fiercely protective of his sibling.




KEZIAH “KEZZIE” BEARDSLEY (Paul Gorman)


 

Kezzie is Josiah’s twin. A childhood injury rendered him mostly deaf, a condition which is exacerbated by recurrent tonsillitis. He is quite shy and relies on Josiah to help him communicate with others.




ARCH BUG (Hugh Ross)


 

The Factor of Fraser’s Ridge. In contrast to his wife, Mr. Bug is a man of few words. He watches over the Ridge while Jamie is away leading the militia.




MURDINA BUG (Sarah Collier)


 

A busybody, Mrs. Bug is the Fraser’s housekeeper and domestic jack-of-all-trades.




ADSO


 

Named after Jamie’s mother’s cat, Adso is the Fraser family cat that keeps mice out of Claire's surgery.




EPISODE GUIDE


If you want to know nothing about the episodes at all, skip this section. Provided by Starz, this episode guide includes general episode descriptions and specific plot details.


"The Fiery Cross"
Sunday, February 16, 2020 @ 8pm ET/PT
Following celebrations in honor of Brianna and Roger’s wedding, Governor Tryon reminds Jamie of his obligation to hunt down and kill Murtagh Fitzgibbons. He also expects Jamie to raise a militia to quell the Regulators if necessary. Brianna, meanwhile, is reminded of her past trauma when she inadvertently hears some devastating news.
Written by: Matthew B. Roberts; Directed by: Stephen Woolfenden

"Between Two Fires"
Sunday, February 23, 2020 @ 8pm ET/PT
As Jamie continues to hunt Murtagh with the aid of the zealous Lieutenant Hamilton Knox, he’s forced to consider whether or not he’s on the right side of history. Meanwhile, when a resident of Fraser’s Ridge dies from a preventable ailment – which had been exacerbated by an ill-informed, though well-intentioned, use of folk medicine – Claire considers using modern methods to keep the settlers safe.
Written by: Toni Graphia and Luke Schelhaas; Directed by: Stephen Woolfenden

"Free Will"
Sunday, March 1, 2020 @ 8pm ET/PT
The growing Regulator threat forces Jamie, Claire and Roger to embark on a mission to raise a militia. When one of their settlers reveals he’s a bondservant, and asks for help freeing himself and his brother from their abusive master, Jamie and Claire are forced to make a difficult decision.
Written by: Luke Schelhaas; Directed by: Jamie Payne

"The Company We Keep"
Sunday, March 8, 2020 @ 8pm ET/PT
Roger leads Jamie’s militia to the rural trading post of Brownsville and finds himself embroiled in a bitter feud. Jamie and Claire arrive to find that Roger’s rather unusual strategy may have cost them the loyalty of the militia. Claire learns that her ‘modern’ medical advice has spread further than she intended.
Written by: Barbara Stepansky; Directed by: Jamie Payne

"Perpetual Adoration"
Sunday, March 15, 2020 @ 8pm ET/PT
Jamie and his militia arrive at Hillsborough to learn that Governor Tryon has proposed a rather unorthodox solution to deal with the threat posed by the Regulators and to resolve the growing political crisis. Jamie is forced to take drastic action when his relationship to Murtagh is at risk of coming to light. Busy with present-day life at the Ridge, Roger and Brianna must nevertheless come to terms with their past when Roger learns new information about Stephen Bonnet. Claire recalls an episode from her past that led her back to Jamie.
Written by: Alyson Evans and Steve Kornacki. Directed by: Meera Menon

"Better to Marry Than Burn"
Sunday, March 22, 2020 @ 8pm ET/PT
At Jocasta’s wedding, Jamie learns Tryon’s true motivation for ending the Regulator threat. Claire discovers a lead on the whereabouts of a former enemy from an unexpected source, but the price for the information is far higher than she anticipates. In Jamie and Claire’s absence, Roger and Brianna must save the Ridge from an imminent threat.
Written by: Stephanie Shannon. Directed by: Meera Menon

"The Ballad of Roger Mac"
Sunday, March 29, 2020 @ 8pm ET/PT
The Regulator Rebellion reaches a boiling point, forcing Jamie to face his fear and confront the consequence of his divided loyalties. Brianna remembers some critical details pertaining to the Battle, forcing Roger to cross behind enemy lines where he finds himself in grave danger. Claire’s attempts to treat the wounded are threatened by the volatile Brown brothers.
Written by: Toni Graphia. Directed by: Stephen Woolfenden.

"Famous Last Words"
Sunday, April 12, 2020 @ 8pm ET/PT
The Frasers must come to terms with all that has changed in the aftermath of the Battle of Alamance Creek. An unexpected visitor arrives at the Ridge.
Written by: Danielle Berrow; Directed by: Stephen Woolfenden.

"Monsters and Heroes"
Sunday, April 19, 2020 @ 8pm ET/PT
When Jamie is bitten by a venomous snake, Claire fears she may not have the resources to save him. Jamie asks Roger to complete an important task in the event of his death.
Written by: Shaina Fewell Directed by: Annie Griffin

"Mercy Shall Follow Me"
Sunday, April 26, 2020 @ 8pm ET/PT
Jamie and Roger implement their plan to eliminate the threat looming over their family, but it goes awry when their prey proves more devious than expected. Brianna is forced to confront her greatest fear and fight for her and her son’s lives.
Written by: Megan Ferrell Burke; Directed by: Annie Griffin

"Journeycake"
Sunday, May 3, 2020 @ 8pm ET/PT
A revelation about Jemmy forces Roger and Brianna to choose between staying in the eighteenth century and returning to the safety of the future. Jamie finds that unrest in the backcountry has given rise to a new power – an organization led by the unpredictable Brown brothers. Claire finds that her attempts to make this time safer for her family have dire, unintended consequences.
Written by: Diana Gabaldon; Directed by: Jamie Payne

"Never My Love" (Season Finale)
Sunday, May 10, 2020 @ 8pm ET/PT
Claire struggles to survive brutal treatment from her captors, as Jamie gathers a group of loyal men to help him rescue his wife; Roger and Brianna's journey takes a surprising turn.
Written by: Matthew B. Roberts and Toni Graphia. Directed by: Jamie Payne.


 
 


Q&A Interviews with OUTLANDER Cast, Creator & Executive Producers

Catch up on Season 1-3 with our COMPLETE GUIDE TO OUTLANDER SEASON 1
and our COMPLETE GUIDE TO OUTLANDER SEASONS 2 & 3.


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