Outlander fan call out 'frustrating' part of series that drove them to stop watching

Outlander aficionados have been captivated by the saga of Claire (played by Caitriona Balfe) and Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan), which has spanned a decade.

With the second part of season seven set to air later this month, the series alongside Diana Gabaldon's source novels has attracted an even larger following as new fans discover the story.

Yet not all viewers are wrapped up in the romance and temporal escapades that hallmark the Starz hit show.

Discontent has emerged among the community, particularly regarding a heart-wrenching plot development: Claire's departure from Jamie, driven by her belief he perished in the Battle of Culloden.

One disillusioned fan voiced their displeasure on Reddit, lamenting, "This bothered me so much I stopped in season 3 (first two are still masterful though)."

This viewer proffered an alternative to the couple's prolonged estrangement, suggesting a clear sign from Jamie would have notified Claire of his survival post-Jacobite rebellion.

They elaborated in the online forum, positing, "I don't think there is any good reason Jaime couldn't have carved some kind of edifice that Claire would have seen in the future to let her know he is alive," and imagining, "I mean, he could have put a large, difficult to remove stone RIGHT there in the henge that said 'Claire, I survived the battle, come back to me'.

"She would have seen it the second she left", reports .

Many supporters have come forward with logical arguments in favour of the contentious plot point, with one perceptive fan suggesting that Claire and Jamie were clueless about the mechanics of time travel back then.

"She is pregnant. Her and child's safety are essential to both of them - Jamie and Claire," they contended.

"They know hard times are ahead in Scotland. Jamie wouldn't want them living through them. Claire was a wife of a traitor, she would need to hide as well. Pregnant, in a cave?

"Or giving birth to a child and going back, leaving baby behind? Claire had NO reasons to believe Jamie survived. He went to die there, so she didn't go poking around, investigating. He went to die.

"It is not so simple and easy, nor is going through the stones like [an] elevator ride."

Additionally, Jamie's existence in 18th-century Scotland was anything but tranquil after his capture by the redcoats and subsequent imprisonment, making it considerably safer for his time-travelling spouse to stay put in the 1940s.

"[In the books] Jamie explains to her how he was in hiding for years and then in jail," another enthusiast elucidated.

"Claire and Bree would have both been in danger. He was much happier to have them both safe in their time."

Despite the heartache caused by Claire and Jamie's two-decade separation, ardent Outlander viewers evidently believe that enduring this challenging period is worthwhile for the eventual reunion.

Outlander season seven part two premieres on Friday, November 22, on MGM+ via Prime Video in the UK and on Starz in the US.