Commentary: 'Outlander' finale marks the end of a great show and an unprecedented age of TV

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The final episode of the eight season Starz drama “Outlander” is upon us, and no matter what occurs — will the epic love story of Claire (Caitriona Balfe) and Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan) end with, as many fear, one or both of their deaths? — there will be tears.Not just for the loss of the show itself, which has been among Starz’s most popular series, but for a particular and powerful moment in entertainment history.In many ways, the finale of “Outlander” marks the end of an age.Ronald D.

Moore’s adaptation of Diana Gabaldon’s historical fantasy novels debuted in 2014, a time when the unexpected efflorescence of television still dominated the cultural conversation, feverishly followed in prestigious publications and nascent online platforms alike.With more than enough work to go around, broadcast and cable networks were bathed in green light and the introduction of original series on streaming services was considered an exciting novelty, rather than the first ominous drumbeats of industry-disrupting dominance.

Television Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe, co-stars of Starz’s historical romance fantasy series, spoke about filming the show’s last season, what the finale could entail and how fans might respond.Premiering alongside “Outlander” were a slew of equally ambitious and artistically innovative series — “True Detective,” “The Leftovers,” “Penny Dreadful,” “Fargo,” “Transparent,” “Jane the Virgin” and “How to Get Away With Murder,” to name just a few.They shouldered their way into a landscape already chockablock with critically acclaimed favorites including “Mad Men,” “Orange is the New Black,” “The Americans,” “Downton Abbey,” “Homeland,” “Sherlock,” “The Walking Dead,” “The Good Wife,” “Game of Thrones,” “Orphan Black” and “Girls.”Almost all have long since ended (anthology se...