Outlander enthusiasts have once again expressed their sorrow over a heart-wrenching plot twist in the second part of season seven, reports the Scottish Daily Express.

The monumental seventh season was divided into two segments, each consisting of eight episodes, with the latter half marking a significant return to Scotland.

Several familiar faces made a comeback in the series, including Geillis Duncan (portrayed by Lotte Verbeek), Dougal MacKenzie (Graham McTavish), Joan MacKimmie (Layla Burns), Laoghaire MacKenzie (Nell Hudson), and Old Ian Murray (Steven Cree).

The official Outlander account recently honoured all the returning cast members from season seven by posting a collection of character photos.

The post read: “What a treat it was to see these characters again, bodily threats to Jamie Fraser and extreme heartbreak notwithstanding (Laoghaire, Ian, you know what you did). #Outlander.”

Fans of Outlander swiftly flocked to the comments section to collectively mourn the demise of Old Ian, who tragically passed away in the latest episode.

One viewer lamented: “Ian Murray breaks my heart EVERY SCENE! !”, with another agreeing: “yes I like him too [sic].”

Another fan commented: “I loved Ian’s role and wish he had a bigger part in the series.”

A third shared: “Ian Murray you will always be loved!”.

Ian breathed his last while clutching the hand of his close friend Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan), surrounded by his family in Lallybroch.

As Ian took his final breath, he was surrounded by loved ones, including Young Ian (John Bell) and Claire Fraser (Caitríona Balfe).

In addition to the reactions about Ian’s passing, fans also had mixed feelings about the new Jenny Fraser (Kristin Atherton), with some expressing their longing for original actress Laura Donnelly.

One fan said, “No hate to the new Jenny, she’s great! But I miss the old Jenny.”

Another noted, “It was great to see Geillis, Dougal, Laoghaire and Ian I just wish Laura Donnelly could have ended her role with this episode.”

Some fans questioned the reason behind the casting change, with one asking, “Why was Jamie’s sister played by a different actress and not Laura Donnelly?” Another fan provided an explanation, stating, “Laura was on Broadway at the time and schedules conflicted.”

Since her Outlander days, Donnelly has been in high demand, with notable roles in Sky’s Britannia, Tolkien, HBO’s The Nevers, The Heist Before Christmas, and Say Nothing.

According to IMDb, she’s also slated to star in the upcoming TV series Sugar, which suggests that her busy schedule made a return to Outlander impossible.

Outlander season 7 is available to buy now on Digital and is streaming on MGM+ via Prime Video now