Dreams really do come true, and fans of the historical fantasy drama series Outlander definitely know that. The series, which is based on Diana Gabaldon’s novel series of the same name, continues to wrap viewers up with Jamie’s (Sam Heughan) and Claire’s (Caitríona Balfe) insane love story and time-traveling adventures. Just like all good things come to an end, so does Outlander. In 2026, the series’ eighth and final season will be released on Starz, but the fandom received a major gift to ease the heartbreak.

Outlander‘s highly anticipated prequel, Outlander: Blood of My Blood, is currently airing weekly on Starz, and it makes the fact that the original series is ending at least a tiny bit easier to bear. Outlander: Blood of My Blood follows the lives and love stories of Brian Fraser (Jamie Roy) and Ellen MacKenzie (Harriet Slater), as well as Henry Beauchamp (Jeremy Irvine) and Julia Moriston (Hermione Corfield), and reveals that the ability to travel through time runs in Claire’s family. In a wonderful twist, it becomes clear that Jamie and Claire were connected even before they ever met, as their parents crossed paths in the early 1700s. Outlander: Blood of My Blood does many things right, but there is one major problem, and that’s the missing distinction between Jamie and Claire and their parents.

Jamie and Claire are Just Like Their Parents

Claire has striking similarities with her parents in various respects. The trailer for Outlander: Blood of My Blood had already created a tiny bit of confusion as a brief moment revealed a woman hiding in the shadows, and she was the spitting image of Claire. The casting is undoubtedly spot-on. While some initially thought that Caitríona Balfe might have a cameo as Claire in the must-watch prequel series, others quickly connected the dots and realized that Claire’s mother somehow traveled to the past. The physical similarities between the two are almost eerie, because the series is full of flashback moments where Claire’s face pops into mind. The short, dark hair, fairy-like stature, and elf-like facial features, light eyes, and soft, honey voice — Julia and Claire are the same in many ways.

Claire doesn’t just share physical attributes with her mother, but she also clearly inherited many striking traits from both her parents. Even though the original series had already revealed that Claire’s parents died in a car accident when she was barely a few years old (although there’s more to the story than she knows), the rather short time the young family spent together still significantly influenced Claire. While the Sassenach has Henry Beauchamp’s resilience and his ability to love deeply, Julia’s behavior in the Outlander sequel leaves no doubt whatsoever that she is connected to Claire. The young time traveler loves fiercely and cares deeply, is quick-witted, and has medical expertise. She doesn’t take well to opposition and prefers following her own ideas. It’s a description that perfectly matches Claire as well.

It even turned out that Jamie and his parents share many similarities. Brian’s strong facial features and height are strikingly similar to his son’s. They both stand out with their charismatic manners, their loyal behavior, and a caring, selfless, but also sometimes prudent attitude. Black Brian is basically Red Jamie (or vice versa). Even Ellen has many moments in Outlander: Blood of My Blood, which feels like Jamie is right there with her. Whether she stands up to her brothers or sneaks around and follows her heart, Jamie reflects some of his mother’s traits.

Their Similar Personalities Disturb the Prequel’s Flow

The casting is beyond perfect, but maybe it is a little too perfect… Clearly, Jamie and, particularly, Claire are a lot like their parents. Initially, it was fantastic because the connection between the two shows was palpable from the very first moment on. Yet, after a few episodes, the lines between the characters from the original series and the spinoff start to blur. It almost feels as though the new Outlander prequel is actually about Jamie and Claire again, just played by different actors. They look alike, they act alike, and they talk alike. Of course, children pick up their parents’ traits to some extent and perhaps show other similarities regarding behavior or appearance, but it’s hard to believe that all of these 20th Century characters would have such forward-thinking attitudes.

Since they are all eerily alike, the story of Brian and Ellen, and Henry and Julia, is threatened to get lost in the shadows of Jamie and Claire. It shouldn’t feel like watching different versions of the original characters. It is supposed to be a new story with some ties to the 8-season-long fantasy series. It isn’t even just the mannerisms and appearance that are strikingly similar, but also what they are going through. Both stories obviously started the same way — Claire and her mother accidentally traveled through the stones. Brian continues to help out Julia, which always feels just like when Jamie helped Claire when they first met, and Henry tries to find Julia in the same way Claire tried to find Jamie in the original series.

Maybe the Outlander sequel’s greatness and slightly overwhelming similarities can coexist. There is no denying that Outlander: Blood of My Blood is a spinoff masterpiece that anyone should watch, even if an occasional reminder is needed that these are indeed new characters and not new versions of Jamie and Claire.