Mourning What Was Here Before

Spoiler alert: This post discusses the series finales of the Outlander TV show and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.Last week, the television adaptation of Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series concluded. Shortly after the finale aired, I had to go outside and stand in my front yard, letting the night air cool my face, and take some deep breaths. When my tears fell, though, it wasn’t really because of how moved I’d been by the conclusion of the story. It was that sudden realization that something was over, something that had been around when my dad was still alive.This wasn’t the first time the ending of a TV show has washed over me with a bigger grief. In fact, I wrote about this in 2023, after the finale of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. So I’m resharing that essay here, now that I’m on Substack. That show may be further in the rear view, but the sentiments remain the same… This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit katexmachina.substack.com/subscribe