WARNING: This article contains major spoilers from Outlander season 8, episode 7

Season eight of Outlander is drawing close to its conclusion with just three episodes remaining before the beloved series comes to a permanent close, reports the Daily Record.

The show is based upon Diana Gabaldon's ninth novel in the Outlander book series, Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone, though the eighth season has been departing significantly from the source material as it approaches its finale.

This week's instalment delivered a substantial plot twist that has left many fans outraged.

Episode seven, titled Evidence of Things Not Seen, saw Jamie (played by Sam Heughan) and Claire Fraser (Caitríona Balfe) searching for further answers regarding their stillborn daughter Faith Fraser, resulting in yet more heartache.

It was revealed that Faith had been taken by Master Raymond (Dominique Pinon) and entrusted to a woman in Paris to raise - situated just across the road from his apothecary, though he had kept this from Claire.

As established earlier in season eight, Faith was murdered while voyaging to the New World. This week it came to light that she was aboard that vessel because she was journeying to be reunited with her parents.

Meanwhile, further tragedy struck the Philadelphia printshop belonging to Fergus Fraser (César Domboy) when a devastating fire erupted and the family desperately fled the blaze.

Although Marsali Fraser (Lauren Lyle) and Fergus managed to successfully evacuate all their children to safety, he ultimately lost his life. Scores of viewers took to Reddit to vent their anger over the contentious decision to kill off beloved fan-favourite Fergus.

One person posted: "I'm...shocked...disappointed...devastated.

"First of all WHY!?! Fergus was the most loyal person to this family. He just accepted Jaimie and Claire and has been along for the ride since. He deserved SO MUCH MORE. Not just with this BS episode but in the show in general. I'm so angry!! [sic]."

A second viewer wrote: "I feel like this all took away from what the episode should be about, the loss of Fergus. I can't even focus on him because I'm so frustrated with the writers!"

A third person commented: "I've already complained about Fergus' ridiculous death - emotionless, unnecessary, and rushed - and now I have to complain about something else: this Faith storyline is straight-up soap opera garbage."

Yet another Redditor commented: "What bothered me the most was the completely lazy, emotionless, and rushed way they handled Fergus's death - a death that didn't need to happen in the first place."

Someone else added: "Well.. a big F you to the writers of this episode.. how dare they do that to the most loyal, loving, kind, person in the entire series! [sic]."

Amid the outrage, others took to Instagram to heap praise on actor Domboy for his portrayal, following the star's earlier posting of behind-the-scenes photographs on his account.

One person posted: "Still bawling from episode 7. I won't ruin it but here's to Fergus!!!" A second viewer wrote: "bawling. I don't know what to do with myself right now [sic]."

His death marks a significant departure from the novels, which sees Fergus and Marsali's four year old son Henri-Christian Fraser (Benjamin Moss) tragically plunging to his death while attempting to flee the fire.

This is merely one of numerous differences between the television series and its source material, with Faith's storyline also altered so that she survived rather than dying only to face further heartbreak.

The eighth season of Outlander has provoked a divided response thus far, with the Faith plotline drawing considerable criticism from fans owing to its deeply distressing nature.

Gabaldon is currently working on her 10th and final novel in the series, titled A Blessing For A Warrior Going Out, meaning the television adaptation and the books will ultimately conclude in entirely different ways.

Outlander season 8 airs on Starz in the USA on Fridays and on MGM+ via Prime Video in the UK on Saturdays