"Outlander" fans are almost halfway through Season 8, the final season of the beloved Starz show featuring our favorite time-traveler, Claire, and her husband, Scottish hunk Jamie Fraser. They're smack in the middle of the American Revolutionary War, and fans are wondering if Jamie will die in battle or the couple will somehow live on into eternity. (Even Sam Heughan, the actor who plays Jamie, isn't sure if his character dies or not.)

"Outlander" first aired on Starz in 2014 − the show has boasted more episodes and spanned more years than HBO's "Game of Thrones." I've seen all of the seasons, of course, and even traversed the Scottish Highlands since the show began. (Inverness is as lovely as you might expect.)

I'm sorry to confess I've not read Diana Gabaldon's "Outlander" series on which the show is based, so I'm excited to see what happens to my favorite fictional couple. Since it's been running so long, I've had a lot of time to think about what's made the show so popular that it's landed among top-rated shows like "Bridgerton."

Though set in the 18th century, "Outlander" showcases Claire as a modern, independent female heroine. I see a lot of myself in her, and I bet a lot of other women do, too. But I think deep down, women love "Outlander" because even strong, independent women are drawn to Jamie........

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