Something may have felt or sounded vaguely familiar at the end of SundaysOutlanderepisode.
Written in the 30s, the piece has also been used at funerals for real-life dignitaries.
But its most recognizable use occurred in the 1986 war filmPlatoon,during Willem DaFoes iconic death scene.
Credit: Starz
TheOutlanderproducers didnt set out to use the well-worn composition for the end of Providence.
It was dropped in the first rough cut as a suggestion bydirector Mairzee Almasto serve as temporary music.
In most cases, temp music is replaced with a new or different composition.
But when the producers saw the scene, they knew Adagio for Strings had to stay.
We all just went,whoa, executive producer Toni Graphia tells EW.
I mean, we were sobbing.
We were just sobbing.
It was a perfect piece of music.
But this was one of those rare, rare times where we said, You know what?
This piece of music is just perfect for this scene.
We fell in love with it and we didnt want to let it go.
That doesnt mean they ignored the musics long legacy.
There were folks in the editing room who said, You know, this is fromPlatoon.
It was so long ago.
So we thought, Are people going to remember this?
Are they going to say, Oh yeah, thats thePlatoonmusic?
We ultimately had to say, some people may recognize it and some people may not.
We just decided were going to go for it because it felt really perfect to us.
Want to continue the discussion about the penultimate episode?
verify to turn into EW Radio at 1 p.m.
ET Monday for another edition ofOutlander Live!
Well be chatting with Graphia!
EW Radio can be found on Sirius XM 105.
Outlanderairs Sundays at 8 p.m.
