Good news, Outlander fans: The countdown to the end of Droughtlander begins! Starz has announced today that production on Outlander Season 5 has begun in Scotland (standing in for North Carolina). The new seasons will consist of 12 episodes, and will be based on material from The Fiery Cross, the fifth of eight books in Diana Gabaldon’s best-selling series.

Now, I'm always excited for more Outlander, even though I felt like Season 4 was a little bit all over the place. There is a coziness to the series that augments the natural chemistry between its outstanding leads Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe. Seeing this image of Claire and Jamie together makes me excited to see where their adventures take them next, because for me (especially in this last season), the two of them working as a team is when the show is at its best.

EP Matthew B. Roberts said in a press release regarding the transition into the new season:

“In Season Four, Jamie and Claire’s decision to remain in the New World changes the course of their life together. After being struck by the beauty of the North Carolina wilderness – untamed and uncultivated – they choose to call it home: Fraser’s Ridge. However, what is a ‘dream’ for some is a ‘nightmare’ for others. Being at the center of the birth of America is often a bloody and violent and heartbreaking matter. Now, in Season Five, Jamie and Claire’s duty is not only to their loved ones, but to the community of settlers forming part of the ever-increasing Clan Fraser.”

And here is the official synopsis for Season 5:

The Frasers of the Ridge are here! The fifth season of “Outlander” sees a continuation of the Fraser family’s adventures, as they navigate the trials and tribulations of life in colonial America. Establishing a home in the New World is by no means an easy task – and protecting it proves even more difficult – particularly in the wild backcountry of North Carolina, during a period of dramatic socio-political upheaval. As Claire knows all too well, friends, neighbors and countrymen are unwittingly marching towards Revolution, with members of the elite ruling classes struggling to stifle the alarming undercurrent of unrest triggered by the Regulator Movement. Against this backdrop, which soon heralds the birth of the new American nation, Claire and Jamie are forced to ask themselves just how far they are willing to go to protect their home, and praying there will be no reason to light the “fiery cross,” an ancient Scottish call to arms.

If you need to catch up a few more times before the new season, the Outlander Season 4 Blu-ray and DVD land on May 28th, with digital available May 27th. The set will include:

Limited Collector’s Edition, Blu-ray & DVD Special Features Include:

• Four “Outlander Untold” Additional Scenes
• Gag Reel
• Featurettes
  • “Here in the New World”
  • “Nothing is Lost: A Look Back”
  • “Training Rollo”

Limited Collector’s Edition & Blu-ray Exclusive Features Include:

• 9 Deleted and Extended Scenes with Introductions by Executive Producer Ronald D. Moore
• Additional Featurettes
  • “Outlander Untold: Through The Stones”
  • “People of Worth: The Frasers”

• Writer & Producer Commentaries on every episode and “Outlander Untold” Scene

You can also enter to win a sweepstakes to fly to Scotland here.