Season 8 - Aber-T

On March 29, 2017, ABC renewed Aber-T for a eighth season. Later, on May 17, 2017, series creator Shonda Rhimes confirmed that the eighth season would premiere in September 2017. Source 1 Source 2

On March 30, 2017, ABC confirmed that Adam Hicks, Jeremy Allen White, Evanna Lynch and Thomas McDonell had renewed their contracts and so would all return as series regulars for the show's eighth season. Later, on April 17, 2017, it was announced that Christine Evangelista and Olympia Valance who portray Molly Goode and Cerys James respectively, had been promoted to series regulars for the eighth season.

This will be the first season in the history of the series not to feature AnnaSophia Robb as Jessica Hathaway, this comes following Jessica's departure at the end of the previous season.

On November 6, 2017, ABC announced that Steven Krueger would be introduced as a series regular for the season and would first appear in the sixth episode of the season. He was cast in the Role of Bennett Tilson, someone who shares a mysterious history with Lewis.

On March 14, 2018, ABC announced that Lindsay Pearce, Sam Strike and Thomas McDonell had not had their contracts renewed and would all depart the series following the conclusion of the eighth season. ABC stated that the reason behind the decision was owing to the fact that the writers felt as though the characters had run their course.

On April 7, 2018, ABC confirmed that Evanna Lynch would also be departing the series to star in her own spin-off. It was also confirmed that the seventeenth episode of the season, "Dreaming in Metaphors", would back as a back-door pilot for the series and would introduce several characters that would go on to appear in the new series. On April 24, 2018, Christine Evangelista confirmed that she would be leaving the series at the conclusion of the season.

On April 20, 2018, ABC officially renewed Aber-T for a ninth season.

Summary
All eyes are on Lewis (Adam Hicks) and Christian (Thomas McDonell), as the group begins their Junior at Brown University and the two reveal the most recent development in their rekindled romance. Although attention quickly turns to Emily (Evanna Lynch) as Joe McNamara (Alex Wolff) makes a shock return to Providence and his reasons for returning are not immediately revealed. Joe's return also puts strain on Emily's relationship with Ed (Daniel Sharman) and she is forced to revisit her past relationship with him.

Ellie (Naomi Scott) desperately tries to mend her relationships with her closest friends, however things are not as easy as she would like them to be. Owen (Luke Benward) and Robyn (Hayley Kiyoko) begin to enjoy married life and learn how much of a commitment marriage really is. Cerys (Olympia Valance) and Mollie (Christine Evangelista) face new problems in their relationship as Donna (Dina Meyer) continues to interfere and plants ideas in Mollie's mind. Connor (Jeremy Allen White) is also left looking rather gloomy at the beginning of the year as his girlfriend's singing career takes her further away from him than he would like, although he tires his best to remain supportive in her absence.

New faces Mike "Buddy" Holley (John C. McGinley) and Sandra Taylor (Roseanne Barr) are also introduced and spice things up around the University and make lectures and classes more than interesting for the gang. Claudia Baxter (Raini Rodriguez) also returns this year meaning that attending classes won't be as simple as plain sailing. Old faces Julia Priddy (Sprague Grayden), Georgia Edwards (Holland Roden) and Rhys Meadows (Cameron Deane Stewart) all return from last season, meaning that life is more than interesting for Lewis.

Main Plot Points

 * Lewis will try to negotiate his way through the fallout of his affair with Christian after he refuses Christian's proposal and states that they are not meant to be anything more than friends.
 * Joe McNamara makes a surprise return to Providence, which shocks some and excites others.
 * Robyn and Owen will begin to enjoy married life
 * Cerys and Mollie will have to face new challenges in their relationship with Cerys' mom looming over them and an unexpected visit from Tara.
 * Emma and Billy will continue to develop a close bond after identifying themselves as outcasts from the Lincoln Memorial Alumni.
 * Ellie will attempt to mend her relationships with her close friends following her collapse into alcoholism and will have a new love interest later in the season.
 * Connor will have to walk alone for the first few episodes of the season as Mia's career takes her elsewhere outside of Providence.
 * Bennett Tilson arrives in Providence and immediately appears to already have a deep connection with Lewis.

Main Cast

 * Adam Hicks as Lewis Springfield (24 episodes)
 * Luke Benward as Owen Bailey (23 episodes) (episodes 1-12, 14-24)
 * Lindsay Pearce as Emma Wilson (21 episodes) (episodes 1-7, 9-12, 14-16, 18-24)
 * Jeremy Allen White as Connor Lloyd (23 episodes) (episodes 1-12, 14-24)
 * Evanna Lynch as Emily Hucker (22 episodes) (episodes 1-9, 11-12, 14-24)
 * Sam Strike as Billy Thomas (19 episodes) (episodes 1-7, 9-12, 15-16, 18-20, 22-24)
 * Naomi Scott as Eleanor "Ellie" John (22 episodes) (episodes 1-7, 9-12, 14-24)
 * Hayley Kiyoko as Robyn Baskerville (22 episodes) (episodes 1-2, 4-12, 14-24)
 * Christine Evangelista as Molly Goode (23 episodes) (episodes 1-12, 14-24)
 * Olympia Valance as Cerys James (22 episodes) (episodes 1-12, 14-16, 18-24)
 * Steven Krueger as Bennett Tilson (24 episodes)
 * Alex Wolff as Joseph "Joe" McNamara (23 episodes) (episodes 1-12, 14-24)
 * Thomas McDonell as Christian Baskerville (20 episodes) (episodes 1-12, 17-24)

Special Guest Stars

 * Christine Baranski as Dawn Bradley (7 episodes) (episodes 1-2, 5, 10, 12, 18, 23-24)
 * Vanessa Hudgens as Mia Coleman-Jackson (4 episodes) (episodes 9, 11, 23-24)
 * Margo Martindale as Susan Springfield (2 episodes) (episodes 8 and 20)
 * Rebel Wilson as Connie Spence (2 episodes) (episodes 22 and 24)
 * Roseanne Barr as Sandra Taylor (1 episode) (episode 1)
 * Jamie Campbell Bower as Jamie Fisher (1 episode) (episode 9)
 * Lisa Kudrow as Helen Springfield (1 episode) (episode 20)
 * Josh Duhamel as Daniel Springfield (1 episode) (episode 20)
 * Forest Whitaker as Johnathan Sexton (1 episode) (episode 22)

Recurring Cast

 * Sprague Grayden as Julia Priddy (16 episodes) (episodes 1-4, 6-8, 10, 12, 14, 16-20, 24)
 * John C. McGinley as Mike "Buddy" Holley (13 episodes) (episodes 2-3, 5-6, 8-9, 12, 14, 18, 20-22, 24)
 * Raini Rodriguez as Claudia Baxter (12 episodes) (episodes 1-3, 6-8, 10, 17, 19, 22-24)
 * Daniel Sharman as Ed Matthews (8 episodes) (episodes 1, 4, 9, 11-12, 17, 23-24)
 * Cameron Deane Stewart as Rhys Meadows (7 episodes) (episodes 2-3, 5, 9, 15, 17, 20)
 * Holland Roden as Georgia Edwards (5 episodes) (episodes 1-2, 6, 8, 18)
 * Seychelle Gabriel as Rosie McHenry (5 episode) (episodes 11, 14-15, 23-24)
 * Carter Jenkins as Grant McDonald (5 episode) (episodes 16, 18-19, 21-22)
 * Ben McKenzie as Steward Jarvis (5 episodes) (episodes 16-17, 19, 21, 23)
 * Kathryn Prescott as Tara Montgomery (4 episodes) (episodes 5-7, 12)
 * Nolan Gerard Funk as Joseph "Joe" Tibbs (3 episodes) (episodes 1, 3-4)
 * Jesse Plemons as Cellan Loyal (4 episodes) (episodes 4, 10, 15, 19)
 * Colton Haynes as Samuel Britton (3 episodes) (episodes 1-3)
 * Dina Meyer as Donna James (3 episodes) (episodes 7, 10, 20)
 * Beau Mirchoff as Joshua "Josh" Prosser (2 episodes) (episodes 4 and 11)
 * Minnie Driver as Hannah Cadman (2 episodes) (episodes 18 and 23)
 * Shay Mitchell as Rachel Mansfield (2 episodes) (episodes 20 and 21)
 * Keiynan Lonsdale as Herbert "Herbie" Morgan (2 episodes) (episodes 23-24)

Guest Stars

 * Jackie Hoffman as Andrea Hosenstein (2 episodes) (episodes 5 and 7)
 * Bronson Pinchot as Walter Goode (2 episodes) (episodes 14-15)
 * Reid Ewing as Jake Hurley (1 episode) (episode 2)
 * Mary Elizabeth Ellis as Leigh Springfield (1 episode) (episode 3)
 * Hayden Christensen as Shannen Holland (1 episode) (episode 4)
 * Bradley James as Corey Marshall (1 episode) (episode 6)
 * Jennifer Grey as Juliana John (1 episode) (episode 11)
 * Israel Broussard as Jaden James (1 episode) (episode 16)
 * Jayne Houdyshell as Clarie Tilson (1 episode) (episode 22)

Backdoor Pilot Guest Stars

 * Kelsey Chow as Sophie Walker (1 episode) (episode 17) (special guest star)
 * Meegan Warner as Deanna Meyrick (1 episode) (episode 17) (special guest star)
 * Jacob Anderson as Jacob Alberto (1 episode) (episode 17) (special guest star)
 * Jack Lowden as Ryan Duggins (1 episode) (episode 17) (special guest star)
 * Ariel Kaplan as Eleri Rees (1 episode) (episode 17) (special guest star)
 * Thomas Brodie-Sangster as Ciaran Roberts (1 episode) (episode 17) (special guest star)
 * Addison Timlin as Alexandra Driscoll (1 episode) (episode 17) (special guest star)

Lineup Changes

 * AnnaSophia Robb is no longer billed as "starring". 
 * Amber Riley is no longer billed as "starring". 
 * Miles Heizer is no longer billed as "starring". 
 * Christine Evangelista is now billed as "starring". 
 * Olympia Valance is now billed as "starring". 
 * Alex Wolff is once again billed as "starring". 
 * Steven Krueger is billed as "starring", beginning with "Tomorrow Never Knows". 

Episodes

 * 8x01 - "Hallelujah" - (Leonard Cohen) - September 21, 2017
 * 8x02 - "For The Longest Time" - (Billy Joel) - September 28, 2017
 * 8x03 - "Landslide" - (Stevie Nicks) - October 5, 2017
 * 8x04 - "Old Friends" - (Jasmine Thompson) - October 12, 2017
 * 8x05 - "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" - (Tears For Fears) - October 19, 2017
 * 8x06 - "Tomorrow Never Knows" - (The Beatles) - October 26, 2017
 * 8x07 - "La Vie En Rose" - (Daniela Andrade) - November 2, 2017
 * 8x08 - "Come What May" - (Moulin Rouge) - November 9, 2017
 * 8x09 - "How You Remind Me" - (Nickelback) - November 16, 2017
 * 8x10 - "Caught By The Wind" - (Stereophonics) - November 23, 2017
 * 8x11 - "Too Much To Ask" - (Niall Horan) - November 30, 2017
 * 8x12 - "Hometown Glory" - (Adele) - January 18, 2018
 * 8x13 - "Beautiful Trauma" - (P!nk) - January 25, 2018
 * 8x14 - "Good Golly Miss Molly" - (Little Richard) - February 8, 2018
 * 8x15 - "Block Rockin' Beats" - (The Chemical Brothers) - February 15, 2018
 * 8x16 - "A Groovy Kind Of Love" - (Phil Collins) - February 22, 2018
 * 8x17 - "Dreaming in Metaphors" - (Seal) - March 1, 2018
 * 8x18 - "Dancing" - (Kylie Minogue) - March 22, 2018
 * 8x19 - "I Miss You" - (Clean Bandit) - March 29, 2018
 * 8x20 - "No Excuses" - (Meghan Trainor) - April 19, 2018
 * 8x21 - "Hold On, We're Going Home" - (Drake) - April 26, 2018
 * 8x22 - "Shut Up And Drive" - (Rihanna) - May 3, 2018
 * 8x23 - "Don't Wake Me Up" - (Chris Brown) - May 10, 2018
 * 8x24 - "Some Kind of Miracle" - (Kelly Clarkson) - May 17, 2018

Triva

 * Providence Guidance was renewed for an eighth season on March 29, 2017.
 * On March 30, 2017, ABC confirmed that Adam Hicks, Jeremy Allen White, Evanna Lynch and Thomas McDonell had renewed their contracts and so would all return as series regulars for the show's eighth season.
 * On April 17, 2017, it was announced that Christine Evangelista and Olympia Valance who portray Molly Goode and Cerys James respectively, had been promoted to series regulars for the eighth season.
 * On May 30, 2017, ABC announced that Alex Wolff who portrays Joe McNamara would return as a series regular for the eighth season. The announcement came following Wolff's unannounced guest appearance at the end of the season seven finale.
 * On August 30, 2017, ABC announced that Colton Haynes would appear in the season premiere, although the specifics of his role were not confirmed.
 * On October 6, 2017, ABC announced that Steven Krueger would be introduced as a series regular for season and would first appear in the sixth episode of the season. His introduction comes following Lewis' decision that he is ready to love again after finally make peace with Jamie's death. Shonda Rhimes has stated that he will be a great love in Lewis' life.
 * On April 24, 2018, Christine Evangelista announced that she would be leaving the series at the conclusion of the season.

Spoilers

 * Lewis and Christian's resumed relationship will end in the season premiere.
 * Tara Montgomery will return to cause trouble for Cerys and Molly. Her return will bring Cerys' past to everyone's attention.
 * Margo Martindale will appear as Susan Springfield in the eighth episode of the season.
 * Jamie Fisher will feature in this season in some capacity, most likely in a flashback episode with Lewis' looking back at his life and what could have been.
 * Lewis and Bennett's close relationship will continue into future seasons if the show continues.