What we know about Stephen Bonnet in Outlander [Spoilers]

Want to get ahead before the other show-first Outlander fans? As a book-first fan do you need a reminder of the pirate Stephen Bonnet?

There are spoilers in this article! If you don’t want to know about “Drums of Autumn,” don’t read.

Outlander Season 4 will see pirate Stephen Bonnet start his long back-and-forth with Jamie and Claire Fraser. The pirate now has a face, in the form of Wolf Hall and Downton Abbey actor Ed Speleers. However, just how much do you know about him?

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The character appears for the first time in “Drums of Autumn.” After that, he becomes one of the most hated characters in the whole series. He is a pirate and not one of the romanticized Colonial pirates like Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Swallow. This is a man who has made a career out of stealing, plundering and raping.

For those who want to know more about the character before Outlander Season 4 airs, this is your chance. The spoilers are only for “Drums of Autumn.”

He was supposed to be hanged

The Irish pirate is first seen at his hanging. This takes place in 1767 at the same time as one of Jamie’s old Ardsmuir buddies, Gavin Hayes. It’s unknown whether Hayes will be hanged during Season 4, but there have been photos released of Sam Heughan as Jamie at a gravesite.

This gravesite is important. Bonnet is able to escape his hanging and goes into hiding. He reveals himself to Jamie for help. Despite Jamie knowing Bonnet isn’t a good man (otherwise why would he have been hanged?) Jamie helps Bonnet escape.

He knows about the gems

Because of Jamie’s help, Bonnet learns about the valuable gems. So, as a pirate, what does he do? He later jumps onto Claire and Jamie’s ship and takes the gems and Claire’s wedding ring from Frank. The only reason he doesn’t murder or hurt anyone physically is because Jamie once saved him. Yes, Jamie certainly regrets his decisions, but it’s only going to get worse.

The good news is some of the gems and the wedding ring end up back in the Fraser’s control. But it’s not good how that happens.

He rapes Brianna

As if there hasn’t been enough rape already in Outlander, right? Well, it’s about to happen again. Honestly, what more do you expect from Bonnet. Brianna becomes his victim, which yes means that Brianna is going to end up in the 1760s.

This rape causes problems. For one, when Brianna ends up pregnant, she’s not sure who the father is. For another, Jamie learns the truth but believes her rapist to be the wrong man. Oops!

He’s loosely based on a real person

Diana Gabaldon has certainly done plenty of research for her Outlander novels. It’s not surprising that she’s done research into pirates. In 1688, a man called Stede Bonnet was born. Despite being raised with money, Stede turned pirate possibly because he was a Jacobite and wanted to hurt King George. He wasn’t the most popular pirate captain, but he did pretty well for himself. Stede initially had a good relationship with the famous pirate Blackbeard, but it didn’t last; considering the pirate Blackbeard was, that shouldn’t be surprising.

Stede managed to arrange a pardon and was allowed to privateer. However, Stede went back to his pirating ways. Just years later, he was hanged for his actions.

Next: 4 things we know about Ulysses in Outlander Season 4

Are you excited to see Stephen Bonnet join Outlander? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Outlander Season 4 premieres sometime in 2018. Like Claire and Jamie on Facebook for more updates on new actors and more.