“Black” Jack Randall might have seemed like a supervillain to most Outlander fans, but he’ll be nothing compared to Season 4’s bad guy — Stephen Bonnet.
I’m sure that Outlander fans could not fathom a villain worse than “Black” Jack Randall, and if you haven’t read the books, you’ll be in for a nasty treat.
On that note, this article will contain spoilers so if you like the element surprise, stop reading now!
After the death of Randall during the Battle of Culloden, many were left to wonder what the conflict in the show might be now and in Season 4 we will get our answer as we will be introduced to a new character — Irish outlaw Stephen Bonnet (Ed Speleers). We will likely see Bonnet introduced in the first few episodes.
“It’s hard to top Black Jack but we have with Bonnet,” Sam Heughan (Jamie Fraser) said to The Hollywood Reporter last week.
"“Ed Speleers committed to this. People are going to hate him. He’s so charming, so you kind of like him, but you find out later down the line that he does some really terrible things. He’s a great new villain.”"
Executive producer Maril Davis told THR that Speleers does a perfect job of portraying the darkness of the character.
"“He’s such a nice guy in real life but this is really dark. He’s such a great baddie with charm yet danger and he’s adorable.”More from SpoilersDid Bree and Lord John Grey marry in Outlander?Outlander Season 7B: Will Diarmaid Murtagh return as Buck MacKenzie?Outlander Season 7B: Will Chris Fulton return as Rob Cameron?Will Dottie be in Outlander Season 7B?3 characters who definitely won’t return in Outlander Season 7B"
Randall did any number of horrible things (the rape of Jamie, the near-death lashings that left him scarred for life, the multiple attempted rapes of Claire and the rape of the Fergus when he was just a child to name just a few) but there’s something about Bonnet that is so much worse.
“Stephen Bonnet is a pure psychopath and a narcissist whose day-to-day is, ‘What’s going to pleasure me?'” Executive producer Matt B. Roberts said. Roberts went onto say how Bonnet is a chameleon. He’ll fit in with every single situation he’s thrown into, which makes him far different to Black Jack. With Randall, you knew what to expect. With Bonnet, you’ll constantly be kept on your toes.
Next: Outlander S4 spoilers: Is this Stephen Bonnet?
The true nature of Bonnet is much more covert than that of Randall, and that makes him even more dangerous. Bonnet will initially meet Claire and Jamie when he talks his way into being rescued (and doesn’t repay their generosity in kind). Though he may seem fleeting at first, he manages to reappear at the most inopportune times (like when Brianna is finding her way to her mother).
I promise you this — you’ll wish Jack Randall was still alive after you see what Bonnet does. This is a character you will hate with far more passion than anyone you’ve ever come to meet so far. Think of the way Ramsey Bolton overthrew Joffrey Baratheon on Game of Thrones for most hated character.
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