The Outlander Season 4 promo dropped last week and we finally got our first look at three of the new characters. Just what are first impressions of Aunt Jocasta, Stephen Bonnet, and Ulysses?
The Outlander Season 4 promo did more than just tease storylines for November. It also gave us official first looks at some of the new characters. Three of those characters stood out, although we only really got a first impression of two. We got to see Aunt Jocasta, Stephen Bonnet, and Ulysses.
All three were the first casting announcements (baring Rollo) to be confirmed for the fourth season. It’s not surprising with that in mind that they’re the first we get glimpses of on the show. So, what are these first impressions? Are they positive for November?
Ulysses: Jocasta’s presumed slave
I’ll start with the one we get very little from in the promo. Ulysses will be played by Colin McFarlane and we only get a glimpse of him in the Outlander Season 4 promo. He’s stood just behind Jocasta Cameron at the North Carolina plantation called River Run.
However, the fact that he is there to greet Claire and Jamie is important. He is more than just any other slave. In fact, there’s a whole backstory to this perception. Ulysses has an important part in the household and Jocasta wants to make that clear to her visiting family.
Yet it’s important to remember that he is a few steps behind Jocasta. She is the head of the household and fully in charge.
Jocasta Cameron: Jamie’s MacKenzie aunt
Jocasta is the one I’ve been looking forward to the most, but that’s because I adore Maria Doyle Kennedy. I first got to see her portray Catherine of Aragon in The Tudors and I’ve been a fan since.
But there are more reasons I’m looking forward to Jocasta Cameron as I learned more about her. She’s Jamie’s aunt from his mother’s side of the family. That makes her a MacKenzie, and boy is she a MacKenzie. In the novels, she is partially sighted but that doesn’t stop her planning and constantly being one step ahead of the game.
More from Opinion
- Droughtlander suggestions: Check out Silo on Apple TV+
- Outlander season 7 episode 8 review: The Frasers are back in Scotland!
- Outlander Season 7 episode 7 review: Does Jamie die in Outlander?
- Outlander Season 7 episode 6 review: Claire meets William (again)!
- Outlander Season 7 episode 5 review: Does Young Ian have a son?
It’s not clear if the show is sticking with the idea of her being partially sighted based on the Outlander Season 4 promo. That could cause a few issues but nothing too major. She does welcome Jamie and Claire and it doesn’t initially look like there’s any ulterior motive. This is her nephew after all and she can help bridge the gap between Scotland and North Caroline.
We do et to hear her speak and it’s hard to miss her native Irish accent coming through. The show could easily get around explaining that, considering there would have been Scottish and Irish people emigrating. It’s been decades since she emigrated herself, so her accent could have easily adapted with others around.
Stephen Bonnet: The dastardly pirate
Finally, we get our first look at Stephen Bonnet in the Outlander Season 4 promo. In fact, there are a couple of glimpses, but the important one is in the forests. And I’ll admit that I find his accent convincing from the lines we heard (although I’m not from Ireland or Northern Ireland, I’ve heard the accent plenty–and heard extremely bad ones).
Bonnet has been described as being worse than Black Jack Randall. It’s hard to imagine someone worse than him until you see him in the promo. After all, he’s offering the Frasers a warning of thieves in the woods at night. He’s directly speaking about himself, but you wouldn’t guess with the way he’s dressed and the look of fear on his face.
This is a chameleon. He doesn’t care who he hurts, but he is able to make himself suit whatever situation he’s in. If he needs people to like him to get his own way, he’ll do it with ease. That’s the exact feeling you’ll get from the promo.
What you also get is the fact that he’s a survivor. This is a guy who has clearly come from the hanging–he’s the one who is meant to be hanged but escapes during it. When opportunity knocks he’ll take it and do what needs to be done to keep his head above water.
I get the feeling that Bonnet is going to be one of those characters you just hate to love. There will be times you want to like him and then remember who he is. Ed Speleers has already played a well-developed character in Downton Abbey and has proven he’s more than capable, so this is going to be fun.
What did you get from the first impressions of characters in the Outlander Season 4 promo? Who are you excited to meet and why? Share in the comments below.
Outlander Season 4 premieres in November. Follow Claire and Jamie on Twitter for more updates straight to your feed.