#TT: A spotlight on Murtagh’s transformation throughout Outlander

Murtagh has returned in Outlander Season 4. Now a Regulator, he’s changed considerably over the years. For #TransformationTuesday, here’s a spotlight on that change and what it could mean for the future.

In Outlander Season 4, Episode 5, we got one of the reunions we’d been waiting for. A major change from the books, Murtagh returned and it turns out that he’s a Regulator. This transformation over the years is something to touch on for #TransformationTuesday, especially as we consider the effects this change has on the storyline.

So far, Murtagh has only been in two episodes, but we can already see the start of a fraction between Murtagh and Jamie. The two are on different sides of a war right now, although Jamie is more caught in the middle.

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Transformation from the books

let’s just start with Murtagh’s transformation from the books. By Season 2, it was clear that he needed to be saved from his Culloden fate. The show had managed to develop Murtagh more than Diana Gabaldon had, giving him a deeper connection with both Jamie and Claire.

He wasn’t just someone who popped up now and then with a useful part for passing messages or supporting a cause. Murtagh was crucial in helping to protect and make sure plans went smoothly. He also had that character-developing moment in Paris and later in Scotland, as they were attacked and he finally got the revenge.

Now we’ve got a storyline that is most definitely not part of the books and there’s a world of potential. It’s impossible to know where this storyline will go and that’s something that makes it fun.

Development up to Culloden

At first, it looked like Murtagh’s character would be the same as the novels. Then he became the one to share more about Jamie to Claire. He was the one to translate the Gaelic for her and explain the danger of Jamie giving his oath at the Gathering.

Later on, he took a major role in the search for Jamie after the Watch had taken him and he’d been arrested. Whether you love the episode “The Search” or not, it was an important one to develop that bond between Murtagh and Claire. It helped to strength a relationship that would be necessary for Paris.

Before Culloden, Murtagh became only the second person to find out the truth about Claire’s time-traveling ability. He didn’t question too much, accepting that Jamie and Claire had told him the truth. All he needed to do was work out how many years she’d lived through to get his head around the fact that she was from 200 years in the future.

Of course, the biggest transformation was what happened at Culloden. Rather than die on the battlefield, he survived. We’d catch up with him in Outlander Season 3 at Ardsmuir Prison. For a short minute, it looked like he was going to be saved just to be killed again. That wasn’t the case, though.

Murtagh was shipped off to the Colonies as an indentured servant and that’s where we find him now. He’s now a free man with a secret.

Taking on the role of a Regulator

Due to his second master, Murtagh had gained a trade. That puts him in a good position in Wilmington, but there’s still the rebellious spirit within him. Disenfranchised due to the British taxes, Murtagh has taken on the role of Regulator. While he says there are no leaders, he is a leader of sorts.

He’s been through uprisings before. Knowing what works and what doesn’t, he’s the one with the experience to hopefully make their petitions a success.

This is where the transformation is exciting. After years of being loyal to Claire and Jamie, he’s now on the opposite side of a war. He’ll do what he believes is right, but will still have some loyalty to his godson. This loyalty will certainly be tested on both sides, but I don’t think Murtagh will stop his fight against the taxes.

It’s certainly going to be interesting to see how Murtagh’s role in Outlander plays out in the future. This is just the start and we’ll soon see the Revolutionary War in North Carolina. If you don’t know much about the history of how America was born, stay tuned because it’s going to be an interesting history lesson with Murtagh being part of the tale.

What have you loved about Murtagh’s transformation throughout the series? Where do you think his storyline will go? What do you want to see? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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