Outlander Season 5: Will Gerald Forbes return to the story?

Outlander -- Courtesy of STARZ -- Acquired via STARZ Media Center
Outlander -- Courtesy of STARZ -- Acquired via STARZ Media Center

Billy Boyd had the chance to talk about Outlander Season 4 during NYCC 2019. It was also a chance to tease Season 5. Will Gerald Forbes return?

STARZ has been extremely secretive about Outlander Season 5. We haven’t even had any official casting notices, and it’s not been so easy to tell who will return for the story. After all, Cesar Domboy warned fans that the ending of the books may not be how the end of the season works out.

One character who does return in the books is Gerald Forbes (also referred to as Neil Forbes). You’ll remember him as the attorney who wanted to marry Brianna. He was played by Billy Boyd in the fourth season, and he had a chance to talk a little about the season during NYCC 2019.

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During his panel with Sean Astin, Boyd shared that he never knows just how much he’s allowed to say, according to SYFY Wire. STARZ (and the whole of the production team) wants to keep things as spoiler-free as possible. Despite book fans knowing the story, there’s so much that production wants to leave as a surprise, whether it’s costumes, changes to the story, or even just keeping elements the exact same.

So, because of that, Boyd would’t say much. However, he did hint that he’s in Season 5. That shouldn’t be all that surprising for fans of the novels, but it could be surprising for show-first fans.

Forbes doesn’t play a huge role in the fifth book. He shows up more in the sixth. Is it possible that some of the storylines from the sixth book are brought forward? Possibly, but just keeping him in the fifth season could be a way to ensure he’s around for the storyline in Season 6.

Either way, it sounds like production has kept Forbes’ story in. Things could get awkward for the Fraser/MacKenzie clan.

What do you hope to see in Outlander Season 5? Who would you like to see return? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Outlander Season 5 premieres on Feb. 16 on STARZ.