Why did Jocasta expect Roger’s response in Outlander?

In the Outlander Season 5 premiere, Roger gave Jocasta a dressing down. It was exactly what Jocasta wanted, but why could that be?

During the Outlander Season 5 premiere, fans cheered when Roger told Jocasta where to stick her money. Standing up for himself and his family, he made it clear that nobody needed anything from her. While some people would have been taken aback by his words in the 18th century, Jocasta and Ulysses just laughed after he walked away.

While it riled Roger, it was clear that Jocasta enjoyed the dressing down. It wasn’t in some masochistic way but because it was better than she expected. Why would she possibly have wanted Roger to react that way?

She’s a MacKenzie

Something to remember is that while Jocasta’s surname is Cameron, she is a MacKenzie by blood. She is the sister of Colum and Dougal MacKenzie, and you know how manipulative they could be. Do you really think Jocasta isn’t the same?

Of course she is! She was goading Roger into the argument. She wanted him to stake a claim on his family, make it clear that Jemmy is his son.

Roger walked straight into this little trap. While we’re proud of him for doing this, it’s clear that Jocasta wanted to push Roger in this moment. Had he not acted the way he did, Jocasta would suspect that Roger would leave Brianna and Jemmy when things got hard. And they would get hard. By him reacting this way, she knows where his heart lies.

Jocasta doesn’t know that Roger is from the future. She has no idea that Brianna and Claire are, either. All she knows is that Roger turned up months after Jamie and Claire returned from saving him. Naturally, she worried about his intentions for her great-niece and for her legacy left behind. She needed to make sure Roger wouldn’t divorce, take the money, and run. That was exactly what she got.

What did you think of the moment Roger told Jocasta where to stick her money? What were your favorite moments of the Outlander Season 5 premiere? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Outlander airs Sundays on STARZ.