Since we first met Captain Richardson, we knew that he was up to something. He seems to have revealed all to Claire in Outlander season 7, episode 11.
Caution: This post contains SPOILERS from Outlander season 7, episode 11
The new episode saw Claire and Lord John Grey marry. As much as neither of them wanted this, it was necessary if it meant Claire being protected from Captain Richardson.
Well, it turns out that Richardson wasn’t the one who wanted to arrest Claire in the first place. That came from elsewhere, and he shared with Claire that he told Lord John Grey knowing that John would do something to protect Claire. He just didn’t expect it to be marriage.
Why would Captain Richarson want to save Claire in Outlander season 7?
What’s Richardson’s deal? Why would he want to save Claire? Well, it turns out that he is a secret Rebel. He’s working as a spy for the Rebels within the British Army.
He wouldn’t be the first to do this. We know plenty of officers on both sides were turncoats, but there was one in particular who made a name for himself. It was all about Benedict Arnold, who we met during Outlander season 7A.
Now we meet someone on the other side. It’s not all that surprising when you consider something William found out. The letters that Richardson tasked William with sending were to known Rebels. Richardson pointed out that there were spies on both sides and hinted that these men were working for the British. Well, it looks like it was a lie to protect Richardson’s interests, and Richardson was actually giving information to the Rebels.
Can we really trust Richardson in Outlander?
Do we trust him, though? He’s told William one thing and he’s told Claire another. It’s clear that he is skilled at lying, but the question now is which person has he lied to.
Claire is willing to believe that he’s a Rebel. After all, he asked for Claire to spy on the Greys and report back to him. Claire isn’t willing to do that. She may be a Rebel, but she also isn’t going to go against Lord John Grey. He’s a friend—and now he’s her husband. Well, sort of considering the way the episode ended.
Richardson is clearly up to something bigger. Those who have read the books will know what’s to come for Richardson—as long as the show follows that storyline. The show hasn’t really given any hints yet, but Richardson has his own agenda, and he will force it to happen if he needs to.
Outlander airs on Fridays on STARZ.
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