Kristin Atherton shines as the new Jenny Murray in Outlander season 7

Outlander had no choice but to recast Jenny Murray in season 7. The role is too big not to include, but Laura Donnelly made it clear she wouldn’t return. Well, Kristin Atherton has the role, and she shines as the new Jenny.

Outlander season 7, episode 9 saw Atherton as Jenny in two separate time periods. We saw her in 1778 as Claire, Jamie, and Young Ian head back to Scotland, and then we saw her in 1739 as Roger learned that he was in the wrong time.

Playing two versions of Jenny in one episode of Outlander

It was already going to be difficult to play a role already played by someone else. Laura Donnelly brought Jenny to life for us the first time. To make it harder on Atherton, she had to play a Jenny in her 20s and a Jenny in her 50s. We only got a glimpse of the younger Jenny, but it was enough to see that Atherton realized this character would hold herself differently in the two time periods.

The younger Jenny had a bit of a shyness to her. Brian noted that there was a man Jenny was fond of, and it’s clear that Brian approved of Ian Murray. Jenny didn’t want to bring it up, though, and it was somewhat adorable.

The moment Atherton shined though was in the older Jenny’s grief. She captured everything that we could feel from the books.

Jenny fears the loss of Ian in Outlander season 7, episode 9

Getting the chance to see the younger Jenny also made the scenes with older Jenny more poignant. We got to see that young love. There was a chance to see just how long Jenny has liked Ian. They’ve grown up together and their families were friends. It makes the loss of Ian now much harder.

The older Jenny hoped that there was a way to save her husband. She lashed out in anger at Claire as Claire said there was nothing to be done. Then we got the scene of her just screaming in the woods. It was a visceral scream, one that sends chills to the bones. Atherton pulled everything about Jenny’s pain out in this one scene. She captured the emotion that came across in the book perfectly.

The show was able to correct a few issues I had with the books. One of those was Claire telling Jenny, Ian, and Michael the truth about her. I loved that she realized she had to trust them with this information to keep them safe. If they didn’t believe her, then it was on them if something happened and not her. Atherton had every emotion on her face as Claire shared it all, and you could tell the cogs were working. Jenny had realized there was a chance of hope.

I think this is going to be important as Outlander season 7 continues. After all, those who know the books know that Jenny has a just bigger role to play. Will the show bring us everything, though? There have already been a few characters cut and scenes changed.

Outlander season 7 airs Fridays on STARZ.

Stay up to date with the latest Outlander news and more with Claire and Jamie.