The Frasers are headed to America in Outlander Season 4, and as expected, they’ll meet a host of new, life-altering characters along the way. From Jamie's willful aunt to conniving pirate, as well as Scottish settlers intent on making a home in the new world and Native Americans, Claire and Jamie will cross paths with some very interesting people in the coming episodes. With less than a week left of #Droughtlander, prep for the upcoming season with a look at the show's new faces below.
🚨Spoilers for Outlander Season 4 and Drums of Autumn below. Proceed with caution. 🚨
Stephen Bonnet (Ed Speleers)
Season 3 of Outlander brought the demise of chief antagonists Black Jack Randall and Geillis Duncan, but Season 4 promises a new villain in the form of pirate and smuggler Stephen Bonnet. According to his official character description, Bonnet is "a remorseless opportunist who always puts his needs and desires first"—due, in part, to a difficult upbringing that "shaped the twisted code that he lives by—using his charisma and charm to lull others into dropping their defenses, allowing him to take advantage of kindness and mercy, yet never repaying it in kind." Bonnet is played by Downton Abbey alum Ed Speleers.
Sam Heughan tells BAZAAR.com that Bonnet is, indeed, worse than Black Jack. “He's probably double Black. He's not a nice man," Heughan said. "The problem with him is that he's charming, so he's disarming. I think that's what makes him worse."
Jocasta Cameron (Maria Doyle Kennedy)
Jamie's Aunt Jocasta is the youngest sister of his late mother, Ellen, and uncles Colum and Dougal Mackenzie. Jocasta is the mistress of River Run, a slave-operated North Carolina plantation she started with her late husband, Hector Cameron, after the two escaped from Scotland during the Rising. Jocasta has recently gone blind, and relies on the help of an enslaved man, Ulysses (Colin McFarlane), to run the plantation.
Despite her married name (she's had three husbands by the time she meets Claire), Jocasta is a MacKenzie at heart, and resembles Jamie's late mother, Ellen. In Drums of Autumn, the book on which Season 4 is based, Claire notes of her first impression, "I would have known her for a MacKenzie, even if I hadn't known who she was." According to Jocasta's official character description, "She possesses a cunning ability to manipulate others, subtly bending them to her will—a MacKenzie trait that she shares with her brothers, Dougal and Colum, who also have a history of exploiting their nephew Jamie when it suited their interests."
For Jamie, meeting Jocasta is an emotionally overwhelming experience. "It's just an incredible moment, to see someone that is the last member of his close family. Someone that looks, sounds like his mother," Heughan said during a PaleyFest panel in early October. "Family for him, it's really strong. It's a lifeline in America, and... she gives him a place where he feels at home."
But it's an uncomfortable meeting for Claire, who, of course, disapproves of Jocasta as a slaveowner. Caitriona Balfe added at the panel, "I think the fact that Jocasta has a plantation is very difficult for Claire. I think seeing slavery first hand, seeing it up-close, it's very difficult for Claire to get past that. And I think that creates this wall between her and Jocasta that can never really be bridged, because they're from two different times and they'll never understand each other's perspective. And that's quite difficult, because in many respects Jocasta would be the solution to a lot of problems, but I think Claire just can't get past that at all."
Jocasta is played by iconic Irish actress Maria Doyle Kennedy, of The Tudors and Orphan Black fame. "She does not suffer fools, and she sees fools everywhere," Kennedy said in an interview with E!. Watch below.
Governor William Tryon (Tim Downie)
One of the few Outlander characters based on a real person, Governor William Tryon really was the governor of North Carolina in 1767, when Jamie and Claire first arrive in the colony. In Season 4, he's played by Tim Downie, and in a teaser for the new season, Heughan reveals Tryon will make the Frasers a generous offer of land. They'll have to decide whether to take it and risk allying themselves with the British on the eve of the Revolutionary War.
Ulysses (Colin McFarlane)
Ulysses is an enslaved man at River Run, the head of Jocasta's household and her right-hand man. He is deeply loyal to Jocasta and acts as her "eyes" when she loses her sight—"informing her of what she cannot see, both in her presence and when she is not around, keeping her apprised of everything that goes on inside of River Run’s walls," according to his official character description.
Phaedre (Natalie Simpson)
Phaedre is an enslaved woman at River Run, Jocasta's maid and a seamstress. "She has a kind heart and mischievous sense of humor, and is a trusted member of the River Run household," according to her character description. She's played by British theater star Natalie Simpson.
Adawehi (Tantoo Cardinal)
Adawehi is a Cherokee healing woman whom Claire befriends. She's played by veteran Canadian actress Tantoo Cardinal, and recently appeared in Godless and Westworld.
John Quincy Meyers (Kyle Rees)
Meyers is a "mountain man" and a guide for the Frasers as they explore the backwoods of North Carolina. You can see Meyers, played by Welsh actor Kyle Rees, at 36 seconds in the teaser below.
Gerald Forbes (Billy Boyd)
All we know about Forbes is that he's a "prominent" lawyer and close friend of Aunt Jocasta, per Entertainment Weekly. Oh, and he's played by played by Lord of the Rings vet Billy Boyd.
Gayle (Simona Brown)
EW reports Gayle (played by The Night Manager actress Simona Brown) is a 20th-century addition to the cast—she's Brianna's close friend and roommate at MIT.
Lizzie Wemyss (Caitlin O’Ryan)
This mysterious character is "a Scottish woman who goes on a big adventure with Brianna," according to EW. Lizzie is played by Caitlin O'Ryan, and an Instagram posted by Natalie Simpson from set shows O'Ryan in 18th-century costume (🤔).
Rollo (Dewey)
The most important addition to the Outlander clan? You be the judge. Young Ian wins Rollo, a dog who is part wolf, in a dice game, and the dog soon becomes a member of the extended Fraser family. In real life, the dog's name is Mac Dubh, but he goes by "Dewey" on set.
