Outlander fans have been left divided over the recent death of a notorious character, with some arguing that it was the perfect ending for the villain in question
The Outlander fandom is ablaze on social media after the dramatic demise of Stephen Bonnet, portrayed by Ed Speleers, one of the series’ most despised baddies.
With the second part of season 7 slated for an Autumn release, Starz series aficionados are buzzing online about the twist. The show, which launched Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe into the spotlight as Jamie and Claire Fraser, springs from Diana Gabaldon’s beloved novels.
Since its debut in 2014, Outlander has introduced viewers to a slew of detestable characters, including Tobias Menzies’ portrayal of Jonathan “Black Jack” Randall, as noted by the Daily Record, reports the Irish Star.
Among this rogue’s gallery, however, Bonnet emerges as particularly vile in the eyes of many fans.
A heated debate erupted on Reddit when user @Radiant-Combination5 vented their frustration with the resolution of Bonnet’s arc, posting: “Anyone else annoyed by this particular storyline ending?”.
“Brianna shooting Stephen Bonnet and not just leaving him to drown. Idk why it irks me so much. He did so many awful things to their family, was finally getting his comeuppance and STILL she showed mercy.”
“Like, if you’re going to execute him that way, why didn’t she just kill him on the island when he was first captured? She was the one who insisted on taking him back to Wilmington to see justice served.”
Fans are all abuzz on social media, with one chiming in: “Agree! ! But I do like to think she was just practicing her shooting skills [wink emoji].”
The character Brianna Randall Fraser, portrayed by Sophie Skelton, has sparked a fiery debate among viewers, with some suggesting her actions provided a sense of finality.
One viewer expressed, “I saw it as her wanting to take him out herself in the end,” while another contributed, “She got to kill him with her own hand. Closure.”
Some fans argue that Brianna’s decisive action was crucial to ensure the antagonist’s end, with one remarking: “Stephen Bonnet was a slippery b***ard. Shooting him when she could have let him drown could be seen as a mercy…or ensuring he was dead.”
Supporting this view, someone else added: “I’ve only watched this part in the show (haven’t gotten that far in the books), but I saw it as her wanting to make absolutely sure he’s dead. She thought he was dead before, only to find out he escaped. This time she wasn’t allowing that to be an option.”
Another fan weighed in, stating: “I feel like she just wanted to make sure he was dead this time; he’d already escaped the jail blowing up.”