Richard Rankin is a delight. I know there are large portions of the Outlander fandom that are screaming BUT WHAT ABOUT SAM at this article right now. Everyone, take a deep breath and stay with me here.
I am part of a small minority, but I love Richard AND Sam. BOTH OF THEM *insert gasp here*. My heart is just that big. There is no law that says I can’t looooove both of them. And if there is, I DON’T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT IT. DON’T @ ME.
So, without further ado, here are all the reasons I looooove Richard Rankin and you should too.
HIS ACTING IS PHENOMENAL.
Most of us are familiar with Richard through his portrayal as Roger Wakefield Mackenzie on Outlander (which I also happen to think is awesome and could spend this entire post rhapsodizing about). But, if you haven’t checked out some of Richard’s other work, please do. He has an incredible range and is amazingly talented.
My #1 favorite Richard show (besides Outlander) is The Crimson Field, which you can find on Amazon Prime in the U.S. Richard plays Captain Thomas Gillan, a field surgeon in a triage hospital in the north of France during WWII. Captain Thomas is terse, serious, and fighting against his more medically conservative superiors to prove his worth. Without getting into spoiler territory, Richard is literally SO HOT in this show, you are going to swoon basically every time he speaks. Plus, Richard in an army uniform? SIGN ME UP.
A close second to The Crimson Field is the mystery/suspense show Thirteen (also available on Amazon Prime in the US). Dude, this show is crazy. It centers around a girl who was kidnapped at age 13, Ivy Moxam. Ivy finally escapes her kidnapper to return back to her parents, but has to deal with the hunt for her kidnapper, adjusting back into society, and a whole host of other issues.
Richard plays Detective Inspector Eliot Carne and he is fantastic. The victim, Ivy Moxam, forms a bond with Carne, and he becomes one of the only people she trusts. Richard plays Carne with a nuanced performance of caring, suspicion, and intensity that really draws you in. This show didn’t get a second season and it kills me because I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED, DAMMIT.
RICHARD LOVES OUTLANDER FANS.
Ok, before I get 12,000 messages, ALL OF THE OUTLANDER CAST LOVES THEIR FANS. They have proven this over and over again. But, since this article is about Richard, I’m gonna highlight his fan love. Richard is REALLY vocal about loving his fans. I’m pretty sure the man never met a photo op or an autograph he didn’t want to give. Basically every convention/panel/public gathering of any kind, this happens:
If you didn’t catch that, that is Richard yelling “I LOVE YOU TOO” at the audience.
Here’s the part that really gets me – Richard doesn’t just love HIS fans. He loves all the Outlander fans. He just seems like a genuinely nice dude who is enjoying making people happy. Check out this clip that warms my cold dead heart.
LOOK AT THAT. LOOK HOW SWEET HE IS. “Oh, it’s for Sam? Of course, I’ll give it to him!”. HEART EXPLODED. Brb, over here dying.
RICHARD IS JUST REALLY FREAKING FUNNY.
The man is basically meant to be a GIF. Here are a few of my favorite Richard lines/appearances/what have you.
Source: RRankinBrain and rankinblueeyes
HE ENGAGES IN MEANINGFUL DISCUSSION ABOUT OUTLANDER
It’s not just all fun and games. As Roger becomes more prominent in Season 4, Richard is getting very involved in the discourse about his character and character’s actions.
Now that is some quality discourse right there. Respectful, insightful, good fan interaction. May not agree with him, but that is some solid tweeting and I AM HERE FOR IT.
HE CAN SING AND PLAY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
I mean, this really doesn’t require much explaining. Just watch the clip.
HE DOESN’T TAKE ANY SHIT
Ok, I’m about to voice an unpopular opinion, so brace for impact. Richard is in a unique position where fans feel the need to comment about how “Richard will never be Sam! Not even close! NEVER!!” I can direct you to many tweets depicting this whole outlook, but I’m not trying to blow up anybody’s spot.
Personally, I don’t find them comparable BECAUSE THEY ARE TWO SEPARATE CHARACTERS AND ACTORS. I don’t really follow the need to say one sucks just for not being the other. It’s like saying apples suck because they aren’t oranges. I’m into Sam for being handsome, sexy, charming and playing the King of Men. I’m into Richard for being goofy, adorable, hilarious, and playing Roger.
So since people have this “Richard isn’t Sam” outlook, he has to deal with a lot of jabs, however well-intentioned or humorous they are meant to be. Part of Richard’s charm, for me, is that he is not here to take anyone’s shit about not being Sam. See video below for an example:
Getting what I mean about not taking anything laying down? And the comment from the audience member in this video was one of the nicer remarks I’ve heard. Again, not looking to doxx anyone so I’ll just share Richard’s responses to some…interesting…tweets.
*above in response to someone saying he doesn’t have pecs like Sam
Are his responses sassy, verging on impolite? Yes. Are his responses justified? I think so. Richard Rankin is not here to compete with Sam Heughan, because it isn’t a competition – but he’s not gonna let you trash him for not being Sam. Richard stands up for himself and I am INTO IT.
PHEW. Ok, that got real serious there for a second. To end this on a happy note, I’ll leave you with some happier portions of Richard’s Twitter.
Are you as into Richard Rankin as I am?
{Editor’s Note} We love Richard around here. From hearing he was cast, to marveling that a fancast was cast, to meeting him at SDCC and swooning, to really loving him as Roger. Read more about Richard on TN right here.
