Unfortunately, these secondary characters also make us cry, BECAUSE THEY KEEP GETTING KILLED.
So let us mourn, friends, for our dearly departed Outlander sidekicks. We loved you, we miss you, and thank you for being the best Rosencrantzes and Guildensterns we could ask for.
RUPERT MACKENZIE
Rupert, we are so glad you are a distant cousin of Jamie’s. You freaking bought Claire’s wedding ring for her (it’s ok, we don’t know what the parts of a key are called either). You gave the first sign that Claire may be accepted into the Highlander group, and one of the funniest little gems of season 1:
Speaking of jokes, you have some pretty good dirty jokes yourself:
While your entire time on Outlander was treasured, nothing was more felt than your sacrifices during Culloden. You saved Jamie from dying on the moors alone and forgave him for killing Dougal. When you faced death after Culloden, you held your head high and never strayed from your cause.
When you walked out for your imminent death at the hands of the British, you stayed exactly the same Rupert you had always been and went with honor.
When we heard the shots outside the stone house, our hearts broke. We miss you, Rupert, but we know you are happy to be with Angus. Slainte, friend.
ANGUS MHOR
Angus, for all you lacked in teeth, you more than made up for in character. You made us laugh right from the very first episode, when you finally figured out Claire was asking for alcohol:
We know you just loved trailing Claire around to make sure she wasn’t pulling anything sketchy on Dougal and Collum. You were even kind enough to burn this image into our brains:
You and Rupert brought a much-needed levity to travel throughout the highlands, whether it be going throughout the country collecting rents, busting in on Claire and Jamie’s wedding suite to try and get a look at her “dobbies,” or the arduous and complicated adventure of getting Jamie out of Wentworth. But your selflessness and sense of friendship will forever be with us because of the Battle of Prestopans.
You worked so hard to make sure that Rupert was going to make it out alive, that you ignored your own pain and paid the price. Your death was the worst possible surprise for us at the end of the episode, but no one mourned you more than Rupert. We miss you, Angus – thank you for being part of the dynamic duo of Castle Leoch.
GAVIN HAYES
Oh Hayes. You were so small in stature but loomed so large in our hearts. From Ardsmuir, where you told Jamie to describe in great detail his non-rat based meal, to the time you almost chucked yourself off The Artemis because you thought you cursed the whole voyage, your misadventures kept us entertained and occasionally worried throughout Season 3.
Between you and Lesley, you gave Jamie his 19,987th name, as JAMMF became Mac Dubh. The two of you also voiced what all Outlander fans are thinking sometimes:
Sadly, you met your demise at the beginning of Episode 401: America The Beautiful. We thought we had more time with you, but your stay in colonial America was short and made a lasting impression. Your execution for murder caused Jamie to make this face:
And we, at home, made the same face. Seeing you hang was heartbreaking, and even more heartbreaking when we realized your execution helped Stephen Bonnet escape the hangman’s noose.
We miss you Hayes, and we hope your last dram was a good one. We are glad you were looking upon the face of a friend in your last moments – and we know you touched the horseshoe, despite what the crew of the Artemis said.
LESLEY
Lesley, you may only go by one name, but that one name will be emblazoned on our memories. Like Hayes, you came from Ardsmuir, but went across the ocean to America. At first, I didn’t feel like I personally knew a lot about you until Episode 401. Before that, you were the Abbott to Haye’s Costello – always in shenanigans with him, always helping him as much as you could out of said shenanigans.
But then, Episode 401 came, and your pain at losing Hayes was felt by everyone watching. When you rushed the gallows for your friend, I knew all I needed to know about your character. When you sang your lament for Hayes, and the other Scotsmen of the tavern joined in…if the tears didn’t start flowing, well, get your shit together because you might be dead inside.
And that doesn’t even cover Lesley’s greatest sacrifice of protecting Claire from Bonnet’s henchmen on the boat. You kept our girl as safe as you could, giving up your life in the process, and for that, you have our eternal gratitude.
