Warning: This article contains spoilers about Sunday’s episode ofOutlander.
After trying to suss out Jamie’s loyalties (the man is good at playing both sides!
Lord John reminds Jamie this is a big ask but he loves Jamie, so naturally, he relents.
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In that moment, his mind is going like, how do I protect this man?
Does he deserve my protection?
Of course he does, because I love him.
Why does Lord John think Jamie resigned as Indian agent?
I don’t think he knows at that point.
It’s a curiosity that he is carrying with him.
Because it’s a line in the sand.
You’re staking your flag on a particular side.
You said he’s ambivalent or unsure of what’s happening.
So how horrified is he when he finally realizes Jamie is a rebel and not as a spy?
I don’t think he’s horrified.
Sorry to qualify your words.
I think he’s just hurt.
But also trying to not take it too personally.
He’s ultimately just looking out for his friend.
He’s hurt because Jamie didn’t let him in on this.
Lord John has been protecting him.
To put both of them in danger, it’s just hurtful and concerning.
Lord John is not naive.
But the through-line for me as the character is poking at curiosity.
You did use the word horrific, so I guess it’s almost too horrible to conceive of.
He just has to know the truth.
But he doesn’t want to know it.
So he’s keeping himself blind to it.
That’s why when he does find out it’s all the more heartbreaking for him.
Jamie invites him to come to this meeting and just hear what the rebels have to say.
Why won’t he even entertain that, and could it change in the future?
Historically speaking, the path that Jamie’s choosing is, as Lord John says, inconceivable.
It’s a dream.
It’s completely nonsense that rebels could actually win.
He’s looking at it from a very pragmatic point of view.
If you don’t face up to it, there’s going to be horrible consequences for you.
In those words, the subtext is not about the soldiers.
You’ve hurt me is basically the subtext.
You’re asking a lot of me again.
I’ll do it for you.
But this is almost too much.
This is him sort of asserting his boundary at that point.
And he acquiescences to a degree, but he doesn’t give Jamie a full concession.
He says, “I’ll delay them.”
He doesn’t say, “I’ll call them off.”
And he won’t because, on a personal level, he’s hurt by Jamie.
It’s like, you’ve betrayed our friendship.
He’s trying to be as equivocal as possible.
But he follows it up with, “Be careful.”
He just can’t help himself.
There’s a lot of partings and goodbyes in every Jamie and John scene.
But of course he can’t say that.
Yeah, along those lines, how much is his half-acquiescing about protecting the man he loves?
Because that look on your face when he walks away is absolutely devastating.
A line has been crossed; the friendship has been tarnished.
They’re going to need to resolve this in some way.
Jamie’s going to have to do something.
Will we see Lord John, or maybe even William, again this season?
Whether he appears I can’t say.
You are a fan favorite.
Have you had any more conversations or word on a potential Lord John spinoff?
I can’t comment.
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
