Outlander season 4 character questions: The shift towards Aunt Jocasta
For the next couple of weeks, the plan is to shift the focus more towards characters who we know to be significant players over the course of season 4. Hence, the decision to now put Aunt Jocasta in the spotlight. Maria Doyle Kennedy is playing the part of Jamie’s aunt, a character who in the books has been through multiple marriages and suffers from blindness. Kennedy is considerably younger than the character is within the books, so there could be some intrigue in how they work with that either in terms of makeup or slight alterations to the character. To date, Starz has not released an official photo as of yet of Kennedy in the role.
So what do we want to see from Jocasta moving into season 4? Here are a few different suggestions. (After you read, we got a little more in-depth on the subject of her blindness, and how it relates to us as a writer, over at this link.)
A worthy introduction – We’d love to see an extended scene with her not too long after meeting Jamie and Claire, one that gives a good sense as to who Jocasta is, why she is in America, and what she thinks about having these new relatives around her. She’s going to be the strongest family connection that they have so establishing this relationship right away is important to the both of them.
A sense of place – Jocasta is going to have a responsibility similar in some way to Jenny in Lallybroch, given that she is going to be a conduit to her surroundings. We should see River Run through her eyes (not literally, but more from how she moves and operates within it), just to offer up contrast between how she sees the plantation and how Jamie and Claire see it in turn.
The relationship with Ulysses – We know that Colin McFarlane was already cast to play the character on the series and with that, there’s a good dynamic that can and should be established here to give Jocasta depth beyond just what she builds with Jamie and Claire.
Related – Check out our character questions article about Jamie Fraser
The marriage question – This may actually be more of a season 5 issue given that in the books, Jocasta ends up marrying Duncan Innes, a character that has not been introduced within the television series. We’ve speculated that Murtagh could end replacing Duncan in most aspects of the show, but would Murtagh really marry Jocasta? Given that they’re both connected in terms of family already, we’re not so sure on that.
What do you want to see for Aunt Jocasta moving into Outlander season 4? Be sure to share some of your thoughts on the subject below!
Meanwhile, be sure to also like CarterMatt on Facebook in the event you want to get some other insight when it comes to the series. (Photo: Starz.)