Outlander dimensions: How to make season 4 Richard Rankin’s time to shine
This time around, we are putting the spotlight on a man in Richard Rankin and a character in Roger Wakefield for good reason — this is poised to be the best season to date for both the actor and the character! Rankin’s been an actor we’ve appreciated for some time even before the show, and what we like about the character he is playing here is that he is very much far from the average action hero. He fights for what he believes in, but he often does so intellectually rather than physically. He’s resourceful, caring, devoted, and distinct. There’s a lot of interesting material that the writers have likely created for this character based on the material — with that in mind, let’s look at some of the ways in which Rankin can stand out with it. (Don’t worry — there are no overt spoilers within this piece.)
1. More of Roger’s own point of view – While we understand that Jamie and Claire are at the forefront of all things Outlander, of course one of the ways to allow Rankin to shine is to allow Roger to be the catalyst in more scenes. With that, Richard will have the opportunity to be a game-changer, offer feedback, or further along the plot. See more of how Roger feels about various things and how they impact his own life.
2. Tremendous foils – One of the best things for any actor is an opportunity to work in scenes alongside many other great actors. Of course, the more of Rankin and Sophie Skelton we see together, the better both of them will. Beyond that, though, one of the best ways to show off the actor and the character’s versatility is to pair him off with a wide array of different people. We’re hoping for a wide array of different scenes this time around with Rankin and other performers.
3. Unexpected positions – We know that Roger is a scholar and he can tackle almost any historical or intellectual challenge placed before him. You want to cultivate some familiar material for this character in this world, largely because that’s where he shines. Yet, what happens when he is thrown off his game or thrust into a position that disorients him? That allows for some dynamic content and an opportunity for Rankin to play the part a little more unsettled.
4. More screen time – This almost goes without saying, but of course the way in which to have even more Richard Rankin highlights is to feature the character more. He has not been see on Outlander proper since the season 3 episode “Freedom & Whisky.” Luckily, with the way in which the Diana Gabaldon book series progresses, we do know that things are changing and he will have more opportunities to shine. Allow Roger in some of his scenes to express himself more and take on a pair of important roles — someone who is proactive in causing change, and then also someone reacting to it.
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What sort of Outlander season 4 material do you want to see for Richard Rankin as Roger? Be sure to share right now in the comments!
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