Outlander season 4 character questions: What does Natalie Simpson’s Phaedre bring to the series?
Who is Phaedre? – She is the maid for Jamie’s Aunt Jocasta at River Run, where you will spend a good bit of time over the course of the fourth season. She is also Jocasta’s body slave and is the child of her late husband Hector Cameron and a slave named Betty. She was treated differently than many other slaves at the plantation in part because of the circumstances surrounding her birth.
How much will she appear? – Per Simpson’s IMDb page Phaedre will appear in four different episodes this season, and it feels like there’s a chance she will stick around a while beyond that. This is a character that has a role in multiple other Diana Gabaldon books, so you have to think there will be some options left open at the end of season 4.
How will the series use her? – This is a very interesting question, mostly given the challenges that come with presenting slavery in any form on a series like Outlander. It was a part of life in North Carolina during the 18th century; yet, it is also a terrible thing. One of the things that the series really does need to show with some of these characters is strength and complexity … and there is certainly that when it comes to River Run in particular. Given the relationship that Jocasta has with Ulysses it is fair to say that she is far from narrowminded when it comes to slavery; but, it remains to be seen how all of this is presented on the show. We do appreciate how the series handled the subject in season 3.
We would like to see Phaedre appear on the show as someone our heroes can show some kindness towards, and also someone who fleshes out the past history of Jocasta and some of the influencing factors who made her the person that she is. We would also like to see Phaedre discover some sort of true happiness, mostly because anyone who has been through some of what she has certainly deserves that. She’s valuable to many characters in a way they may not first realize, mostly because she may have social capital with certain groups that they do not.
Related – Take a look at some of the latest season 4 filming updates!
For those wanting some more information in regards to Natalie Simpson the performer, she has done a great deal of stage work — and in turn, work based on the stage. Think in terms of Les Miserables and a number of Shakespeare performances. She should bring an excellent degree of nuance to this role.
How do you want to see Phaedre presented on Outlander season 4? Share right away in the comments!
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