Outlander season 4 episode 2 top actor: Praise for Jerome Holder’s Rufus

One of our goals moving into Outlander season 4 is that over the course of the year, we want to spotlight great performances! Sometimes, these come courtesy of a lead, which makes sense given that Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan are always spectacular. Then, there are some other times that they can come courtesy of someone who doesn’t get anywhere near the same amount of screen time.

Related Outlander video! – Be sure to get some of our thoughts on tonight’s new episode below! Meanwhile, be sure to subscribe for more updates and check out our official show playlist.

In this particular article, what we’re doing is pouring some praise on someone in Jerome Holder who we weren’t altogether familiar with entering the episode. He has appeared on a number of popular British programs including Holby City, but is not so familiar to US audiences. Yet, we’ve got a feeling that he will now be remembered in the annals of Outlander history for quite some time moving forward.

Holder played on 4×02 the tragic role of Rufus, the young slave who found himself at death’s door through most of the hour, at least from the moment Jamie and Claire discovered him. His life was already on the line, he desperately needed surgery, and no one was willing to help. His fellow slaves could not, restricted by repercussions and a terrible rule of North Carolina law. Meanwhile, Jamie and Claire could only do so much. They attempted to treat him and Claire eventually successfully conducted a bit of surgery inside River Run. Yet, she was forced to effectively poison him to ensure that he would not die a slow, agonizing death at the hands of the slave owners eager to take out their rage on him for striking a white man.

This was a difficult role for anyone to play, but what made Holder so special was the way in which he portrayed Rufus’ vulnerability. You could see his pain in his eyes and just how badly he missed those he once loved. He had rage within him over his experience, as almost anyone would. Yet, there was also so much hurt and sorrow. Even though his time with Claire was brief, you could sense the connection that the two did have. She showed him a rare sense of kindness and care and you could see that gratitude.

While Rufus was not the episode’s biggest character, he may have been the most important. Without understanding why Claire and Jamie cared about him, nothing in the second half of the episode would have worked. Holder was fantastic in bringing us in for every single moment of his scenes, and we imagine that as a result of that, we’ll be hearing a lot more from him in the future.

Related News – Take a look at a new promo for what is coming up on Outlander next!

Who do you think is the top performer moving into Outlander season 4 episode 2? Be sure to share now in the attached comments. (Photo: Starz.)