It’s the dreaded wait looming over all Outlander fans, as the eighth and final season will mark the end of an era. Of course, the spin-off show Blood of My Blood will still ramp up some excitement.
And for those who have been avid followers of the hit franchise based on Diana Gabaldon’s best-selling books, many fans have been taking the time to re-watch old series of Outlander or share their thoughts. Some of which has caused debate among the fanbase.
One fan sparked up a widely-agreed opinion on Roger and Brianna’s romance. Those in particular who have read the books have been left ‘disappointed’ at actor Richard Rankin taking on the role of Roger, and his lack of chemistry with Brianna Fraser (Sophie Skelton).
Taking to discussion platform Reddit, one fan voiced: “I really don’t like Roger. I’ve tried to feel otherwise, but I can’t haha. ever since he proposed to Brianna and said all those 1940’s typical things about how a woman should live her life and what not, I simply can’t like him.
“I feel like everything he has done is not enough for me. at the same time, yes he travelled through the stones for Brianna and was beaten almost to death by Jamie, sold and enslaved by the Mohawk, returned to Brianna but see.. he still did some things that are just enhancing my disliking of him. has anybody else felt or feels the same?”
Outlander book fans are not convinced with Richard Ranking portrayal of Roger in the hit tv show.(Image: STARZ)
Other fans soon rushed to the post in agreement, with one quipping: “I feel like my dislike for him in both book and show is I the fact that I just don’t like him as a match with Brianna. That pairing is like lukewarm dirty dishwater to me,” which was upvoted over 60 times.
One fan responded, “Yeah I’m still not on board that ship after several seasons, even when my dislike of him disappeared.” Another voiced, “book Roger is so much better than show Roger. The writers did him wrong. He does improve over time.”
“I like him in the books but not the show. Same with Brianna,” another fan quipped as one agreed chiming, “I agree. I’m not crazy about Roger but I really dislike the TV Brianna character. Considering how she came about, you’d think they’d have invested more into her.”
Someone else added, “I agree. Love them in the books. Not so much in the show. Part of my dislike is the writers did them wrong,” as another bluntly put, “I hate him in the show, he’s a bit less annoying in the book but honestly he bores me to death.”
One person noted, “the other part is that the actor who plays Brianna is just not good. She has very little range for her voice and expressions. It just takes me out of the scene.”
Another voiced, “I haven’t read the books, but the show characters just don’t feel like they have any real chemistry between them. It kinda felt like they ended up together because they were written that way, not because they’re a good fit together. Like, the scene with her and Bonnet in his cell before his supposed hanging felt more emotional than any scenes she had with Roger.”
However, it wasn’t all negative as one fan mused “I used to feel that way. I thought I’d hate him forever. I stopped hating him the past 2 seasons and actually started liking him, but I still cannot and will not ship him with Bree for that exact reason. I’ve also been through enough droughtlander that these seem like forever ago, so maybe that contributed to my softening view.”
“I love book Roger,” someone else quipped. “I think Rik Rankin does a great job playing him, but TV Roger is nowhere near the man book Roger is (same with Jamie). Book Brianna is ok, but TV Brianna is awful, and TV Brianna and TV Roger is a terrible mismatch. The rest of the show is cast so well, its a bummer Brianna is such a big part and Sophie is just so wrong for it.”