Outlander EP Warns That a Looming Threat Is ‘Still Messing With the Frasers’ as Season 7 Returns

Outlander EP Warns That a Looming Threat Is ‘Still Messing With the Frasers’ as Season 7 Returns

You might’ve forgotten about Outlander‘s Arch Bug. But rest assured: Arch Bug hasn’t forgotten about anything.

And though the Frasers have a lot going on when the Starz series’ Season 7 resumes Friday (8/7c), they’d do well to keep the looming threat of their vengeful former handyman — last seen in the midseason finale — top of mind.

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Viewers will recall that Arch has been on a mission for revenge ever since Ian accidentally shot Murdina Bug, Arch’s wife, as the elderly pair attempted to steal gold from Fraser’s Ridge. When Arch showed up in Episode 8, he put himself in the path of Rachel Hunter, who was looking after Ian’s dog, Rollo. Viewers will recall that, after Rachel innocently shared that Ian had gone abroad, the old man said, “I hope he’ll return to you soon” — which didn’t sound like a threat but was decidedly a threat. (Read a full recap here.)

When TVLine spoke with co-showrunner Matthew B. Roberts, the executive producer urged us to have sympathy for the Frasers’ once-mild-mannered hired hand. “He’s such a lovable character in the early days, and this turn for him, it isn’t dark,” he said. “I have a lot of empathy for that character. He was madly in love with Murdina, and you see what Jamie and Claire do for each other, because they’re so madly in love. So I think you can understand why he does what he does.”

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But what will he do, as Season 7 swings back into action? Roberts merely teased that the character, played by Hugh Ross, is “still messing with the Frasers and the Murrays and the MacKenzies.” Still, he said, even Big Red himself could understand, were the sporran on the other kilt.

“I think if Jamie sat down with him and talked to him about it, Jamie would go, ‘I get it. You love her. You loved her more than anything,'” Roberts mused. “‘You feel someone took her from you.’ I mean, it’s so very relatable to our characters.”

Droughtlander is almost over, and we’ll have more Outlander goodies coming your way this week. Until then, hit the comments with your thoughts, hopes and predictions for the back half of Season 7!

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