Has there ever been a more hateable character in all of television than Outlander 's Jonathan "Black Jack" Randall? The answer to that is simple: No. He is truly the worst of the worst. Prone to violence as well as physical and psychological torture, Randall solidified his villainous status at the end of Season 1 when he brutally raped Jamie and attempted to tarnish his memory of Claire. Suffice to say, he deserved a lot worse than a mere cow stampede, but is that really where his story ends? Is it possible that Black Jack Randall is still alive on Outlander ? Book readers already know the answer to this, of course, but if you'd prefer to remain in the dark on what to expect from Outlander Season 2, then I suggest you bonnie lads and lasses turn back now. Spoilers ahead!
When executive producer Ronald Moore was asked about Black Jack's fate by Entertainment Weekly shortly after the Season 1 finale, he made sure to sidestep the question, saying, "Well, telling you would be a spoiler for second season." So right there, even non-book readers were bound to expect that this character's storyline is far from over. However, if you think about it, there's an even more telling factor that could confirm Black Jack's fate — the fact that Claire will eventually reunite with her 1940s husband, Frank, at some point throughout Season 2.
I mean, think about it. Frank is a descendant of Black Jack, and since he has yet to get married or conceive any children, then his early death would mean that Frank would no longer exist. (Think of it like when Marty and his siblings started getting erased from that picture of his in Back to the Future.) So if Claire is able to reunite with Frank, then this vial character must still be alive and kicking somewhere. For the time being, at least.
But as devastating of a notion as Black Jack's return is, there is a part of me that can't help but hope it'll lead to Jamie finally getting some vengeance for everything this person put him through. He deserves to see justice carried out firsthand, so Black Jack's continued existence will allow him to do so. Though something tells me it won't work out quite as simply as all that. In the meantime, let's just hold onto this satisfying moment a little bit longer...
Images: Starz; Giphy (2)
