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Black Jack Randall's Fate On 'Outlander' Is Sealed By History

Starz

Avoiding the inevitable fate of characters from the past — even characters you despise — is tricky to do when time travel is involved. Spoilers for the Season 3 premiere of Outlander follow. With Frank Randall being well-versed in his family's history, Claire knew that Captain Black Jack Randall was supposed to die during the Battle of Culloden. However, her being from the future doesn't always give her all the facts, since she also thought that Jamie had died in that battle and discovered in the Season 2 finale that her assumption was (mind the pun) dead wrong. But when it comes to Jonathan Randall, the history books were right since, Jamie kills Black Jack Randall on the battlefield in the Season 3 premiere of Outlander, defeating his foe for the final time.

Even without reading the third book of the Outlander series, Voyager, viewers should have known the man lying on top of Jamie in the beginning of "The Battle Joined" is Black Jack Randall. Because even in death, Randall is unsettlingly and poetically, connected to Jamie. So it's only fitting that Jamie is not only responsible for Black Jack's death, but that Jamie is still with him as he fights for his own life. And if you have any concerns that, like Jamie, Black Jack survives, there's no need. After tormenting Jamie and Claire for two seasons, Black Jack Randall is truly dead on Outlander. Hoorah! There's no denying that this sadist has had it coming for a long while.

Black Jack nearly kills Jamie during the battle, but the Scotsman is able to deliver the fatal blow to the man who viciously whipped and raped him — getting at least some justice. Even their final collapse on one another on the battlefield is reminiscent of the abuses Randall perpetrated on Jamie. But Black Jack will not be able to hurt Jamie or Claire ever again, as history predicted.

The only downside to Black Jack Randall dying on Outlander is the loss of Tobias Menzies being able to so skillfully portray this twisted character. Yet, Menzies time on Outlander isn't over yet with Frank being alive in Claire's timeline. Frank's fate is unfortunately doomed like his ancestor's, but viewers will have to adjust to seeing the kinder, gentler Randall again in Season 3 — at least for a little while.