Top 10 Outlander Villains

#10 Gerald Forbes

For starters Billy Boyd is fabulous in this role, especially since his character, let's be honest, is an awful human being.

Gerald Forbes is just an all around crappy, weasley dude. We meet him when he tries to woo Brianna, which is already kind of gross because he's definitely at least twice her age. Moreover, he shows that he does not care a bit what Bree thinks or wants when he's trying to get himself engaged to Bree without even telling her! Then he goes downhill even faster. He allies with Bonnet (yikes) and plans to swindle River Run away from Jocasta and her heirs. He doesn’t have the bravery or the wherewithal to be a true villain on his own, but he must attach himself to worse and more charismatic people to be able to get what he wants. As he bristles at the thought of Jocasta’s generosity, we see exactly what his motives are, and they are certainly shallow. Then, of course, he attempts to murder Jocasta, which, in a complete understatement, is an overreaction. Thank goodness he gets what's coming to him, and we won't be hearing from him again. I definitely cheered at his death at the hands of Ulysses. Forbes is definitely a terrible person, but not powerful or intense enough to rank higher on the list as a true, Outlander villain, but makes a lasting impression enough to make the list.

#9 Comte St. Germain

He is one of the most love to hate villains on the show, and Stanley Weber portrays him fantastically! He always has something sinister going on behind the scenes, and his motives are forever unknown. There’s something so intoxicating about such a strangely handsome but dastardly villain. It makes complete sense how he could almost magically charm people and lobby for his successes. Jamie and Claire keep getting thrown in with him, and there is something that clearly links him with our main couple. Immediately he establishes himself as a bad guy when he's much more concerned with money than human life, and provides a clear distinction from Claire’s desire to protect and save. Still more, he is utterly terrible when he poisons Claire. How horrible do you have to be to not only poison someone, but a pregnant woman? He is an absolute snake. When Jamie and Claire have to sort of team up with him, it feels like Adam and Eve having to team up with the snake from the Garden of Eden. Yet they are the ones conning him. His death is immensely satisfying; dying by poison like he tried to do to Claire is perfect poetic justice. He doesn't feel truly evil like a Black Jack Randall, but instead just a horrible, selfish person. He is a great villain for France as he is vain and duplicitous, much like the court of Versailles. He adds great color to the story but didn't leave enough of an impression to be one of the highest on the list.

As an aside, the historical figure of the Comte St. Germain is deeply fascinating. He claimed to be a time traveler and lived this very mysterious life. If you get a chance, he is definitely a rabbit hole worth going down. I have a strong feeling that he will make further appearances in companion books as the historical person is one of the most complex and mysterious figures in history. That is just too much fun to pass up.

#8 Governor Tryon

It was genuinely hard for me to list Tryon as a villain because Tim Downie is just so damn charming it's hard not to like his character. But Governor Tryon is pretty awful. While the colonists are being overtaxed and abused, he's building a palace. We are definitely conditioned to dislike and mistrust a redcoat in Outlander, and Tryon is no exception. He is a snooty oaf who clearly cares about his own advancement more than anything else. He manipulates Jamie like crazy, though he does recognize skill and competence in our leading man when he sees it. However, that recognition only comes because Tryon thinks he can personally gain from Jamie’s skill and ability. But at least he (eventually) respects Claire's abilities. Even at Bree’s daughter’s wedding, Tryon is a looming threat that speaks to the coming Revolution. Where Tryon really becomes a villain and not just a slightly unlikable character is at the battle of Alamance. He is cruel and brutal, and plainly wants to hurt the people he's supposed to protect. He uses his power for ill, and his institutional power is part of what makes him such a bad villain. He's not as sadistic as other villains, which is why he's at this point on the list, but he is a dynamic and interesting villain that has left a lasting impression on the show. I hope we will get the chance to see more from Governor Tryon, as he is a superb addition to the cast, and his scenes with Jamie light up the screen with the sparks from a clash of iron wills.

#7 Colum and Dougal

I went back and forth on whether or not to call the Mackenzie brothers villains. I landed on calling them villains because they so often are coming up against Claire and Jamie; perhaps "antagonists” is a better term for them. They are certainly contrary often enough, both to our main couple and to each other. Both he and Colum are kind of sketchy about their motives and actions. That they are complicated and not just evil makes them far more compelling. We spend a lot of time with Dougal in particular, and he has some admirable qualities as well as some terrible ones that make him one of the deepest and most complex characters Outlander has produced. Dougal has a lot more going on with his complicated attitudes and behaviors. His heroism and love of Scotland are admirable, but he has a lot of other issues. He is not big on consent, ie. Claire in the corridor in the Gathering episode, and always has a looming, somewhat creepy presence around Claire. Perhaps the biggest example of this is trying to seduce Claire on her wedding night, which is horrifying, but does give Claire a great chance to recognize her own strength of feeling for Jamie. Dougal also basically wishes Jamie dead so he can be with her, as well as reap the benefits of Jamie’s title and property. That's pretty awful. He constantly undermines Jamie's command during the Rising. Then he actually tries to kill Jamie without pausing to listen to any explanations, thinking he knows what’s really going on. However, he does have a strong respect for Claire’s abilities as a healer, and, to his credit, the reason that he’s so attracted to her is because of her ferocity and independence. Colum often stands in stark contrast to Dougal, but he is no less fierce and strong though he doesn’t bluster and blow like Dougal does. He is much more quietly manipulative, working behind the scenes for his own ends. Colum's scheming, though it often runs contrary to Jamie and Claire's goals, is him trying to do what's best for his people. We get to see more vulnerability in him nearer the end of his life, and, even to the end, he puts Clan and Scotland above all else. Both of them are compelling figures with complicated motives, but they can be pretty dastardly when necessary. Also, both actors do a thoroughly incredible job of giving nuanced and deep performances.

#6 Lionel Brown

‼ Spoilers for Season 5 ‼

For starters, I will say the actor, Ned Dennehy, did a great job of making me thoroughly hate his character.

Being real, Lionel Brown is trash. He's at this point on the list because he's done some pretty awful things, but he is just gross and terrible, not the villain with a dastardly master plan that is so much more interesting. This list isn’t a list of who did the worst things, but who was the strongest, most interesting, and well developed villain. He is basically a bug who needs to get squashed, and really doesn’t deserve much more attention than that. He beats his wife, shot Isaiah in the back, and, oh yeah, raped Claire, so...But he gets what he deserves. Marsali killing him was fantastic as she was avenging her Ma. Lionel Brown definitely causes some strife, but ultimately, Claire's wounds heal, and he didn't break her. There is absolutely nothing admirable or deep about Lionel. Because of that, he sometimes feels like a bit of a plot device just to make drama, and his motives are a little thin sometimes. Obviously his deep-seated misogyny drives a great deal of his choices, and his hatred of Claire is frustrating, but can make sense with Claire’s “history be damned” attitude. Claire’s best intentions have always brought down the worst of the worst on her head, and Lionel Brown is no exception. He certainly impacts many of the characters -- for the worse -- and adds intrigue to the story.

#5 Duke of Sandringham

The Duke is one of my absolute favorite villains of the show with all his fabulous and dastardly ways. Simon Callow is absolutely one of my favorite actors, and he plays this part perfectly. He is fantastic at being so dramatic, and the Duke is certainly that, always with a flair and a bit of a flourish. He starts off as a character with very shrouded motives and loyalties who is basically a mean version of the Cowardly Lion. Very easily, he could be a stereotype of a wealthy, effeminate man, but has depth and complexity that makes him more interesting than just a caricature. His ties to Black Jack are also not great, yet there is a chance that the Duke could help Jamie with his issues regarding the British law. But he goes full villain in Season 2. He does some terrible things, and often makes other people commit his dastardly plans for him. That includes the attack on Claire and his own goddaughter, Mary, an attack in which Mary is raped. The Duke also once more double-crosses Claire and Jamie, and keeps the man who attacked Mary and Claire in his employ. His loyalties are rarely, if ever, clear, as he doesn’t commit to one side or the other, always in hopes that, if that side goes wrong, he can turn his coat once more. Honestly, he gets what he deserves: Murtagh chopping off his head for what he did to Mary. He is spineless and cares only for his own skin. He's so high on this list because his presence always adds interest and drama, and for the better part of two seasons, even from his first mention, he has something about him that speaks to the complexities of this time. His sudden presence in France is a mic drop moment that jars both characters and audience. He carries over across seasons without feeling too dragged out, and has a very dramatic, Sandringham-style death that fits so well with his life.

#4 Laoghaire Mackenzie

One of the most hated women in history...ok, that might be an exaggeration, but in the immortal words of my close friend "how has someone not killed Laoghaire yet?" For real, Nell Hudson is a gem and portrays such a hateful villain so well. Laoghaire starts off in a very vulnerable position, being infatuated with Jamie as he's clearly in love with Claire. At first, I understand where she’s coming from. I would also think a guy who took a beating for me, then made out with me, I would think he was into me, and want to keep him, especially if it was a man like Jamie Fraser. She shows surprising interpersonal intelligence, being fully aware that any feelings Jamie has for her are purely physical, and that he’s clearly into someone else. That makes her future actions even less forgivable, as she’s not just a young girl blinded by puppy love. She begins a whole spiral of bad decisions as she tries to seduce Jamie after his marriage. The ill-wish is a dirty trick, and clearly Laoghaire is not above messing with the dark arts to get what she wants. Then she actually tries to have Claire killed, including by giving false testimony at Claire's trial. That is unthinkably awful. She can't let go of Jamie so aggressively that she marries him years later, and they are utterly miserable. But she refuses to let him go. She once again tries to kill Claire, more directly this time, but instead shoots Jamie. She comes about the closest of almost anyone in the series to killing our two main characters, and all because, as Murtagh so elegantly puts it, she is always a girl, but not a woman. Oh, and she tries to convince Bree that Jamie didn't want her, which is one of her worst acts. How she managed to bring such a wonderful human as Marsali into the world is beyond comprehension. Laoghaire is a hateful human and I dearly hope we're done with this ugly person, but I doubt it. She brings such drama into the series that I it’s an almost irresistible draw to bring her back in.

#3 Geillis Duncan

Lotte Verbeek is such an amazing Geillis! She brings so much energy and mystery to the character, it's amazing ❣

In the early seasons, I really liked Geillis. She had her own, defiant version of morality, cheating on her husband and definitely using him. She works within the existing structures to get what she wants and needs, as well as to support and supply the cause to which she wishes to give her life. Oh, and she kills her husband, both of them. She is in touch with her feminine power and sexuality that, in the first season, make her someone I want to cheer for. Geillis really comes through for Claire, saving her from the witch trial. Geillis is a strong, powerful, independent woman who is fabulous and morally incredibly complicated, and with a tragic end.

Then, just kidding, turns almost exclusively evil. We find out she is definitely a black widow, sacrificing her husband to go back in time. Then, she rapes Ian, and has clearly raped and murdered several young boys. Also, she owns slaves?A crazy reality from a woman from the 1960s who is supposedly fighting for freedom. It unfortunately seems to nullify all her high-minded beliefs about the freedoms for Scotland. Finally, she tries to murder Bree. Claire hacking her to bits with an axe is absolutely perfect justice for the terrible person Geillis has become.

She could have been even higher on the list (the sheer number of people she's killed is insane), but she feels like she went from an interesting, ambiguous character who did both good and bad things along her personal moral compass, to a downright evil person. I would have liked to have seen how that evolution occurred, as if it was more drawn out and explained, it might have made more sense. Still, she is a lasting, iconic villain of the series who is an absolute, horrifying joy to have on screen.

#2 Stephen Bonnet

Bonnet comes out swinging with his wolf in sheep's clothing guise, and the scene of him stealing Claire's wedding ring is a gut-punch. It establishes that he absolutely holds nothing sacred. Ed Speelers is so amazing in this part, with such a volatile charm and a frightening intensity. This is further established with various atrocities on his ship, including child murder. I was definitely nervous he was just going to be a repeat of BJR, which would have been an easy trap for Outlander to fall into, but even in Season 4, we started to see glimmers of differences. He left things up to chance, lashed out to protect his interests, and, ew, simply raped Brianna because he felt like it. He felt more and more like a frightened, caged animal, which was a fascinating variation on the Outlander villain. In season 5, I think he really came into his own as the penultimate villain of the series. He was this haunting spectre, and though I thought the waiting to kill him dragged on a bit, the final Bonnet episode was fantastic and terrifying. We see a rare amount of vulnerability from him, and how he lashes out with anger and violence when he feels exposed or afraid himself. He has a fully formed character and an internal logic that is all the more terrifying because you can see what led him to where he is. It is rare for a villain who has done so many bad things to get even a bit of sympathy, and yet, Ed Speelers manages to milk that out of his performance as Bonnet. Yet his final justice is perfect, and Bree is plainly back with the power. Bonnet could have been a cheap, BJR knockoff, but was instead unique and a fantastic villain all his own

#1 Black Jack Randall

The one, the only, the horrible, Jonathan Wolverton Randall. Who else could top this list? I would stack Randall against almost any TV villain ever, and with an unforgettable performance from Tobias Menzies. He is chilling from the first. Thematically, that he looks just like Frank is perfect. It makes him all the more unsettling, fitting directly with the concept of the uncanny, something that is familiar but with a small change that makes it creepy. He wreaks havoc for 2+ seasons, and certainly has a presence that is felt across many more. Trying to run down his list of offenses is impossible: there are just too many. He has this weird connection with Jamie and Claire that keeps them drawn back together in this sick gravity. Jamie's rape is very possibly the worst thing I have ever seen as an emotional wrecking ball. How BJR can go from calm and collected to this utter monster in a moment is horrifying. His obvious sadism makes him a truly horrendous villain; he does all those things for the sheer joy it brings him. And it all has weird, sexual undertones that made it all the worse. Black Jack is a truly iconic villain that I can’t even write about without grimacing and feeling just a bit ill. It is the facade of a gentleman that so quickly Thank goodness he finally meets his end, at Jamie's hand, and truly gets what he deserves. Tobias Menzies is truly remarkable in this role, and as Frank. The clear distinction between the two is remarkable. The person of Black Jack feels utterly different, in physicality, emotionality, and presence. I don't think I've ever hated any fictional character as much as BJR. He leaves a lasting impression and a massive shadow over all of Outlander in the best, worst way. He is without doubt the scariest and most iconic villain of the show.