Outlander Season 7, Episode 6: The Jaw-Dropping Reveal in Roger's Encounter

Summary

Roger's intense response to Buck Mackenzie stemmed from their tumultuous history and Buck's previous betrayal in attempting to betray him to the British authorities.

With the casting of Diarmaid Murtagh in the role of Buck Mackenzie for Outlander season 7, it suggests the possibility of a narrative arc where Buck and Dougal Mackenzie cross paths.

In the sixth episode of Outlander season 7, the true identity of the mysterious figure Jemmy called the Nuckelavee was finally revealed. In the fourth episode, Jemmy blamed this mythical being for stealing food from the Mackenzies' fridge. While Brianna thought Jemmy was lying, Roger started to doubt his innocence when they found evidence of someone haunting Lallybroch. Food wrappers were discovered in the woods near the path to the manor house. Despite not having heard of the Nuckelavee from the Mackenzies or the Frasers, Jemmy firmly believed in its existence due to the missing food. This suggested that the person responsible was using the Scottish mythical figure as an explanation for their presence at Lallybroch. At the end of the sixth episode, the identity of the "horse-like demon" witnessed by Jemmy and Mandy was revealed through Roger's violent reaction towards the intruder caught spying inside the house.

Outlander Finally Reveals The Nuckelavee Is William Buccleigh Mackenzie

The intruder who had been haunting Lallybroch for several weeks was unmistakably identified by Roger as his ancestor, William Buccleigh Mackenzie. Buck Mackenzie, the illegitimate son of Jamie's uncle Dougal Mackenzie and Geillis Duncan from Outlander season 1, had already been introduced in the series as an antagonist due to his actions against Roger. The upcoming Outlander season 7 is expected to shed light on how Buck found himself in the 1980s, considering his last appearance onscreen was during the Battle of Alamance in 1771. In An Echo in the Bone, the seventh book of the Outlander series, it is revealed that Buck ended up in the future by leaning against the standing stones at Craigh na Dun.

Why Roger Punches His Ancestor Buck Mackenzie In Outlander Season 7

While Roger's violent reaction could have been attributed to the recent discovery of the lurking intruder at Lallybroch, it was uncharacteristic of him to resort to violence. However, his encounter with Buck Mackenzie in the 18th century was so momentous that Roger felt compelled to punch him, despite his initial disbelief at seeing Buck in 1980s Scotland. The last time Roger laid eyes on Buck, he had attempted to have him executed by the British, all because Roger had innocently approached Buck's wife, Morag, and embraced her, which Buck deemed as a personal affront.

Diarmaid Murtagh Didn't Originally Portray Buck Mackenzie In Outlander S5

In Outlander season 5, episode 7, titled "The Ballad of Roger Mac," the narrative focuses on the events surrounding Morag, Buck, and Roger. Roger's desire to approach Morag arose from her being the first ancestor he met and his genuine care for her and her son Jeremiah during their voyage from Scotland to America aboard the Gloriana ship. Unfortunately, Buck misunderstood their relationship and wrongly suspected Morag's infidelity. Consequently, Buck and his henchmen brutally assaulted Roger and handed him over to the British authorities for execution at the Alamance. Notwithstanding, Claire successfully rescued Roger from his impending doom. Nonetheless, the traumatic experience left Roger unable to speak for several months. Consequently, his reaction upon encountering Buck again appeared somewhat controlled, considering the deep-seated history between them.

William Buck Mackenzie in Outlander season 7, episode 6 is credited to Diarmaid Murtagh on IMDb. However, he wasn't the original actor to portray Buck in Outlander season 5. Graham McTavish made a cameo appearance as Buck Mackenzie in a season 5 episode, returning to Outlander after his role as Dougal Mackenzie in seasons 1 and 2. This amusing cameo was possible because Buck was Dougal's illegitimate child and it allowed one of the original actors from Outlander to briefly return onscreen. Nevertheless, Irish actor Diarmaid Murtagh was cast as Buck in Outlander season 7, and although he may not have been recognizable to viewers, Roger's reaction confirmed that he certainly recognized him.

The reason for the recasting has not been explained, but it may be due to Graham McTavish's busy schedule with other projects such as House of the Dragon, The Witcher, and Men in Kilts: A Roadtrip with Sam and Graham season 2. However, it is most likely that the recasting is necessary because of a specific storyline in Outlander season 7. In the seventh book, Roger travels back in time with Buck to search for Jemmy, and they also encounter a younger Dougal Mackenzie. IMDb credits Graham McTavish as Dougal Mackenzie in Outlander season 7, indicating that Buck and Dougal will meet in the show, thus requiring the recasting.