Outlander newcomer Joey Phillips has previewed what’s to come for his character Denzell Hunter when the hit Starz drama finally returns later this year. Fans will have been waiting for well over a year when the seventh season finally continues Claire (played by Caitriona Balfe) and Jamie Fraser’s (Sam Heughan) story this November. In the latest outing of the gripping historical saga, viewers were introduced to Quakers Denzell and his sister Rachel Hunter (Izzy Meikle-Small) who were kicked out of the Society of Friends over Denzell’s support of American Independence.
Throughout the war, Denzell has been aiding Claire in the gruelling task of taking care of injured and dying soldiers. Part two could feature a lot more of their dynamic after last year’s midseason finale saw the two surgeons connect over their struggles with the horrific violence. A clip from the episode in which Denzell painfully asks Claire, “Can it be worth it, all this death?” leads perfectly into a preview from actor Joey for how this could play out.
“To have that relationship, that ally...
” he explained. “To know that someone else has been asking the same questions, someone else is going through the same thing as you..
. “Someone else is struggling, it just, you know, it lightens the load a little bit.” Unfortunately, Claire and Jamie embarked for Scotland at the end of the first half, though their stay may be temporary as they were sent to bury General Simon Fraser (Angus Macfadyen) in his homeland.
Even if they don’t return, Denzell’s bond with Claire could still help him overcome some of the biggest challenges he’s yet to face as America reaches one of its most turbulent eras in history. “I know that I can confide in Claire,” Joey told Starz. “And it just reassures you that what you’re doing is the right thing.
“Because I think on that huge scale when you’re seeing so much death, you’re like, ‘Am I even helping? Why am I here?’ “And so I think that’s gonna be a constant struggle with him. But that conversation with Claire reassures him that, yeah, you’re doing the right thing.” Whether or not Claire and Denzell reunite, the action will still be cutting back to America throughout the second half of season seven to check in on the Frasers’ new allies.
Denzell’s sister Rachel is also in for a struggle after connecting with Young Ian Murray (John Bell) only to see him leave with the Frasers to Scotland, so the emotional stakes are already as high as ever for the show’s epic return this November. Outlander season 7, part 2 premieres Sunday, November 22 on Starz..
