There have been numerous sadistic villains on television but there aren't many quite like Jonathan "Black Jack" Randall. The villain appeared in the first, second, and third seasons of Starz's time-travel series Outlander before dying in battle. Before his demise, he mostly enjoyed tormenting the protagonists' Claire Beauchamp and Jamie Fraser.
Randall earned the nickname "Black Jack" due to the dark nature of his soul. As an 18th century English commander, he was an ancestor to Claire's husband from the 20th century, Frank Randall. The two characters were both portrayed by Tobias Menzies. The following are Randall's most shocking and evil quotes in the series.
“I think It Was At That Moment, I Decided To Bleed Him To The Bone.”
In Season One's sixth episode titled "The Garrison Commander," Black Jack Randall had a rather bizarre chat with Claire during which he rehashed how he once gave a young Jamie 100 lashes. Randall had wanted Jamie to beg but he refused.
Randall thus reminisced how he whipped Jamie until his bones were visible because he was trying to act tough. He wouldn't stop beating Jamie until the protagonist eventually passed out. As Randall said this, he had a look of amusement on his face, thus making Claire realize the man he really was.
"Don't Play The Worm With Me, Jamie, I Just Want This To Be A Pleasant Experience For Us Both."
After Jamie made a deal with Randall to release Claire and he'd do whatever he wanted, Randall proceeded to sexually assault him. The commander had always been obsessed with Jamie and it was a bit strange that he expected the protagonist to enjoy the whole ordeal.
When he saw that Jamie wasn't showing any signs of reciprocation, he began telling him to calm down and just enjoy it. Of course, Jamie wouldn't do that, so Randall proceeded to harm him even more by smashing his hand with a mallet.
"I'm Afraid You're Going To Regret That Little Act Of Humanity"
During one of Claire's many arguments with Randall, she told him how she regretted sparing his life at Fort William when he was lying on the ground with no way to defend himself. Claire obviously wasn't a killer, so there was no way she would have ended Randall's life.
Claire also knew that Randall was an ancestor to her husband from the future Frank so this always gave her reservations about killing the man. But after continuing to see how evil he was, she regretted her missed chance. Randall gladly told her that she'd regret sparing his life too.
"What Is It Like To Be Alive, And Wear So Much Dead Flesh?"
In the fifteenth episode of Outlander's first season titled "Wentworth Prison," Randall decided to save Jamie from the hangman's noose. However, he had conditions of his own. He wanted Jamie to submit to him fully. If he did this, Claire would also be free.
Jamie was left with no option but to agree. While examining Jamie's torture scars, Randall made sure to make a sadistic remark about it. He wondered how Jamie felt after having endured so much torture. Interestingly, he was willing to mete out even more punishment to Jamie.
"The Pain, Fear, I Revel In It."
Randall said these words in Season 2's twelfth episode titled "The Hail Mary" after he chased Claire and caught her as she was trying to flee from the boarding house. Despite the fact that his brother Alex was sick and dying, Randall still found the time to be evil.
Randall wanted Claire to heal Alex but she didn't want to hear any of it. Eventually, she manages to strike up a bargain with the villain. She agreed to try and treat Alex if Randall gave her intel as to where Cumberland and the British Army were based. Surprisingly, Randall agreed to this trade.
"I Dwell In Darkness, Madam, And Darkness Is Where I Belong."
Most of Randall's best quotes came during his interactions with Jamie and Claire. During another chat with Claire, she called him out and told him that he was a very evil man. Randall didn't seem surprised, not even one bit.
He went on to brag how he enjoyed being an evil man and that he dwelled in doing dark things. Randall never had regrets about anything that he did and this is part of the reason why he was such a great villain.
"You're Not What I Ordered. But, You'll Do."
In Season 2's seventh episode titled "Faith," Black Jack Randall committed one of his worst acts yet. The villain caught a young Fergus stealing his lavender perfume and decided to sexually assault him. He claimed that the boy wasn't what he expected but he could still make use of him.
Jamie, who was nearby, happened to hear Fergus’ crying for help, so he rushed into the room and stopped Randall. He then challenged the sadistic commander. Claire was against the duel because she didn't want Randall to die just yet. It is this duel that would eventually send Jamie to prison.
“Jamie And I Created A Masterpiece. An Exquisite, Bloody Masterpiece. It Was The Most Beautiful Thing I’d Ever Seen.”
Randall always felt that he had a certain connection with Jamie and that, in a twisted way, both of them enjoyed whatever time they spent together despite the fact that most of these occasions involved him torturing the man. While still recalling how he once tortured a younger, resilient Jamie, Randall claimed that they created a masterpiece.
By this, he was referring to the hanging flesh on Jamie's back as well as the blood that was dripping down his body. It takes a truly evil person to think of that as a masterpiece. But this was Black Jack Randall. Nothing less could be expected of him.
"Tell Me, When You Lie Upon Your Wife And Her Hands Trace The scars on Your Back, Do You Ever Think Of Me?"
As Randall tormented Jamie at Wentworth Prison, he asked him if he thinks of him whenever he is with Claire. Interestingly, this was what later happened. Due to all the torture and sexual assault that Jamie had gone through at the hands of Randall, he kept having visions of the commander whenever he was trying to make love to Claire.
Torturing someone is already bad enough, but making fun of the trauma is something else altogether. It was impressive how Jamie managed to remain calm and not show Randall that his abuse and brutality were working.
"It's Quite Simple. Give Over To Me. Make Free Of Your Body And There Will Be No Second Flogging."
After Jamie had been severely flogged in Season One's twelfth episode titled "Lallybroch," Randall offered him a chance to end his suffering. He offered not to have him whipped again if he agreed to stop resisting him and just give in.
Kudos to Jamie as he would rather take more flogging than give Black Jack Randall what he wanted. The hero persevered a lot and that's why it was so satisfying when he finally killed Randall in Season 3's "The Battle Joined."