Murtagh Fitzgibbons Fraser quickly became one of the most beloved characters among Outlander fans. This popularity motivated the producers of the series to keep him around for more episodes and even give him a more prominent role, despite his rather early death in the books during the Battle of Culloden.
Momentarily ignoring the obvious changes made to Murtagh thanks to his prolonged presence in the show, the showrunners decided to retain his main traits so that he could still be true to his convictions as a guardian and confidant for Jamie. Actor Duncan Lacroix nails all the mannerisms present in the book and more, managing to charm fans who expected the Outlander characters to be faithful to the way they were written by Diana Gabaldon. Here are ten ways Lacroix perfectly nails and embodies the best of Murtagh.
He's Jamie's Loyal Protector
One of Murtagh's main characteristics is his devotion to Jamie. The love of his life was Ellen, Jamie's mother, he wanted to honor her with an unwavering oath. By becoming Jamie's godfather, Murtagh promised Ellen to protect his godson with his life.
Murtagh vowed to follow Jamie, protect his back and serve him whenever he needed help. Duncan Lacroix owned the character, making the audience realize that he is a father figure to Jamie.
He's Always True to his beliefs
This character always fights for his peers, for his beliefs and for his culture. While he is often seen enjoying the festivities, the Scottish customs, and especially the food and drink, he also fights valiantly for his people no matter if his life is in danger.
In the Ardsmuir prison, after the battle of Culloden, Murtagh is shown holding a tartan, which is associated with Scottish traditions. The character was at risk of being punished for keeping this piece, but he didn't care, he needed to feel close to his origins.
His Undying Love
Murtagh loved Ellen, Jamie's mother, and wanted to court her at Castle Leoch, but she chose Brian Fraser. Murtagh's love for her never ceased, so he decided to become Jamie's protector.
Duncan Lacroix moves the audience in the scene he shares with Caitriona Balfe, where he confesses his love for Ellen Fraser and how he wanted to impress her with a wild boar bracelet.
He's A Trustworthy Man
Duncan Lacroix conveys trust through his character, not to everyone of course, because his character can also be quite sullen. But especially so, since he's Jamie and Claire's right-hand man when they need him.
Jamie never doubted asking his godfather for a favor and Murtagh never betrayed his godson's trust. He is one of the characters who knows most of Jamie's secrets, and his godson does not hesitate to tell him his plans and ask for help and advice.
He's An Honorable Man
Murtagh Fitzgibbons Fraser is respected by Jamie, Claire, Brianna, Fergus and all his Scottish countrymen. His loyalty to his family and friends allows them to see him as an honest, honorable and upright man.
Duncan Lacroix continues showing these personality traits during the fourth and fifth seasons, which is when he joins the group of regulators to defend the rights of his fellow countrymen.
He Can Be Very Vindictive
Murtagh always has a bad face or a sullen attitude towards those who hurt their loved ones. In addition, this Scot never forgets, so he maintains a certain rivalry with some characters. For example, he is unable to forgive Sir John Grey for the years he spent in prison.
Gentleness is not his greatest virtue, nor will he stand idly by if someone hurts his family; he will be the first to go out and avenge any affront. For his part, Duncan Lacroix knows how to balance the character between the vengeful part and the loyal personality to make it credible to the audience.
He Has A Powerful Presence
Duncan Lacroix has a powerful presence that is noticeable on screen even when he doesn't have any dialogue. Murtagh is one of the most beloved characters in the book series, so it was important to find an actor who could master these mannerisms.
Although Murtagh considers himself a simple man, he goes far beyond this description. He is a strong character because of his intelligence, acumen, education, loyalty and honesty. He also shows great wisdom by preferring to observe rather than say everything he thinks.
He's A Trusted Confidant
Murtagh is one of the few characters who knows that Claire is from the future. For Jamie and Claire, it wasn't a problem that he knew, because they know they can trust all their secrets to Murtagh.
Despite all the trust, Jamie did not confess to his godfather about the child he had in England; this hurt Murtagh, but he quickly understood that he couldn't know everything about Jamie and that he had to respect his decisions.
His Respect for Women
Not all the characters in Outlander show respect for women because of the time period in which the story takes place. Although Duncan Lacroix's character is not exactly a gentleman, he still treats the ladies with respect.
With Claire, he creates a great friendship from the beginning and is nice to her, even though Claire is a strong woman who doesn't fit the pre-established roles at the time. He never denigrates her or puts labels on what she should do or be.
His Worth
Murtagh is one of the most important people in Jamie's life, and the character's worth is evident in the books and the show as well. Duncan Lacroix nailed every mannerism to capture the value of his character.
Without Jamie, Murtagh wouldn't be the same; but Jamie wouldn't have achieved all that he did without the constant support and protection of his godfather. Season five gave Murtagh a chance to prove his loyalty to Jamie one last time. At that moment, it was evident how much the two characters loved each other, as a father and son relationship.