Courtesy of Starz
This post contains mild spoilers from Friday's "Outlander: Blood of My Blood." Please proceed accordingly.
They didn't call Lovat "The Old Fox" for nothing.
In this week's "Outlander: Blood of My Blood," Simon (played by Tony Curran) exhibits some of his legendary and deadly cunning, identifying Margaret Grant (Erin Shanagher) as someone who might be a status-raising, politically expedient future wife.
"They obviously like each other and have a bit of a spark," Curran tells me when we chat about the episode. "But yeah, she is a more affluent woman." And therefore, Simon's wheels start turning. By the end of the episode, his current wife, Julia (Hermione Corfield) starts to suspect that he may be plotting her death in order to clear the path for a new missus.
Naturally, we wanted to hear what Curran had to say about Simon as he starts to achieve everything he wants. Read on as the actor — whose previous credits include "The Flash," "Mary & George," and "Your Honor" — gives us the scoop on Lovat's latest aspirations.
TVLINE | We see Lovett at the investiture. He's got his new outfit on. But he's not a comfortable man in that room.
TONY CURRAN | No. That's a great point, actually.
TVLINE | So talk to me about how he's gotten the thing he wanted, but there's still this unease in him.
He's not a bad guy, you know. [Laughs] He just needs a hug! He's definitely so insecure. And, at the same time, there's a real drive in him, a real strength to be accepted, to be wanted. 'Cause he's fallen, you know. He did fall off his high perch. [Castle] Leathers is a bit of a mess, the wallpaper's crumbling, and the brickwork and everything. His clothes are a bit raggedy. He's all nervous about what he's gonna wear to the investiture. But yeah, he's a very egotistical man, and he cares what people think. But on the other hand, he doesn't give a monkey's what they think, you know, as long as he gets to where he thinks he belongs. That is the main thing. And seeing Lady Margaret there is another stepping stone or chance to more affluence and more power.
TVLINE | We've seen how he talks to the women in his life, Davina and Julia, and then how he acts with Margaret. She actively pushes him away at one point, and not only is he kind of into it, he resorts it. Talk to me about the differences in how he views the women in his life.
First and foremost, she's a lady, and a lady of affluence, which is, more important [to him]. He obviously has that conversation with Malcolm, talking about uniting the clans, and how it might be beneficial to both parties if that was to be the case. Although, when Malcolm sees us together on the stairwell, he's not best pleased. [Laughs] Get a room! Get a room, for God's sake!...They all know what Lovat's like, and the way he's treated people and and women in the past... We'll see, we'll see how this goes, if it's beneficial for [Margaret], as well.
'I thought that they hated me. Now they despise me even more!'
Courtesy of Starz
TVLINE | Lovat shifts alliances so easily and, as you said, is always looking out for what will help him climb. In your opinion, what's actually important to him, in a fundamental way?
I think a lot of it, with the seer and this prophecy, a legacy appears to be important to Lovett: that his name, his good name, not be dragged through the mud anymore, and he rises above to the upper echelons of society. And to go back to where he should be.
To go back to — there's the attire that he wears at the investiture. It's a very different Lovat. And he seems to love it — no pun intended — but he's become even more insufferable! [Laughs] I don't know if you've ever met anybody like Lovat. I mean, I've met people with tendencies that Lovat has, and they don't ever think they're wrong. They're basically narcissists. If you've ever had one of those come into your life, they're a piece of work, man. They never really think they're wrong, and they're very good at shifting things and behaving in a way that gives them more power and makes other people out to be the gaslighters. He's a gaslighter!... He's an uncompromising son of a gun, and he's fun to play.
TVLINE | Let's talk about a few episodes back, when Simon poisons Ellen and Julia, and does it with a smile on his face. That is twisted.
I remember reading that episode and I was like, "Oh Jesus, I thought that they hated me. Now they despise me even more!" [Laughs]
It's a very dark side of human nature, if you can call Lovat part of that, but it's what he does. The writing is so much fun. He is a catalyst of sorts within this incredible story. He drives people to drink! He drives people to the grave! [Laughs]
TVLINE | Julia ends this episode thinking that Lovat might kill her so he can be free to marry Margaret. Do you think he's capable of that?
I mean, he has destroyed a woman's womb, my daughter-in-law, apparently. And he's had other people [killed] — our poor reverend.
TVLINE | I completely forgot about Simon's having the reverend killed! Nevermind! He'll do whatever to get whatever he wants!
Wouldn't it be interesting if there was a moment where he gave Julia an option, like "Run. Go, never come back." And of course, that would be great if she could travel back in time. But for her to travel back in time, subsequently we've found out, she's gonna have to be with child — with Henry's child, 'cause he's a traveler. But if she becomes pregnant again, that's not gonna be very good for me. Look at what I did to Ellen! I want the last of my line, I don't want any other procreation happening that is gonna mess up the, the prophecy, as it were, So, she's in a bit of a pickle.
