After a year and a half of waiting, fans’Outlander were finally able to discover the rest of Claire and Jamie's adventures. Part 2 of season 7 started on Netflix on Saturday November 23, and fans will be able to find a new episode every week, the day after the American broadcast. If they were delighted to find their favorite heroes, with episodes which finally reconnect with everything we love in Outlander, some couldn't help but be shocked by a big change in the series. As Jamie, Claire and their nephew Ian finally return to Scotland, after many years, they find Jenny, Ian and their children in Lallybroch. A moving reunion, also for the actors as they confided to Tele-Leisureespecially since Ian senior is dying of a long illness. But it was Jenny who surprised fansOutlander, the actress who plays her having changed!
Outlander season 7, part 2: why Laura Donnelly had to be replaced as Jenny
In the first three seasons ofOutlander, Jenny Murray, Jamie's sister, was played by Laura Donnelly. But as the actress was unable to free herself to shoot scenes during season 4, the production had to resolve to delete the scene planned between Jenny and Brianna, at the time. For this second part of season 7, there is no question of doing without Jenny, Laura Donnelly was therefore replaced by actress Kristie Atherton. A change announced for many months by the production, but which nevertheless has difficulty getting through to fans ofOutlander.
Fans ofOutlander shocked by actress change to play Jenny Murray
On the American forum Reddit, many shared their impressions after the broadcast of the first episode of part 2 of season 7, dedicated to a deceased member of the team. And Jenny's change of actress made them angry. “The new Jenny was just horrible, it seemed like a parody. The game is so forced. I understand why they needed to recast the role, but she's not the right actress.”thus judged a fan. The change of performer disrupted viewing of the episode for some. “I understand the need but I hate when it's different actors, regretted another. It takes me out of the immersion I'm in when I watch the episode.” Other detail: “The wig, which takes me out of every scene with Jenny”.
“Lallybroch is not the same without Laura Donnelly”: fans ofOutlander miss the old Jenny
Not everyone is as harsh on actress Kristie Atherton, with some praising her performance on the contrary. “She did a good job replicating Jenny’s mannerisms”, thus estimated a spectator. “I felt like I couldn't quite get into the episode because of that. The new actress tried to replicate the mannerisms and she did well. But the original actress made me feel It made me miss it even more, because I kept telling myself that she would have been great in those scenes.” Indeed, fans ofOutlander cannot forget the actress Laura Donnelly, the first interpreter of Jenny. “The new Jenny is good, but it makes me realize how great the first one wasadded an Internet user. She managed to capture that energy between brother and sister, which doesn't change no matter how old you are. The new actress doesn't have that, but maybe she'll get better with time.”
As for another spectator, he regretted: “I'm sure Laura Donnelly is a busy actress, but I wish she had stayed for the two episodes we needed her for. Jenny's appearance in the fourth book is my favorite part of the book and, although I haven't read the current season's book, her presence is so strong as Jenny, it is felt. I like the new actress, but I've rewatched the show too many times for her to really be Jenny. Hats off to the new actress though, she did a good job given the situation. I didn't feel like I really saw Jenny, but it didn't bother me too much. But I think Lallybroch isn't the same without Laura Donnelly, so that's why I didn't really like the episode.” After this first episode, fans ofOutlander can expect upsetting scenes. Find out on Tele-Leisure the reaction of Sophie Skelton and Richard Rankin, who were separated for the first time during the filming of these episodes, and that of John Bell and Izzy Meikle Small, about the “love triangle” between Jan, Rachel and William.
