'Outlander' Season 4 Air Date, Spoilers: Is Stephen Bonnet Really as Bad as They Say?

Stephen Bonnet, portrayed by “Downton Abbey” alum Ed Speleers, could become “Outlander” season 4's big bad. Fans of Diana Gabaldon's novels would know that Stephen Bonnet has a dark side that goes far deeper than what we got from the season's latest trailer.

The trailer shows Bonnet warning Jamie and Claire Fraser about the surrounding woods filled with thugs and thieves. He is shown as young and mischievous, almost harmless when compared to the stature of Jamie Fraser. Just based on what's shown in current preview material, Bonnet seems to be a small-time troublemaker in the trailer rather than what he could potentially be – a force of history that would change the life of one the Fraser family members.

While initially making his debut as the fresh-faced protagonist Eragon in the movie of the same name, Ed Speleers is no stranger to playing characters with a shady part of their personality. Playing James Kent in “Downton Abbey,” we saw Speleers as a character with ambition and who was ready to discredit Alfred Nugent just to become the first footman. This history of playing such wily and devious characters will serve Speleers well for portraying Stephen Bonnet.

If the character of Stephen Bonnet remains true to the rotten core of the novel's Bonnet, we can expect Speleers to be challenged with delivering a villain that “Outlander” fans would love to hate.

“Outlander” fans won't have to wait much longer for the North Carolina stories of the Frasers. Fans might even get a treat with Brianna Fraser and Roger Mackenzie potentially joining the older Fraser couple in the past. And fans are assured that wherever the Frasers decide to settle down in season 4, Stephen Bonnet is just around the corner to make their lives a bit more difficult than usual.

“Outlander” season 4 will premiere this fall.