The latest episode of Outlander: Blood of My Blood carried an especially emotional note, closing with a dedication to actor Brian McCardie, who passed away unexpectedly in April 2024.
McCardie played Isaac Grant, the formidable clan chieftain whose influence complicates the lives of Colum (Seamus McLean Ross), Dougal (Sam Retford), Ellen (Harriet Slater), and the MacKenzie family. His character is also central to a romantic conflict: Isaac’s son Malcolm (Jhon Lumsden) is promised to Ellen, putting him at odds with Brian Fraser (Jamie Roy).
Showrunner Matthew B. Roberts explained that episode four marked McCardie’s final appearance, making it the natural choice for the tribute. “He was in it quite a bit, and it was his last one,” Roberts said. “We felt like that was the appropriate episode to dedicate — and to say goodbye.”
Roberts praised McCardie’s presence on screen, noting, “Every scene he was in, he just brought the level up. You’d watch him and think, ‘I want to see more of him.’”
Despite having more storylines originally written for Isaac Grant, the producers have chosen not to recast the role. “It wasn’t even a thought,” Roberts said. “He was so fantastic. We’re not doing that.” Producer Maril Davis added, “It was such a shock. He was a beloved person on set, and I’m so glad we were able to keep his performance in there.”
Instead, the writers created a new character to carry parts of Grant’s planned arc. “We had to take a parallel road,” Roberts explained. “It won’t be the same storyline we intended, but it allows us to continue the narrative in a different way.”
New episodes of Outlander: Blood of My Blood premiere Fridays on Starz.
