Show Percy vs Book Percy
Oh my God. What did they do to Percy.
I should start with the casting. Perhaps the actor was not the right fit. I don't have anything against Michael Lindall, he's a perfectly good actor. Quite possibly miscast, but the main culprit is the show. The show took him off to a particular place, so it's the whole production of the character that seems off to me.
For a start, he is supposed to be beautiful (John) and handsome (Lady Joffrey and Claire). They made no attempt to do that, with his hair pulled back. WRONG. In fact the actor's natural hair is closer to the mark. Clipped short and curly.
The clothes. In S7 he was in a French uniform. WRONG. In S8 he was in an ugly brown suit. WRONG. I wanted silk and lace and colour and stripes and silver buckled shoes and beauty spots on his cheek. PLEASE GET IT RIGHT!
Demeanor. Book Percy is sweet, charming, amusing, agreeable and deferential. He charms Claire, he charms everyone at Lady Jonas' salon. Show Percy has no charm at all. He seems slippery and is unlikable.
In S7 John revealed all about his stepbrother to Jamie and Claire, EVEN THE NAME PERSEVERANCE. WRONG WRONG.
The Kiss. Book John did not answer the kiss. He 'did not pull away' There's a difference. WRONG again.
I just hated seeing a wheedling sniveling show Percy at the hands of Richardson. Book Percy was just plain scared (and possisbly tortured).
Angry John forcing Percy to write a retraction of the confession. NOT IN THE BOOK.
Left out entirely John's visit to the Black Chamber (in Echo) where he blabs ALL PERCY'S SECRETS. And is informed Percy's file is missing (Red flag there John, did you notice?).
The hand on the thigh. Gripping hard. Book Percy never did that. WRONG.
Percy shooting himself and slumping to the floor (off camera). NOT IN THE BOOK. BUT we did not actually witness his death first hand. So they could bring him back in a S9, but really, who would want to see him?
And we never got to see any of Percy's moments of kindness. Giving a purse of money to Claire to pass on to Marsali. Rescuing Clarence the mule from the teamster.
They made him a one dimensional, unlikeable character. Sure, Percy has flaws, but Percy is actually a lot more complex than that.
And they didn't include my favourite line from the book.
"Not so fast, Buttercup."
I'm not impressed. Worst character representation in the whole of Outlander. There. I said it.
