Content Warning: This article contains mentions of rape.
Warning! SPOILERS about Outlander season 7, episode 4, and the Outlander books ahead.
Richard Brown was the main instigator of Fraser's Ridge's protest against Claire in Outlander season 6, but he was only briefly seen in the Outlander season 7 premiere. While Malva's murder and the perimortem C-section Claire performed on her to try and save her baby rattled all the settlers at Fraser's Ridge, they wouldn't have been as keen about taking it out on Claire if it weren't for Richard Brown. The Committee of Safety that he formed with his brother Lionel in Outlander season 5 caused problems instead of offering solutions and security, as they more often behaved like an angry mob rather than concerned citizens defending their properties.
However, Outlander season 6's ending increased the stakes in the feud between the Frasers and Brown, as not only he made sure all the counties they passed through knew about what Claire was accused of but also orchestrated a ploy to separate Jamie and Claire. By meticulously planning every aspect of Claire's trip from Fraser's Ridge to a tribunal that could judge the case, Richard Brown proved to be involved in planning the Frasers' fates, highlighting how it looked like a personal case rather than just one concerning security as he repeated. Despite leaving his fate somewhat ambiguous, the Outlander season 7 premiere hinted at what happened to Richard Brown.
Lionel Brown never respected Claire nor her role as a healer in the community at Fraser's Ridge, but only once he realized she published a column under the name Dr. Rawlings he decided to punish her. Overpowering Marsali and abducting Claire in Outlander season 5's finale quickly turned from accusations of witchcraft to a harrowing punitive mission against Claire, whom the group of men assaulted repeatedly with the precise intent of reminding her how they viewed her status as subaltern. When Jamie and the men of Fraser's Ridge finally saved Claire, they didn't intend to kill Lionel – but Marsali eventually did to protect her family and avenge Claire.
Despite Richard Brown making a point about not endorsing Lionel's actions, he reminded Jamie that Lionel was still his brother, no matter how despicable he was in Outlander season 5's finale. Malva's murder proved the perfect chance for Richard to hide behind the cover of justice to avenge his brother's death by taking it out on Claire. The Outlander season 7 premiere thus proved the lengths Richard Brown would go to ensure that Claire stayed in jail, indicating a personal stake in the fight, one that Richard actively pursued knowing the mob would have been against Claire's medical procedures, even if they were put in practice to save the baby.
