Outlander fans have continued picking apart the shocking conclusion to season seven, which totally upended everything we think we know about the Fraser saga.
In the latest chapter of the hit Starz drama, Claire (played by Caitriona Balfe) and Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan) found themselves in the thick of the American Revolution.
After being promoted to the rank of Brigadier General, Jamie plays a major role in the Battle of Monmouth whilst Claire puts her medical training to good use.
Viewers were on the edge of their seats when Claire was on the brink of death due to a severe gunshot wound, but it’s what happened during her recovery that has really got fans talking.
Season seven’s climax made the earth-shattering revelation that Claire’s stillborn baby Faith may have actually survived and mothered sisters Jane (Silvia Presente) and Frances ‘Fanny’ Pocock (Florrie May Wilkinson).
While Jane’s story tragically came to an end after she killed a British officer to protect her sister, Fanny is taken under the Frasers’ wing and is expected to play a major role in Outlander’s eighth season.
This unexpected twist has left fans reeling, particularly as it means Jamie’s illegitimate son William Ransom (Charles Vandervaart) may have slept with his half-niece.
One viewer recently fumed on Reddit: “I’m so irritated by this cliffhanger. The idea of Faith secretly being alive could’ve been an interesting story, if only it hadn’t connected to Jane and Fanny.”
They continued to highlight several issues with the narrative, particularly, “Jamie has yet another biological child he didn’t get to raise (aren’t two enough?)”
The post continued: “If it’s true, this adds so much tragedy to everyone’s lives. If it’s not true, it’s cruel to retraumatize Claire with the stillbirth from decades ago and give her false hope.”
Several viewers agreed in the comments, with some claiming it’s particularly insensitive to bring a stillborn baby seemingly back to life when thousands of mothers must grapple with the real-life tragedy.
“All of this—YES,” an impassioned user responded.
“And would just like to add that it totally undermines the depth and meaning of child loss being a part of Claire and Jamie’s storyline. Claire especially.
“That is such a dagger for women who were represented in that story, who also lost their babies. I kinda actually hate it?!”
Others have also pointed out that Diana Gabaldon’s original series of novels started to hint at the same storyline in the ninth entry, Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone.
“I actually DNF’d [did not finish] Bees when it started to hint at Faith having lived for this exact reason,” someone else replied.
“Her loss was a HUGE part of Jamie and Claire’s story. It shaped who they’d go on to become.
“It was rendered so viscerally and painfully, but beautifully. And now it’s gonna be some weird gimmicky ‘she’s alliiiiiiiivvvvvveeeee!’ moment?
“My friends are trying to convince me this is good. They haven’t succeeded yet.”
There’s always the chance that Claire will discover she was wrong to think Faith survived but, until the truth is unveiled in the eighth and final season, many Outlander fans have been left steaming over the latest development.
Outlander is available to watch on MGM+ via Prime Video in the UK and on Starz in the US.