Why Malva Tried To Frame Jamie In Outlander Season 7

Malva Christie betrayed Claire by claiming that Jamie Fraser was the father of her baby in Outlander season 6—but was she really a villain or just a girl in a desperate situation? Malva and Claire had initially established a friendship, with the older serving as a sort of mentor to the younger. The girl was bright and curious, which are qualities that Claire is typically drawn to. This made Malva's betrayal in Outlander season 6 all the more devistating for Claire. She began to see Malva as an evil figure, and this made it far more difficult for Claire to claim innocence when Malva's corpse was found in the Fraser garden.

The whole, terrible situation began when Claire became severely ill in Outlander season 6. While she suffered from her fever, Claire saw Malva comforting Jamie, which led to a hallucination of the two being intimate with one another. Shortly after Claire recovered, Malva revealed that she was pregnant. Because she was a young unmarried woman, this was naturally a scandal, but things grew far more tense when Malva claimed that Jamie was the father of her child. Claire's world immediately fell apart. She couldn't understand why Malva would lie, but Outlander season 7 brought all the pieces together.

Malva Was Pregnant With Her Brother's Baby In Outlander

Allan Christie Needed Malva To Put The Blame On Someone Else

Outlander season 7 saw Claire taken away and imprisoned for Malva's murder. She likely would have been hanged before anyone could come to her rescue, but the early stages of the Revolutionary War meant Claire wasn't a priority. It was ultimately thanks to Malva's father, Tom Christie, that Claire was allowed to go free. The man claimed to have murdered Malva himself, but Claire didn't believe him. It was still a mystery to all who had murdered Malva and why she had lied about being pregnant with Jamie's baby. However, the return trip to Fraser's Ridge came with the reveal that Allan Christie was at the center of everything.

Allan, Malva's half-brother, had been obsessed with his sister. When Claire saw him by Malva's grave in Outlander season 7, he revealed that the baby had been his. Allan had raped Malva countless times without their father knowing. Malva's pregnancy risked his secret being exposed, so he forced her to claim that she had had an affair with Jamie. Allan hoped that the honorable James Fraser would use money to silence Malva, which would allow him, his sister, and their baby to live comfortably together without shame. Malva reluctantly went along with the plan, but she hated putting Claire through so much pain.

Malva Never Really Wanted To Hurt Claire Or Jamie

Malva Wasn't A Villain After All

Jessica Reynolds as Malva Christie in Outlander season 6

Claire came to see Malva as a villain in Outlander, but her opinion changed once she learned the truth about Allan. When Claire saw Malva approaching her home the day the girl was murdered, she locked herself inside and took a dose of ether to hide from the situation. What she didn't know was that Malva had planned to confess everything to Claire that day. She had told Allan that she couldn't stand to hurt Claire that way and wanted to come clean. The evil and deceitful young woman that Claire had come to imagine wasn't who Malva had ever truly been.

The evil and deceitful young woman that Claire had come to imagine wasn't who Malva had ever truly been.

Of course, this doesn't quite change that Malva had genuinely caused real damage. Tom Christie had discovered that Malva had used the corpse of a dead man to poison him and Claire, which is why their illnesses were so different from what had ailed others on Fraser's Ridge. Malva had done this by Allan's orders, since their initial plan had involved getting Claire and Tom out of the way to prey on Jamie's position. Malva was ultimately relieved that Claire had survived, however, and this was the beginning of the end regarding her passive acceptance of Allan's behavior.

Who Really Murdered Malva In Outlander Season 6

It Wasn't Claire Or Tom Christie

Tom Christie confessed and was arrested for Malva's murder in Outlander season 7, but neither he nor Claire was guilty. It was Allan himself who killed Malva while in a desperate rage to stop her from confessing all their secrets to Claire. It seemed that this was the first time that Malva had actually stood up to her brother. He had raped her for years and he ordered her to kill and lie to protect his own terrible deeds. However, when Malva could no longer stand to see Claire suffer, she told Allan that she would go to the Fraser house and confess everything to Claire. While Claire dosed herself with ether inside, Allan cut Malva's throat.

When Claire came to and went outside, Allan was gone. Malva was long dead, but Claire tried in desperation to save the baby by cutting it from the corpse. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough, and the surgery in the garden only made Claire look more guilty of murder. Allan confessed everything when Claire found him by Malva's grave in Outlander season 7. He had murdered the girl to stop her from sharing his secret, but this ironically meant he no longer had a reason to lie. It was ultimately Young Ian who dispensed justice against Allan. He died while kneeling at the graves of his sister and child.

What Malva's Murder Means Going Into Outlander Season 8

A Return To Fraser's Ridge Could Be Challenging

Though Malva died in Outlander season 6, her murder is sure to have a continued impact on the story going into season 8. This final season of the romantacy series will see Jamie and Claire go back to Fraser's Ridge after many months, and it will be interesting to see what they return to. While this isn't their first return after Malva's murder, their last stint at home ended when the house exploded with several men inside. Shortly after this, Young Ian was forced to shoot and kill Mrs. Bug in the house's rubble. In all, Fraser's Ridge has become a place rather haunted by Jamie and Claire's friends and enemies.

Fraser's Ridge has become a place rather haunted by Jamie and Claire's friends and enemies.

Jamie and Claire will have to restore Fraser's Ridge in Outlander season 8 and turn the place back into a home. The stain of Malva's deception and death will be built over, but Claire is unlikely to forget what this poor girl went through. She hadn't been entirely good—Malva had still poisoned Claire and caused devastation with her lies—but her circumstances allowed Claire to feel compassion for Malva all the same. Our Outlander protagonist couldn't save Malva, but her death is sure to serve as a motivation in season 8 as Claire does all she can to protect those she loves.

Outlander season 8 is expected to premiere near the end of 2025.