Outlander fans have been sharing their thoughts on the highs and lows of the Frasers’ journey so far, with one character in particular being slammed as ‘infuriating’
Outlander’s sixth season has sparked controversy among its fanbase, with one particularly disgruntled viewer expressing that a character “deserves a slap”.
In the fourth season, time-travelling Claire (played by Caitriona Balfe) and her Highlander beau Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan), along with their kin, journey to America.
They eventually make North Carolina their home, founding a settlement they dub Fraser’s Ridge, which has been central to much of the family’s drama and conflict in recent seasons.
With the second instalment of season seven set to premiere later this month, enthusiasts have been reflecting on the Frasers’ saga to date.
Season six saw the introduction of the Christies, a new family whose presence stirs up strife, particularly when young Malva (Jessica Reynolds) wrongfully accuses Jamie of fathering her child, reports the Daily Record.
“This infuriates me the most,” vented one fan on Reddit. “This is in my top 3 most hated storylines lol probably my most hated one because it feels so wrong.
“Sometimes I play the last one back a couple times just to watch Claire slap the hell outta Malva.”
In the contentious scene where Malva confesses falsely, Claire is overcome with emotion and strikes her in defence of her spouse.
Malva’s role as an antagonist has split viewers, especially as they discover her own harrowing past of mistreatment by her brother, Allan Christie (Alexander Vlahos).
One viewer was in full agreement with the criticism, mentioning: “This whole season was so implausible I almost stopped watching the series.”
A second shared similar feelings: “I hated the whole storyline because how many episodes was wasted on that? Like half the season? I forgot. But, sooooooooo much more we could have gotten from other more important storylines.”
Chipping in, another added: “I read the books and I knew what was coming so when this was airing I had to quit watching,” and continued, “I just couldn’t get through this and I had a difficult time this go around too.”
Yet some viewers held a different view, expressing compassion towards Malva and praising the season’s writing.
One person remarked: “I have so much sympathy for Malva. Her storyline is heartbreaking.”
Keeping up the defence, another stated: “Once you learn how f****d up her life has been, you get a little bit of sympathy back.”
Lastly, a different fan contributed: “Honestly, phenomenal writing and acting… This scene has you hating her and it feels justified that Claire slaps her. You know she’s lying but why does she want to hurt Claire?”
They concluded by saying: “Then you learn the real reason later and it’s like, maybe Malva used the narrative people would believe, not the one that was true.”
Do you reckon this storyline stands out as a series gem, or should it be skipped in future rewatches?
