It’s been confirmed that Tom Christie is coming to the Ridge in Outlander Season 6
In a Christmas Day Outlander video, Sam Heughan revealed that Tom Christie would indeed become a part of Fraser’s Ridge in the upcoming sixth season. He played a big role in the Outlander books, but how much of his story will we see in Outlander Season 6?
Let’s take a look at Tom Christie’s character in A Breath of Snow and Ashes to see what we might expect from him next season.
There will be spoilers from the book in this post.
Tom Christie and Jamie Fraser first met and were at odds at Ardsmuir Prison
Tom first popped up in The Fiery Cross, when Roger decided to let him settle on the Ridge since he was one of Jamie’s Ardsmuir men. However, it turned out that Tom and Jamie were far from friendly, and Tom only reluctantly followed Jamie’s lead after they became Freemasons.
Tom Christie is a staunch Presbyterian and a rather unlikeable man. He is stern, taciturn, and cross much of the time. He has two children: a son named Allan and a daughter named Malva, who we find out later is really his niece (the daughter of his first wife and his brother).
Tom is strongly opposed when Malva starts helping Claire in her medical practice. He especially dislikes her using ether as anesthesia, which he sees as akin to witchcraft. We find out eventually that he regularly beats Malva for this and other transgressions.
When Malva gets pregnant and blames Jamie for fathering her child, Tom tries to get Jamie to draw up a contract for maintenance of the child and naming it as one of his heirs. That does not go over well.
Things take a surprising turn when Malva is murdered and Claire is accused of it
Claire discovers Malva’s murdered corpse and tries to save her unborn child via caesarian but is found with the two dead bodies. The Browns’ Committee of Safety takes Claire to be tried. Jamie comes along, of course, to assure her safety, but so does Tom Christie.
Claire is eventually handed over to Governor Martin, and Jamie is unable to secure her release. Tom Christie comes before the governor and confesses to Malva’s murder. Why, you may ask? Because he’s in love with Claire. He confesses his love to her and tells her the truth of Malva’s parentage.
That is the last we see of Tom Christie in A Breath of Snow and Ashes. Jamie leaves with Claire, and they both expect him to be hanged for the murder.
We don’t know how much of this story will be in Outlander Season 6, but it could make for an interesting season. Sam mentioned a “power play” in the Christmas video, however, so his story could always take a different turn.
What direction do you think Tom Christie’s story will take? Tell us in the comments below.
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