Malva managed to change the subject while talking to Jamie in Outlander Season 6, Episode 3. What exactly is she trying to avoid talking about?
Claire has questions about Malva. The young girl is about 18, and now it seems she’s curious about her parentage. Claire spent some time trying to figure out whether Tom could be her father based on his time in Ardsmuir.
Jamie decided to do some sly digging. He asked Malva about her mom, making sure that she and Allan do have the same mother. That is certainly the case, which does bring up more questions about whether Tom could be her father or not. It’s clear Malva knows something and she isn’t sharing.
Is Tom really Malva’s father in Outlander?
Claire notes that Tom was in Ardsmuir before Jamie got there and was there until the prison was closed. Jamie then confirmed that Tom was sent to finish his sentence in the Colonies as an indentured servant like the others. In the books, that was a seven-year sentence. In the series, we’re told it was 14 years.
We know Jamie left Ardsmuir in 1756, which would have been the same time as the others. So, Tom was in the Colonies until 1770 assuming that he did have to serve 14 years. There are some major inconsistencies here considering we know that two men joined Jamie in Scotland, so it’s more likely to be seven years. That would take Tom to 1763.
The new episode gave us an idea of the date that Claire and Jamie are currently around. The Boston Tea Party happened on Dec. 16, 1773. We can assume it would take a month for them to get the news, so we’re likely in January 1774. For Malva to be around 18, that would mean she was born around 1756.
So, it is possible for Malva to be Tom’s daughter, but it’s highly unlikely.
Let’s remember that Jamie says Tom likely got word that his wife died while he was in Ardsmuir. If that was the case, then how are Malva’s parents Allan’s mom and Tom? So, if Malva and Allan have the same mom, this means Tom isn’t Malva’s father after all.
(And we don’t even need the books to give us the answer here, but there is a story to come.)
What do you think about how the Christies’ storyline is playing out? What would you like to see play out in Outlander Season 6? Share your thoughts in the comments below.