Caution: Spoilers for Outlander season 6 ahead.
Outlander season 6 has introduced several new characters, one of which is Malva Christie, who may be doomed to suffer the same grisly fate as her mother. Malva’s father, Mr. Christie, has often referenced Malva’s mother's demise, saying that it was her punishment for her wicked ways. And, with Malva seemingly engaging in similar behavior as her mother, namely, behavior that her father would not approve of, it seems like Malva may be heading toward a similar tragic end.
In recent episodes of Outlander, Malva has taken an interest in Claire and her powerful ability to heal. Noticing this, Claire has taken Malva on as her apprentice. However, Malva and Claire both know that Mr. Christie does not approve of some of Claire’s practices, even believing her once to be potentially guilty of witchcraft. Tangentially, Malva also revealed that her mother was once accused of witchcraft, and hanged for it.
Knowing that Mr. Christie is hypervigilant when it comes to the persecution of witchcraft, and suggesting once that Claire might be one herself (a repeated storyline in the world of Outlander) it seems likely that Malva, now Claire’s apprentice, is being set up to have the same unenviable fate as her mother: being hanged for witchcraft. Not only does Malva have an affinity for medicine, but, in Outlander season 6, episode 4, Malva also demonstrates a curiosity about sexuality after witnessing Jamie and Claire have sex after Jamie’s return from meeting with the Cherokee. Between Malva’s nonchalance around modern medicine and sex, it seems likely her father might soon suspect she’s been corrupted by wickedness, and that does not bode well for the intelligent young woman.
Ever since the Christie family arrived on Fraser’s Ridge, there’s been underlying darkness hiding beneath both Malva and her father Mr. Christie. While Outlander has shown how this darkness manifests in Mr. Christie, it remains to be seen how this will manifest in Malva. Perhaps as her curiosities about medicine and sex grow deeper, it’s possible that Malva may no longer be able to keep these curiosities a secret from her father, who already beats her constantly for her "sinful" ways. Mr. Christie accusing his daughter of witchcraft would be a natural progression for the characters, even if Malva’s story continues Outlander’s problematic sexual assault storylines.
And, if Malva’s proclivities are discovered by her father, then the only remaining bastion that stands in the way of her meeting the same fate as her mother would be Jamie Fraser. The Frasers and Mr. Christie have already repeatedly butted heads over how the Ridge should be governed, mainly due to Mr. Christie’s staunch religious strictures. Perhaps, with Malva’s life on the line for witchcraft, this power struggle would finally rear its ugly head one final time, as Jamie tries to protect his wife’s apprentice, while Mr. Christie would seek religious condemnation and “justice.”
With a shorter season on its hands, Outlander season 6’s new characters have already introduced several ongoing conflicts that are likely to have explosive, fiery climaxes as the season progresses. Just one of these threads is Malva Christie. While she may have the protection of the Frasers for now, Malva will have to tread carefully to avoid being found out by her father. Otherwise, it seems likely that she might suffer the same fate as her own mother.
New episodes of Outlander are released Sundays on Starz.