WARNING: This article contains spoilers from the Outlander TV series and books
The seventh season of r concluded with a shocking twist, suggesting Faith Fraser may have survived, contrary to her mother Claire Fraser’s (played by Caitríona Balfe) belief her baby daughter was stillborn.
Several hints pointed towards Faith being alive, notably Fanny Pocock (Florrie May Wilkinson) singing the 20th-century song I Do Like To Be Beside the Seaside – the same tune Claire sang to her deceased baby in the second season. Additionally, Claire discovered a gold locket with ‘Faith’ engraved on it, containing a portrait of the owner, leading her to question if this could be her and Jamie’s (Sam Heughan) daughter due to the shared name.
Many fans have turned to Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander novels, which form the basis for the Starz series, for answers about Faith, Jane Pocock (Silvia Presente), and Frances or ‘Fanny’ Pocock (Florrie May Wilkinson). The two sisters were the daughters of a mysterious character named Faith, who passed away when the girls were young.
Fanny, the younger sister of Philadelphia prostitute Jane, grew up in a brothel due to her older sister’s profession, sparking fears she too would one day have to sell her body.
Fanny and Jane Pocock’s mother was called Faith in Outlander (Image: STARZ)
[EXPLAINER]
In the novel Written in My Own Heart’s Blood, the villainous Captain Harkness, portrayed by Adam Jackson-Smith, bribes a brothel madam to deflower Fanny, only to be killed by Jane in an attempt to safeguard her younger sister. Later on, Jane crosses paths with William Ransom (Charles Vandervaart), whom she implores to protect her and Fanny, reports the .
The sisters are eventually taken to a Quaker Settlement by Rachel Hunter (Izzy Meikle-Small) but their safety is compromised when one of Captain Harkness’ acquaintances recognises Jane, the former prostitute. Jane is arrested for murder, with William and Jamie attempting to rescue her after her capture.
Fanny Pocock was saved by William Ransom (Image: STARZ)
Tragically, she commits suicide before she can be punished for the soldier’s murder.
Fanny, however, experiences a gentler fate than her sister, as she is taken to live on Fraser’s Ridge where she develops an interest in medicine under Claire’s mentorship. She is around the same age as Germain Fraser (Robin Scott) and Jem (Blake Johnston-Miller).
William Ransom helped the Pocock sisters in Outlander season 7 (Image: STARZ)
Outlander’s author Gabaldon has previously dismissed the theory Jane and Fanny’s mother Faith is the same person as Jamie and Claire’s daughter. Therefore, it appears in the novels, the two characters merely share a namesake and nothing more.
However, the TV series seems to be veering in a different direction. This wouldn’t be the first time the TV adaptation has deviated from the original books, as evidenced by the character Murtagh Fitzgibbons (Duncan Lacroix), who survives in the show despite dying at the Battle of Culloden in the novels.
Outlander is streaming on MGM+ now