The Outlander series has captivated millions with its sweeping romance, rich history, and unexpected twists. However, one storyline has left fans divided and puzzled: the story of Faith Fraser. From her tragic birth in Season 2 to the controversial twist in Season 7, Faith’s narrative raises plot holes and inconsistencies that continue to spark debates. In this article, we dive deep into 7 shocking Outlander Faith Fraser plot holes, exploring the core issues, fan reactions, and why the series remains beloved despite them.
What Makes Outlander So Captivating Yet Confusing?
Outlander has always balanced romance, historical accuracy, and occasional magical realism, which keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. However, the series’ complexity often leads to confusion.
- Layered timelines: Multiple time periods and characters interacting across decades make it difficult to maintain a flawless continuity.
- Character depth: Strong characters like Claire and Jamie evoke deep emotional investment, making plot inconsistencies more noticeable.
- Unexpected twists: While these twists add drama, they can introduce plot holes, especially when they contradict earlier events.
The story of Faith Fraser exemplifies this tension perfectly. Introduced as a stillborn daughter of Claire and Jamie, her later “resurrection” in Season 7 sparked widespread debate among fans about plausibility and narrative coherence.
Plot Hole 1: Faith Fraser’s Sudden Disappearance
One of the most shocking moments in Outlander is Faith Fraser’s disappearance after her birth. In Season 2, Claire delivers Faith, who is tragically stillborn. The moment is heart-wrenching, as Claire holds her child in her arms, marking a pivotal emotional moment.
However, in Season 7, viewers learn that Mother Hildegarde secretly handed Faith to Master Raymond, who used unknown powers to revive her. This sudden twist is jarring and raises critical logical and emotional questions:
- How did the baby survive undetected?
- Why was such a dramatic, life-altering event hidden from Claire and Jamie?
- Does this retcon undermine the emotional weight of the original tragedy?
Many fans view this as a classic plot hole, as it contradicts the carefully constructed heartbreak of Season 2.
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Plot Hole 2: Timeline Confusion Around Faith Fraser
The timeline surrounding Faith Fraser’s story presents major inconsistencies. In the original event:
- Claire confirms Faith’s death with the nuns.
- The stillborn baby is assumed dead for hours or even a day.
Season 7 then retcons this timeline:
- Master Raymond supposedly revives Faith shortly after birth.
- Faith grows up in a different time period, separate from her parents.
This creates confusion about the sequence of events. How could a baby, pronounced dead, be revived without modern technology? The medical and logical implausibility stretches the limits of viewers’ suspension of disbelief. Even within Outlander’s magical realism, many fans find this scenario hard to accept.
Plot Hole 3: Unexplained Motivations

Another major issue lies in unexplained character motivations. For example:
- Mother Hildegarde secretly giving Faith to Master Raymond lacks a clear rationale.
- Master Raymond’s powers and intentions remain partially unexplained.
- Fanny Beardsley’s knowledge of the 20th-century song “I Do Like to Be Beside the Seaside,” which Claire sang only to newborn Faith, creates further inconsistencies.
These gaps leave viewers questioning why characters act in certain ways and how these actions fit into the larger narrative. Unexplained motivations like these are a key plot hole, as they disrupt the story’s internal logic.
Plot Hole 4: Contradictory Events
Outlander has a history of contradictory events, and Faith Fraser’s storyline is no exception. Consider these examples:
- In Season 2, Faith’s death is confirmed multiple times.
- In Season 7, the same event is retconned as if she survived.
- Certain reactions and storylines assume Faith never existed, creating contradictions with previous seasons.
These contradictions can frustrate dedicated fans, especially those who follow both the show and Diana Gabaldon’s book series. It challenges the consistency of the plot, a core element for any long-running narrative.
Plot Hole 5: Overlooked Backstory Details
Faith’s backstory has several glaring omissions:
- The show does not fully explain how Faith grew up after being rescued by Master Raymond.
- The social, historical, and emotional consequences of her survival are largely ignored.
- Key interactions and formative experiences that could justify later actions are skipped.
By overlooking these details, the narrative leaves viewers with questions about how Faith’s character developed and why certain events occur later in the story. Overlooked backstory details are classic hallmarks of plot holes in complex series like Outlander.
Plot Hole 6: Faith Fraser’s Inconsistent Relationships
Faith Fraser’s relationships with other characters are inconsistent and poorly explained:
- If Faith grew up separately, how does she remember specific songs, events, or people from her early life?
- The interactions she has in Season 7 often conflict with prior character experiences.
- This inconsistency makes her relationships feel artificial or forced.
Fans often note that contradictions in character interactions create a disconnect, reducing emotional impact. Faith’s storyline is a prime example of how relationship inconsistencies can undermine viewer engagement.
Plot Hole 7: The Mystery That Was Never Resolved

Finally, the Faith Fraser plot leaves several unresolved mysteries:
- How did Master Raymond acquire the ability to revive Faith?
- What were the consequences of her survival in the broader historical timeline?
- Why were Claire and Jamie completely unaware for decades?
The author clarification adds to this confusion. Diana Gabaldon, the original book series author, has confirmed that while she provided a kernel of this idea, Faith’s revival does not and will not happen in the books. This divergence between show and source material leaves fans debating what is canon and what is purely a TV retcon.
Why Fans Still Love Outlander Despite Plot Holes
Despite these issues, Outlander remains a beloved series. Here’s why:
- Exceptional storytelling: The love story between Claire and Jamie transcends inconsistencies.
- Strong character development: Characters like Claire, Jamie, and supporting roles are deeply compelling.
- Visual and historical richness: The settings, costumes, and attention to period detail keep viewers engaged.
- Fan theories and discussions: Plot holes like Faith’s storyline fuel ongoing fan engagement, speculation, and discussion.
Even with logical implausibilities, fans continue to enjoy the emotional depth and dramatic intensity of the show.
Final Thoughts: Understanding the Faith Fraser Plot Holes
Faith Fraser’s storyline is one of the most debated aspects of Outlander. From her stillbirth in Season 2 to the controversial Season 7 retcon, these plot holes raise questions about logic, character motivation, and emotional consistency.
Key points to remember:
- Medical & logical implausibility challenges the believability of her survival.
- Timeline contradictions create confusion about the sequence of events.
- Emotional impact of the original tragedy is undermined for some fans.
- Unresolved mysteries and inconsistencies spark fan theories and debates.
Despite these issues, Outlander continues to thrill audiences worldwide, proving that even significant plot holes cannot overshadow the love, adventure, and drama that define the series.
FAQs
Does Claire and Jamie’s daughter Faith survive?
In the original Season 2 event, Faith is stillborn, confirmed by Claire and the nuns. In Season 7, a retcon reveals she was secretly saved by Master Raymond, creating a controversial plot twist.
What is the saddest Outlander episode?
Many fans consider Season 2’s Faith Fraser birth and death the saddest moment due to its emotional weight and impact on Claire and Jamie.
What actually happened to Faith in Outlander?
Faith was born stillborn, but Season 7 retcons the story: Mother Hildegarde gave her to Master Raymond, who revived her. This creates a major plot hole due to medical and logical implausibility.
How did fans react to Faith’s storyline?
Reactions are mixed: some enjoyed the twist, while others criticized it for undermining past trauma and creating logical inconsistencies.
Did Jamie and Claire have a baby named Faith?
Yes, in the original timeline, they did. However, the baby died at birth, making her survival in later seasons controversial.
Was Master Raymond a time traveler?
Master Raymond possesses unexplained abilities, including reviving Faith, but the series does not explicitly label him a time traveler. His powers are part of the magical realism of the show.


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