Outlander season seven saw William Ransom become a major player
The seventh season of the popular Starz historical drama, Outlander, concluded recently, much to the sadness of its fans. The season featured an extended run of 16 episodes, drawing from Diana Gabaldon’s novels A Breath of Snow and Ashes and An Echo in the Bone.
One of the major developments in the season was the introduction of a grown-up William Ransom, portrayed by Charles Vandervaart, who is now serving in the British army in America.
With the explosive conclusion to season seven, which saw Claire Fraser (Caitríona Balfe) question whether her and Jamie’s (Sam Heughan) firstborn daughter Faith was still alive, some are now wondering about William’s parentage.
Here’s a refresher on the backstory of his mother, Geneva Dunsany, played by Hannah James, and the circumstances surrounding William’s conception.
Jamie became an indentured servant at the English estate of Helwater after being released from Ardsmuir Prison for his involvement in the Jacobite Rebellion. Known as Alexander MacKenzie or Mac the groom, he served the Dunsany family while concealing his true identity.
Despite his low profile, Jamie attracted the attention of the eldest Dunsany daughter, Geneva, who blackmailed him into sleeping with her before her marriage to a much older man.
She threatened to expose Jamie as a Jacobite if he refused, which would result in his dismissal from Helwater and potential return to prison.
Jamie complied with Geneva’s demands, only to discover later she had become pregnant with their child, despite his request for her to take precautions, reports the Express US.
By the time Geneva was due to give birth, she was married to Lord Ellesmere (James Cameron Stewart), who angrily declared the child illegitimate, knowing he was impotent. Tragically, Geneva died from blood loss post-delivery, and her parents arrived intending to take their grandson with them.
However, Lord Ellesmere, despite calling their daughter dishonourable, wanted to keep the child as his heir. A struggle ensued between Lord Ellesmere and the Dunsanys over the baby, with the nobleman threatening to drop the infant out of the window if Geneva’s parents didn’t back down.
Jamie intervened before his son could be harmed, shooting Lord Ellesmere dead and catching William. The Ellesmere family then took the child to be raised at Helwater, with Jamie keeping a close watch on the boy until the resemblance between them became too noticeable.
Jamie left Helwater with a heavy heart but reassured that his good friend Lord John Grey (David Berry) would care for William like his own son after becoming the child’s step-father. Jamie briefly spent some time with William when he visited Fraser’s Ridge with Lord John for a hunting trip.
The encounter brought both joy and sorrow to the Highlander, as he knew he could never reveal the truth to William for fear his son would lose his title and wealth.
William discovered the truth about his biological father in season seven – an inevitability given the similarities between him and Jamie becoming more pronounced over time.
Both Brianna MacKenzie (Sophie Skelton) and her mother Claire are aware of William’s true parentage, with Ian Murray (John Bell) also suspecting the truth. Outlander star Skelton previously shared her thoughts on Claire’s feelings towards Jamie’s illegitimate child, stating: “Regarding William, again I think this is something that pains Claire to this day and it wasn’t really Brianna’s secret to know.”
She added: “Wishes on deathbeds were made and she was told when the time was right. I think she can respect both the value of a promise and the value of timing.”
Skelton further commented on Brianna’s reaction to the revelation, saying: “At first, and at the young and complicated age she was when she found it, it wasn’t an easy one for her.”
Outlander is streaming on MGM+ via Prime Video now