Despite a few pretty horrendous mistakes along the way, Lizzie Wemyss has been Brianna's devoted servant on Outlander since Season 4. Although Caitlin O'Ryan's character is often only shown in relation to the Fraser-McKenzie family, there have been some clues that suggest she could have her own storyline in Outlander Season 6. (And if Diana Gabaldon's books are any indication for what's in store, it's going to be a wild ride.)
Warning: Spoilers for Book 6, A Breath of Snow and Ashes, follow.
In Gabaldon's A Breath of Snow and Ashes, Lizzie enters into a rather unorthodox relationship with Josiah and Keziah Beardsley (played by Paul Gorman in the series). Unorthodox meaning... she ends up marrying both brothers. Yep, you read that right — she enters a polyamorous marriage with Jo and Kezzie. (Perhaps she was inspired by Claire, just kidding.)
While the relationship begins on a pretty upsetting note (Lizzie doesn't realize she's sleeping with both of the identical brothers), she does fall in love with both of them equally, and eventually becomes pregnant. Not being able to tell which of them is the father, she and the twins figure out a way for the three of them to enter a union together.
While this plot seems like an easy one for Outlander to skip, the people behind the Starz series have recently been dropping hints that it could happen in Season 6. And, depending on how the beginning of the relationship is approached on the show, it could serve as a break from some of the more distressing storylines that we know are coming our way.
So, will this throuple come to fruition? Here's all the evidence that suggests its just around the corner.
Something "Great" Is Coming For Lizzie
During the virtual PaleyFest LA panel with the cast and producers, executive producer Maril Davis said that "Caitlin [O'Ryan], who plays Lizzie, has a great story" coming up in Season 6.
Admittedly, that's not the most to work with, but what other "great story" could Davis be referencing? Unless, like the UK's Express theorized, Lizzie is taking over Malva Christie's storyline (please, Outlander, don't do Lizzie dirty like that), the only and most obvious answer is Lizzie's marriage to the Beardsleys.
Lizzie Is Already Looking For A Partner
On the Outcasts podcast with David Berry (Lord John Grey) and Tim Downie (Governor Tryon), O'Ryan explained that what drives Lizzie is a sense of security. And, in part because of the time period she lives in, she equates security with having a man.
"Lizzie seeing Brianna's relationship with Roger, and Marsali's relationship, and Jamie and Claire's — I think she sees that and she's like, 'OK, I want me a piece of that,'" O'Ryan said with a laugh. "Therefore in any scene, she's always weighing up, 'Is this a potential [partner]?'"
Even though she's not in a ton of scenes, O'Ryan has been perfectly setting up Lizzie to find love. And based on her eagerness, entering a relationship with two men wouldn't necessarily feel far-fetched even if it's shocking for modern fans and the 18th-century community at Fraser's Ridge.
The Prominence Of The Beardsley Twins
When considering screen time in Season 5, it certainly feels like the show is teeing up Kezzie and Jo to have some significance in the next season. Recent storylines like Jamie and Claire ensuring their freedom or Claire removing their tonsils all come from Book 5, The Fiery Cross.
Other prominent Fraser's Ridge residents in the books, like the Bugs, haven't gotten such treatment on the show, so it stands to reason that the Starz adaptation is setting up Gorman's characters for another big moment... say, a marriage with Lizzie?
The Season 5 Deleted Scene
In honor of the Outlander Season 5 Blu-ray, DVD, and digital releases, Sony hosted an Outlander End of Summer Series featuring deleted scenes that will appear on the digital release. The Sept. 13 episode wrapped with a Jo and Lizzie scene (above) where Lizzie mistakes Jo for Kezzie and the teenagers clumsily interact.
O'Ryan and Gorman introduced the "Outlander Untold" scene and teased a potential romance for their characters in Season 6. O'Ryan said, "I would keep eyes peeled for what may happen cause, who knows?"
Gorman added, "Think we could be the hottest couple on the Ridge..." (Not so fast, Gorman, Jamie and Claire are still around.) While Gorman could have been strictly talking about Lizzie and Jo, don't doubt for a second that it won't be Lizzie, Jo, and Kezzie.
The people behind Outlander aren't going to give up any Season 6 storylines outright, but these clues certainly point to the marriage happening. As O'Ryan told Outcasts, "... No spoilers for anyone who hasn't read the books, but I know that [Lizzie's] end goal is quite surprising and I'm so excited to play that if the scenes get written." Well, consider all of us excited.
Images: Starz