Outlanders penultimate Season 6 episode is setting up plenty of drama ahead of the finale as Claire (Caitriona Balfe) and Jamie (Sam Heughan) face unexpected challenges in Sticks and Stones.

After the previous weeks Malva (Jessica Reynolds) death reveal tensions are at an all-time high on Frasers Ridge between the overseeing family and the Christies. Plus a shocking revelation about someone close to the Frasers could lead to even more trouble. Below were breaking down all of the episodes drama so beware of spoilers ahead.Opening with a brief flashback the episode begins with a scene featuring Malva as she informs the Ridges congregation of her pregnancy saying that the devil came to her in the form of a man seducing her and impregnating her. She asks the people for their mercy and hopes theyll show her and her child kindness despite knowing her baby is considered a bastard.

The action then cuts to the present as Jamie and Claire inform Tom (Mark Lewis Jones) and Allan Christie (Alexander Vlahos) about Malvas death. Claire asserts that she didnt see anything when Allan suggests shes not being up front about what happened. The Christies accusatory tone is apparent as Tom asks Claire whether Malvas death was quick or if she had time to pray before she took her last breath. Claire says it was likely fast due to her throat being slit.

Tom then makes the argument that she cant be buried in a cemetery on consecrated grounds. Jamie asserts his dominance as the Ridges leader to tell Tom that Malva and her baby who also perished will be buried in the settlements cemetery. Tom wonders what could be said of his daughter and Claire says that she was full of light and life. Claire and Jamie tell the Christies that theyll handle organizing the funeral service and will prepare Malvas body for burial.

While Claire begins to suture Malvas neck in her surgery she hears the girls voice say youre of the devil. She also hears Lionel Brown (Ned Dennehy) in her ear hinting that shes to blame for Malvas death. Eyeing the ether in the corner of the room Claire rushes out to try and avoid her metaphorical security blanket by swapping it out for a dram of whiskey.

When Jamie walks into the room he tells Claire that he wouldnt blame her for drinking it all adding that theres been no luck in finding Malvas killer on the Ridge. Claire wonders who could have done it just as Mrs. Bug (Sarah Collier) walks in to tell the Frasers that people are poking around the garden where Malva was found. Mrs. Bug further adds that Claire must have hated Malva for her accusation about Jamie fathering her baby a suggestive sound in Mrs. Bugs tone makes it clear what shes saying. Claire walks away and tells Jamie that she cant let people see her this way.

The accusatory tones continue when Hiram Crombie (Antony Byrne) speaks with Jamie hinting that Claire is responsible. When Jamie picks up on the suggestion he tells Hiram that hed choose his words wisely if he values his life. Back in the surgery Claire tries to continue her prep on Malva but an apparition of Lionel still haunts and taunts her making Claire doubt herself regarding the murdered woman. Still horrified by whats passed and Lionels words Claire turns to her ether once more.

Meanwhile Roger (Richard Rankin) and Bree (Sophie Skelton) show up to speak with Jamie and Roger wishes he was comforting the Christies but Bree argues that they probably need space. When Lizzie (Caitlin ORyan) walks in to inform Jamie that Mr. Henderson (Euan Bennet) is looking for Ian (John Bell) Bree cant help but wonder if Lizzie is okay as she has some grass strands in her hair. She tells Bree that she was feeding the horses. Outside Mr. Henderson complains about Ian questioning people on the Ridge about Malva Roger mentions that the man should keep quiet considering he was caught in a compromising position with Malva before her death.

Later on Lizzie is seen feeding the horses and as she apologizes to the animals for lying earlier Ian walks in and asks her where the Beardsley twins (both played by Paul Gorman) are. She avoids answering at first because she doesnt want them to get in trouble. But ultimately Ian wants her to be honest at the moment its unclear if she opens up to him.

Meanwhile most of the Frasers convene in the main house to discuss matters but Claire has turned in for the night. Ian covers for the Beardsleys telling Jamie that they werent involved and also mentions that he found the sin eater dead but the most peculiar part of the corpse was his missing fingers. Bree takes that detail and questions if it was the same person who performed a love spell in the woods unaware that Malva was the one cutting the dead mans fingers off.

With a mystery this intense Roger and Bree wish Perry Mason was around to help them figure it all out. When Ian asks who that is they explain that its a lawyer from their time and say that he asks what the means motive and opportunity would have been. Claire tells Jamie that it sounds like she has the means motive and opportunity admitting shes a primary suspect. She tells her husband that she has a weird feeling that she cant shake that shes somehow responsible.

Claire tells him about a half-remembered dream in which she saw Malva coming to the house and she put herself to sleep and when she woke Malva was standing over her. Claire tells Jamie she threatened the girl with a knife but Jamie tries reassuring Claire that its her mind playing tricks. As the couple snuggles in bed Claire turns over to see an apparition of Lionel sitting in the corner taunting her.

As preparations for the funeral continue Allan makes coffins for his sister and her baby and Tom gives the Lizzie and the Beadsleys a black gown for his daughter. In a revelatory moment indoors Ian tells Jamie and Claire that Lizzie is pregnant and reassures them its not his baby but informs them that Lizzie isnt sure who the father is but its one of the Beardsleys. Jamie and Claire tell their nephew theyll handle the matter.

At home with Bree and Roger he practices his sermon and Bree worries about how Malvas death is impacting Jemmy. Apparently their child has been told by the fisherfolk that murdered people become ghosts and that Claire is responsible for killing Malva.

Back at the main house Claire sits down with Lizzie who explains that she became involved with both of the Beardsleys at the same time hence her confusion over the childs paternity. She explains that when she was ill with malaria the Beardsleys helped with the ointment Claire sent and one thing led to another and all three of them ended up under the quilts together.

Claire worries that the twins may have tricked her but Lizzie is adamant that there is nothing malicious about their relationship adding that the Beardsleys are like one soul in two bodies. Claire is happy that Malva is happy but tells her that this is a risky scenario as she puts herself in danger of a scandal as well as the Frasers. As a result Claire tells Lizzie she will have to marry.

Jamie and Roger set off to look for the Beardsleys and Roger tells his father-in-law that hes been struggling after killing one of the Brownsville men when they saved Claire. He knows that the revolution is coming but isnt sure hes prepared to fight and suggests that becoming the Ridges minister might be a way for him to help without fighting. Jamie tells Roger he doesnt see that as weak and neither should Bree as thats Rogers main concern and reason for talking to Jamie about it.