Outlander: Blood of My Blood Recap: Best Laid Plans

by

Alright everyone, let’s try to keep our cool for a moment. First, let’s discuss theories about how events in “Blood of My Blood” connect to the original “Outlander.” In the latest episode “Lucero Non Oro,” there was a hint that could be intriguing to ponder. Although Lord Lovat is pushing forward with his scheme to baptize Julia’s baby as his own and fake a marriage before the birth, little does he know that his son Brian is secretly helping Julia baptize the baby with the true name, William Henry Beauchamp.

Fans who are familiar with the storyline of Outlander might find interest when a baby named William is mentioned, as it could hint at Brian and Ellen’s upcoming birth of their first child, a son. This boy’s name resembles Jamie’s older brother, who unfortunately died from smallpox in the series. Since Baby Beauchamp is still present in the story, one might find it unusual for Brian and Ellen to choose such a similar name. Some speculations could be: Is it possible that they are protecting baby William and/or Julia and Henry by raising him as their own? Or perhaps they invented the story of William’s death to reunite him with his family at some point in time? Alternatively, this name coincidence may foreshadow a tragic event for the Beauchamps (or appear to), leading them to honor their friends by naming their son William. It’s also possible that they simply admire the name and William Beauchamp is an unrelated character within Outlander. Regardless, it’s an intriguing development in the storyline.

Did you hear something intriguing? After all the drama surrounding childbirth and torture, Julia and Davina have become friends! It’s true! Davina has been accepted into Julia’s inner circle, which used to be exclusive about Henry being William’s father. Although Julia hasn’t revealed her time-travel secret to Brian or Davina yet, they are there for Julia and her son while she stays at Castle Leathers. For Davina, this friendship means helping Julia with breastfeeding, reminding her of the fake Lovat baptism and wedding to ensure her child’s safety, planning to add “chasteberry” to Lovat’s food to reduce his sexual drive, and even cracking some humorous jokes about impotence. This friendship is heartwarming, and I can’t believe we had to wait for six episodes to see it unfold!

In simpler terms, Julia finds herself in a challenging situation where she must publicly baptize her son as Simon Fraser and marry the man, but a clever trick with Davina saves the day. Although it’s unpleasant to hear that unsettling character referring to waking “the Old Fox from his hole,” if this means Julia avoids having sex with Lord Lovat, it’s worth it. This is all about sisterhood, you understand?

Even without having intimate relations with Lovat, avoiding him seems like a wedding gift in itself. But Julia receives another precious gift – the discovery of letters from Clan Grant, written by Henry. Upon seeing Henry’s handwriting, she realizes their love letter courtship had a greater purpose and now knows that he is near. She is on the verge of finding him again.

While Lord Lovat encounters difficulties in one area, his other ambitious schemes appear to be progressing successfully. He skillfully conducts the baptism and wedding, ensuring Brian’s absence to avoid complications, and subsequently bribes the reverend to manipulate the records to make it seem as though the baby was born within wedlock, securing a legitimate heir. To maintain secrecy, Lovat arranges for Bulloch to silence the reverend, thereby preventing any leaks of information. In essence, Lord Lovat achieves his objectives in this manner.

In this episode, it appears that his plot to drive a wedge between Clan Grant and their sworn enemies, Clan MacKenzie, is showing signs of success. His previous attempt, where he attempted to make the Grants suspicious of Ellen’s alleged promiscuity across the Highlands, didn’t gain much ground, but it seems to be leaning towards his favor now.

It’s important to note that Lovat isn’t a genius, he primarily benefits from good timing, as tensions are already high between the Grants and MacKenzies. When livestock is stolen from Clan Grant, there’s widespread belief that the MacKenzies are responsible, using the cattle for Ellen’s dowry, with Dougal MacKenzie’s impulsive nature being a significant factor. Upon learning about this, Colum becomes visibly upset. Despite his penchant for whispering, he lacks the composure typically required of a laird. After discussing the issue with Ned and Ellen, it’s revealed that Dougal may have taken cattle to auction at House Nairne. However, Ellen disputes this, as she knows Lady Nairne well and is aware that they don’t possess cattle there. Additionally, the Nairnes are known Jacobites, which makes Dougal’s presence suspicious. Ellen proposes to infiltrate their household under the pretext of a wedding invitation, locate Dougal, and persuade him to leave before Clan MacKenzie is falsely accused of treason towards the crown. Although Colum recognizes this as the best course of action, he is displeased that the plan originates from Ellen and requires such trust in her. It seems that Colum needs more than just bird-keeping hobbies to find happiness.

While Ellen might not be entirely innocent, there’s some justification for his distrust. He views her much like their father, who was known for having multiple layers of strategy. Similarly, he perceives the same manipulative tendencies in his sister. Given that Clan Grant is fiercely loyal, any association with Jacobites on Ellen’s part or if rumors spread about Dougal becoming a full-fledged Jacobite could potentially jeopardize her engagement to Malcolm Grant. Oh dear, what a predicament.

As a movie enthusiast, finding myself transported into the historical drama of Rob Roy, I can’t help but feel a sense of unease when my character, Ellen, enters House Nairne and encounters the grand Jacobite gathering led by the legendary figure, Rob Roy MacGregor. To my dismay, there was Dougal, not just present among them, but committing our entire dowry – all MacKenzie funds – to the Jacobite cause.

To add insult to injury, when I voiced my concerns, Dougal, without a second thought, dismissed me, as if my feminine nature rendered me incapable of understanding the gravity of the situation. It leaves me wondering if either of my brothers, with their gallant charm and chivalry, will step forward to defend my honor – not in a condescending, misguided manner, but from a place of genuine respect and concern for me.

Alas, I fear that such a scenario may be unlikely, yet it’s disheartening because both brothers possess a charm that makes them irresistible. Life, it seems, has its own set of rules, and this is just one more lesson to learn as Ellen in the captivating world of Rob Roy.

The meeting takes an unexpected twist when Malcolm Grant, Arch Bug, and a group of Redcoats arrive unannounced. It’s discovered that the Grants suspect Rob Roy of stealing their livestock, and they have followed him to this location. Malcolm is taken aback by Ellen’s presence among the Jacobites, but she spins a tale about inviting the house’s lady for a wedding and finding Dougal instead. She expresses regret if this revelation leads to the cancellation of the wedding (a hint), but Malcolm assures her they will keep it a secret. Malcolm also makes it clear that he doesn’t need the Redcoats to arrest Rob Roy; he and his father will deal with him appropriately. However, the English soldiers are not pleased with this and demand the arrest of Rob Roy and many others in the room for alleged Jacobite involvement. But then, a gunshot echoes through the room, sending everyone scrambling for the exit as chaos ensues.

Did you happen to find out who shot the gun? It was Brian Fraser. Indeed, he was dispatched to the Jacobite gathering alongside Murtagh, to aid Lord Lovat in choosing between the Jacobites and the Loyalists, the more advantageous allegiance. However, Murtagh is seething with anger, having discovered Brian and Ellen engaging in a physical altercation during Beltane (if he knew about their actions in that tower, it would likely cause him a stroke). When Brian refuses to let Murtagh ignore him, Murtagh strikes Brian and accuses him of betrayal. Throughout the Jacobite meeting, Murtagh intentionally snubs Brian, feigning ignorance of his presence, and catches them exchanging heated glances from across the room. Needless to say, Murtagh is far from enjoying this gathering.

Amidst the turmoil and disorder, Ellen clings to Brian in a passionate and emotional display, exchanging fervent words between them in full view of everyone. It’s hardly shocking then, that Dougal storms up to them and forcibly takes Ellen away. One might think they could have sought cover behind a nearby structure, but alas, their judgment seems clouded.

Not only does Dougal drag Ellen off while threatening to expose this to Colum, leaving Brian powerless, but Dougal also has Murtagh ride away with them. In an unexpected turn of events, Murtagh sides with Dougal over Brian. This moment is undeniably the most heart-wrenching aspect of this entire scenario.

Ellen being subjected to a virginity test, likely conducted by a group of unpleasant men. I’m already feeling uneasy just thinking about it. My stomach is in knots.

It seems you’re curious as to why Isaac Grant is suddenly treating a letter with more importance, right? Let me fill you in. Following the Jacobite troubles, when Brian returns to Castle Leathers, Lord Lovat informs him that Bulloch eavesdropped on an argument between Brian and Murtagh about Brian being with Ellen. Consequently, Bulloch informed Isaac Grant, who now has proof that Ellen is not a virgin. This news makes Lord Lovat incredibly proud of his son, but leaves Brian in shock.

Clan Business

While it’s not pleasant to admit, Henry is in a sorry state. It’s relieving that Arch Bug catches up with him before he can journey through the stones again and return to Claire. For everyone’s benefit, he needs to reconnect with his wife. Hurry, Julia! Hurry and find him before it’s too late!

When Henry tells Ned he’s leaving the Grants permanently, Ned cautions his friend that it’s not as simple as walking away. The Grants are likely to retaliate if he attempts to leave, which significantly undermines any optimism we might have had for a peaceful and carefree future for him. Quite a gloomy turn of events, isn’t it?

In Ellen’s belongings, Mrs. Fitz discovers the Fraser tartan from her handfasting with Ellen and Brian. This discovery leaves her both surprised and worried about Ellen. If this were to become public knowledge, it could cause a significant problem for many people. Unfortunately, Ellen is too emotional to clarify that the Fraser she’s handfast to isn’t Murtagh. Fingers crossed that this revelation doesn’t bring more trouble to him; he’s already gone through enough sadness.

A positive aspect is that Murtagh converses with Ellen for the first time at the Jacobite gathering. However, their conversation might have been tainted by the previously mentioned prolonged gazing, and it’s not exactly a heartwarming moment for everyone involved. But it’s progress, at least for him (though his chances with her are slim).

What about that intriguing bit of information related to Outlander? When baby William is crying, Julia sings “I Do Like to Be Beside the Seaside” as it often calmed Claire down in the past. Interestingly enough, this song plays a significant role in the finale of the seventh season of Outlander.

Read More

2025-09-12 15:58