Followers of the epic time-traveling saga that’s Outlander have had so much to look ahead to lately. It’s a love story, politically entangled in 18th-century Scotland, that made its debut in 2014 and claimed a chunk of your coronary heart by supplying you with sufficient emotional trauma to fill a Jacobite conflict chest. With Season 8 formally slated for launch in 2026, followers are bracing themselves for the ultimate chapter of Claire and Jamie’s journey. However earlier than we get there, Starz has gifted us with a spin-off that rewinds the clock even additional.
Outlander: Blood of My Blood, the extremely anticipated prequel to Outlander, explores the love story of Jamie Fraser’s mother and father, Ellen MacKenzie and Brian Fraser. It’s a story that has been whispered about within the authentic collection, however by no means totally examined. Now, with two episodes already launched, the spin-off is starting to carve out its personal terrain, wealthy with clan politics and forbidden romance that formed Jamie’s life lengthy earlier than Claire entered it.
When you’ve been omitted of the sprawling world of Outlander and are questioning, “Can I watch Blood of My Blood with out bingeing all 7 seasons of Outlander?” The reply is sure, with slightly assist. To really admire Blood of My Blood, you don’t want each element of Outlander. You simply want some historic, emotional, and familial context. And it’s completely doable to get it from these 10 fastidiously chosen episodes of Outlander.
10
“The Marriage ceremony”
Season 1, Episode 7
For Outlander followers, the marriage episode is an absolute favourite as a result of in it, two strangers turn into one thing extra. Claire, pressured into marriage to keep away from falling into Black Jack Randall’s fingers, finds herself wed to Jamie Fraser, a person she barely is aware of. The episode unfolds within the bridal chamber, the place Jamie insists on three situations: a correct church marriage ceremony, a hoop comprised of his ancestral key, and a marriage costume for Claire.
The episode is especially vital to look at earlier than Blood of My Blood as a result of it reveals particulars in regards to the Fraser legacy. Jamie’s reverence for custom, his vulnerability, and his poetic soul are all traits inherited from Brian Fraser, whose love story with Ellen MacKenzie is the center of the prequel. We additionally witness Murtagh’s emotional connection to Ellen within the episode when Jamie items Ellen’s pearl necklace to Claire.
9
“The Watch”
Season 1, Episode 13
When The Watch rolls in, life at Lallybroch is something however peaceable. The tough mercenaries provide safety from the Redcoats in alternate for a value, and Jamie, posing as a cousin to keep away from suspicion, is straight away cautious. When a deserter from his previous arrives and blackmails him, Jamie is pressured to affix The Watch on a raid. In the meantime, Claire helps Jenny by way of a troublesome labor, delivering child Maggie in a scene that’s emotional and intimate.
It’s a significant watch as a result of it not solely explores Jamie’s relationship along with his residence and his household, but in addition introduces related themes of honor versus survival that Brian doubtless confronted. Claire’s function as healer throughout childbirth additionally displays the sort of ladies Ellen MacKenzie got here from. In that hour, Jenny additionally offers Claire a pair of bangles comprised of tusks that belonged to Ellen and divulges that they got here from a sacred admirer Ellen wouldn’t inform anybody about.
8
“The Search”
Season 1, Episode 14
One other episode from the identical season, this one is a mixture of darkish urgency and surprising levity. Claire and Jenny set off to seek out Jamie after his seize, with Jenny monitoring like a Highland bloodhound and Claire studying simply how far she’ll go for love. When Jenny returns residence, Murtagh joins Claire, and that’s when the search turns theatrical, as a result of they turn into a touring act, full with Claire singing fashionable tunes in taverns and Murtagh performing sword dances.
However that’s not why the episode is critical. At one level, Claire lashes out at Murtagh and implies he can’t know what she’s going by way of as a result of he’s by no means misplaced somebody he cherished. To which Murtagh responds with a narrative about how he as soon as killed a boar along with his dagger alone to impress the girl he cherished and the MacKenzies have been impressed as a substitute. They gave him the tusk of the boar, and he long-established them into bracelets to present them to the identical lady. Claire realizes he’s speaking about Ellen.
7
“Wentworth Jail”
Season 1, Episode 15
Within the very subsequent episode, we discover Jamie shackled and ready to be executed at Wentworth Jail, however as a substitute of demise, he’s handed over to Black Jack Randall, who has darker intentions. His twisted obsession with dominating individuals performs out in excruciating element as he burns Jamie’s petition and nails his hand to a desk. In the meantime, Claire, Murtagh, Angus, and Rupert concoct a rescue plan.
That is the place Sir Marcus MacRannoch comes into the image. MacRannoch shares historical past with Jamie’s mother and father, and it’s revealed when Claire tries to pawn her pearls off to persuade him to assist them rescue Jamie. MacRannoch realizes Jamie is Ellen’s son and divulges he was the one which gave Ellen the pearls as a gift. This arc may very well be one which Blood of My Blood explores intimately sooner or later.
6
“The Fox’s Lair”
Season 2, Episode 8
Again in Scotland, Jamie and Claire return to Lallybroch and uncover that Jamie’s identify has been solid on a Jacobite muster roll. To keep away from being branded a traitor, he seeks the help of his grandfather, Lord Lovat. What follows is a tense negotiation crammed with the revelation of many household secrets and techniques. Claire learns that Jamie’s father, Brian, was born out of wedlock and Jamie fears it should change the best way she sees him. Colum MacKenzie arrives along with his personal agenda and Laoghaire additionally brings previous resentments.
This episode is a must-watch earlier than Blood of My Blood as a result of it introduces Lord Lovat, Jamie’s grandfather, whose legacy looms giant over the Fraser household. It additionally reveals his deep hatred for Clan MacKenzie and the way he as soon as tried to kidnap Ellen. If the prequel is deliberate to be simply as melodramatic as Outlander, then this can be a feud it should positively discover.
5
“The Hail Mary”
Season 2, Episode 12
That is the episode that reveals just a few issues about Ellen MacKenzie’s brothers, Dougal and Colum, and ends with an inevitable loss. However first, Jamie and Claire are in Inverness, making an attempt desperately to cease the Battle of Culloden. The Jacobite military is exhausted, and Prince Charles is marching in the direction of catastrophe. In the meantime, Claire finds Mary Hawkins caring for a dying Alex Randall.
Alex’s final want is for Mary to marry his brother, Black Jack Randall. Claire is horrified however agrees to assist. Colum MacKenzie additionally arrives, asking Claire to assist him die peacefully. His deathbed scene with Dougal is uncooked and heartbreaking and crammed with recollections of their childhood. It’s additionally clear that there’s animosity between Dougal and Callum. Ultimately, Colum chooses to take his personal life by consuming a vial of poison Claire supplied him.
4
“All Money owed Paid”
Season 3, Episode 3
The episode hits laborious in two timelines. In 1755, Jamie is imprisoned at Ardsmuir, the place he’s reunited and meets his new warden, Main John Gray, who is identical boy Jamie spared throughout the Rising. Their dynamic shifts after Jamie shares the story of the “white witch,” hoping it is perhaps Claire. In the meantime, in Nineteen Fifties Boston, Claire and Frank’s marriage is falling aside, and her commencement get together is crammed with passive-aggressive jabs at each other.
It’s important to look at this Outlander episode earlier than Blood of My Blood as a result of it explores how Jamie’s bond with Lord John Gray is rooted in honor. Jamie additionally speaks to a sickly man who mentions Colum, Dougal and Ellen in dialog, and it raises the query of whether or not Jamie’s relations have been cursed by the Jacobite gold. The prequel will certainly have solutions.
3
“If Not For Hope”
Season 4, Episode 11
Wealthy with emotional pressure and character depth, this one finds Brianna nonetheless reeling from her assault and Roger’s disappearance. She’s caught at River Run with Aunt Jocasta, who is decided to marry her off. The feast Jocasta throws is a compilation of awkward matchmaking moments, with Brianna pressured to entertain suitors.
However the true coronary heart of the episode lies in all of the issues Jocasta reveals about Briannna’s grandmother, Ellen. She tells Brianna that Ellen was additionally an artist like her, that she was her father’s favourite daughter, and the way he wouldn’t strain her to get married even after she handed the appropriate age. However as soon as he died, Ellen eloped with Brian Fraser, and he or she was additionally pregnant earlier than they obtained married. It’s a related episode as a result of Blood of My Blood will delve into Ellen MacKenzie’s life, who was recognized for her defiance of Highland norms.
2
“The Fiery Cross”
Season 5, Episode 1
This one kicks off with a marriage, and it’s not simply any marriage ceremony, it’s Roger and Brianna’s marriage ceremony and the complete Fraser clan is gathered at Fraser’s Ridge to have fun. The episode is heartwarming and filled with small, intimate moments, like Jamie serving to Roger shave with a cutthroat razor and Claire stitching Bree’s costume. However beneath the enjoyment, there’s a requirement from Governor Tryon, who corners Jamie and will get him to hunt city Murtagh, who’s not a fugitive.
Talking of Murtagh and Jamie, the season’s opening moments additionally provide a glimpse into the previous by displaying Murtagh and a younger Jamie moments after Ellen’s demise. The previous guarantees Jamie that he can be with him all the time and help his each choice. There’s a honest likelihood that we’ll get to see the unique vow Murtagh made to Ellen on this regard within the prequel.
1
“Written in My Personal Coronary heart’s Blood”
Season 7, Episode 15
This episode of Outlander’s seventh season opens with a quiet storm brewing as Jamie, sleepless earlier than the Battle of Monmouth, displays on mortality and love, whereas Claire, ever the anchor, tries to assuage his fears. As Jamie thinks in regards to the previous, he additionally reveals that he’s been considering so much about his mom these days. About her demise and the way she was ready for her coffin; her hair braided, and the way his father undid her crimson hair to allow them to unfold out on the pillow.
Jamie additionally remembers how, upon nearer look, he additionally noticed his little brother, who had perished throughout the beginning and was lined in Ellen’s hair. Jamie’s reflections on his mom’s demise give us a timeframe and mirror the themes of parental love and responsibility that Blood of My Blood will undertake. Watching Jamie maintain Claire and whisper, “The celebs won’t burn out and nor will we,” and it appears like a generational promise.
Outlander: Blood of My Blood
- Community
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Starz
- Showrunner
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Matthew B. Roberts
- Franchise(s)
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Outlander
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Annabelle Dowler
Ned Gowan
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Ailsa Davidson
Ellen MacKenzie
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Sally Messham
Brian Fraser
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Adam McNamara
Julia Moriston
