After five episodes, we finally got some time between Jocasta and Ellen in Outlander: Blood of My Blood. It told us everything we needed to know about Jocasta’s feelings toward her sister, and it’s not just simple jealousy.
Caution: This post contains SPOILERS for Outlander: Blood of My Blood season 1, episode 5
During the first four episodes, Jocasta was a fairly undeveloped character. That’s okay, though, because these things take time. There was a lot needed to set the stage for Clan MacKenzie and the two love stories that the series is focused on. On top of that, we needed a story for Henry and Julia ending up in the past.
So, having to wait until episode 5 for a little more on Jocasta’s feelings toward her sister makes sense. It was clear from the beginning that she isn’t Ellen’s biggest fan, but this is more than just jealousy.
Jocasta is angry at Ellen’s involvement in her marriage in Outlander: Blood of My Blood
As Ellen looked for ways to get out of some of the Beltane festival, Jocasta noted that it’s her life now. As a married woman, Ellen will need to do what is expected of her, even if she doesn’t like it. Of course, Ellen wants to fight against it, but she also needs her sister on her side.
It all comes out when Jocasta tells Ellen that she knew Ellen had something to do with her marriage to John Cameron. Because of Ellen, Jocasta was forced to marry an old man, while Ellen had the opportunity to look for love.
That wasn’t the way it happened, though. Like with so many of us, we have no idea what other people are doing behind closed doors. Ellen MacKenzie had actually looked for the least worst of the bad marriages that Red Jacob was setting up for his daughter. Apparently, there were worse men than Cameron, and it’s not like she could have done anything to prevent the marriage happening at all.
Ellen hasn’t helped matters by being the favorite daughter
It’s hard to blame Ellen for something that was out of her control. It’s not her fault that Red Jacob decided to play favorites. However, as the Golden Child, it’s easy to see why Jocasta and others would blame Ellen for things that happened to them. For all they knew, Ellen did always have their dad’s ear. Jocasta said that Ellen had a knack for making matches, which is a direct hint that she believed Ellen was the reason for her fate.
So, jealousy is understandable. Ellen always got what she wanted. At least, that’s the way it seemed like for Jocasta. Little did Jocasta realize that Ellen was likely a pawn in her dad’s role without her ever realizing it, and now she is a pawn for her brothers.
However, Ellen isn’t going to get a lot of sympathy from Jocasta. While the two did manage to make a truce when it came to Beltane festivities, it’s only a matter of time before the animosity grows. We know from Outlander how it has to eventually develop.
Outlander: Blood of My Blood airs on Fridays on STARZ.
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