With the ending of Outlander: Blood of My Blood season 1, episode 7, it’s clear that the focus has to be on Ellen MacKenzie and the test of her virtue. Brian Fraser will do everything he can to protect her in Outlander: Blood of My Blood season 1, episode 8.
The Grants are demanding a test of Ellen’s virtue, which is a degrading test to make sure she’s a virgin. Of course, we know that she isn’t, but Ellen wasn’t exactly “ruined.” Being handfasted to Brian makes them together in the eyes of God.
However, the MacKenzies don’t know about the handfasting, and the Grants will take matters into their own hands for the disrespect shown should Ellen fail the test. Even if she was a virgin, there’s a chance that she’d fail the test anyway, as the Grants could want a way to claim MacKenzie land. And so, there is everything to play for in the eighth episode of the season.
Check out the promo and synopsis for Outlander: Blood of My Blood season 1, episode 8 before we break it all down:
At the request of the Grants, Ellen (Harriet Slater) undergoes a test to prove her worthiness to marry into the clan.
Ellen is scared of the test in Outlander: Blood of My Blood
Ellen knows that she isn’t a virgin, and that means she’s going to fail this test. There is no way out of it either, so we get a glimpse of just how nervous she is.
Glenna Fitzgibbons knows that Ellen is handfasted to a Fraser, but she doesn’t know who to just yet. All she knows is that it’s not her nephew, Murtagh. As Ellen’s maid, Glenna is going to stand by Ellen, but it’s going to be hard to protect her from all of this.
Brian will race to protect Ellen (and Julia will go with him)
Brian makes it clear that when Ellen fails the test, she’ll be killed. With that be at the hands of the Grants or the MacKenzies? Brian doesn’t make that clear, and to be honest, he doesn’t need to. The threat is real, and he can’t allow anything to happen to his wife, as he calls her.
Brian races to Castle Leoch, but he’s not alone. Julia will go with him, and this finally puts Julia and Henry in the same place. Simon is likely to allow all of this considering how proud he was of Brian being with Ellen.
Henry sees Julia around Castle Leoch
It looks like Henry is going to start seeing visions of Julia. He believes that he’s going mad, and that he needs to get out of the past already. As we’ve noted at Claire and Jamie, Julia is Henry’s rock, and naturally, he’s going to feel he’s breaking from reality as his brain tries to protect him. However, we know that Julia is riding with Brian to Ellen.
So, is it possible that Julia and Henry will finally find each other? It’s about time after a whole season of them being apart. However, I could see Henry just getting glimpses, with Julia not even realizing that her husband is in the castle with the Grants right now.
Ellen will not give up her husband’s name in Outlander: Blood of My Blood
Ellen is likely talking to Glenna in her room as she prepares for the virtue test, as it doesn’t make sense to talk to anyone else. From what we know of the story, Dougal and Colum were both shocked to find out that Ellen had run off with Brian, so they shouldn’t know about him just yet, although Dougal will already have his suspicions after seeing Brian and Ellen together.
So, it’s likely Glenna who wants to know who Ellen has married. Surely this could then help Ellen, even if it doesn’t help the MacKenzies. However, Ellen doesn’t want to drag Brian into this. She just doesn’t realize that Brian is dragging himself into this.
Davina worries about her son
Naturally, Davina is worried about Brian. She has no idea that Brian and Ellen have been meeting in secret, but all those secrets are about to come out. However, while Simon is proud of his son, Davina is worried.
The MacKenzies and Frasers are enemies at this point, and Dougal has made it clear what he thinks of Brian and Ellen together. Davina has every right to worry about Brian, as the MacKenzies are sure to kill him as soon as they see him for “ruining” Ellen.
Outlander: Blood of My Blood airs on Fridays on STARZ.
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