Ellen MacKenzie proves she should be the one to lead the clan, but in the end, she sets up the Outlander storyline in Blood of My Blood season 1, episode 3.
Caution: This post contains SPOILERS for Outlander: Blood of My Blood
We know that Ellen MacKenzie should be the one to lead the clan. After all, she has the brains for it. But, at the same time, she’s a woman. It’s impossible for her to lead the clan, and she knows that she needs to find a way for one of her brothers to take that position.
Dougal continues to weaken the family through his own selfish moves, and it’s Ellen who figures out a way to save the day. Meanwhile, Julia and Henry continue their journey in the past, both doing something slightly different.
Ellen finds out she’s just a chess piece for both of her brothers in Blood of My Blood
The episode opens with Ellen and Brian together in the countryside somewhere. However, their sexy moment is just a dream, and Ellen is woken up by Glenna Fitzgibbons. As the two discuss Ellen’s suitor, Ellen believes that Glenna has found out about her interest in Brian. However, that’s not the case. The talk is that Ellen will marry Malcolm Grant.
This is just the first she’s heard of this marriage proposal, and she’s angry that Colum wouldn’t talk to her about it first. Their father always promised that she would get to marry a man of her choosing. His promises died with him, though, and Colum makes it clear that Ellen is a pawn for him to move around the chess board.
He’s not the only one looking for marriages for her. Dougal is looking for support with the Jacobites, and he ends up talking with MacRannoch, promising Ellen to him if the Jacobites name him laird. As Ellen learns about this, she turns to Ned Gowan.
Naturally, Ned is angry that both of the brothers continue to divide support. He thinks back to what it was like as Jacob gain the lairdship against a man named Donald. He’s seen what happens when there’s a fight, and he doesn’t want something to happen to the MacKenzie family. MacKinney is gaining support, and he can’t be allowed to lead.
Ellen figures out a way to save the day
In the end, it’s Ellen who works out an option. As Colum proves that he has the brains but can’t fight and Dougal continues to prove that he has the ability to fight but not the diplomacy, there is a threat that MacKinney will gain the support of the MacKenzies. Ellen can’t allow that to happen, and she turns to both of her brothers to get them to see this.
We get flashbacks of the family, seeing what it was like the night Colum fell from his horse. It was this night that led to Jacob losing faith and respect in both of his sons. Colum was injured to the point where he would never walk properly again, while Jacob learned that Dougal had decided to go against Colum’s orders and led the man in a different direction. Dougal acted rashly, and it made it clear to Jacob that Dougal wasn’t the right man to lead either.
As Ellen reminds both of her brothers of this night, she then turns to Ned with a proposal. Mainly, she wants to know if her plan could work, and Ned gets to work on looking into it.
What is that plan? It’s what we come to learn of Clan MacKenzie in Outlander. Colum will lead the clan in a time of peace as laird, and Dougal will be War Chieftan. There are other clans who have done this, so there is precedent for it, but now it’s up to the oath taking ceremony as to whether Clan MacKenzie will do it.
Even MacKinney decides that he needs to bend the knee and give his oath. The clan will stay in the hands of Colum and Dougal, with Jocasta and Janet realizing that Ellen had everything to do with this. Of course, Ellen isn’t going to take the win, making it clear that Ned worked it out. She doesn’t want anything to disrupt this win for the family.
Simon Fraser isn’t happy with the marriage situation
While all this is going on, Brian learns from Murtagh that Ellen is promised to Malcolm Grant. The two head back to Castle Leathers to report, and Simon is immediately angry. It turns out that Isaac Grant is supposed to be his ally, with the two of them going back and forth on the side of the Jacobites determined by whichever will work for them personally.
So, Simon decides that he needs to find a way to end the marriage proposal. The best option is to muddy Ellen’s name, which Brian doesn’t want to see happen. He is already falling for her, and he will do what he can to protect her. In this case, he can’t do much.
However, Murtagh’s spirits are picked up a little. While it would be bad for Ellen, he can take advantage of the situation. Ellen will have fewer marriage prospects, and maybe this time, he can get the girl. Considering how much Brian knows Murtagh loves Ellen, it’s clear Murtagh will be angry at Brian when the truth comes out about the two of them.
Henry continues his search for Julia in Blood of My Blood
After all this is done, Henry and Ned meet in a brothel, which Arch Bug makes clear he’s not happy to be in. This is the perfect place to talk, though, especially for Henry’s current situation. Ned introduces him to Una, who will know of any woman alone in the Highlands.
Una makes it clear that it will cost money to find Julia, and Henry is willing to pay whatever price it takes. He needs to find his wife, and we see the romantic nature in him.
As for Julia, she is still stuck at Castle Leathers. Davina knows that Julia is pregnant, although Julia doesn’t confirm this. Davina encourages Julia to terminate the pregnancy, or “bring down the flowers” as she calls it. This isn’t something Julia is interested in doing, but she knows that she has to do something that will help avoid her baby being taken away or killed by Simon Fraser.
When she points out that she knows Brian is Davina’s son, Davina shares that he is also Simon’s son. That’s what saved Brian, and now Julia has a plan. She needs to sleep with Simon Fraser to make him think that she is carrying his child. As she writes to Henry, she makes it clear that she has to do whatever it takes for her and her unborn baby to survive. She just hopes that Henry can forgive her for this.
Outlander: Blood of My Blood airs on Fridays on STARZ.
Stay up to date with the latest Outlander news with Claire and Jamie.