We’re into another episode of Outlander: Blood of My Blood, and this one was great for a number of reasons. Let’s get into the recap.
Caution: This post contains SPOILERS for Outlander: Blood of My Blood season 1, episode 8.
As the promo told us, Ellen would need to face a test of her virtue in the new episode. Meanwhile, Henry would end up at Castle Leoch and start to see Julia. Naturally, he thinks that he’s seeing a ghost, but is he?
Julia had already been to see Ellen to help her and Brian find a way to be together. Of course, she would want to help the star-crossed lovers once more, and that puts her in the same place as Henry at long last. Would they end up reuniting?
Brian learns of the test in Outlander: Blood of My Blood season 1, episode 8
The start of the new episode sees Simon Fraser gloating once again. He makes it clear that Ellen MacKenzie will go through a test of her virtue, and Brian knows exactly what that means. Brian won’t have it, knowing that when Ellen fails, she will be killed, so he has to go to Castle Leoch for her.
Julia puts together an elixir and is determined to go with him, but Brian doesn’t want that. You see, Simon is heading to Aberdeen for some “special waters” that are set to restore his ability to have sex, and that gives Julia a chance to finally escape. Even Davina makes it clear that neither of them should go, but Julia promises to protect Davina’s son and Davina promises to protect Julia’s son. It’s a beautiful moment of friendship that I've been excited about seeing, as I've mentioned before on ClaireandJamie.com
Brian still tries to get Julia to Castle Grant, knowing that Henry will be there. I just have one question at this point. Since the Grants have demanded the test, wouldn’t Brian realize that Henry would end up going to Castle Leoch to ensure it was all done properly?
Anyway, Brian and Julia get to Castle Leoch, and Julia is able to get the elixir to Ellen. Would it work?
Ellen’s virtue is put to the test in the Outlander prequel
Ellen has no choice but to face the purity test, and that involves three stages. At first, the MacKenzies get Davie Beaton to do it, which is somewhat reassuring since he has been around the MacKenzies since Ellen was a wee girl. The Grants have other ideas, as they want to make sure it is done properly.
That means Ellen has to prove that she can hold her water and then pee clear. Glenna was able to help with this stage, getting Ellen to drink as much water as possible to make sure it ran clear. And she wouldn’t even know that dehydration is what actually causes the pee to turn an orange color.
The last stage of the test is the physical test, and this is where Julia’s concoction comes in. She created something that would look like the hymen, and it does a good enough job to trick the doctor and the priest performing the test. I feel for Ellen as she goes through it, as she’s not just embarrassed but in a lot of pain. At least the majority of the men had the decency to look away.
With Ellen passed, she and Glenna rush back to her room so they can tell Julia the good news. Julia gets back to Brian with the good news as well, although Glenna realizes how they got in and how they’re getting out, and stops them so she can hand back Brian’s tartan, asking him to stay away to keep Ellen safe.
Henry is sure he’s seeing a ghost in Outlander: Blood of My Blood
On the way to Castle Leoch, Malcolm confides in Henry about how he didn’t want this sort of test for Ellen. This is all his dad’s doing, and he hopes that Ellen can understand that. So, while at Castle Leoch, Henry speaks with Ned in private, and this is when he first sees Julia pass him. The walls start to close on him, as he’s sure he’s seeing a ghost and is going mad.
Ned snaps him out of it, and they discuss why Henry hasn’t left yet. As Henry explains the situation and how he may have Malcolm as an ally, Ned also offers himself as an ally. At long last, Ned is doing something good with this friendship that has blossomed between the two bladiers.
After the test is over, Henry is shocked to hear Julia call for him. He follows her through the passageways, but is still sure that he’s seeing a ghost. It’s only when Julia touches him and they kiss that he’s able to see that the news of Julia’s death was fake.
Julia even updates him on their son, William, named after Henry’s grandfather. I guess there is still a chance that he could end up being someone in Outlander, but I knew the name had to come from somewhere. As I said previously on ClaireandJamie.com, I don’t think Julia’s William will end up being Jamie’s older brother. It was such a common name at the time, so it never really did surprise me that it was used, and I swear it’s just a red herring to get people chatting about it.
Julia has to leave, though, but she manages to tell Henry that she’s at Castle Leathers. Finally, Henry knows where his wife is, and there is hope that they can find their way back to each other in the next episode. At least, before the first season is done.
There is a sad ending for Malcolm Grant, though, as a dispatch arrives. Henry reads the dispatch, sharing the bad news that Isaac Grant has died. How does this change things for the Grants, the MacKenzies, and Henry?
Outlander: Blood of My Blood airs on Fridays on STARZ.
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