Outlander: Blood of My Blood casting news brought a surprise to fans. Not only will we get to see Ellen and Brian’s love story play out, but we’ll also get to see the love story of two characters we didn’t think we’d ever see. Claire’s parents will get some screen time.
We’ll get to see how Julia Moriston and Henry Beauchamp met and fell in love during World War I. It all led to Claire’s birth in October 1918.
What else do we know about the two of them? How much is left open for the show’s writers to develop?
The little we know about Claire’s parents in Outlander
We know very little about Julia and Henry. Diana Gabaldon has always been clear that Claire’s parents don’t interest her, so she hasn’t written anything about them. What we do know comes from the little that Claire remembers or knows about her parents.
When it comes to her father, we know he was “dark.” That likely means in hair color, although it’s never been made clear. It looks like that is what the series is going with by casting Jeremy Irvine in the role.
As for Julia, she is where Claire gets her eye color from. Claire also notes that Julia was 32 at the time of her death. With Claire being five at the time of her parents’ deaths, that puts Julia’s year of birth as 1891. We don’t have an age for Henry.
Which of Claire’s parents can time travel?
One thing the series hasn’t confirmed is whether Claire gets the time traveler gene from Henry or Julia. It’s always been assumed that it’s via Henry considering he is a Beauchamp. After all, we know that Comte St. Germain is a time traveler and may be the father of Fergus Fraser. Fergus is definitely the son of a Beauchamp, and it’s possible that this family line led to Claire.
However, assumptions and theories don’t confirm anything. Julia may be the time traveler.
Quentin Lambert Beauchamp, Henry’s brother, doesn’t seem to have the ability to time travel. Although, it is possible that he just never went anywhere near portals to find out. After all, Claire didn’t know until she went to Scotland for her second honeymoon with Frank.