Episode seven of Outlander: Blood of My Blood takes us deeper into the chaos and emotional turmoil that define this prequel series. The hour is a careful mix of political maneuvering, forbidden love, heartbreak, and secret acts of resistance, all set against the growing shadow of the Jacobite cause.
The story opens on a note of disorder when news of a cattle raid spreads through Castle Leoch. Tension rises instantly as accusations fly over who might be behind the theft. While the men bicker, another storyline quietly brews in the background, which carries tenderness and danger.
Brian Fraser secretly meets Julia at a church, where the two carry out a hidden baptism for her baby. Together, they christen the child William Henry Beauchamp in a private Highland tradition; this act reveals Brian’s growing affection for Julia and the child, while also showing Julia’s determination to hold onto some agency despite being under Lord Lovat’s control.
Back at Castle Leoch, Ellen MacKenzie busies herself with wedding preparations alongside Mrs. Fritz. The task should bring excitement, but Ellen’s lack of enthusiasm makes it clear her heart is not in her upcoming marriage to Malcolm Grant. The fragile peace between the MacKenzies and the Grants is threatened further when Colum brings troubling news - cattle have been stolen, and whispers spread that Douall may have vanished to attend Jacobite gatherings.
With her dowry money missing and her marriage in jeopardy, Ellen takes matters into her own hands. She volunteers to travel and retrieve her brother and the money, disguising the trip as a simple social call to Lady Nairn, setting Ellen on a collision course with secrets far larger than she imagines.
Meanwhile, Henry is shown in a heartbreaking light, still drowning in sorrow over Julia, and he awakens with grief pressing heavily on him. His journey takes him to a brothel, not in search of comfort but to reclaim a necklace Julia once gave him. This small keepsake becomes a symbol of his longing and his need to return to his daughter.
Speaking to a prostitute who has developed feelings for him, Henry confesses that he must find a way back through the stones at Craigh na Dun, his pain is raw, and his determination is evident. While others see Julia as gone forever, Henry refuses to give up, believing that fate has another path for him.
The episode’s tone sharpens at a public baptism orchestrated by Lord Lovat. Unlike Julia’s private ritual, this one is political theater. In a calculated move, Lovat has the child baptized in a Protestant ceremony and declares him Simon Fraser of Lovat. The spectacle is not about faith but about power and inheritance.
With chilling arrogance, Lovat declares that those absent will regret it when his son becomes king. Julia, powerless in this moment, is forced to play along, understanding that her child’s safety depends on maintaining the illusion that the baby belongs to Lovat.
Her heartbreak deepens when Lovat removes the infant from her arms and orders that a wet nurse will now care for him. The separation crushes her spirit, but Julia refuses to surrender. With the help of Deina, she plans a quiet rebellion. The two prepare a mixture of monk’s pepper to dull Lovat’s desires, protecting Julia from his advances. This act of defiance, though small, underscores Julia’s resilience.
Ellen’s journey takes her to Lady Nairn’s home, where a clandestine Jacobite meeting is underway, while pretending to extend a wedding invitation, Ellen secretly searches for her brother. To her shock, she also finds Brian Fraser there, creating an awkward triangle as Myrta, still stung by his unspoken feelings for Ellen, observes bitterly.
The encounter leads to a painful confrontation between Brian and Myrta. Brian attempts to apologize for hiding his relationship with Ellen, but Myrta lashes out, lamenting that losing Ellen to a stranger would have been bearable, but losing her to a man he considered a brother cuts deeply.
At the meeting, Rob Roy MacGregor passionately rallies the men, urging them to rise against Hanoverian rule. His fiery words call for a Scotland that will burn brightly for generations. Douall, swept up in the fervor, pledges MacKenzie funds to the cause, endangering his family’s standing.
The danger escalates when Malcolm Grant storms in with redcoats. Chaos erupts, and the group scrambles to escape. Though they narrowly survive, Ellen’s presence casts suspicion, and whispers begin to follow her.
Henry’s subplot continues with his attempt to reach Craigh na Dun, determined to use the stones to return to his own time. However, Archbug intercepts him, mocking his belief in fairies and destiny. Though Henry is stopped once again, his resolve remains unshaken, leaving the door open for future attempts.
The episode crescendos with two devastating disclosures. Ellen returns to Castle Leoch only to learn that a letter has been sent to the Grants, questioning her virtue. Soon, a representative of the Grants arrives with a humiliating demand that Ellen must prove her chastity through a degrading test. The weight of this shame breaks her spirit, and even Colum and Douall express disappointment and anger. Coldly, Colum tells her that she has made her bed and must hope she has not perished.
Meanwhile, Brian narrowly escapes the redcoats only to return home and face another betrayal. Lord Lovat reveals that he orchestrated the letter against Ellen, planting doubts about her honor. His manipulation is ruthless, using his own son as a pawn in his vendetta against the MacKenzies.
The final scenes bring a fleeting sense of peace for Julia. Lovat, weakened after ingesting the herbs meant to reduce his desires, collapses into a drunken sleep. Soon after, word spreads that the minister who carried out the baptism has suffered a fatal accident on his way home; this dark twist hints at Julia and Deina’s involvement, ensuring the baptism cannot be officially registered.
In the quiet of night, Julia sneaks away to cradle her baby. The tenderness of this stolen moment is a powerful reminder of her unyielding fight for her child.
Episode seven beautifully weaves together political turmoil with deeply personal struggles. Julia battles for her baby’s safety while Ellen grapples with the consequences of forbidden love. Brian, Henry, and Douall each follow their own convictions, often in ways that clash with the women they care for. Hovering over all these intimate stories is the looming shadow of the Jacobite rebellion, the historical storm that will ultimately reshape their lives.
By the episode’s end, viewers are left with pressing questions. Will Ellen be forced to endure the degrading virtue test? Can Julia escape with her baby before Lovat tightens his grip? Will Henry ever find his way back to the stones, and how will Brian respond now that his own father has sabotaged the woman he loves?
The mix of heartbreak, political intrigue, and rebellion makes this episode one of the most compelling so far, leaving fans eagerly awaiting what lies ahead.
Read more: Outlander 2025 prequel episode guide
