Colum and Dougal promise their sister to two different men.

Outlander: Blood of My Blood recap: Ellen is unexpectedly betrothed as her brothers clash over lairdship

Colum and Dougal promise their sister to two different men.

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Published on August 15, 2025 09:00AM EDT

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Harriet Slater. Credit:

Sanne Gault/Starz

Two thoughts came to mind when the opening scene of *Outlander*: *Blood of My Blood *splashed across my screen. First, Jamie’s (Sam Heughan) parents have hardly spoken, yet here they are, writhing horizontally, whispering sweet nothings on a bed of hay in an open field. Brian Fraser (Jamie Roy) is wasting no time and presumably couldn't care less that Ellen (Harriet Slater) is promised to another, as he slowly runs his hand up her skirt. Second, what sort of Gaelic magic is Ellen using on her legs to make her bare skin look undeniably spotless?

Before I can conjure up my own answers to these questions, Ellen’s maid Glenna (Sally Messham) flings open the bedroom curtains, jolting our redheaded beauty from her scandalous dream. Solid burn, showrunners. You had me there for a second. At least one of these riddles has been solved! Now the only thing left to do is up my personal sunscreen game.

Ellen begrudgingly rolls out of bed, curious as to why Glenna is so chipper. Glenna’s extra spring in her step is directly related to Ellen having gained the attention of a certain suitor. Ellen beams, figuring Glenna would disapprove of her new love interest, and makes the maid swear she won’t tell anyone. Glenna laughs at her silly lady’s request. Everyone in Castle Leoch already knows and is happy with the good news. Ellen MacKenzie is to be betrothed to Malcom Grant (Jhon Lumsden)! **

With a face as crimson as her hair, Ellen storms directly into her brother Colum’s (Séamus McLean Ross) office, demanding answers. No one consulted her! No one asked her what she wanted! And how is it that Dougal (Sam Retford) screwed up, and she is being punished for his sins? Colum calmly declares that the union will mend the damage between the clans. End of story.

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Switching tactics, Ellen reminds her brother that she can be more valuable to him if she remains at Castle Leoch. She could offer counsel, like she did with their father, who, by the way, promised her she didn’t have to get married. Colum scoffs at her offer, claiming that their father only humored Ellen. Any promise he made is buried in the ground with him. And so are her privileges.

The sting hits home. Ellen struggles, remembering how close she and Colum were at one point. She took care of him and nursed him when he was broken. He stands on two legs because she went above and beyond. Colum admits that he is grateful, but he must do what is best for the clan.

Ellen isn’t the only one experiencing heartbreak. The news of her pending nuptials has spread fast enough for Murtagh (Rory Alexander) to have heard the devastating news. When he tells Brian that the only woman he’s ever loved (from afar) has been promised to another, Brian feels the weight of the news as well. He’s openly upset that his cousin is hurting, and secretly upset that his secret affair with Ellen MacKenzie is about to get really complicated.

Jamie Roy, Rory Alexander.

Sanne Gault/Starz

Speaking of complicated, the Castle Leathers housekeeper, Davina (Sara Vickers), has put two and two together that Julia (Hermione Corfield) hasn’t bled since she’s been there. Claire’s (Caitriona Balfe) mom is pregnant, and Davina suspects. And she’s offering a way for Julia to relieve herself of the burden. Who would raise another man’s bastard child, especially when that woman is a servant without a penny?

Julia is not interested in ending her pregnancy and calls Davina out. Julia has heard Brian address Davina “ma,” and she assumes he is Davina’s son out of wedlock. Davina admits that Brian is Lord Lovat’s (Tony Curran) son, and that is the only way she was able to keep her baby. Admitting nothing, Julia’s face hardens. She repeats herself one more time that she is not with child.

Sara Vickers, Hermione Corfield.

Sanne Gault/Starz

Back at Castle Leoch, Ellen tracks down Dougal, and is surprised when she learns that even though Dougal was the one who made the mistake of going after the Grants, it was only Colum who promised her to Malcom. In fact, Dougal thinks it’s an odd alliance, since the Grants have so much money. Sure, Malcolm may actually like Ellen, but there has to be more with the untrustworthy clan.

Ellen knows she’s just a piece in a huge game of chess. She’s stuck and has a duty to play. Especially since the MacKinney Clan is openly eager and willing to challenge the MacKenzies. To make matters worse, Ellen’s sister Jocasta (Sadhbh Mailn) drops another bomb into the mix when she reveals to Ellen that Dougal proposed her hand in marriage to the Jacobites.

Ellen’s brothers are the absolute worst, and Brian’s father is right up there with them. When Brian and Murtagh report that Dougal offended the Grants and Colum had to promise Ellen’s hand to appease the situation, Lord Lovat squirms. What if the MacKenzies turn the Grants against him? Brian hints that the marriage will only strengthen the two families, and both could end up hating the Frasers. Perhaps they can sabotage the relationship?

Lord Lovat reasons that an engagement can easily be broken. Brian and Murtagh exchange hopeful glances until Lord Lovat claims he is going to sully the bride-to-be’s reputation. He’ll see Ellen’s name dragged through the mud without blinking. Brian realizes his risky move paid off, but he would have preferred a more honorable way to break off the engagement.

Ellen is understandably heartbroken by the turn of events, and laments to Ned (Conor MacNeill) that both Colum and Dougal are offering her hand to anyone with a tartan. Ned is surprised to hear that Dougal is brokering marriage details on the side, and labels both brothers as fools. The brothers are dividing their support, which makes no strategic sense.

A flashback reveals Ellen watching her brothers leave on a cattle raid, without their father. Red Jacob tells his daughter that Dougal and Colum must succeed on their own. Later that night, the brothers return with Dougal supporting Colum, as his leg is twisted in an unnatural way. Both are brutally reprimanded for failing. Colum for falling, and Dougal for not finishing what he started.

Red Jacob chastises Colum for not healing quickly enough. As he turns in disgrace, Colum reveals that he wanted to follow his dad’s advice that night, but Dougal, of course, had different plans that ended poorly. A shot was fired, resulting in his horse throwing him. Red Jacob sneers at his “crippled” son, deeming him unworthy of being a leader, and leaves the room. Colum awkwardly stands, hobbling to catch his father, refusing any help from Ellen, and ends up falling down the stairs, further damaging his leg.

Séamus McLean Ross, Sam Retford.

Sanne Gault/Starz

In the present day, Ellen watches as MacKinny taunts Colum in front of a crowd of onlookers and rushes to stand by his side. His insecurities get the best of him, and he complains to Ellen that he will never be laird. Ellen forces him to remember that a good laird must possess a business mindset, too. It’s not just brute strength and braun.

Another flashback features Red Jacob whipping Dougal for putting his clan in danger that night of the raid. There’s a difference between being feared and being disgraced.

Switching back again to the present, Ellen confronts Dougal with the understanding that the night her father beat Dougal, he realized Dougal wasn’t fit to be laird, even though he never technically made those thoughts known. He knew Dougal would always put himself before the clan.

The next thing we know, Ellen is instructing Ned to reason with her brothers, telling him that they might be more receptive to his counsel. She has a notion of how to solve their problem, handing Ned a folded note. Ellen nods to her handwriting, asking if her solution is possible. Ned seems intrigued by what he reads.

Suddenly, it’s time to pick a new leader, which seems very fast to me. Ellen runs into Malcom, thanks him for the random bird feather he gifted her to wear to the special occasion, and gushes that she couldn’t think of a better match for her future husband. Let’s hear it for arranged marriages.

The mood is tense, especially when the brothers MacKenzie arrive at the soundtrack of bagpipes. Colum stands before the throne, as the eldest brother, pledging himself to Clan MacKenzie. He admits his body is broken, but his spirit will never be. Although strong in some ways, should the day come that the clan must draw iron, he will defer to his brother Dougal as war chieftain.

This is the point when all the Scottish minds are blown.

Dougal steps up beside his brother and promises to be his brother’s legs in the field. He kneels before Colum and pledges his loyalty. Colum carefully kneels before Dougal and pledges his loyalty. And when MacKinney calls the entire display illegal, Ned quickly sheds some light on the matter. It is totally possible for Colum and Dougal to share leadership through separate duties.

As a result, the entire room, including a livid MacKinney, drops and pledges their loyalty. We see Ellen looking down from the balcony, smiling. Her father would be so proud.

There’s still the issue of Ellen and Malcom’s wedding details, and Ned is determined to make sure there are no complications. He starts by helping Henry (Jeremy Irvine) find the woman he’s been looking for since he came to town. He takes him to a brothel, because surely the lady in charge of this fine establishment can locate the English woman with brown hair and piercing blue eyes.

Hermione Corfield.

Sanne Gault/Starz

That woman is currently pacing in her bedroom, writing to Henry at this very moment. She’s concerned that her secret is going to get out, and Lord Lovat will do something to her baby. Therefore, there’s only one thing she can do since she is trapped in her own personal hell. She holds on to all the hope in the world, asking Henry to forgive her, as she knocks on the laird’s door.

Something tells me that Henry and Julia are about to be reunited now that she’s “warmed herself” with the mean, greasy-haired man.

*Outlander: Blood of My Blood *airs Fridays on Starz.   **

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