'Outlander: Blood of My Blood' recap: Henry and Julia cling to hope after being separated
The debut of Outlander: Blood of My Blood took us on a journey in 18th-century Scotland, where we met Jamie Fraser's parents. It was an instantaneous spark of infatuation that bloomed into a potential love affair with nothing but a few stolen moments in a random barn and on a bridge in Inverness.
In episode 2, the scene switches from the Highlands to a battlefield in Belgium, where a different story begins. Separated by a world war, Claire's parents are unable to capitalize on love at first sight. Instead, an innocent pen pal relationship blossoms into something more profound.
As Henry Beauchamp (Jeremy Irvine) watches his men falling around him, he copes with the pain and frustration by writing an open letter, questioning not what his friends are dying for, but what they are fighting for. The chaos does not make sense, and he's struggling to hold on to hope as the world disintegrates around him.
Henry's correspondence lands on the desk of a plucky young woman from the postal department of the War Office in London. Instead of redacting certain parts of the letter, Julia Moriston (Hermione Corfield) is mesmerized by the soldier's words and keeps the letter for herself, choosing to write back words of encouragement to the defeated soldier.
First of all, I'm baffled how any sort of mail, let alone bags and bags of it, was able to travel from a bloody battlefield to London. Kudos to that guy in the covered wagon for making it happen. Second, the fact that Henry received multiple letters back from Julia is just as crazy. Thankfully, we are able to watch as the pair get to know one another better through the written word, and even seal each letter with a kiss.
Julia continues to offer Henry hope. She even tells him she would love to go to Scotland to meet his brother, who we know as Uncle Lamb, the archeologist who raised Claire after her parents died. Henry dreams about taking leave and meeting Julia one day. What if they don't get the chance, especially now that London is taking a hit in the war?
One day, as Julia walks through her war-torn town, the invisible string snaps into place, and she spies a soldier striding toward her up the steps. She knows in her bones that she is seeing Henry face-to-face. He calls her name, and they embrace as if they've known each other a lifetime. Wasting no time, Henry and Julia get married, promising that they will be the hope that springs eternal for the other.
Cut to Julia waking up on the other side of the stones, curious as to why the gemstone in her wedding ring, as well as her husband, is missing. After assessing the situation, she takes a chalky rock and scribbles 'SWAK' on a boulder before running off to wave down some folks with a horse and buggy.
Julia tries to explain that she's looking for her husband, but the trio of people only speaks Gaelic. The woman motions for Julia to join her, but before she can respond, a man tosses a bag around Julia's head as another man whacks her with a large stick. Huge bummer for Julia.
Meanwhile, Henry has come through the stones and begins to panic as he searches for Julia. He notices her clever message and starts in the direction of her SWAK arrow. Sadly, Julia is already at Castle Leathers, home of the Frasers, learning that she has been sold to pay off her kidnappers' debt. Julia swears that she can't be held as a prisoner, but Lord Lovat (Tony Curran), also known as Simon Fraser, quickly puts this feisty woman in her place.
As Julia takes on the role of maidservant, Henry's outlook is a bit different. He follows some men who have gathered in a tavern, asking around about his wife. His inquiries are met with gruff retorts by the barman, who is only interested in Henry buying a pint. Malcolm (Jhon Lumsden), the future laird of Clan Grant, slaps some money down to cover Henry's ale, whispering that Henry owes him one.
Grateful that he isn't about to be caught up in a Highland bar fight, Henry downs his drink and pushes by Malcom, who is deep in a business conversation with a crowd of men over selling some land. Henry mumbles his thanks before flippantly noting that he hopes the sellers brought the deeds to the properties Malcom is considering.
Henry is surprised by the reaction of the crowd, which hauls him outside to drown him in the well for sticking his nose in clan matters. Malcolm saves the day again, imploring the others to let Henry go so he can explain himself. Which he does. In a long whispered conversation into Malcom's eager ears. Malcolm claps Henry on the back, playfully, yet forcefully, willing him to come to his house so Henry can tell his father, the current laird of Clan Grant, what he shared.
Isaac Grant (Brian McCardie) trusts his son and is intrigued by the Englishman Malcom has brought into their home. He's quick to explain to Henry that a man's word is his bond. This is how clans conduct their affairs. Henry understands, but informs Mr. Grant that if he were to accept the properties the Campbell family was offering, it would not guarantee ownership, based on what he had overheard. In Henry's opinion, the contract should state that the Grants own the land and would collect the rent. Not the Campbells.
Mr. Grant pushes back that his advisor was there to oversee the deal with his son. Henry feels that the advisor was misrepresenting him, and he should be checked for an extra purse of coins in his possession. Henry waits patiently, hears a scuffle in the other room, and stands a little straighter when a coin purse is presented to Mr. Grant, proving that Henry was right.
Of course, Mr. Grant wants Henry to be his new advisor. Henry politely declines, admitting that he doesn't have the time, considering he's searching for someone. Mr. Grant tells Henry he's free to go, but wouldn't it be smarter to align himself with a respected Scottish clan, as he is an Englishman in the Highlands without protection. The strength of the Grant clan could be at his disposal.
Henry knows a good deal when he hears it, so he accepts and follows Mr. Bug (Terence Rae) toward his new living space. As I grapple with the memory that Mr. Bug is a villain in Outlander, my thoughts become more cloudy as we see the former advisor's head on a pike in the middle of the lawn. Henry and I blanch at this horrendous display of curb appeal.
As Henry holds on to the hope that he will find his bride and keep his head, Julia is living the Cinderella life at Castle Leathers. Having learned that it's 1714, and constantly evading the advances of Lord Lovat, Julia decides to make a run for it. And as life imitates life, Jamie's father, Brian Fraser (Jamie Roy), rides up on a horse to stop Julia from making a foolish mistake. Brian is confident his father's men will find her, and everything will be worse.
Speaking of his father's men, one jumps out and grabs Julia, hauling her straight to Lord Lovat, who threatens to beat her for insubordination. Brian abruptly steps in, claiming he helped Julia in her attempt to flee. And Julia looks on as Brian receives twenty lashes across his bare back, a picture reminiscent of Jamie Fraser in years to come.
One month later, we find Henry sitting across from Ned, in the current Scottish timeline, negotiating the terms of Dougal's fists smashing into Malcom's face. Henry is unsure if there is anything to be done to mend the fracture with the families, and practically rolls his eyes when Ned suggests Ellen's hand as a peace offering.
Figuring he should be kissing up to the man in front of him, instead of the Grant clan, Ned's tactics change. He tells Henry that he's noticed Henry's propensity to search for a particular 'taste' of women. If Henry offers the betrothal proposition to the Grants, Ned will help Henry find whatever he's looking for in return.
Henry agrees and potentially seals Ellen's fate in that moment. Feeling defeated and lonely, Henry turns to writing letters to his beloved, as Julia does the same from the servant's quarters of her castle. Both promise to find their way back to each other, no matter the time and distance that separates them. Because hope will spring eternal.
Outlander: Blood of My Blood airs new episodes Fridays on Starz.
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