Outlander Blood of My Blood gets top ratings on Rotten Tomatoes ahead of release
Since its debut more than a decade ago, Outlander has amassed a global fanbase. The historical romance series, centring round Claire Randall/Fraser (Caitríona Balfe) and Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan), saw their love affair quickly capture hearts.
However with the show nearing its end with the eighth and final season set for 2026, the phenomenon is expanding in the form of a spin-off to Diana Gabaldon's treasured franchise. Blood of My Blood is set to air to audiences later this week, August 8.
The series will follow two new love stories, one which starts on the battlefields of the Western Front during World War I and the other in the meadows of Scotland in the early 18th century. It will unravel the tale of both Jamie and Claire Fraser's parents.
Jamie's dad, Brian Fraser, died just mere days after the Highland warrior's second flogging from Randall in Outlander. Although we are yet to get a taste of the spin-off, some critics have shared their glowing reviews ahead of its release.
Taking to Rotten Tomatoes, one confirmed that the 'magic' of Outlander is also apparent in the spin-off.
"Outlander: Blood of My Blood unquestionably maintains the magic of the original show, a steamy, emotional, addictively watchable prequel that succeeds at everything fans have loved from the beginning," one person wrote.
Another critic noted: "Lush, complex, beautifully shot and structured, this prequel is a thrilling addition to a franchise that has enraptured audiences from the beginning."
A third said: "Outlander: Blood of My Blood is more than a prequel; it's a necessary story to tell both for the world and because of its themes."
"Who could turn down another serving of such a decadent treat, especially when made with such obvious love for the original? It's clear that 'Blood of My Blood' is certainly reveling in its ability to deliver Outlander fan service," another critic remarked.
One simply wrote: "Starz's Outlander saga had seduced me fully once again". One section of the series follows the love story between Ellen MacKenzie (Harriet Slater) and Brian Fraser (Jamie Roy), who are Jamie's parents.
The rest of the prequel follows the romance between Henry Beauchamp (Jeremy Irvine) and Julia Moriston (Hermione Corfield), who are Claire's parents. Featuring as a stand-alone series, any fans dreading the impending forever Droughtlander should be sure not to miss this one.
"The series will centre on these two parallel love stories set in two different eras, with Jamie's parents in the early 18th-century Scottish Highlands and Claire's parents in WWI England," according to the official synopsis.
Matthew B. Roberts, the showrunner of Outlander, will also serve as the showrunner and executive producer on the spin-off series. The first season will compose of 10 episodes.
Maril Davis and Ronald D. Moore will also join as executive producers, with Outlander author Diana Gabaldon acting as a consulting producer.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Evening Standard
16 minutes ago
- Evening Standard
'Worst film EVER!' Why War of The Worlds is being hated on with zero per cent
Despite earning a withering 0 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes, the film has found an audience... or at least viewers curious enough to press play. Whether they finish it is another story. But Prime doesn't care. The title is recognisable. Ice Cube is recognisable. And the content, like many aliens in past versions of this story, is disposable.
Metro
2 hours ago
- Metro
I am baffled by the hype for this goofy horror film
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Zach Cregger's film Weapons is getting rave reviews, and while it's a fun watch, you might leave feeling a little short-changed. What happens to a town when one day 17 children go missing in the middle of the night, fleeing their homes to never return again? This is the premise of Cregger's movie Weapons, starring Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, Benedict Wong, Austin Abrams, and Alden Ehrenreich as townspeople in Maybrook, where this tragedy has taken place. Following the release of his 2022 debut film Barbarian, expectations for this film have been high as Cregger has come in hot with a bigger budget and bigger ambitions in this two-hour and eight-minute long project. The horror film has had impeccable marketing and was even part of a Hollywood bidding war as producers were desperate to get their hands on the movie – only amping up the anticipation for fans. Even teasers for the movie were praised as 'the creepiest trailer in years'. And, as reviews for the film begin trickling in, it has been lauded as a must-watch of 2025, and boasts a 100% Rotten Tomatoes ranking. But I for one am baffled. The horror pied piper-esque movie aims to terrify and amuse, blending humour and dark horror in what is supposed to be a discomforting but entertaining watch. And yes, although there are some solid, funny moments, often the humour undercuts the tension and the high stakes of a scene. Rather than feeling frightened or relieved after a tense scene, instead I'm confused and a little bit deflated as the horror became laughable and the tension building up from the scene dissipated without reaching its full capability. The key villain in this tale is at some points like a formidable presence and at others a clownish, goofy caricature. The inconsistency in their portrayal, along with the frequent jarring changes in tone, leads to narrative whiplash. But, that's not to say that it isn't capable of producing fear. Zach Cregger Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, Alden Ehrenreich, Benedict Wong, Austin Abrams, Amy Madigan, Cary Christopher. 18, strong bloody violence, gore. 2hr 8mins August 8, 2025 There is some excellent foreshadowing, good horror references, and a healthy inclusion of truly grotesque or fear-inducing moments that will have you really spooked. Memorable scenes include using a potato peeler as a rather ruthless weapon, and a bloody head butt that is guaranteed to stay with you. Told from five different perspectives, Weapons showcases the best and worst of human nature. Garner particularly shines as the missing schoolchildren's teacher, Justine Gandy, who slips into alcoholism as worried parents – including Archer Graff played by Brolin – point the finger at her for their children's disappearance. The multithreaded storytelling is an effective tool in this movie, keeping the pace while gently unveiling major plot points and amping up the gore and supernatural elements of this story. The performances across the board are strong, with the believable portrayals mopping up some of the more far-fetched elements of the story. Based on an original concept, Weapons is most certainly going to appeal to those looking to enjoy some well-executed horror. The jump scares are pitch-perfect, and the film avoids some of the more clichéd elements of the genre. For horror fans, the real question is: 'Is it better than Barbarian?' The short answer to that is no. More Trending Barbarian left audiences chilled to their core with a fresh, elevated story, and while Weapons is by no means a poor follow-up, it's not quite hitting the mark. But fans of Cregger will enjoy some fun cameos from his previous film in a cheeky wink to his fanbase. The movie is a fun watch, with strong characters and a gripping story that will keep you hooked for the rather long runtime, but if you go in expecting perfection that other reviews have promised thus far, expect to be disappointed. An enjoyable, well-executed horror that loses its tone at points, but nonetheless makes for a gripping and original film that you won't regret watching on the big screen. Weapons is in cinemas on August 8. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Francis Ford Coppola, 86, shares update after being 'rushed to hospital' MORE: Original Naked Gun director reveals why he's refusing to watch the new remake MORE: I never expected to love Disney nostalgia bait sequel Freakier Friday
Scotsman
2 hours ago
- Scotsman
George R.R. Martin show with 100% rating needs to be watched
Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin is a producer on a 100% rated show on Rotten Tomatoes 👀 Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin has a long career in TV. He is the producer of a crime show with a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. But what is it about and how to watch it? A crime drama produced by George R.R. Martin needs to be your next binge-watch, according to critics. Dark Winds has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and recently released its third season. One of the major names involved is the A Song of Ice and Fire author, who is an executive producer along with Robert Redford. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The period series is set in the 1970s and is based on the Leaphorn & Chee series by Tony Hillerman. It stars Westworld and Twilight actors. What is Dark Winds about? AMC The synopsis overview on Rotten Tomatoes for the show reads: 'Set in 1971 on a remote outpost of the Navajo Nation near Monument Valley, Dark Winds follows Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn of the Tribal Police as he is besieged by a series of seemingly unrelated crimes. 'The closer he digs to the truth, the more he exposes the wounds of his past. He is joined on this journey by his new deputy, Jim Chee. 'Chee, too, has old scores to settle from his youth on the reservation. Together, the two men battle the forces of evil, each other and their own personal demons on the path to salvation.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The first two seasons had six episodes each, however this was expanded to eight for the third one. It stars Zahn McClarnon, who was in Fargo season two and Longmire as well as playing Akecheta in Westworld. Why do critics say you should watch Dark Winds? The show has a 100% fresh rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes , across all three of its seasons. Debuting back in 2021, the most recent set of episodes came out earlier in 2025. In the consensus verdict on RT for the first season, it reads: 'Zahn McClarnon is riveting as a coiled cop in Dark Winds, a solid procedural that derives much of its texture from an underrepresented cultural milieu.' It is a similar story for the second season, with the consensus reading: 'Dark Winds' sophomore season is just as captivating as its predecessor, with Zahn McClarnon reaffirming his indispensable gravitas as a leading man.' How is George R.R. Martin involved? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad George RR Martin spoke to publishers about Winds of Winter in December | Getty Images Despite being best known for his A Song of Ice and Fire series, which was the basis for HBO's hit show Game of Thrones and its spin-off House of the Dragon, George R.R. Martin has long worked in TV. He worked on the revival of The Twilight Zone and was also writer on the late 80s/ early 90s series Beauty and the Beast. He has also produced shows like Nightflyers and of course Dark Winds. Speaking about the show back in 2021, Martin told The Hollywood Reporter : 'Tony Hillerman was one of the greats, as every mystery reader knows. Down here in the Southwest, Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee are as iconic as Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Philip Marlowe, and Travis McGee. 'When my friends Robert Redford and Chris Eyre asked me to help bring Leaphorn and Chee back to television, I could not agree fast enough. We have great source material in Tony's novel Listening Woman, a great pilot script from Graham Roland, a great director in Chris… and what a pair of leads, with Zahn McClarnon as Leaphorn and Kiowa Gordon as Chee! Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Our plan is to shoot in New Mexico, in and around Santa Fe and on the Navajo reservation, and we are bringing in as many Navajo and other Native Americans as possible, as writers, directors, cast, and crew, to capture all the magic and mystery and wonder of the Land of Enchantment. 'Thanks to AMC for making it possible. Tony Hillerman wrote a lot of amazing books, and it is our dream to adapt as many of them as we can.' He also appeared in a cameo role in the first episode of Dark Winds series three alongside fellow executive producer Robert Redford. How to watch Dark Winds in the UK? For British viewers, Dark Winds has been broadcast by Alibi as we do not have AMC on this side of the pond. So far, only the first two seasons have crossed the Atlantic but it can be found on Now TV, if you want to catch up.
