After Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 1 Episode 3 “School of the Moon,” we can’t stop mulling over Julia’s decision. We completely understand why she does what she does, and we don’t judge her; we want that to be clear. However, we can’t stop wondering if it was the right decision given the circumstances.
What Happened in Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 1 Episode 3 “School of the Moon”?
Looking back, in Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 1 Episode 3 “School of the Moon,” Julia tries to hide her pregnancy. She does so quite successfully, but Davina, as a woman and mother, doesn’t miss a thing. She knows. And she doesn’t judge Julia or ask her questions, but she does give her the option of an abortion. Davina is practical and knows that’s Julia’s best option. Practically the only option. A pregnant, unmarried woman in that era didn’t have a happy ending. Especially not as a servant bought by Lord Lovat.
He wants her, and if he finds out she’s pregnant, he’ll make them pay for it, not only Julia, but the baby too. As for running away, that’s not an option either. Where would Julia go? The truth is, she has nowhere else to go, and she wouldn’t get very far alone and unprotected. Despite this, Julia refuses to take the herbs Davina offers her and even insists on denying that she’s pregnant. Although it’s futile, Davina knows better.
And we think that, up to this point in Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 1 Episode 3 “School of the Moon,” Julia is doing the best she can, which is protecting her family. She hopes that as her pregnancy unfolds, their situation will change. Perhaps she’ll find a way to escape to a safe place, or perhaps she’ll manage to find Henry, and the two of them can leave the past and come back to their time with Claire.
Julia’s Choice
However, as time passes, Julia’s hopes fade. She won’t be able to hide her pregnancy for much longer, and she hasn’t been able to find Henry either. So she has to reconsider her options. But for Julia, taking those herbs isn’t an option. So she takes matters into her own hands and goes to Lord Lovat’s room. If Brian could survive in that house without Lord Lovat showing up with him and Davina, his little one could have the same fate.
This is where we wonder if this was the best option. We understand that Julia loves her son and that, despite the situation, she hasn’t lost hope of finding Henry and returning to Claire. And for a son, a mother would do anything.
That said, beyond the fear we have that Outlander: Blood of My Blood copies Outlander and allows women to go through this situation so often, is it worth giving in to Lord Lovat’s sexual assault—Julia’s consent is not given freely, but conditionally—just to safeguard an increasingly vain hope? Our first answer is no. But, is there even an answer to this question during this time?
That’s the crux of the matter. Maybe there’s no right answer to this question because Julia did the only thing she could do with the options she had during a time where women had less options available, especially if you were unwed with destitution on the horizon if try to raise a child on your own. Maybe Julia did the only thing she could do to protect her family despite herself. She survived.
Either way, things are about to get even more complicated for everyone.
Outlander: Blood of My Blood airs on Fridays on STARZ.
NEXT: Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 1 Episodes 1 & 2 Review
