After Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 1 Episode 4 “A Soldier’s Heart,” we need to talk about what Julia meaning to Henry. His light in the darkness. And the importance of her being by his side even in his worst moments.
What Happened in Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 1 Episode 4 ‘A Soldier’s Heart’?
Throughout Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 1 Episode 4 ‘A Soldier’s Heart,’ the flashbacks we see of Julia and Henry give us a broader perspective on the couple. Especially on Henry. He survived the war, but when he closes his eyes, he’s there.
He’s in the midst of the noise, the destruction, the bombs, and the death. Henry once again feels guilty for all those he couldn’t save, for all those who didn’t return. And he can’t help but start to shake and feel disoriented because he suffers post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.
Julia is with him every step of the way. She holds him tightly until he stops shaking and recognizes her. Yet Henry’s attacks flare up. Any smell or noise can bring him back there and trigger his body’s response. That’s why Julia gives Henry her necklace, so she can bring him back, even if she’s not by his side. And that necklace is everything.
After traveling through the stones, Henry no longer has Julia by his side, and when the fight triggers one of his attacks, he loses control. Until that necklace brings him back. Until Juliabrings him back. Julia is his light, his hope, always has been.
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Being Present Is the Key
Being present is perhaps the most important thing when it comes to these characters. Just being there. Julia is also scared by Henry’s attacks, but still, she embraces him. She chooses to stay. She chooses him. Always. That doesn’t fix everything and it doesn’t make it perfect, but it makes it bearable. It’s hope for the future, for healing, for life. And that is more than enough.
That’s why, now that Julia isn’t by his side, we understand why he goes to see his new friend. He just needs to pretend Julia is there, that she’s by his side. Just for one night. Only that will calm him and make him sleep without nightmares. Only that will make it possible for him to have hope and see the light. And only that will keep him from falling apart.
His friend wants to help him because she knows this man isn’t like all the others who hire her services. He’s truly grieving for his lost love. And she understands that feeling of loss, that searing pain that ravages everything. Yet we know danger when we see it. Right now, Henry has rejected his friend‘s advances, but what happens next? Especially now that he’s beginning to lose hope of finding Julia. We’re afraid that Henry will end up losing his light forever.
Outlander: Blood of My Blood airs on Fridays on STARZ.
NEXT: Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 1, Episode 3 Review: ‘School of the Moon
