We’re back! In Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 1 Episode 8 ‘A Virtuous Woman,’ Ellen must undergo the humiliation of proving her virtue while her brothers stand impassively at the spectacle and Brian and Julia try to reach her side. And we need to talk about everything! Ready?
Here we go!
The Chosen Family
In Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 1 Episode 8 ‘A Virtuous Woman,’ the bond between Brian, Davina, and Julia grows even stronger. Davina finally finds out what happened between Brian and Ellen and the depth of his love for her. And she can’t help but worry to death about her son. The Mackenzies are the Frasers’ enemies; if Colum or Dougal find out Brian and Ellen are married, they’re capable of killing them both. And even more so if Brian shows up at their house, admitting to having taken Ellen’s virtue.
But beyond that, Brian also has an enemy within his own home. Davina knows that Lord Lovat will kill Brian with his own hands if he finds out what’s really going on between him and Ellen. He would consider it a betrayal. Davina needs Brian to forget Ellen. For good. That’s why she asks Julia for help. They’ve become confidants and friends, and he’ll listen to her. But Julia knows Brian won’t listen. He loves Ellen with everything he has and won’t let anyone hurt her, even if he has to risk his own life to save her.
That’s why Julia knows she has to go with Brian to Leoch. He has no chance of getting out alive on his own, and neither does Ellen. But with her, they’ll both be saved. They’ll both have a future. Or the possibility of one, at least. So Julia is willing to sacrifice herself for Brian in Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 1 Episode 8 ‘A Virtuos Woman.’ With Lord Lovat gone, this is Julia’s best chance of meeting Henry and running away with him. She knows it. And so does Brian.
But Julia can’t leave Brian to his fate. He protected her when he didn’t have to. More than once, he suffered punishments aimed at her, baptized her son, and swore that he would always be there for them. Brian trusted her and stood by her side without asking for anything in return. And Davina ended up doing the same. Julia owes them this. And we love her for it, for giving up what she wants most to help those people who, unwittingly, won a place in her heart.
And we also love Brian because, even though he knows he needs help, he can’t do this to Julia. He knows everything she’s suffered for not being with Henry and what she’s had to do to ensure her and her son survival. This is her chance, and he doesn’t want to be the reason she loses it. Except it’s not Brian’s decision, it’s Julia’s, and she’s already made her decision.
MORE: INTERVIEW: Tony Curran On What to Expect From Lord Lovat in Blood of My Blood
A Test That Changes Everything
Ellen’s virginity test is a turning point in Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 1 Episode 8 ‘A Virtuous Woman.’ What she went through was truly humiliating, and we hope she makes everyone pay for it, especially her siblings. They allowed this to happen. They should have refused, they should have prevented their sister from going through something like this. And to h**ll with the consequences. But they didn’t. They rolled out a red carpet for the Grants to witness their sister’s humiliation.
And the saddest thing is that they don’t believe in Ellen. They don’t think for a moment that she can pass this test, or that if she doesn’t, there’s a good reason for it. They try to cover all fronts, almost preparing for the worst, when what they should be doing is talking to Ellen and working together. But, as we discussed last week, each of them is pulling in a different direction, and that, in the end, will end up breaking them up.
It’s true that when Colum and Dougal see everything their sister has to go through, they feel bad about it. But not enough to stop it, so we don’t forgive them for what they’ve done to Ellen. The question is, will she?
MORE: Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 1, Episode 7 Review: ‘Luceo Non Uro’
Other Stuff in Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 1 Episode 8 ‘A Virtuous Woman’
- Mrs. Fitzgibbons gave Brian back his tartan, rejecting it on behalf of Ellen. And we understand why she did it…even though she had no right to. What happens now? We don’t think Brian will just stand by and do nothing. He’ll only walk away from Ellen if she asks him to.
- Brian is so cute, still wanting Julia to be with Henry, despite what might happen to him at the Mackenzie house.
- Brian still hates that his father is proud of him for something deplorable. And so do we.
- Julia and Henry finally found each other! And we understand what the show was trying to do. They wanted to make the reunion epic, Jamie and Claire-style. But it didn’t work for us. We didn’t feel even a tenth of the emotion we felt with Jamie and Claire. Honestly? We were mostly relieved, because this should have happened about three episodes ago. The plot was too slow.
- We’re glad they’re back together, but… they’re still not our cup of tea, and they don’t even come close to making us feel the same kind of stomach flutters Jamie and Claire used to. Brian and Ellen are close to that, though.
- Ellen is brave and proud. She didn’t let anyone beat her, she didn’t let anyone break her, and we love her for it.
- Thank goodness that, in addition to Mrs. Fitzgibbons, Ellen had Julia—who is a hero—and Brian by her side through it all. She’s not alone.
- Ned’s reaction to the twisted relationship between the Mackenzie siblings is our own.
- What will happen now that Isaac Grant is dead? What does that mean for Henry and Julia?
Outlander: Blood of My Blood airs on Fridays on STARZ.
