Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 1 Episode 10 ‘Something Borrowed’ picks up where the previous episode left off and shows us the consequences of the decisions that Brian, Ellen, and the Mackenzies made. Plus, Julia and Henry finally manage to escape. Ready?
Here we go!
Brotherhood Restored in Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 1 Episode 10 ‘Something Borrowed’
Our hearts were mended when Murtagh and Brian became brothers again in ‘Something Borrowed.’ Murtagh is still angry at Brian for his betrayal and hasn’t forgiven him yet. But that’s one thing, and allowing someone to hurt him is quite another. Despite everything, Brian is still his brother…and Murtagh would die for him.
But what happens between them goes deeper than that. Murtagh loves Ellen; he always will. But he knows she’ll never be the one for him. Brian’s name is engraved in blood on her heart. And Murtagh loves them both, wants them to be happy. That’s why he makes Brian reflect on the truth in Ellen’s words when she broke his heart. Brian, in that moment, feels hurt, vulnerable, and confused. A part of him is sure there’s a reason behind Ellen’s words. But another part of him can’t help but believe her words. She was so convincing…she hit him where it hurts the most.
However, Murtagh manages to cut through Brian’s tangle of feelings in Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 1 Episode 10 ‘Something Borrowed’ so that he thinks about Ellen’s eyes, not her words. Her eyes never lied to him. And Ellen’s eyes were screaming at him that something was going on. Ellen had a reason to cut all ties with him. Considering what happened with the Gallowglass, it wasn’t hard for Murtagh and Brian to figure out the reason and realize that Colum had broken his word.
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The Importance of Forgiveness
Now, nothing and no one is stopping Brian from going after Ellen and stopping her from marrying Malcolm. Even if it means turning his back on his father for good. Lord Lovat will consider it a betrayal, but Brian doesn’t care. He wants nothing to do with him. So if he has to choose between Ellen and his father…the choice is clear.
And Murtagh is there every step of the way. As Brian’s comrade-in-arms, his brother…and a dear friend to both of them. It pains him…but Murtagh also knows it’s the right thing to do and that things are as they should be.
However, while what happens with Ellen is wonderful, what we love most about these moments between Murtagh and Brian in Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 1 Episode 10 ‘Something Borrowed,’ is that Brian finally apologized to Murtagh.
Murtagh had heard all kinds of excuses for what happened, but never an apology. And it was the least Brian could do because, as we’ve discussed on several occasions, it wasn’t his fault he fell in love with Ellen, but it was his fault he didn’t tell Murtagh the truth.
And that apology is what Murtagh was waiting for to begin forgiving Brian. That apology is proof that Brian understands what he did wrong and that he cares about Murtagh too much to let his pride come between them. And we are in tears at this moment.
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Unexpected Heroine
Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 1 Episode 10 ‘Something Borrowed’ brought us many surprises, and one of them was Jocasta. This episode allowed her not only to shine but to redeem herself. Until now, we’ve seen Jocasta’s jealousy of Ellen and her resentment toward her, but we haven’t delved into what’s behind it all. Part of what’s behind it is the same as in the case of Colum and Dougal: Red Jacob’s favoritism toward Ellen and the fact that everyone sees her and only her. But there’s something else.
Jocasta has never hidden the fact that she’s glad Ellen is being forced to marry Malcolm. But now we know she’s doing it because she’s watching Ellen get a taste of her own medicine. Ellen was the one who advised and encouraged her father to marry Jocasta to Cameron. It was Ellen who was the architect of that marriage and, therefore, of Jocasta’s unhappiness. Ellen didn’t give Jocasta a chance to choose. So, if Colum is Ellen’s nightmare now, Ellen was Jocasta’s nightmare in the past.
Until now, Ellen wasn’t aware of the damage she had done to Jocasta and the consequences Jocasta had to pay for her decisions. But now, Ellen knows. After all, Ellen is experiencing it firsthand. Ellen is paying the consequences of Dougal and Colum’s actions and decisions, while Jocasta did the same with Ellen’s. So, in Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 1 Episode 10 ‘Something Borrowed,’ Ellen sees the magnitude of how she screwed up her sister’s life and apologizes to her. And, as in Murtagh’s case, that was all Jocasta wanted.
It always has.
And that apology changes everything between them. Precisely because Jocasta is living in a loveless marriage, she knows the unhappiness that comes with it. In her case, she never had the chance to enjoy love and fight for her happiness, but Ellen does. The man she loves is right there. Brian went looking for her, risking his own life. And Ellen deserves to be happy. Jocasta knows this, and Ellen’s apology is the push she needed to help her. And we love her for it.
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The Most Painful Betrayal
While Jocasta and Ellen’s relationship is repaired in Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 1 Episode 10 ‘Something Borrowed,’ Colum and Ellen’s relationship is completely shattered. Ellen extracted an oath from her brother in exchange for agreeing to be unhappy for the rest of her life. And she truly hoped Colum would keep his word. But he betrayed her.
As soon as Ellen turned around, Colum had Brian killed. That devastated Ellen because, despite everything, she still held onto some faith, trust, and love for her brother. But if he’s capable of betraying her like that, if she means so little to him that he’s capable of ordering the death of the love of her life despite knowing how much it would hurt her, there’s nothing left between them. Accepting that destroys Ellen from the inside out because she loves him.
And Ellen gave Colum one last chance in this episode. Despite his betrayal, Ellen wanted to give him the chance to be honest with her, to explain, to understand him… but Colum chose silence. And that’s the final nail in the coffin for them. They may share the same blood, but nothing more. Ellen can no longer call him a brother or feel like one. And it hurts a lot.
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Spite Is Never a Good Counselor
So, not everything could go well for Brian and Ellen in Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 1 Episode 10 ‘Something Borrowed.’ Malcolm feels humiliated and rejected, but above all, spiteful. His feelings for Ellen are genuine, and he puts her on a pedestal. To him, she was perfect. And he truly believed she felt the same. Now that he’s realized it was all a fantasy, he’s sad and furious.
So when he comes face-to-face with Ellen and sees her with Brian, he can’t help but let his anger get the better of him. Malcolm was willing to give Ellen the world. To him, she was his queen, and he would have chosen her over everything and everyone. But she traded him for…Brian. A bastard son of a down-and-out lord. A man who has nothing.
And we truly understand Malcolm. We really do. But he never understood that it was never about what he could give Ellen or about treating her like a queen; it was always about reaching her heart. And he never got there. Not the way Brian did. In fact, Malcolm doesn’t know her. Not the real her, only the image of Ellen he formed in his head. It was the idea of her he loved, not her.
And yes, Malcolm has the right to feel scorned and humiliated in Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 1 Episode 10 ‘Something Borrowed’…but not to demand anything from Ellen. She never promised him anything or gave him hope that their marriage was more than a clan alliance. And Ellen isn’t to blame for Malcolm believing his own fantasy. Ellen’s supposed feelings for him were all in Malcolm’s head the whole time. That was his mistake: not realizing that Ellen felt nothing more than friendship for him and that everything else was just a fantasy fueled by vain hope.
However, everything changes when Malcolm’s bubble bursts and he realizes the truth. And it forces Brian to defend himself to the point where he ends up shooting him. Is Malcolm dead? Everything seems to indicate that he is, and that will bring even more problems for Brian and Ellen. However, that doesn’t quite add up for us because Outlander mentions Malcolm Grant as one of the guardians of the gold destined for the Jacobite rebellion. And this intrigues us quite a bit.
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Other Stuff in Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 1 Episode 10 ‘Something Borrowed’
- Murtagh giving Ellen the bracelets he made for her brought tears to our eyes.
- And the way she’s sad for him and so grateful and loves him so much does the same. Ellen knows how Murtagh feels about her, and even though she can’t reciprocate, she wants him to know that he’ll always find a friend in her.
- Murtagh has to get well.
- Brian and Ellen’s first time knowing they’ll always be together couldn’t have been more romantic.
- Jocasta saving the day was something we didn’t expect, but we absolutely love.
- Mrs. Fitzgibbons is very proud of her little Ellen. And we’re crying.
- We didn’t expect Dougal to end up getting married, but it seems fair. He’s the one who made the mistake that led to all this. It’s only fair that he be the one to sacrifice himself to fix it.
- Maura is…practical. Too practical. And we didn’t like the way she treated Ellen at all, but we think she’s the one for Dougal.
- Our hearts broke a little watching Julia say goodbye to Brian and Davina. Contrary to everything she thought, they became important people to Julia. They are her confidants, her pillar, and thanks to them, she managed to survive. That’s why she tries to protect them with everything she has. Although it’s time to say goodbye, as much as it hurts. But neither will forget the other, that’s for sure.
- Finally, Julia and Henry are about to return through the stones! But everything goes wrong too quickly…
- What happened to Julia and William? We need answers!
- The Outlander callbacks… yes, it’s nostalgic.
- Of course, Henry’s sacrifice reminded us too much of Jamie’s… but more watered down.
- Little Claire is everything that’s right in this world.
- Brian and Ellen as a married couple is TOP.
- What will happen to Brian and Ellen? Brian is in a very difficult situation. If he doesn’t answer the clan’s call to war, he and Ellen would have to leave their home forever. But if he does, it would mean leaving her behind just as they’re about to start a life together. Thank goodness Ellen will support him no matter what.
- Our hair stood on end watching the burning crosses. The Jacobite rebellion is here.
- We need Season 2 NOW!
Outlander: Blood of My Blood airs on Fridays on STARZ.
