We’re back! Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 2 Episode 3 ‘Rabbits Don’t Swim,’ proves that Ellen is the leader her clan always needed—all while trouble mounts for our favorite couples, and the episode leaving us breathless. Ready?
Here we go!
Ellen Finally Gets the Apology She Deserved
We are so proud of Ellen! In Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 2 Episode 3 ‘Rabbits Don’t Swim,’ she proved herself to be a leader in her own right. Her father taught her well. Once again, we saw that she was the one who should have led the clan. There is no one better.
The moment her home and clan were threatened, she didn’t hesitate for a second to take charge and defend them tooth and nail—like a fierce beast, a lioness. And, like a true lioness, she didn’t shy away from using violence when necessary. We lost count of how many times we cheered for her.
This finally forces Colum to stop denying what he has known all along: he was wrong. Ellen never abandoned her clan—or her family, for that matter, no matter how much they might have deserved it. We loved seeing Colum finally yield to her and offer a heartfelt apology in Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 2 Episode 3 ‘Rabbits Don’t Swim.’ It feels like the first time he truly sees her and regards her as an equal. The proof lies in his placing his full trust in her to warn Dougal and save the clan from destruction. It’s about time!
The only problem is that it comes too late. Ellen used to trust Colum. She was ready to sacrifice her life and happiness for the sake of Brian’s life and the well-being of her family, her clan. Yet Colum mocked her sacrifice, repaying it by betraying her in the worst possible way. There is no turning back. Colum broke something between them, and she cannot forgive him. That will be his penance: forever begging his sister for forgiveness, longing to win her back, only to be met with a refusal every time.
We really appreciate that the show didn’t sugarcoat this. It’s harsh, but it’s real. Blood ties don’t mandate forgiveness. That said, we still don’t think Colum chose the clan over Ellen. As we mentioned, that would have been understandable, given that a clan chief must consider the common good. What Colum actually prioritized over Ellen was his own pride.
MORE: INTERVIEW: Matthew B. Roberts & Maril Davis on Blood of My Blood Season 2’s Biggest Questions
Ellen’s Pregnancy Changes Everything in ‘Rabbits Don’t Swim’
Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 2 Episode 3 ‘Rabbits Don’t Swim,’ decided to hit us with one bombshell after another! ELLEN IS PREGNANT! And yes, we are screaming right now! We love the news, we’re thrilled and can’t wait to see Brian’s reaction and find out if this changes how they face the war. This baby is a hope for the future.
That said, it feels like it came out of nowhere—like a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat without you seeing how it was done. We should have seen the moment Ellen found out, her reaction, Mrs. Graham’s reaction… something. As it stands, the news leaves us shocked, yes, but also with the feeling that we’re missing something, as if a piece of the puzzle is gone.
The same goes for Janet’s death in Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 2 Episode 3 ‘Rabbits Don’t Swim.’ We didn’t know this character; we didn’t even know who she was. Consequently, watching her die didn’t carry the emotional impact it should have. Yes, we’re sorry she’s dead, but beyond that, we remained indifferent to her passing.
If the show had taken the time to let us get to know Janet, everything would have been different. But honestly? Given the circumstances, seeing Ellen kill Mackinney—covered in blood—along with Harriet Slater’s brilliant performance, made a greater impact on us than Janet’s death.
MORE: INTERVIEW: Hermione Corfield & Jeremy Irvine on Henry and Julia’s Blood of My Blood Season 2 Journey
The MacKenzies Are More Divided Than Ever
Regarding the aftermath of this raid, we had spent weeks wondering what Maura would choose if forced to decide between defending the MacKenzies or letting them be destroyed, and Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 2 Episode 3 ‘Rabbits Don’t Swim,’ gave us a glimpse of the answer. When the things got tough, Maura chose to save her own skin rather than fight alongside the others women to defend her home, her family, and her clan.
And we still don’t know what makes us angrier: that she was such a coward she could sell out and betray her family—abandoning the women risking their lives to protect what was theirs, leaving them to their fate without a care for whether they lived or died—or that she didn’t believe in them, or that she was stupid enough to think the word of those men (who had already broken their own oaths) actually meant something. It’s probably a combination of all three.
So, we fully support Ellen when she sets the record straight: Maura may be married to Dougal, but she will never be a MacKenzie. That said, will Maura be able to do the same when her uncle tries to bring the MacKenzies down? Despite everything that happens in Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 2 Episode 3 ‘Rabbits Don’t Swim,’ we still have our doubts.
On another note, just when we thought Lovat couldn’t sink any lower, Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 2 Episode 3 ‘Rabbits Don’t Swim,’ proved us wrong. We knew he was up to something, but we never imagined he had such a twisted plan in the works. And all we can think about is Brian. He hates his father, but learning of this betrayal will leave him deeply disappointed.
If Brian has any respect or loyalty left for Lovat, he’ll lose it the moment he learns the truth. And the worst part is that everyone will think he knew about it from the start—or at least Dougal will. We know Ellen would never doubt Brian, but Dougal is another story. And just when they were starting to get along.
MORE: Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 2, Episode 2 Review: A Shocking Twist
Seema Can’t Let Go of Henry
We knew Seema’s arrival would cause trouble, but we didn’t know just how much. It’s very sad—and disgusting—to see her with Lovat. For her, being used like that has become part of her routine, her daily life. Everyone does it. Everyone wants that from her. That’s why we understand her confronting Julia the way she does in Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 2 Episode 3 ‘Rabbits Don’t Swim’—leading her to believe that what happened between her and Henry was more than it actually was.
Henry was the only person who truly saw her. Not just an object to be used, but a person with dreams and feelings. He was the only one who treated her as an equal. And she fell in love with that heartbroken man who showed her that good, honest men still existed—men worth having. That said, Seema always knew Henry’s heart belonged to Julia. That hurts her, and she can’t understand why. What does Julia have that she doesn’t?
That’s why she can’t help feeling jealous. And rubbing it in Julia’s face—as she does in Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 2 Episode 3 ‘Rabbits Don’t Swim’—seems like the perfect way to vent some of that frustration and let out her pent-up resentment. That way, she kills two birds with one stone and gets her “revenge” on both of them: on Henry for not loving her, and on Julia for being the woman he loves. Is it petty? Yes, but it’s human.
However, despite everything, Seema knows her connection with Henry was real. She felt it. He may love Julia, but she isn’t indifferent to him. And she isn’t entirely wrong. That connection was real, but—contrary to what Seema wants to believe—it had nothing to do with love. It was born of sheer desperation and devastation. Henry thought he had lost Julia and his son forever, and he was shattered.
Furthermore, his PTSD had returned with full force; a part of him wasn’t fully present—he was lost in memories, trying to cling to something, or someone, who could anchor him to the here and now. In his mind, that person was Julia. In reality, it was Seema. That’s the harsh truth.
So yes, we understand why Seema does what she does in Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 2 Episode 3 ‘Rabbits Don’t Swim,’ and why she is willing to fight tooth and nail for Henry. Seema deserves far more than life gave her. But she is fighting for a man who isn’t hers—and who never was.
P.S. Women standing together to defend their home. We love it!
Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 2 airs on Fridays at 8:00 PM ET only on STARZ and at midnight in STARZ App.
