We’re back! Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 2 Episode 7 ‘Heart of the Highlands,’ explores the aftermath of the previous episode’s events, revealing some startling truths that make us question everything we thought we knew. Ready?
Here we go!
Some Fathers Should Never Have Children
Ellen is truly devastated in Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 2 Episode 7 ‘Heart of the Highlands.’ She cannot stop weeping for her baby—her little girl—who has been lost. A part of Ellen is gone. And with every tear she sheds, our hatred for Lovat only intensifies. It’s a complex experience watching her tell Brian. She’s apologizing for something that wasn’t her fault, and even suggesting that, since she can no longer have children, he might want to leave her, giving him permission to do so.
On one hand, our hearts break for her. It’s painful to see her feel such guilt when she did nothing wrong. On the other hand, our feminist spirit cries out against this—against the idea that Ellen’s worth is diminished simply because she can no longer conceive.
We understand that this is a product of the era. And we like how realistic Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 2 Episode 7 ‘Heart of the Highlands’ is in its portrayal—even Colum brings it up. In those days, a woman’s value was often measured by the number of children she could bring into the world. That doesn’t make it any less infuriating, though. Thankfully, as a society, we have made progress.
Regardless, we love that Brian cares for Ellen, nothing else matters. He fell in love with her. His heart and soul belong to her. With or without children, his future lies by her side. And we were truly moved to tears when Brian brought that stone to Ellen—the first stone for Lallybroch—,taken from the bridge where they first met. Could there be a more romantic man, or a purer symbol of his desire to spend his entire life with her no matter what? Brian has us completely won over, we swear.
On the other hand, discovering that his own father was responsible for this comes as a devastating blow to Brian in Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 2 Episode 7 ‘Heart of the Highlands.’ Despite everything Lovat had done, Brian never imagined his father would be capable of such a thing. He destroyed his own grandson, flesh of his flesh, blood of his blood. Brian hadn’t thought it possible for his father to disappoint him any further, or to disgust him even more, yet here we are.
To make matters worse, Lovat has the audacity to talk about prophecies and insult Ellen. He even dares to feel proud and mock them. Brian knew Lovat would make him pay for choosing Ellen over him. But he never imagined he would exact his revenge in this way. After all, he killing at his own legacy, his own family. He’s a monster. We won’t deny that we were rooting for Brian to finish him off and we don’t regret it for a second.
But Julia is right. The only ones who would truly lose in that scenario are Brian and Ellen, because this time, they would lose each other. They cannot let Lovat do that to them. He has already taken too much from them. Beyond the hurt, we are certain that Brian also feels a deep sense of shame that his own father could inflict such harm upon the woman he loves.
Following the events of Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 2 Episode 7 ‘Heart of the Highlands’ we would love for the show to explore this aspect of the story—as well as the lose they feel right now and guilt Ellen feels for failing to protect her baby, even though that couldn’t be further from the truth.
That said, Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 2 Episode 7 ‘Heart of the Highlands’ completely blew us away. Ellen is convinced that she won’t be able to have any more children, but we know that’s not the case. So, how does it happen? Does Maisri manage to fix some of what she helped break, or did the potion not work quite as well as they thought? We need answers!
MORE: Outlander: Blood of My Blood: Matthew B. Roberts on Ellen’s Kidnapping and Henry’s Defining Choice
The Past Isn’t Done With Henry and Julia Yet
In Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 2 Episode 7 ‘Heart of the Highlands,’ Henry and Julia manage to devise a plan to meet up, thanks to Arch’s help. We love the friendship that has blossomed between him and Henry. Henry has shown Arch that he is a soldier and a survivor—much like Arch himself—but, more importantly, that his heart is in the right place. Above all, Arch understands what Henry is fighting for: he would do exactly the same thing—whatever it takes—to return to his own wife and family.
Learning that Henry has a daughter on the other side and that his only desire is to return to her, along with Julia and William, has made helping Henry—and keeping his true intentions hidden from the Grants—Arch’s top priority. Previously, he helped somewhat reluctantly, driven primarily by the life debt he owed Henry. But things have changed. For Arch, family—and children—are sacred. Whether he realizes it or not, his loyalty is now split between the Grants and Henry. And Henry is winning.
Arch and his wife lost several of their children and were unable to have more. Those losses left a deep mark on them, so he understands, perhaps better than anyone, what a man would do for his children. Because there is nothing he wouldn’t give to change the past and hold his own children in his arms.
Henry finds himself in a similar situation: he has lost his daughter—though, unlike Arch, Henry still has a chance to get her back. This leads Arch to wonder if, perhaps, helping Henry might somehow make it possible for him and Murdina to finally have children of their own.
And we love how Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 2 Episode 7 ‘Heart of the Highlands’ humanized Arch. Little by little, through his friendship with Henry, we are beginning to see a different side of Arch, one that is far less… violent and bitter. He is no longer the villain we met in Season 1. And now, this story ultimately leads Arch—against all odds—to find a place in our hearts.
However, just as Arch secures the gems needed to pass through the stones, and he and Julia are ready to return to Claire, everything falls apart once again. In Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 2 Episode 7 ‘Heart of the Highlands,’ Maisri reveals to Julia that she cannot travel. She only managed it the first time because she was pregnant with William.
And it doesn’t seem like she’s playing games. Maisri understands the power of the stones and is truly capable of seeing Claire. She does possess a gift—she’s simply clever enough to always tell Lovat exactly what he wants to hear, whether it’s true or not. Her survival depends on it.
But she has no reason to lie to Julia now. This leaves us with many questions: what will she and Henry do? Henry would never abandon her, yet neither of them could ever leave Claire behind. And then there’s William. He’s just a baby. What guarantee is there that he can survive the journey without getting trapped in the stones or coming to harm? Henry and Julia are now forced to choose between two terrible options: either they leave their daughter, or they leave each other.
Furthermore, Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 2 Episode 7 ‘Heart of the Highlands’ presents another mystery: William. We now know that he is capable of traveling. Could he actually be the Comte Saint Germain? Or—in a wilder theory—could he be Master Raymond? After all, we know he is related to Claire. Then again, it might be neither. And our brain is on fire right now!
MORE: Outlander: Blood of My Blood Director on Julia’s Breaking Point and Colum’s Regrets
Love Has a Way of Complicating Everything
Dougal is also left devastated in Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 2 Episode 7 ‘Heart of the Highlands.’ His pride reduced to nothing following the deaths of all his men, and guilt gnaws at him from within—as well it should. That is why he doesn’t even protest when Colum confronts him and fire him of his duties. Dougal knows that every word Colum speaks is true. His words strike like daggers piercing his skin.
He would give anything to turn back time, but he cannot. So now, he must live with the consequences of his choices. And we understand the decision Colum makes. Dougal failed to think. He prioritized himself over the clan, leading his men to their deaths, plunging the clan into mourning, and leaving them vulnerable. Colum couldn’t overlook such a thing.
And yes, Colum is quite cold toward Dougal—showing not a shred of relief at his safe return—but, honestly, if we were in his shoes, our own anger would likely bury everything else, too. So, we cannot blame Colum for that. Furthermore, there is no denying that banishing Dougal offers certain advantages for Colum. There will no longer be a divided clan leadership, and there is no longer any need to worry about whether Dougal might be plotting something behind his back.
Nevertheless, there is someone who does show relief upon seeing Dougal alive in Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 2 Episode 7 ‘Heart of the Highlands’: Maura. She believed he was dead. The way her heart trembled at the thought, the way she clung to hope—holding her breath until she finally saw him standing before her—are likely signs that Maura is in more problems than she is currently willing to admit to herself.
That’s why it’s so moving that another barrier—another wall—crumbled, leading them to finally share a kiss. This kiss marks a beginning, a step into the unknown, but it also serves as a promise that they will always be able to count on one another. Which leaves us with the same question in mind: what will Maura do when she has to choose between following her uncle’s plans for revenge or helping to save the Mackenzies from his wrath?
Other thoughts on Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 2 Episode 7
- Ellen pulling herself up, however she can, to go after Brian because she can’t bear the thought of losing him too…
- Henry and Arch are so funny! Though Henry gave us quite a scare for a moment there.
- Lovat is a son of *****, and we want him to suffer before he dies.
- We were rooting for Brian!
- Lovat got scared when he thought Brian might finish him off—and we loved it! For his own sake, he’d better never go near him or Ellen again.
- That reunion is going to be interesting.
- We really need Colum and Ellen to talk. We still don’t like how coldly he speaks about her. We need to see what he truly feels.
- It’s infuriating that they can’t make Lovat pay for what he did. We want revenge too! But Ned is right, they have nothing to go on. Still, we wouldn’t mind if Colum sent someone after Lovat to give him a taste of his own medicine.
- Grace and Murtagh are so sweet! There’s something truly special between them, and they deserve that happiness. Grace deserves the right to choose who she wants to be with—and for once, she actually had a say in what she wanted, which got us emotional. It doesn’t erase everything she’s suffered, but it does feel like life is finally being a bit fair to her. And Murtagh deserves to be happy with someone who returns his feelings. So, we’re glad they found each other—though we can’t help but feel bad for Jocasta.
- Margaret LMAO.
- Henry’s ex is so mean! And Julia is a QUEEN!
Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 2 airs on Fridays at 8:00 PM ET only on STARZ and at midnight in STARZ App.
