“You sent me back to him,” I said, trying to keep my voice from breaking. “When you thought it would be dangerous for me and the baby to stay. He knew you weren’t dead, and didn’t tell me.”
-- Claire Fraser to Jamie Fraser, "Go Tell The Bees That I Am Gone" chapter 76
I think our friendship is probably one of the things I’m the proudest of from the whole show. [They hug.] It’s true. We’re both competitive people, but we’re not competitive with each other. And we’ve always made sure that we talk to each other.—(x)
My Review of Blood of My Blood, Episode 1x10 "Something Borrowed"
My scene-by-scene breakdown and observations from the Season Finale. These are the (very raw) notes I took while watching the episode.
Spoilers for the episode, if you have not watched it yet.
Maple Leaf Rag by Scott Joplin is playing in the opening scene. This is an old ragtime song from 1899. He was an African American composer and pianist.
We see Julia, Henry, and Claire in England in their apartment with Uncle Quentin (aka Lam). It is Claire’s second birthday, and the cake for Claire is shown with strawberries on it (Fraser). Jamie explained to Claire how the name is derived from the French word for Strawberry, and Strawberries are featured on the Fraser coat of arms. In Drums of Autumn, they find the location for Fraser’s Ridge once they discover strawberry plants.
Lam says, “May all your years on this gloriously extradorinary earth be as joyful and love-filled as these first two,” and toasts to the grand adventures awaiting of her, and may whichever paths she takes lead her far and wide but always lead her back home.
Henry thinks his comments of travel and adventure are a lot for a two year old, but he notes Claire's eyes. "Mark my words, she has the spirit of an explorer." All foreshadowing the life Claire will one day lead.
Henry and Julia don’t want to lose Claire quite yet to the adventures with Lam, excavating Egyptian tombs. Maybe start with an expedition to Hyde Park. Ironic considering we know Claire did end up traveling all over the world with Lam, once her parents died, and he assumed care of her.
Back at Leoch, bagpipes begin the procession down the Great Hall. A woman in a dress begins to walk down the aisle, and her face is fully covered with lace. I had long suspected that this was not Ellen and someone was standing in for her instead.
Mrs Fitz is crying, the walk down the aisle is slow, we see Ned's pleased face, Ellen's sisters, Dougal and Colum, and Malcolm’s uncle opposite the aisle, then we flash to 'A Day Earlier.’
In the highlands, we find Murtagh and Brian. Brian is pacing, recalling the conversation with Ellen and the words exchanged with his father, implying he’s not a man of substance.
Murtagh points out that he’s worthy of something if people are willing to pay to see him dead. This means that, unlike my theory, Murtagh did not have any prior knowledge of the Gallowglass going after Brian; he just happened to be in the right place at the right time to save him.
Brian says Ellen doesn’t want him anymore, and Mutagh is amazed that he is thinking of Ellen while they are being chased. Now that he is with Brian, he is at risk as well. He wants Brian to focus on the task at hand because if he doesn’t care to protect himself, he should at least care about Murtagh.
Brian says Ellen’s words belied her eyes, and when Murtagh questions what Brian’s heart tells him, he says he will love Ellen until his dying breath. You can tell it is hard for Murtagh to hear it, and Brian apologizes to him formally. Murtagh admits that he used to imagine a life with her, dream about it, but now it’s clear to him that she loves Brian and not him, in a legendary way that is beyond the reach of ordinary men. They are meant for one another, and he is okay with that.
Brian knows there’s a reason Ellen said what she did, and he needs to find out. Murtagh and Brian plan how Murtagh can get into Leoch for the wedding, so Brian can prevent her from marrying him.
The Gallowglass show up, and Brian and Murtagh start to fight them back. One of the shots where Brian throws the ax is from the trailer. This fight, to me, looked surprisingly easy for Brian and Murtagh to fight and defeat career hitmen. I'd have to imagine they had not fought or killed a lot up until this point.
Murtagh is shot in the leg with an arrow, and Brian takes out the last man with his own bow. Very gallant stuff that I had wished we saw more of earlier in the show, especially when we had scenes of him struggling to take down his own elderly father. Brian ties up Murtagh’s leg, then starts to question the last man. This reminds me of how Jamie was in seasons 2 and 3 with his prisoners.
Colum MacKenzie is confirmed as the man who hired the Gallowglass, and Brian knows why he’d do it (to keep him and Ellen apart). I'd have thought he could have put that together before this moment, but alas. Brian asks for forgiveness before he kills the last man, then he tells Murtagh to hold fast while he goes after Ellen, and he leaves him sitting in the woods on his bum. What did Murtagh do all day, I wonder.
Ellen is with Mrs Fitz as they prepare the great hall for her wedding. They are talking about Castle Grant and the life that awaits them there when they are interrupted by Marcus MacRannoch, who extends Ellen best wishes on her union. He gifts her the pearl necklace from the main series, which made me giddy.
In Outlander 1x15, we meet an adult version of Marcus MacRannoch, and Claire learns that he is the one who gifted Ellen the necklace as a wedding gift. Ironically, he is played by Brian McCardie, the same actor who played Isaac Grant in this series, and passed away unexpectedly while shooting.
In the books, Marcus is more involved than in the show. In Chapter 36 of Outlander, he has a larger role to play in Jamie’s escape. He is also the one to rescue Jamie from Wentworth Prison (not Claire), and bring him back to his own home for Claire to tend to his wounds. He is also the one to tell Jamie that Black Jack must be dead after being trampled by all of his cattle. He is also the one to cut out the brand on Jamie’s skin that Black Jack left on him, not Murtagh. After Jamie escapes in the books, in Chapter 41, MacRannoch sends Jamie and Claire the skin of the wolf that Claire had killed, and a pearl bracelet to match the necklace he had gifted to Ellen on her wedding day.
Back at Leoch, Dougal and Hetty are interrupted by Maura Grant, whom book readers already know is the woman Dougal ends up marrying. In this episode, we get to see how and why, although in the books it was implied in a quick conversation between Old Alec and Claire that Dougal had married her before this "wedding" took place in the story. Dougal and Maura are clearly attracted to one another, and both mention how much they have grown since they were kids. I really loved her casting.
Ellen, Jocasta, and Janet are emptying Ellen’s bedchamber. Jocasta and Ellen start to spar, and Ellen apologizes to her for not consulting her before their father arranged her match. Ellen knows how it feels now, and she apologizes to Janet as well, who says she is content with her match. Mrs Fitz is happy to see them all three together. This is a big moment for Jocasta, whom I adored in this episode. You can understand how she spoke fondly of Ellen in her old age after the events of this episode.
At Leathers, Julia and Simon are eating dinner, served by another servant, in silence. I did worry when we did not see Davina right away. Simon is clearly not over the elder Malcolm Grant’s insults that he hurled in front of everyone. Julia tells Simon to let go of their insults and encourages him to move on, speaking to him as she had often spoken to Henry. She is silenced and told she knows nothing, like the women of the time would often have been. She uses their son as a means of shifting Simon's perspective again, implying their son will be king one day, and all will bow to him. This notion is clearly the driving force behind Simon’s actions and sense of purpose from here on out.
“Of all flowers, me thinks, the English rose is best.” I do think Simon has a genuine fondness for Julia, as wicked as he is. It's self-serving, but it is there. He believes young Simon will be King, of that he is certain. She keeps that faith alive for him.
Julia tells Simon to rest so that his head is clear for plotting his next move. He is committed to clearing Simon’s path no matter what stands in the way (foreshadowing again for season 2, me thinks). Julia tells him his strength and wisdom will guide them through these challenges. I do think this is setting Simon up for a big season 2, and that much of the season will be Simon wreaking havoc on both Brian and Ellen, and in the aftermath of his son being taken away.
He calls Julia to his bedchamber that night, and I love her face here. So similar to Claire, and so determined and strong.
Meanwhile, Brian is riding towards Leoch, and we get more beautiful sweeping shots of Scotland.
Along the river, the women are plucking hens for the wedding. Historically, there is no confirmed link I could find, but I do find it funny that in the UK, a bachelorette is often called a Hen do, and this gathering of women is to pluck the hens. Jocasta is asking questions about Mr. Fitzgibbons via Mrs Fitz, which I enjoyed. She offers a pearl of her best wisdom to Ellen, and I do wish we got to see or learn more about Mr Fitzgibbons.
Ellen passes on sharing a saucy tale and instead says, “a sweet, sprightly spinster, wed at Westminster, solemnly swore to survive her unsightly simple spouse.” It’s a form of linguistic exercise to repeat alliteration. Jocasta is too drunk to repeat it, which was very funny and gave more insight into Jocasta's true nature. Maura observes this from across the circle and comments on Ellen's knack for 'stirring the pot.'
Maura questions the verse about the 'unsightly simple spouse.' It is worrisome to her, given that Malcolm has loved Ellen since he was seven. She wants this union to be as cherished by Ellen as it is by him. Surprisingly, Jocasta defends Ellen, but it makes the whole circle of women feel awkward until she walks away. Jocasta points out that they are sisters bound by blood and mischief; she will gladly defend her against a stuck-up Grant.
At Leathers, Julia tells Davina of her plan to escape, and Davina insists on helping. She thanks Julia for protecting Brian and knows the risks of helping Julia leave with Henry. She tells her that she will distract Balloch, and Julia advises her to say she’s been kidnapped to help Davina avoid some of Simon’s wrath in the fallout of Julia’s escape.
They hug, Davina tells her to hug her son for her, and Julia promises to tell William all about her. I do wonder if anything Davina has said or done in the show thus far could be linked to Jane and Fanny to imply that William is their father.
Julia begins to run outside with William towards the wall. Henry reaches for her hand, and Balloch starts to chase after them. With Julia’s quick thinking, Henry knocks him unconscious and leaves him alive as a witness to protect Davina. They ride away with the baby towards the stones.
At Leoch, we see a member of Clan Grant outside the castle, and Brian knocks him out. He takes the clothes and tartan and makes his way towards the castle through the secret door again. I love the idea of both Brian and Ellen telling Jamie about this hidden passage, and Jamie one day sharing it with Claire. Once inside, Brian looks for a box, wraps it in cloth, and heads upstairs, pretending it is a gift for Ellen from Malcolm.
We see MacRannoch’s gift to Ellen up close, the pearls, but we can also see the rest of the gifts laid out on the table. It is so crazy to see the pearls for the very first time, given their significance in Outlander. I do wonder if any of her other gifts and belongings were brought to her or sent to her from Colum, Jocasta, or Janet once she flees and marries Brian. We know in season 2 they will need to discuss how they come to live at Lallybroch, which I am excited for since it is going to be a very complex story to flesh out.
Brian asks Jocasta where Ellen’s bedchamber is, not knowing he is asking her sister. Jocasta recognizes him right away and tells him she saw him with Murtagh in Fraser tartan, and no men around here have hair as dark as his. This is something that is brought up a lot in the books is how dark Brian’s hair is. Brian announces his name is Brian Fraser, and Jocasta questions why he is there, and Brian plays into right away. He says if she shows him to Ellen’s bed chamber, he will share the reason for his presence.
Ellen has been waiting to sew the last stitch into her gown when there is a knock at the door. Jocasta is there, a worried look on her face. Brian follows her inside, and Mrs. Fitz is shocked to see him as well.
Brian had told Jocasta the truth, that Colum hired the Gallowglass to kill him; they tried twice and wounded Murtagh, which tugs at Mrs Fitz’s heartstrings. Brian cannot take his eyes off of Ellen while Jocasta explains. He is so smitten.
Mrs Fitz wants him to leave, knowing that if Ellen were not to marry Malcolm, there would be grave consequences, which Ellen does point out later on in the episode (this is foreshadowing). Jocasta defends Brian and allows him to speak his truth to Ellen. Brian gives her a very sweet speech, and they hug in front of Jocasta and Mrs Fitz, which I do think is how they both come around to the idea. When people witness Ellen and Brian together, I think it clicks just how much they love one another and deserve to be together. Ellen admits to Brian that he has her heart, body, and soul. Colum broke his promise, and that frees Ellen of hers.
Ellen then confronts Colum, who plays it off like nothing is wrong. The acting in this scene was incredible. Ellen arrives in her wedding dress, and Colum thanks her for standing strong for the Clan today. She asks if he has a burden he wishes to share with her. She wants things out in the open before she leaves with the Grants. He says the rest can wait for his letters. He gifts her a very expensive gift so they can exchange letters. He hopes they continue to share everything as they always have, and he gives her their Father’s sword. It is meant as a symbol of their allegiance and Malcolm’s job to protect Ellen. Ellen says it will be the last thing he ever does in her name, for the love of her.
She walks out of the room, and Colum must know that she suspects him of trying to harm Brian. I think Colum’s story is one of the most tragic of the stories. Knowing that he never spoke to Ellen again is so profound, and had to have been a large part of his motivations and the way he conducted himself throughout his life. There is a lot written about that in A Dragonfly in Amber that I’ve always loved and been so intrigued by, so I really hope we see that in season 2.
We have a Henry and Julia flashback, where we see them with Quentin and Claire on the beach, digging in the sand. Henry says that he is going to Edinburgh for work, and Julia brings up their early letters about the Highlands. Henry says he got them tickets to a holiday for them to Scotland.
On the tickets, we see that it is from Milford to Inverness. There is a Milford on Sea, Hampshire, and a Milford in Surrey, England, south of London. I assume this is for Surrey. If they are going to Edinburgh for Henry's work first, I am curious why the ticket says Milford to Inverness. Minor observation.
Their tickets are numbers 8212 and 8213, they are traveling third class (which was the standard class of travel between 1923 and 1947 and was the most basic ticket offered), and the Fare is noted as 153 d.
LM & SR stands for London, Midland and Scottish Railway.
Having them travel to Inverness is just like Claire and Frank. They know that Claire will be safe and happy with Lam, and they can escape for a little bit. Henry mentions the travel brochures say it’s like stepping back in time, quite fitting. Julia tells Henry that she is pregnant with their second, whom we know is William. It’s a very happy moment shared between them.
In Leoch, the hall is filled, the room is ready, and the guests are all waiting.
Malcolm tells Colum that Ellen has vanished into thin air. He is furious, and I had suspected in the last episode that we would see Malcolm’s more explosive temper show up, and we certainly do in this episode. While Colum and Ned try to defend Ellen’s actions, Malcolm grows increasingly upset. He threatens Colum for the gross embarrassment and offense they have caused him, and he insists that once Bug finds Henry, he will make sure they pay. So now we know that there are men going after Henry, presently.
Malcolm’s uncle Malcolm says they came here for an allegiance; otherwise, it is a price paid in blood. A head or a hand. This is how we know that Dougal and Maura end up married instead of Ellen and Malcolm.
Colum is floundering, Malcolm is pissed, and tensions are high. Ned locks the door once the Grants leave, and they are both stunned by what is happening. Colum offers up Dougal, which Ned thinks is for War, but Colum knows is for a marriage. He asks Ned to tell Dougal that his clan needs him. Ned leaves to fetch Dougal, and Colum sits in front of his papers and problems at the desk. It’s a glimpse into how he will spend the rest of his life. A burden he fought so tirelessly for at the beginning of the show.
We cut back to the bride walking down the aisle, and we now know it is Maura Grant, set to marry Dougal MacKenzie. Jocasta and Janet nod their heads, and the crowd watches as Dougal steps up to marry Maura. I did like how they handled this surprise. They also offer up some comedy here, and you can tell Maura is a worthy opponent for Dougal. The wedding is quick as can be, and Malcolm is visibly distraught. Poor man has had his heart broken, and you can tell he is bound to do something reckless.
Hours earlier, we see that Ellen is dressed as a maid hiding in the kitchen, and she explains what happened with Colum to Brian. Jocasta finds them waiting. Her and Mrs Fitz fill them in that there will be a wedding between Dougal and Maura. For some reason, Ellen and Brian are waiting for the festivities to start before they try and leave, and not during the actual ceremony when everyone would be in the Great Hall. I digress.
I loved that we got to see Jocasta and Ellen become friends again, and that she is happily helping Ellen escape with her true love. Brian and Ellen wait for the hall to empty and for Jocasta and Mrs Fitz to tell them it is safe to leave. I do wish we had more time with them, talking about everything. That is one shortcoming of the show is how few quiet moments we have for prolonged dialogue between Ellen and Brian, like we do Claire and Jamie in the main series.
We see the great hall filled with guests. Dougal and Maura are seated at the head table, sitting silently while the guests are eating and drinking happily. The whole time, Malcolm is clearly hurting, and Colum is unsure how things will shake out. He stands to make a toast, which includes lines still used today at weddings. This has long been known as a traditional Irish toast.
Maura asks if they should consummate the union right away. Malcolm (the uncle) laughs, and everyone cheers. I think Malcolm (the uncle) admires her direct nature, which Malcolm seems to lack. Dougal and Maura leave, and we see Malcolm glare towards Colum from across the table and continue to drink all night.
Dougal and Maura are comical. She tells him what to do with no reservations, and he has certainly met his match. This is in such contrast with how Jamie recalls Dougal’s marriage in Outlander. In the books, after Dougal’s wife dies, he briefly tells Claire about Dougal and Maura, having lived with them for a time. He says he doubts Dougal spent more than three of the 24 years they were married actually with her. He was always at Leoch, or out doing Colum’s bidding. He does, however, make a mention that she seemed glad enough to see him whenever Dougal came home. In this short scene, I think we can see how that might have been the case. She went on to have four daughters with Dougal.
Mrs Fitz tells Brian and Ellen it’s time. They thank them, Glenna and Jocasta, for their help, and you can see Glenna’s heart break alongside Ellen’s. This was such a sweet scene. Jocasta gives Ellen a big hug, and they send them off. ‘Go and dinna look back." Man, what a beautiful, selfless message given that Jocasta never had the same luck with her husbands. She had a very tragic life, especially in the books. Jocasta and Glenna are left in the hallway watching Ellen and Brian leave Leoch and head outside the castle walls for the unknown.
Malcolm is standing alone, moping, and the elder Malcolm lectures him. He needs to learn when to let other people step in. You can see Malcolm’s temper on full display. He is heartbroken; he is still in love with Ellen despite her leaving him. Malcolm is unwilling to see her faults, even now. Elder Malcolm says revenge is the only way to mend a broken heart. He needs to find out what Ellen cherishes most in the world and take it away, wound her as she has wounded him. I do think this will also be foreshadowing for season 2, if the elder Malcolm ever does infer Brian’s guilt in Malcolm’s death. I think, regardless, he would see to carrying out this sentiment on Malcolm’s behalf and try to hurt Ellen and Brian by extension. Word will get out that she has married Brian Fraser, and I do not think it will be ignored by Malcolm Grant the elder. Not to mention by Maura, whose suspicions have now been confirmed, and her brother dead. Messy.
He tells Malcolm to nurse his broken heart tomorrow, today rejoice for his sister on her wedding day. Instead, we see young Malcolm leave for the hallway.
Back in Dougal's bedchamber, Maura is totally overpowering Dougal. I was cracking up laughing. So perfect.
The young Angus and Rupert are in the hall laughing and drinking. I am so glad they were able to use the children of the original, elder actors from the main series.
Ellen and Brian run into Malcolm in the hallway and are confronted by him. Ellen apologizes, but he calls her a lying two-faced Jezebel, who threw him away for this poor excuse of a man, whom he knows is not a Grant. He asks her why, and Ellen says it was all arranged and she did not make any promises to him directly. She did not wish ill towards him.
Malcolm is drunk and angry and insults Brian. He thought her intentions were honorable, but here she is with this lowlife bastard. Brian asks him to let them pass, for Ellen’s sake, and Malcolm says, while there is breath left in his body, he will not let them pass. He then draws his sword and begins to drunkenly fight Brian. He tries to kill Brian, and Brian ends up killing Malcolm instead. Ellen is the only witness, and I cannot believe this is how this ends.
Malcolm is very much alive in the books; he is mentioned in Outlander chapter 18, when Jamie and Claire are at the camp in episode 1x08 “Both Sides Now” and are ambushed by another clan. In the books, unlike the show, he and his sons are the ones who ambush the MacKenzies, so I am just totally shocked that this is what they did with his character. How is this ever to be explained?! I also am so sad because I really loved the actor who played his character. The only thing I can think, is that this opens up the possibility of bad things happening to Henry in season 2, because Malcolm was his protector. Now that protection, if he did not make it through the stones with Julia and William, is gone.
Brian and Ellen escape, they flee on horseback with Ellen’s hair uncovered (I immediately thought this was risky!) and head towards Murtagh at the same time Julia and Henry flee to the stones.
Sidenote, I hate the camera shots of them up close on horseback because it looks so fake; just show them riding from a distance. We know it’s them without the close-up.
Brian and Ellen arrive to find Murtagh no longer at the fire outside the camp, but inside the bothy. Murtagh knows that if they are here, there are lots of angry people at Loech.
Ellen has food and whiskey for him, and Brian warns of trouble before they tell Murtagh that Malcolm is dead. Brian admits that he killed him. Ellen knows he was forced to do it. He would have hunted them for the rest of their days. Brian agrees that Malcolm forced him, but he’d do it again because he would do anything for Ellen. This line felt a bit cheesy to me. Murtagh offers him the drink first.
They cut back to Simon at Leathers, frantically looking for Julia and young Simon. Simon threatens violence and tells Davina to restore Balloch to health so he can join him in his search for the man who stole his wife and child. Arch Bug shows up and names Henry Beauchamp Grant as the man he is looking for. He was told by a reliable source that he may be coming here to Leathers (we know this is from the last episode when Seema overheard Julia and Henry). Davina knows this is not good.
How is it that everyone in this show knows Henry and Julia’s names now, and somehow they never come up ever again? How is this explained? Why do the writers think this makes sense?
Bug is heading after Henry and following the tracks to the stones.
Back in the bothy, Ellen tends to Brian’s wound beside the fire, and we get a parallel of Ellen and Brian mimicking Claire and Jamie tending to his wounds. They are happy to be together, but she recalls her idea of happiness was something fleeting and never within reach. She can remember the good of her old life and close the door on the bad now that she is with him. With Brian is where she is meant to be. They will begin a life together anew.
Julia and Henry are also sitting at a fire, Henry holding his new baby son. Bug is still searching for him, getting closer still. The LONG day of the wedding ends, and the sun rises on the next day.
In the bothy, we see Murtagh awaken while Ellen is making food for everyone. His leg is still hurting him, and when he asks, Ellen says that Brian is scouting. This leaves the two of them alone together for the first time. This was one of my favorite scenes of the whole season.
Ellen offers Murtagh help, sitting beside him and pouring him a drink. She thanks him for all that he’s done. Without his help, where would they be? Brian had told her that he had saved his life, but Murtagh knows that Ellen saved Brian, too, by giving him a reason to truly live.
Ellen is so happy that she is not certain she cares what is next. Murtagh’s sweet expression is adorable, and it reminded me of the line he says to Jamie in the main series about how sweet Ellen’s smile was. We see Murtagh gift Ellen the boar’s tusk bracelets from the books and main series. Ellen unwraps them, and they are so beautiful. Murtagh nods and insists she take them. She wants him to keep them in his family, but he says he made them with her in mind to gift to her on her wedding day. He tells her that she should not dare pity his affection for her, and it’s so sweet. Ellen says she will keep the gift a secret between them, and she will cherish it always, like she will his friendship. We know this to have been true until the day she died, and it was so emotional.
Murtagh asks if Ellen can let him find his happiness in her and Brian’s, because it is where he finds his peace. She promises to. This whole scene adds to much weight to how he cares for Jamie, I think. Especially in the context of the show, where they had him live beyond Culloden.
We see the three of them existing together in their unspoken routine, which I think is a good preview of how they will continue to live in season 2 together. Brian is cutting wood, Ellen helps to put it on the fire, and they create a little trio together. The glances between Murtagh and Ellen are so cute, and I really hope we get more scenes between the two of them next season, since we know that they grow so close and he will be named Jamie’s Godfather.
Henry and Julia are still riding towards the circle, and then we see that Murtagh’s leg is healing (to imply the passage of time, but how long, exactly?). He says he is going hunting and might not return until the morning, to leave Brian and Ellen alone to be together. What a good friend. Brian tells Ellen that they are alone when he returns to the bothy, and we get a ‘take off your shirt’ scene, and an “as you wish” line, which I loved as a fan of The Princess Bride.
I often hate the use of quick fade to black in this show, but they fade to black at an odd time, only to carry on seconds later just in a different camera angle, and Brian and Ellen are promising to stay together forever, alone, far away from the realities of their lives. sheltered from the rest of the world.
I kinda disliked how on the nose they were with the undressing scene because it very much makes it seem like they couldn’t come up with a unique moment between Brian and Ellen to make their relationship iconic in their own way. It feels like very fan service to me.
It’s down to the angles of the shot, the wide angles in front of the fire, then a close-up of him pulling the strings. At least change the way it was shot and spliced together. Even the walk-around shot, and her surprised face. “My turn,” “your turn,” I wish it were more unique to them because Claire and Jamie came first, and now this one feels oddly duplicated.
Ellen says they might travel from bothy to bothy until they find some land of their own to call home. They have all the riches they need, time, and each other. Which makes me sad knowing she died so young. Like I said earlier, I am really looking forward to seeing the story of how they end up at Lallybroch because if they follow the books, it will be great TV.
They tell each other they love one another, and then we get the transition from slower to more uptempo music. They lie down in front of the fire, and confirm they are each other’s body and soul. This seems more like when they truly consummate their marriage rather than the first time in the church.
There are shots that are SO similar to Claire and Jamie, it kinda took me out of it for a second, despite them both being lit so beautifully, and it being tastefully done. On the whole I did love this scene. I am just nitpicky with camera work, and while I love a parallel, I wanted this moment to be more unique to these characters.
They sit wrapped in a tartan afterwards (like Jamie and Claire), and Ellen recites a line from the Book of Ruth, Chapter 1, verse 16. Part of that excerpt says, “where thou diest, I die. There I will be buried. This I swear to you in blood.” I hate that Ellen dies so young, but we saw in Outlander and in the books that Brian never left her or Lallybroch, where Ellen was buried; he was eventually laid to rest beside her.
They cut their hands to make a blood oath and swear blood of my blood, for you are my own and I am yours.
Brian looks over the ridge and spots something. He sees fiery crosses, a call to the men of the clans for the Jacobite rebellion. There had been a rebellion of 1715, which was later defeated in 1716, with the British government disarming Highlanders, etc. As we know from Outlander, a Fiery Cross is a symbol for the men to gather and be ready for battle. They definitely use the dialogue here to explain that more for people who may not know or remember these facts from the main series or from the books.
Brian knows that he must go and answer the call, or leave Scotland altogether, because to ignore the call is to face certain death. Ellen says she will stand with him, whatever comes, as his wife. Clearly, this storyline will carry a lot of season 2, and also sets us up for Brian AND Ellen going to meet Simon to answer this call, thus putting Ellen directly in the line of fire with Simon for the first time. We know how Simon and Brian’s last conversation went. There is nothing good to come of this reunion.
Meanwhile, Henry, Julia, and William have arrived at Craig Na Dun and approach the stones. Julia and Henry hear the buzzing, and it’s clear now that they had not traveled before this. I do think they should have done a better job of having them express their confusion about time travel. Claire spent nearly all of season one trying to wrap her head around it, so in contrast, it felt odd that it took them until now to think and talk about how strange their circumstances are.
Julia questions whether or not William can travel through the stones like they did, and wonders what would happen if they go through and he cannot. He would be left there all alone on the ground. They decide that one of them will have to try and go through first; if it doesn’t work, then the other one will stay there until the other comes back. That is when Henry spots Bug and realizes that they all need to go together, quickly. Julia tells him to go without her, but Henry does not want to leave her or their son there.
I did not love the slow-mo close-up kiss shot; it felt like it fell flat compared to Claire and Jamie’s goodbye, which had more time to breathe. For them to get the treatment of an epic goodbye kiss without the same about of build up was my main issue.
When you start to think that William is about to go through alone, he tells Julia that his heart is with her forever, and we see their hands reaching for the stones before a transition like season 2. When you look closely, His hand is on Julia’s wrist, which means her hand would have touched the stone, and his did not. I do think we are being set up for Henry being caught by Bug for season 2, and Julia will have traveled. Potentially with William, but very likely alone because William would not have been able to travel for some reason. That would mean Bug would find Henry with a baby, and the wife of a Laird missing.
In the transition of the hands, young Claire and Julia are walking towards the train, parting ways for the last time. Claire is older, around 5 or 6, and Henry and Julia tell her that they will be back before she knows it. They leave on the train and wave goodbye to her, tell her they love her, and we watch her wave goodbye. She is with Quentin, who puts a hand on her shoulder, and we can see he is wearing a ring with a gemstone in it. Interesting.
That is the last time Claire ever sees her parents, and it is a memory we know she has as an adult (i.e., how old she was when they were killed in an accident). We hear her yelling to them, ‘See you soon!’ Then the season ends, and we know she never saw them after that moment.
On the whole, there is so much to like about season one, especially the casting. I loved everyone; the actors were phenomenal. There are a number of large plot holes that I wish were better fleshed out or considered, but I also expected that going in, since this is not taken from Diana’s source material.
I think there is a healthy amount of book material for people who read them, plenty for show-only watchers, and lots of NEW ideas that are unique to this series. I really enjoyed it, and getting the chance to be back in this world with younger versions of characters was something I loved. Plenty to improve upon, but a lot to appreciate and look forward to for Season 2. I am excited to see what they do with the next half of this story.
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