Aahana Swrup
In ‘Outlander: Blood of My Blood,’ Julia and Henry Beauchamp have only faced one challenge after another ever since their arrival in the Highlands of 14th-century Scotland. However, episode 6, titled ‘Birthright,’ brings the couple some of their worst trials yet. Julia’s pregnancy crests while she’s still trapped inside the Leathers Castle. As a result, the woman has to undergo the process of giving birth surrounded by unpleasant company in even more unpleasant circumstances. Yet, fortunately, she manages to find some allies in her corner, where she has previously only found betrayal. Meanwhile, Henry remains steadfast in his research even after running into multiple dead ends. However, one particularly earth-shattering news knocks the man off his feet, pushing him toward self-destructive vices. SPOILERS AHEAD!
Julia Goes Through Hell Before Giving Birth to Her Son
The episode starts off with Julia waking in bed and realizing that her water has broken. Although there aren’t many people in Castle Leathers whom she can trust in her vulnerable state, she seeks out Brian, who is eager to help despite their previous argument. Fortunately, the mother-to-be is also able to clear the air between them, revealing to him that she was already pregnant when she was brought to the estate. Thus, she had only sought out Lord Lovat’s company and maintained the ruse about his link to her baby for the latter’s safety and protection. In turn, Brian is sympathetic to her plight and warns her that her misery is only about to be worsened. Initially, Julia assumes he’s simply speaking of the tribulations of childbirth, something she is already familiar with.
As such, Julia isn’t expecting anything strange when she’s led into a room for labor. However, soon enough, a group of women joins her, eager to aid the young woman and excited to witness the birth of the prophesied king of Scotland. Yet, their tune changes soon enough when Davina, in her fit of jealousy and insecurity, spews out claims about Julia seducing Lovat, intentionally pursuing him out of wedlock. Once the women learn about this, they instantly become hostile, hurling insults at Julia and pressuring her to repent for her sins. Her child goes from the future king to a devil’s spawn, and the woman finds herself putting up a fight for her and her kid’s safety while actively undergoing labor.
Davina Overcomes Her Trauma to Extend a Helping Hand Toward Julia
During Julia’s early days at Castle Leathers, Davina had been one of the friendlier faces in the estate. As another woman bound to the Lord’s servitude, she seemed to be more understanding and empathetic. Nonetheless, all of this changes after Julia makes the strategic decision to sleep with the Lord to pass her and Henry’s child as his. This seems to light an envious spark in the older woman. Lovat has a reputation for assaulting and forcing himself upon his maidservants. One such instance is exactly how Davina came to give birth to Brian. However, although her contempt for Julia initially comes off as jealousy, there is more to the story than meets the eye. When Davina was young and new at Castle Leathers, Lovat set his sights on her, forcing her to sleep with him under the threat of unemployment and ruin.
The Lord continued to rape her, even after she fell pregnant with his child. However, he continuously refers to the baby as a bastard, putting the blame for his conception on the poor woman. Later, when Davina herself neared childbirth, women also surrounded her in confinement. However, instead of understanding and sympathy, they spat insults at her, calling her a sinner and a seductress who must have tempted Lovat to her bed. For the same reason, the aftershocks of this trauma resurfaced when she witnessed Lovat favoring Julia and her child, even going as far as to pitch the idea of marrying her. Similarly, she’s unable to stomach the midwives’ fondness for the other woman, when she herself only ever received their hatred. Yet, once Julia tries to reach out to her and begs her to understand that everything she is doing is only in service of her baby’s safety, Davina finally begins to see through the haze of her own sorrows. Consequently, she goes on to force the other women out of the chambers, staying behind to truly help Julia deliver her baby.
Brian Takes a Stand Against His Father
The looming birth of Julia’s baby inevitably brings Brian’s attention to some matters. Despite his endless attempts to be a worthy heir, Lovat continues to shun him and treat him like a bastard child, allowing him to only barely keep the Fraser name. Inversely, the wicked Lord is overjoyed to meet his new son, convinced that he would bring honor to the family name. Inevitably, this compels the older son to wonder where he himself has fallen short in his father’s eyes. Nonetheless, when he tries to broach the subject, he only receives accusations of jealousy. Lovat insists that Brian is too level-headed and kind-hearted to ever lead the family toward glory.
Afterward, Lovat prepares to bring a Reverand to the estate, eager to marry Julia before she gives birth to his heir. He wants his second son to be born as a legitimate child in the eyes of God. In turn, he has no concerns about the well-being of the mother, who is clearly in no state to say any vows. Davina tries to make him understand the same thing, finally taking a stand against the man. As a result, Lovat slaps her, determined to have his way regardless of propriety or decency. However, Brian, having finally had enough of his father’s cruelty, peels him away from the chambers and kicks him out of the room. He may not be a barbaric man like his father, who takes whatever he wants, but he’s more than capable of standing for what’s right. Afterward, Brian also takes his punishment. Yet, this remains a turning point for his character and his dynamic with the brutal Lord.
Henry Has a Breakdown That Sends Him Into the Arms of Another
While everything unravels at Castle Leathers, Henry continues his search for Julia. Naturally, this doesn’t sit well with Laird Isaac and Bug, who seem to be exhausted with his desperate quest. Yet, when the latter tries to confront him, a frustrated Henry tells him that he would stop at nothing to look for his wife, who is pregnant with his child. Bug seems to empathize with the man’s plight now, since he once lost his own child, who was dead-born. Therefore, he offers to talk the Laird into inviting various midwives from his area so Henry can ask them questions about Julia. Nonetheless, the interviews remain eternally depressing, with no one having heard anything about the woman. Eventually, one midwife perks up at the mention of a pregnant Sassenach woman. Unfortunately, she seems to only have the worst of news for Henry.
She tells the man that his wife died during childbirth, taking their child along with her. Since she was buried in a pauper’s grave, even her grave is essentially lost to the world. The news hits Henry like a train. Yet, he has no choice but to accept the woman’s words, even if they threaten to destroy his whole world. Unbeknownst to him, this whole debacle is a plot of Bug and Laird, who are eager to have the man move on from his never-ending search. In the aftermath, Henry enters a strange state of hallucinatory delusions in which he imagines himself back in London in the 1910s, when he first heard news of the war ending. Thus, he finds himself on the doorstep of Seema, the black-haired Sassenach prostitute. Imagining her to be his loving wife, Henry ends up sleeping with her in a state of psychosis. Seema, who has long been fond of the man, takes advantage of the situation and allows herself to be Julia and receive the man’s love.
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