Aahana Swrup
‘Outlander: Blood of My Blood’ puts its lead characters to the test in Season 2 Episode 8, titled ‘The Dance.’ The aftershocks of the first battle of the Jacobite rising continue to surge through the Scottish Highlands, for better or for worse. Following Dougal’s escape from Fort Williams, the MacKenzies find themselves as a target for the Redcoats, led by the illustrious Lord Grey. Consequently, with the promise of the noose, handing over the heads of both her brothers, Ellen becomes the final hope for her clan’s future. Simultaneously, Julia and Henry brave a different kind of challenge as they both attend the Crown’s event for the Loyalist leaders. As Lord Lovat and Lady Margaret cross each other’s paths, Julia realizes her apparent inability to time travel might not be the biggest problem awaiting her in the future. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Lord Grey Seeks to Punish Both MacKenzie Brothers
After Dougal’s homecoming, it doesn’t take long for the Redcoats to also arrive at Leoch’s door in search of the escaped prisoner. When confronted with Lord Grey, Colum plays the part of the perfect fool, insisting he has no idea of his brother’s whereabouts. Nonetheless, he’s hit with a rebuttal he hadn’t been expecting. While participating in the Jacobite rising, the MacKenzies had a plan to have their cake and eat it too. Dougal, the War Chief, who shares the responsibilities of the Lairdship with his brother, would have taken the full fall for the clan’s alliance with the Jacobite cause. On the other hand, Colum, the real Laird, could deny participation to escape scrutiny. Furthermore, the land itself is in Ellen’s name, which adds more legal protections to it, given she’s a woman without access to the Laird’s title and subsequently the clan’s political involvement.
However, Grey isn’t so easily convinced. He blames Colum for his inability to rein in his brother, declaring his lack of active loyalty to the Crown to be as bad as direct treachery against it. Thus, he announces that the Laird must pay for his crime with his life. Once he tries to take the older brother away, Dougal, unable to hide away any longer, finally shows himself. Yet, all this does is ensure that the Redcoat Duke now has his hands on both the Laird and his War Chief. Fortunately for the brothers, Ellen has never been one to watch her family’s ruin while she sits idle. As such, she buys Dougal and Colum some time to say their final prayers, while she conceives a scheme that could dig the MacKenzies out of this mess.
Margaret Grant Makes an Intriguing Proposition
While the clans with Jacobite sympathies are punished, others like Lord Lovat and the Grants enjoy recognition and reward for their loyalty. The Fraser Laird has his title and his land ownership restored, allowing him to return from his state of social disgrace. At the party, Julia and Henry are forced to play the roles of hostile strangers. Luckily, they’re able to steal a moment together when the Lord becomes distracted with Margaret Grant’s company. During this stolen moment, Julia informs Henry that she cannot travel through time. The only reason she had managed to do it the first time around was that she was pregnant with William, who harbors this power. At first, she tries to convince Henry that he must take their son and return home, leaving her behind in this time. Naturally, this isn’t an option Henry can even entertain.
In turn, he wonders if their problem can be solved with another pregnancy. The couple theorizes that their son must have inherited his ability to travel through time from his father. Thus, Julia could potentially momentarily regain the abilities of a time traveler if she carries her husband’s child again. Nevertheless, the solution remains complicated for myriad reasons. Meanwhile, in Julia’s absence, Lovat continues to spend his time with Margaret, who is easily able to seduce him. As it turns out, the lady is in the market for a husband, and she has set her sights on the new Lord of Inverness. Once Henry and Julia join the party again, they notice a newfound closeness between the Fraser and the Grant. As such, they realize that if Lovat decides to take a new wife, the easiest way to avoid any scandal would be to stage the death of his current wife.
Ellen Saves Her Brothers and Takes Her Leave From Leoch
Ellen comes up with a solution to turn Lord Grey away from Leoch without any bloodshed. Yet, she knows that certain changes have to be introduced to the MacKenzie clan in the aftermath if they want any sense of peace to continue. Therefore, before resolving the issue, she puts her conditions forward to her brothers. Colum is to take on the title of the Laird without any constraints. This will leave Dougal to wear the title of Chief of War without any of its previous privileges associated with the Lairdship. The last demand she makes is one for her own benefit. She wants part of the MacKenzie land, the one bordering Brian’s newfound inheritance, to be signed in her name. Initially, her brothers are enraged at this proposal, but they soon realize they aren’t in any position to negotiate. If their sister doesn’t work her magic, they’ll be sent to the gallows, and all of Leoch will remain in her name anyway.
Thus, in the end, Dougal and Colum end up agreeing to her terms. Finally, Ellen holds a meeting with Lord Grey, where she subtly reveals her plan. Dougal’s imprisonment at Fort Williams and subsequent escape is a big problem for the Crown. It adds a sense of heroism to the Jacobite warrior and enhances the Redcoats’ identity as suppressors. Thus, the oldest MacKenzie heir argues that killing Dougal will only give further credence ot his actions. It will turn him into a martyr whose memory will continue to feed the Jacobite cause for years to come. Alternatively, if Lord Grey leaves Leoch with no prisoners and the incident at Fort Williams gets conveniently buried, the Crown can maintain more control over the narrative. Ultimately, this sways the Duke’s intentions and spares the MacKenzie brothers from the promise of the noose.
Read More: Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 2 Episode 7 Recap: Heart of the Highlands
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