Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 1 Episode 3 Review: A Question of Succession

How far would you go to protect the ones you love?

That’s the question hanging over every moment of Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 1 Episode 3 — a slower, more calculated installment than the high-stakes two-episode premiere, but one that digs deep into power, betrayal, and the dangerous game of Highland politics.

Politics has always been baked into Outlander‘s DNA, so it’s no shock the spinoff leans into the same ruthless chessboard.

But here, the emotional stakes are sharper. Ellen is cornered — her future being mapped out without her consent — and her power limited by the patriarchal system surrounding her.

The sting of betrayal from her brothers is gutting. These aren’t strangers; they’re men she’s loved and supported through thick and thin.

The flashbacks, particularly those showing Ellen at Colum’s side after his accident, made it clear they once shared a deep, loyal bond. That’s what makes their machinations sting all the more.

Ellen Deserves More on Outlander: Blood of My Blood

From the start, Dougal was painted as the more reckless of the two, but Colum’s ambition is every bit as dangerous—his quick leap to seize the Laird title after their father’s death speaks volumes.

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And Red Jacob’s disdain for his sons — both of them — casts a long shadow. He wasn’t a proud man, but he knew a sinking ship when he saw one, and it’s telling that, in a drunken haze, he acknowledged Ellen as the one truly capable of securing the MacKenzie name.

Yet instead of elevating her, she’s been forced into the role of quiet puppeteer, pulling strings behind the scenes. Watching her navigate her brothers’ incompetence is both satisfying and infuriating.

They’ve planned her life without her input, reducing her to a bargaining chip. Every interaction screams how little they value her — or how afraid they are of what she could become if she seized control openly.

Honestly, I half-expected one brother to kill the other this week. The tension between Colum and Dougal was ripe for a Shakespearean turn, especially with succession hanging in the balance.

But Ellen’s growing knowledge of Highland politics — and the quiet reminders that her entire family line could be wiped off the map overnight — made her pivot into full strategist mode.

The twist that Colum and Dougal will “share” leadership, each ruling their own divisions, was underwhelming.

In theory, it’s groundbreaking. In practice, it felt oddly easy. I expected outrage, resistance, maybe even bloodshed. Instead, the clan seemed to shrug and move on.

Maybe I’ve been spoiled by Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, but Highland politics without a few sharpened blades feels almost tame.

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Still, the move solidified Ellen as the sharpest player in the room. She can scheme better than her brothers combined, anticipate threats, and unite people when needed. She’s earned a seat at the table, even if they’ll never give her credit.

Ellen Needs to Make a Move

The real question is: how long will she keep sacrificing her own happiness for the MacKenzie legacy? And when that patience runs out… what happens to the fragile balance she’s built?

Outside the MacKenzie stronghold, Lord Lovat looms like a storm cloud. He’s not just a bully; he’s a man who thrives on fear and humiliation, even toward his own son.

Brian’s constant belittling by his father is sad, and it won’t be over any time soon. The fact that Brian is willing to risk his father’s wrath to shield Ellen says a lot about his character — and about the danger Ellen is truly in.

Then there’s Julia, whose plight on Outlander: Blood of My Blood might be the bleakest of all. She’s trapped in a century that’s as alien to her as the moon, forced into servitude under one of the most despicable men in TV history. Her situation is already dire, but Davina’s shocking suggestion that she abort her baby sent it into darker territory.

Davina’s motives are murky. Was it genuine concern for Julia’s well-being? Or was it fear of scandal — the kind that could ripple through the Scottish Highlands and could throw Lord Lovat’s reign into question?

Julia’s decision-making is now driven by pure survival instinct. She’s already seen how cruel and unforgiving this time can be, and she’s making moves that cut against her values in the hope of protecting her child and one day returning to Henry and Claire.

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But here’s the catch: Davina plays her own game. It’s hard to believe she wouldn’t sell Julia out to Lord Lovat the second it benefited her.

Will Claire’s Mother-in-Law Go Rogue?

If she tells him Julia was pregnant before becoming his maid, that information could be weaponized in ways Julia can’t yet imagine. Love her or loathe her, Davina is a survivor — and in the Highlands, that means loyalty comes second to self-preservation.

Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 1 Episode 3 might not have the high-octane drama of the premiere, but it lays essential groundwork. It’s about the slow tightening of the noose, the political and personal maneuvering that will make the eventual explosions hit harder.

Ellen is emerging as the real power in the MacKenzie clan, Julia’s situation grows more precarious by the minute, and Lord Lovat is shaping up to be a villain who could give the main Outlander series’ antagonists a run for their money.

The question isn’t whether someone will make a power grab — it’s who will survive it.

What are your thoughts on Ellen’s scheming and the resolution to who became Laird on the latest Outlander: Blood of My Blood?

Do you think Davina will sell out Julia before long, or do you think she already has? Hit the comments.

Watch Outlander: Blood of My Blood Online

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