Official Trailer
Rating: 8.5/10 | Genre: Drama | Seasons: 2 | Episodes: 11 | Status: Returning Series
Starring: Harriet Slater, Jamie Roy, Hermione Corfield, Jeremy Irvine, Tony Curran
Okay, so I just binged “Outlander: Blood of My Blood” and I have so many feelings about this show. The short version? It’s really good. It’s not perfect, but it’s definitely worth your time if you like period dramas with some romance mixed in. The TMDB rating of 8.5 feels fair to me, maybe even a little conservative.
Here’s the thing though. This show had me in a chokehold for the first season, and then season two just started and I’m already desperate to know what happens next. Only one episode has dropped so far, which is both exciting and torture.
Season 1
Season one jumps between two timelines, which sounds like it could be messy but it actually works really well. You’ve got Brian Fraser and Ellen MacKenzie meeting at the Gathering in 18th century Scotland. They’re these two people who aren’t supposed to be together but obviously are going to be, and you can feel it from episode one.
Then there’s Henry and Julia in World War I. Henry’s fighting in the trenches while Julia’s back in London working in the censorship office. These two are already married, and watching them try to stay connected through letters while everything falls apart around them is heartbreaking.
The first few episodes really grab you. There’s this sense that both couples are caught in circumstances way bigger than themselves. The writing does a good job of making you care about what happens to these people. Ellen especially has some great moments in episode three when she’s trying to protect her family. You see her scheming and it’s clear she’s smarter than everyone around her gives her credit for.
My only complaint about season one is that it can feel a little slow in the middle. There are some episodes where you’re waiting for the plot to move forward, and instead you get a lot of standing around and talking about things you already know. It’s not terrible, but it’s noticeable. By episode nine and ten though, things pick up significantly and you’re left wanting more.
Season 2
Only one episode has dropped, so I can’t give you a full season breakdown yet. But what I will say is that the premiere does exactly what it needs to do. It doesn’t just pick up where season one left off and keep doing the same thing. It feels like the story is actually moving somewhere new.
I don’t want to spoil anything, but the show seems to be doubling down on the time jump element. We’re getting more exploration of how these two timelines connect, and I’m genuinely curious where they’re taking this.
The cast across both seasons is solid. Harriet Slater as one of the leads carries a lot of the weight, and she does it well. She’s got good chemistry with Jamie Roy, which matters because if you don’t buy them together then half the show falls apart. Jeremy Irvine and Hermione Corfield have their own dynamic going on that keeps the WWI storyline from feeling like a distraction. Tony Curran shows up in a role that’s smaller but memorable.
If I had to pick a weak point, it’s that sometimes the dialogue can feel a little stiff, especially in the historical Scotland sections. People just don’t talk like that, even if they’re trying to capture the period. But you get used to it after a few episodes.
Overall, “Blood of My Blood” is hitting in a way I wasn’t totally expecting. It’s got romance without being cheesy about it. It’s got history without turning into a history lesson. And it’s got enough emotional depth that you actually care what happens to these characters across centuries. I’m going to be checking for new episodes constantly, and honestly that’s the best sign I can give a show.
Have you watched it yet, or are you on the fence about starting it?
Episode Guide
Season 1 (10 Episodes)
Episode 1: Providence (7.6/10)
At the Gathering, Brian Fraser and Ellen MacKenzie meet for the first time and are struck by their strong connection.
Episode 2: S.W.A.K. (Sealed with a Kiss) (8.5/10)
While Henry fights in WWI and Julia works in the censorship office in London, their love story unfolds through the letters they write to each other.
Episode 3: School of the Moon (7.4/10)
Ellen hatches a new plan to protect herself and her family. Julia is forced to make an impossible choice.
Episode 4: A Soldier's Heart (7.7/10)
Henry tackles a challenging assignment in his own way. Ellen learns some concerning information about the family into which she’s expected to marry.
Episode 5: Needfire (7.7/10)
Ellen and Brian attend Beltane. Henry struggles to hold onto his hope. Julia loses allies when secrets come out.
Episode 6: Birthright (7.4/10)
Henry continues to look for Julia until a new discovery threatens to end his search.
Episode 7: Luceo Non Uro (7.9/10)
Lord Lovat goes to extreme lengths to fulfill a prophecy. Dougal attends a clandestine meeting that could spell political disaster for the MacKenzies.
Episode 8: A Virtuous Woman (7.9/10)
At the request of the Grants, Ellen undergoes a test to prove her worthiness to marry into the clan.
Episode 9: Braemar (6.6/10)
All the highland clans attend the Earl of Mar's annual hunting event at Braemar Castle, where the Earl makes an inflammatory proclamation.
Episode 10: Something Borrowed (7.6/10)
Ellen prepares for her wedding day, while Julia attempts her escape.
Season 2 (1 Episodes)
Episode 1: Episode 1
Where to Watch
Stream on: Starz Apple TV Channel, Starz Roku Premium Channel, Starz, Philo, Spectrum On Demand, Starz Amazon Channel, MGM Plus Amazon Channel, iciTouTV, Stan, Magenta TV+, HBO Max, HBO Max Amazon Channel, Disney Plus
Buy on: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Sky Store, Fetch TV, maxdome Store, Canal VOD