Brian Fraser and Ellen Mackenzie are the Scottish Romeo and Juliet. Outlander: Blood of My Blood season 1 premiere recap: It's love at first sight for Jamie's p

Brian Fraser and Ellen Mackenzie are the Scottish Romeo and Juliet.

Outlander: Blood of My Blood season 1 premiere recap: It's love at first sight for Jamie's parents

Brian Fraser and Ellen Mackenzie are the Scottish Romeo and Juliet.

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Published on August 8, 2025 09:00AM EDT

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Jamie Roy as Brian Fraser, Harriet Slater as Ellen MacKenzie. Credit:

Sanne Gault/Starz

If the thought of *Outlander's* final season makes you want to take to the bed and sing a song of a lass that is gone, have no fear. There's still romance and drama to be found — and even a little time travel through the stones — with the premiere of *Outlander*: *Blood of My Blood*. Who needs Jamie (Sam Heughan) and Claire (Caitriona Balfe) galavanting through the Highlands when you have their parents' epic love stories to tell!

Say hello to 18th-century Scotland, where the Clan Fraser and Clan Mackenzie are in a bitter feud over land and territorial rights after the untimely death of clan leader Jacob "Red" Mackenzie. Castle Leoch is swarming with mourners, and those who are ready to pounce on the unfortunate detail that Jacob never technically chose an heir to take his place as laird, or head of the Mackenzie clan.

Tradition points to the firstborn child as the lucky recipient of this powerful position. Unfortunately, the eldest Mackenzie just happens to be a woman. Ellen (Harriet Slater) is perfectly capable and would love to take charge of the clan in order to protect the Mackenzies' home, finances, and reputation. But the idea is not even entertained since Ellen has two brothers. The clan will have to choose between Colum (Séamus McLean Ross) and Dougal (Sam Retford). And as *Outlander* fans, we know how this story ends.

Dougal is a hot head who fixes problems by chopping people's fingers off when they cross him. He believes the clans need a strong leader whose actions speak louder than words. Colum is the exact opposite. He thinks Dougal lacks diplomacy. Dougal thinks Colum lacks the ability to walk straight. The burn deepens when Dougal claims that if Colum were chosen, it would be out of pity.

Jamie Roy was almost cast on 'Outlander' but producers couldn't get over resemblance to Sam Heughan

Everything we know about 'Blood of My Blood,' the 'Outlander' prequel — plus, first look images

Sibling rivalry aside, the Mackenzies must trudge through their grief and make nice with all the folks traveling to pay their respects, while stomaching those who are straight-up there for the drama. This includes our beloved Murtagh Fitzgibbons Fraser (Rory Alexander), who is looking forward to good food, drink, and finding a girl. And Murtagh needs his wingman, Brian Fraser (Jamie Roy), to help him scope out the scene.

I'd like to pause here and congratulate the *Blood of My Blood *showrunners for securing an actor who very well could be related to Sam Heughan. Jamie Roy as Jamie Fraser's father is excellent casting.

Brian has no interest in traveling to Castle Leoch for a couple of reasons, but mainly because the Mackenzies hate the Frasers. Murtagh is quick to remind Brian that the Mackenzies hate Brian's father. They have no idea who Brian is or what he looks like, since he's the bastard son of the laird. Brian continues to balk until his father insists he joins Murtagh so they can keep an eye and an ear on clan gossip.

Brian agrees, but before he leaves, he comes to the aid of a new maidservant, Julia (Hermione Corfield), who has caught the eye of his father. She's unequivocally spunky in her retort and quickly leaves the room in a huff. The snarky nature and physical familiarity point directly to this woman being Claire's mother. But how did she get here?

There's no time to figure that out as the Mackenzie brothers argue over who should be the next laird. Ellen is Team Colum, and that endorsement gives him enough gumption to ask his brother to kindly yield. Dougal refuses, claiming the clan will need a chieftain should war come knocking at their door. P.S.: According to Dougal, no one is going to bend their knee to a cripple.

Rory Alexander as Murtagh Fitzgibbons, Sally Messham as Glenna Fitzgibbons.

Sanne Gault/Starz

Meanwhile, outside the castle, Brian and Murtagh arrive to pay their respects to the family. It's clear that Murtagh only has eyes for one member of Clan Mackenzie, and that is Ellen, even when her sister Jocosta (Sadhbh Mailn) fawns over Murtagh. If only he had the courage to walk up to Ellen and shoot his shot.

Brian, on the other hand, gathers a crowd during an axe-throwing game, and his propensity to hit the bullseye causes some men to question who the stud is and why no one seems to know him. Brian politely excuses himself, without dropping his Fraser name, and escapes into a barn where he finds Ellen holed up as well.

The moment is love at first sight. Sure, there's a slight flirtation revolving around the ability to talk to horses and a riff about hiding away from potential suitors, but the chemistry sizzles off the screen. In less than two minutes, the couple is smitten. Brian's "friends" close in, and Ellen encourages him to sneak out. And before he runs into the trees for cover, he asks to meet her at the bridge in Inverness. She agrees, because Ellen needed only two minutes to question her stance on never marrying.

The next day, a carriage arrives with a new twist in the form of Malcom Grant (Jhon Lumsden), who has his sights set on Ellen. I'm sensing a theme, but there's one man who doesn't want a chance at Ellen's affections, and that's an Englishman named Henry (Jeremy Irvine). He looks angry, speaks unlike anyone else, and is obviously Claire's father, stuck in 18th-century Scotland. We can assume he and his wife came through the stones together and have somehow separated, a trait which has clearly been passed on to his own daughter in another time.

Everyone's favorite advisor, Ned Gowan (Conor MacNeil), sidles up next to Henry to try and grease the wheels, knowing that the Grants would make an excellent alliance with the Mackenzies. He's curious about Henry, and when pressed, Henry leans sketchy and skuttles away. Dougal hates the Grants and does not want to align with them. Surprise, surprise. Malcolm takes a walk with Ellen and offers to escort her back to her room. That's a hard pass. Our girl has a bridge date with a handsome Highlander.

Malcolm doesn't take the rejection personally, deducing that Ellen is still grieving. You can imagine his surprise when he spots her later walking along a path, in the opposite direction from the castle. He sucks up the defeat and announces that he's leaving. There's nothing for him here.

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Ellen finds Brian standing by the bridge, and she's quick to tell him that she only came for a moment, since there's no chaperone. Brian tells her that the bridge is their chaperone and things will all be above board if they just stay on their respective sides. Ellen is charmed by this mysterious man and is practically planning their wedding until she learns his name. How unfortunate that he is a Fraser.

Brian reaches for Ellen's hand, and it's suddenly clear that both have been ever-so-slowly creeping toward each other. That bridge is a terrible chaperone. Brian confesses he can't stop thinking about Ellen, and sweet nothings pour from his mouth. Ellen bemoans that her brothers will not allow this union, and I look at my watch. Our lovers have been in each other's presence for a generous total of 10 minutes. But if *The Bachelor* taught us anything, it's that this can happen. Brian is willing to bargain with the devil to make this work! And Ellen will be by his side all the way to hell and back.

Unfortunately, Ellen didn't leave a message to say that she had run off to meet her one true love, so her brothers naturally assume she's been kidnapped by Malcom Grant. Dougal rushes to find her as Colum and Ned consider the possibility of Malcom actually getting himself killed, which would solve one of their problems.

Dougal eventually finds Malcom's carriage and beats him nearly to death. But it's Henry who rescues his employer, assuring the Mackenzies that Ellen is not in their custody. A bloodied Malcom is not thrilled and promises that this skirmish will not be forgotten. Which means the Grants, along with the Frasers, hate the Mackenzies.

Ellen returns home, and her brothers attack her for vanishing without a trace. Ellen is livid they beat Malcom, even if they claim it was in her honor, and she refuses to tell them where she spent her afternoon. Dougal warns his sister that when a new laird is appointed, she will have to answer to them if she wants to remain in the luxury to which she has become accustomed. Ellen retreats to her room and daydreams of her father, who understood his headstrong daughter.

Colum shifts into defensive mode with Ned. After setting a bird free that he gave his father long ago (was it just me, or did that get a little creepy?), he admits that there is something they can offer the Grants to make amends. What if they give Ellen to Malcom Grant? Wouldn't that smooth everything over?

Jeremy Irvine as Henry Beauchamp, Hermione Corfield as Julia Moriston Beauchamp.

Sanne Gault/Starz

Before we can even gasp at the notion, we are transported to a couple enjoying amorous activities on a blanket overlooking the Highlands. Hey! It's Henry and Julia! And we are in a different timeline, according to the car Henry and Julia zip around in as they discuss their daughter Claire and how she is going to react to a new sibling in the future.

Wait, didn't Claire's parents die in a car crash when she was young?

Go ahead and put an asterisk by that remark, because the Beauchamps did crash their car and wash away down river, but their lives were not taken from them. Instead, the pair scramble to shore, and Julia trudges up a hill to see if she can get the lay of the land, paying no attention to the strange ring of stones and the odd buzzing sound emitting from them. Henry hears a scream and is thoroughly confused when his wife is nowhere to be found. Sing him a song of a lass that is gone.

*Outlander: Blood of My Blood* airs new episodes Fridays on Starz.**

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