After roughly eight months of pregnancy, aiding the Highlanders, and engaging in some light time traveling, Claire’s parents are on the brink of reuniting in Blood of My Blood. While Julia has something pleasant to anticipate, Ellen is filled with dread, and it’s more than just her anxiety over her bridal sheets featuring a peculiar hole.

Poor Ellen remains betrothed to Malcolm Grant despite her prior handfasting ceremony with Brian. In an effort to prepare her for the eventual wedding night, Mrs. Fitz tries to offer advice. However, their efforts are suddenly disrupted by Ellen’s brother, Colum, who is eager, albeit awkwardly, to finalize his sister’s wedding date.

Meanwhile, Julia is doing her utmost to avoid marrying Lord Lovat. Secretly, she has Brian baptize her baby as William Henry Beauchamp before the official christening. This leads to the amusing realization that both Jamie and Claire have brothers named William. Or perhaps, intriguingly, could it hint that Claire’s brother William is the same as Jamie’s brother William? Such peculiar family twists are not uncommon in Outlander.

During the official christening, Simon’s previous mislead about the baby’s birth seems to have worked, as two nosy onlookers congratulate Mistress Porter on Julia’s supposed marriage to Lord Lovat. Does this mean that Julia might escape an actual marriage with him? Davina hopes so. Regardless, it’s pleasant to see the Fraser maids bonding, with Mistress Porter lending her support to Julia.

Over at Castle Leoch, Colum is stressed out because the Grants believe the MacKenzies have pilfered their cattle, even though Malcolm Grant’s suspicions have leaned more towards Murtagh, which might incidentally bring Henry closer to finding Julia. Moreover, Dougal is fraternizing with the Narines, known Jacobites, whereas the Grants are loyal to the king. This conflict spells trouble for Ellen’s engagement to Malcolm. Though she doesn’t wish to marry Malcolm, Ellen also fears jeopardizing her family should Dougal allocate their funds to the Jacobite cause. With resolve, she journeys to the House of Narine to confront Dougal, invoking the MacKenzie motto and episode’s title: “Luceo Non Uro” (“I Shine Not Burn”).

Back at the christening, Baby Beauchamp, unfortunately, ends up being baptized as Simon Lovat at a Protestant church, aligning with the Middle Aged Fox’s ambitions to position him for kingship since Catholic monarchs are not permitted. Simon also manages to sneak in the Fraser family motto to an unimpressed Brian: “Je suis prest.” Meanwhile, Murtagh does make an appearance — not to partake in the celebration, but to confront Brian about stealing his love, resulting in a fight. To resolve the brawl, Simon dispatches both to a Jacobite meeting, a place Brian only agrees to go after his father’s threats against his mother.

Ned Gowan goes to Henry Beauchamp to clear the MacKenzie clan’s name over the cattle raid. But the Grants have already discovered it was famous Jacobite (and real-life historical figure) Rob Roy MacGregor. Henry gives Ned a little warning that it’s far wiser for the MacKenzies to stay loyal to the crown than rebel. But, sadly, Outlander fans know how that’ll turn out for Dougal and his pals.

Ellen gets to the Nairn house and it just so happens to be the same Jacobite meeting Brian was sent to! Though she’s there to keep an eye on Dougal (who pledges the MacKenzies will fund the rebellion), Ellen also has time to make eyes with Brian.

With Julia dead (or so he thinks), Henry decides he’s getting the hell outta the past and back to his daughter Claire. He goes to Seema and gives her all his money to get back his St. Anthony’s necklace. But dummy that he is, he yet again gives away too much info telling the rejected Seema he’s headed to Craigh na Dun.

At the Jacobite meeting, Malcolm Grant rolls in to arrest Rob Roy, and Ellen has to spin the truth quickly about why she’s there (as she explains to Brian, she can’t have Malcolm call off the wedding, but his dad Isaac can). The meeting takes a turn when the British Redcoats don’t heed Malcolm’s request for him to handle the kine stealers (he really is a nice dude) and Brian shoots off his gun to give the Jacobites a chance to run away. In the resulting chaos, Dougal spots Ellen and Brian canoodling where Brian gets punched in the face for the second time this episode. Murtagh also chooses to flee with Dougal (who makes sure to get the MacKenzie money back) over Brian. Burn. 

Ellen’s secret romance is really not-so secret now as Mrs. Fitz discovers the Fraser tartan from her handfasting. But Mrs. Fitz assumes that Ellen has married her nephew Murtagh and promises to keep it a secret. That’s a relief for now, but unfortunately, worse things are in store for Ellen.

Henry heads to the stones but is intercepted by Mr. Bug who was tipped off by Seema. But rather than hurting Henry, Arch says Isaac Grant needs him to do a pressing job. And by god, is that job gross. Henry goes to Castle Leoch to demand a test of Ellen that, as Ned puts it, will “ascertain whther or not your virtue is intact.” Seems the rumors Simon planted have worked and they don’t believe Ellen is “pure.” Can someone please inform these 18th century men that the hymen proving virginity is a myth? Also, I guess Henry is desperate to survive so he can get home to Claire, but why in the hell is he agreeing to force Ellen into this?! Both the Blood of My Blood male leads need to do better since Brian also unwittingly had a hand in making this test ordered since Lord Lovat’s lackey Balloch had overheard Murtagh and Brian fighting over Ellen MacKenzie and told his evil dad.

Speaking of Brian’s evil dad, Simon makes Julia use a wet nurse (even though she asked him not to) and then forces her into a casual luncheon wedding while Brian is away. Simon bribes the reverend to forge the register to say Julia and him were married on November 17, 1714 while baby “Simon” was born on July 5, 1715. Lord Lovat is in truly vile form this episode since he then has Balloch kill the drunken reverend at the kirk, so no one will now the register was forged.

While Simon has the upperhand most episode, Julia’s special seasoning of chaste berry does spare her from consummating their marriage. (And led to a funny moment between Julia and hew new BFF Davina.) Though it’s still a horrific scene with Lord Lovat trying to get himself hard… and how I never needed to hear the line: “Maybe some more spice will wake the Old Fox from his hole.” But, on the plus side, while in Lord Lovat’s chambers as he sleeps, Julia has time to discover the letter Henry wrote to Lord Lovat about Ellen back in OBOMB Episode 4 (“A Soldier’s Heart”). She finally has proof her husband is back in time with her! A tearful Julia gives the letter a S.W.A.K.

Now, let the romantic reunion between Julia and Henry commence! Sure, the romance may be slightly diminished after everything these two have had to do to survive in the 1700s (and the impending test of Lady Ellen). But for now, take comfort that Claire’s parents seem poised to find each other in the past.

Caitlin Gallagher is a New Jersey-raised, NYC-based entertainment writer. When not writing about or watching TV, she can be found planning her next Halloween costume, crying over rescue animals, or praising Season 2 of The Leftovers.