Mickel Clark
As Outlander: Blood of My Blood completes its first season, the prequel has already stirred up passion, heartbreak, and endless questions. With Season 2 locked in and production underway, there’s room to dig into what might come next, and what the show’s creators are quietly setting up.
A Strong Foundation: What the First Season Achieved
Before we look ahead, it helps to see how Season 1 laid the groundwork.
Dual Timelines, Dual Romances
The show splits between 18th-century Scotland (Brian Fraser / Ellen MacKenzie) and early 20th-century England (Henry Beauchamp / Julia Moriston). That structural choice allows the writers to explore love, fate, and time travel in parallel, weaving Claire’s and Jamie’s origins into one narrative.
This dual narrative isn’t just a gimmick; it allows for contrasts: old clan politics vs. modern turmoil; the burden of heritage vs. individual longing.
High Stakes & Surprising Twists
- The death of Malcolm Grant in the finale was not originally planned; it was added late, heightening the dramatic stakes and jolting fans.
- The ending at the Craigh na Dun stones is ambiguous and tense. Henry, Julia, and baby William press their hands to the stones, but the show leaves open whether time travel will “work” and who goes where.
- More surprisingly, multiple endings were filmed, and even the cast didn’t know which version would air until the final cut.
- The lighting of fiery crosses as rebellion looms in the Highlands signals that the Jacobite Wars are not just background; they’ll likely be a central conflict.
So Season 1 ends on a knife’s edge, and with plenty of narrative threads to pull.
The Aftermath of Season 1: Love, Loss & Uncertainty
From the beginning, Blood of My Blood positioned itself on two timelines: 18th-century Scotland, where Brian Fraser and Ellen MacKenzie’s forbidden romance unfolds, and early 20th-century England, where Julia Moriston and Henry Beauchamp’s bond develops through war, letters, and ultimately time. The dual narratives let the show weave together heritage, sacrifice, and the collision of past and future.
The season escalated toward a high-stakes finale. Ellen, bound by a forced marriage to Malcolm Grant, learns that her brother Colum secretly commissioned an assassination attempt on Brian. That betrayal gives her the motivation to break free, but escaping Castle Leoch proves dangerous.
Brian confronts Malcolm, begging him to stand down. Malcolm refuses, and in the struggle, Brian kills him, a turn of events that was not in the original script but added late in production to punctuate the emotional stakes.
Meanwhile, Julia, Henry, and baby William arrive at the mystical stones at Craigh na Dun in a race against time. Five different versions of who crosses, and when, were filmed. The final cut leaves viewers uncertain: will everyone make it through, or will someone be left behind?
The closing image of fiery Jacobite crosses set ablaze across the hills serves as a powerful signal: the Jacobite conflict will not remain in the periphery. Ellen and Brian may believe they are safe, but external pressures are already mounting.
What the Cast & Creators Are Teasing
As work begins on Season 2, cast members have dropped intriguing hints about what lies ahead. Jeremy Irvine (Henry) says the season opens in a place he couldn’t have predicted, meaning the show is aiming to upend expectations.
Hermione Corfield (Julia) admits she has no idea where her character is headed, implying that surprises await even the actors.
Jamie Roy (Brian) describes Season 2 as having “wild, wild stuff” and suggests the production budget has increased, meaning a more ambitious scope. He also characterizes Brian and Ellen’s position at the end of Season 1 as a crossroads: will Brian return to his laird duties in a brewing war, or stay with Ellen as fugitives?
Diana Gabaldon, though not writing the majority of the show, remains involved. She co-wrote the final two episodes of Season 1 and is slated to write an episode in Season 2. She has discussed removing a subplot involving a character named Seema for pacing and embracing creative deviations, such as Malcolm’s death, where she felt it benefited the story.
What to Expect in Season 2
With the stage set, here are likely arcs and themes that Season 2 may explore:
1. Fallout from Malcolm’s Death
Brian’s killing of Malcolm, however, justifiable, is sure to carry ramifications. Clan politics in Scotland are ruthless. Allies of Malcolm may seek vengeance. Brian may come under social or legal pressure. Ellen’s relationship with her brother, Colum, is already fractured; further strain may push familial betrayals even deeper.
2. The Fate of Julia, Henry & William
The time-travel cliffhanger cries out for resolution. If only some or none of them cross, the emotional and narrative consequences will be profound. Guilt, regret, separation, or even a temporal shift the show hasn’t revealed yet, may come into play.
The series may also revisit how rigid the rules of time travel are (e.g. whether jewels are required, or exceptions exist).
3. Rebellion, War & Choices
The Jacobite lighting of fiery crosses signals George to arms. Brian may face the choice between duty and escape: return to fight under his laird or go into exile with Ellen. Clans will align, betray, or fracture under pressure. Ellen, formerly insulated by status, must adapt to a life on the run.
4. Secondary Characters Rising
Maura Grant’s role may expand beyond a twist bride. Jocasta Cameron, Ellen’s sister, could become a major player in clan dynamics. Other figures like Murtagh, Dougal, Ned Gowan, or younger versions of familiar Outlander characters may enter or deepen their relevance.
5. Internal & Emotional Conflict
Separation and trauma, especially if Julia, Henry, or William are affected, will drive emotional conflict. Brian, now forced into violence, may wrestle with guilt. Ellen’s identity, as daughter, sister, and partner, will be tested as she adapts to survival.
Cast, Production & Timeline
Core cast returns: Harriet Slater (Ellen), Jamie Roy (Brian), Hermione Corfield (Julia), and Jeremy Irvine (Henry) are expected to remain central. Sadhbh Malin (Jocasta) is already a series regular, and her role may grow.
Season 2 began filming in Scotland in mid-2025. The show was renewed in June 2025, even before the first season aired, demonstrating the network’s faith in its success. Production insiders suggest the scale is increasing, with more elaborate sets, larger battle or period sequences, and higher stakes.
While there is no confirmed release date, historical precedent suggests a return in 2026 or early 2027 is plausible. Many showrunners aim for a roughly one-year production and post-production schedule.
Final Thoughts
Season 1 of Blood of My Blood laid deep groundwork, building character foundations, planting hints of destiny, and leaving arcs unresolved. Season 2 must raise those stakes, challenge loyalties, and answer lingering questions while opening new mysteries.
You can refresh your memories by watching Outlander on Netflix from anywhere.
Will Julia, Henry, or William survive their jump? Can Brian reconcile clan loyalty with love? How far will war reshape loyalties and love?
If you are into TV shows, here are details about Apple TV’s The Savant, This City Is Ours: Season Two, and Prisoner 951: Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s Story.
