Outlander: Blood of my Blood Season 1 Episode 8 Review: A Virtuous Woman

Outlander: Blood of my Blood Season 1 Episode 8, “A Virtuous Woman,” puts a spotlight on the updated practices of purity tests.

It’s a nod to the parts of Outlander’s premise that made it so unique by shedding light on an insane “medical practice” and allowing a Beauchamp woman to push back against history’s treatment of women.

Julia has never been more like Claire’s mother than when she uses her knowledge of historical medical concoctions to save Ellen from ruin.

This episode very much plays out like a woman’s worst nightmare as everyone carts Ellen to a public inspection of her purity. The trial plays on the anger of seeing Ellen humiliated and in pain for the sake of proving her virgin status.

It goes a little too far into spectacle territory with the gallery-type setup of onlookers, but the point of the exercise is made.

It is fascinating from a historical aspect that in this time, male physicians and society knew enough about a woman’s anatomy to understand what a hymen is. Still, in the same breath, these men also believed sin taints their pee. As if studying how the female body works was accessible, society just couldn’t be bothered unless it aligned with a man’s beliefs.

The additional tie-in of real-life solutions women sought to avoid falling prey to these absurd tests keeps this experience authentic in the way we often need historical dramas to be when they approach women’s suffering.

Blood of my Blood strikes a respectful yet educational balance as the Grants and MacKenzies strip Ellen of her dignity and strength.

That is ultimately what is so haunting about this episode, as we witness the MacKenzies’ pillar of strength reduced to painful whimpers by the men around her.

Yet, we also have Julia’s heroic need to drop everything and save her, which helps keep a hopeful tone throughout the intense ordeal.

Having Julia and Henry reunite afterwards is excellent timing. Not only is it a relief to know they won’t spend seasons minorly inconvenienced every time they come close to discovering each other, but the reunion’s timing feels like a reward for the good guys after saving the day.

Additionally, the constant teasing of their meeting throughout the episode is an excellent way to keep us engaged with the slower moments of Ellen’s waiting room situation.

Henry and Julia’s reunion is everything we could hope for and more.

It is tender and breathless as Henry’s assumption that he is seeing his wife’s ghost melts away to realization. For one brief moment, the two get to live their happily ever after, and the emotions feel gloriously elevated as they grasp hold of each other.

The plot ushering Julia away so quickly and with such abruptness feels somewhat stinted by the story’s desperation to have them part ways promptly. But the story’s larger motives aren’t wrong; distance makes the heart grow fonder.

Julia and Henry getting to shed their grief and surge into the final part of the season with renewed determination gives their storyline a much-needed jumpstart.

This episode carries the legacy of Outlander with a balance between the historical and the lore of these characters. 

It also puts the necessary work into fleshing out the ensemble’s small but mighty roles, with Mrs. Fitz showing noticeable jealousy towards Julia’s fast-moving bond with Ellen.

Even Malcolm gets some more screen time to expand on his genuine kindness and care towards Ellen’s well-being. It makes her situation with Brian all the more thick with tension when the guy intruding on this romance is pulling out all the stops to be a proper husband.

It’s no easy subject matter, but Blood of my Blood handles the purity test with far more grace and elegance than it did with Julia’s pregnancy.

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Outlander: Blood of My Blood airs Fridays at 8/7c on Starz and is available on Starz streaming platforms.

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