Colum MacKenzie (Seamus McLean) asks God for forgiveness for everything he’s done to protect his family as Starz’s Outlander: Blood of my Blood season two, episode five begins. He’s given everything, including any chance of a real relationship with his siblings, just to hold the MacKenzie family together. Now, he thinks all of his efforts have led his family to ruin.
Colum then addresses his deceased father, blaming him for molding him into man who can lead but can’t love. His father never told him that would be the price he’d pay for leading the clan.
(This is a recap of season two, episode five – “Forgive Me, Father” – and there are spoilers.)
Seema (Lauren McQueen) confirms she’s put Julia’s baby somewhere safe and that Davina won’t be interrupting them. (Episode four ended with Seema holding Julia at knifepoint.) Julia (Hermione Corfield) advises her to get some sleep, but Seema’s convinced she needs to kill Julia to clear a path for her and Henry’s future together.
Seema’s decided she’s going to take Julia’s son and raise him as her own. Julia is shocked that Seema would even think her son could love her as his mother.
Morning arrives and Brian (Jamie Roy) and Murtagh (Rory Alexander) know it’s almost time to engage the enemy. Brian’s glad to have Murtagh by his side and asks him to watch over Ellen if anything happens. Murtagh replies, “I’ll see her safe, and the bairn, to my last breath, Brian. You have my word.”
Murtagh touches the flower Grace gave him, and Brian understands how Murtagh feels.
On the other side of the battle, Arch (Terence Rae) asks about being taken by the fair folk, and Henry (Jeremy Irvine) describes it as “falling through every memory” he’s had. He believed he’d find his daughter, Claire, at the end of the fall. The fairies tried to take Claire’s memory from him but failed because Julia gave them back to him.
At Castle Leoch, Colum and Jocasta (Sadhbh Malin) talk about growing up with Janet and how she was incredibly gentle and never raised her voice. Ned (Conor MacNeill) interrupts with news that Dougal’s men didn’t go to Inverness (Lord Lovat took it without a fight) and instead are joining Mar’s forces heading to Perth.
The Battle of Sheriffmuir
Murtagh and Brian are joined by Dougal (Sam Retford) at the front of the Jacobite army as they prepare to engage. Dougal delivers a rousing speech as, on the opposite side, the Grant army is also preparing for battle, with Arch and Henry in the front. The loyalists and the Brits have a much larger, better-armed force equipped with rifles, while the Earl of Mar’s Jacobite army only has swords and shields.
Dougal reminds Brian that if they survive this battle, they still have issues to settle.
Back at Castle Leoch, Colum believes Dougal will want to run the clan and won’t be satisfied with being the war chief. Ned agrees and still thinks that having the castle in Ellen’s name will keep their holdings safe. He believes that Red Jacob’s greatest weakness was Ellen and if his enemies had known that, they would have used her to break him. Colum realizes he placed a target on her back, something his father would never have done. Still, Ned insists that Colum’s only done what he had to do to protect the family.
Jocasta tells Mrs. Fitz (Sally Messham) that she envied Ellen because she chose her own path, despite how others would view her choices. She confesses she wishes that someone would look at her like Brian looks at Ellen. Jocasta admits she’s talking about Murtagh, but both she and Mrs. Fitz know he doesn’t feel that way. She doesn’t love her husband and wants something more.
The battle rages on and the fighting is brutal. Blood flows, bodies fall, and Brian and Henry acknowledge each other from a short distance. Henry nods his head and Brian nods back. They’re on opposite sides, but not enemies.
Dougal rallies the men, screaming, “For the cause!” as they run toward the remaining loyalists and redcoats. Arch is struck by a man on a horse who circles back to finish him off. Fortunately, Henry’s there to kill the rider before he can kill Arch. Henry helps Arch up and they return to the battle.
Later, the battle appears to be over, and Earl of Mar wants to declare victory. Dougal’s furious that Mar would let the Duke of Argyll return to Stirling without finishing him off. Brian and Murtagh agree this has been a waste of good men if they don’t pursue Argyll. But they have no choice, given that Mar is in control.
Dougal secretly gathers MacKenzies to continue the fight. A short while later, Brian’s informed by Alec (Michael Cooke) that Dougal’s men were slaughtered, and Dougal and Angus were taken alive. Brian and Murtagh have no choice but to chase after them.
On the opposite side, Henry’s shocked to hear men cheering since no one really won. Arch hands him a drink just as a Brit walks up and reveals he’s impressed with Brian’s fighting skills. He finally introduces himself and he’s Captain Lord Gerard Grey, Earl of Melton! Henry introduces himself, and Lord Grey (Digby Edgley) wants someday to hear how an Englishman came to be fighting for the Grants.
Henry confesses to Arch that he wanted to run back to Julia and his son – and Claire – but couldn’t abandon his brothers in the field. He makes Arch laugh when he adds, “Petrified of facing your Murdina knowing I’d left you behind.”
Night falls and Henry’s alone when he reads the letter Julia handed him right before he left for war. She tells him that their love will outlast time itself. Julia confesses she adores him and always will. And if they’re not together in this world, they’ll be together in the next.
As Henry reads, we’re shown Julia making her move and trying to take the knife from Seema.
Julia’s letter reminds Henry that they make each other whole. She implores him to come home as we watch her pin Seema to the floor and strangle her to death. Julia takes a key from Seema’s dead body, shaken that she’s just committed murder. She’s relieved to discover Davina’s alive and has kept her baby safe.
Ellen and Grace Run Into Trouble
Ellen (Harriet Slater) and Grace (Ruby Fubara) have a quiet chat by the fire, and Ellen reveals she’s certain Murtagh is interested in Grace. Ellen admits love’s never simple, but Grace needs to follow her heart. Grace has caught on to the fact that Ellen is pregnant, and Ellen reveals Brian’s happy about their child.
The morning arrives and James MacKinney’s son, Robert (Macleod Stephen), wakes Ellen with a gun pointed at her head. Grace comes to her defense and he knocks her out. Robert threatens Ellen with a slow death, and Ellen promises he’ll never get her to beg for her life.
He ties Grace to a tree while Ellen insists that he doesn’t need to be his father; he can be his own man. She’s onto something when he’s unable to deny she’s right.
Grace comes to, tied to the tree, and listens while Ellen continues to try and convince Robert that he isn’t his father. He finally admits he’s no better than his father, and he’s just trying to fill a dead man’s boots. Robert cuts Grace free and then Ellen. Ellen assures him he isn’t a coward, and he wonders if he could have been different if not for his father.
Suddenly, Balloch (Chick Allan) appears behind them and strikes Robert in the head, killing him. He picks up Ellen and walks off as Grace screams.
- Outlander: Blood of my Blood season 2 episode 4, “A Portion of My Soul,” recap
- Outlander: Blood of my Blood season 2 episode 3, “Rabbits Don’t Swim,” recap
- Outlander: Blood of my Blood season 2 episode 2, “The Veil of Time,” recap
- Outlander: Blood of my Blood season 2 episode 1, “Remembrance Day,” recap
- Season 1 finale recap
This post was last modified on October 16, 2026 12:12 am