Outlander Blood of My Blood review: Prequel series marks a new era for Outlander

WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Outlander: Blood of My Blood episodes 1 and 2

When Starz revealed the Outlander universe was growing with a prequel series, it's fair to say there was considerable apprehension, reports the Daily Record.

After all, how could the sweeping historical romance drama possibly be equalled?

Nevertheless, after viewing the opening two episodes of series one, devotees can relax with many already buzzing about the prequel show.

Outlander: Blood of My Blood is remarkable not only in its narrative scope, but also its magnificent production standards that whisk viewers from the grit and gore of WWI battlefields to the sweeping landscapes of the 18th century Scottish Highlands.

For newcomers, Blood of My Blood follows two romantic tales between wartime lovers Henry Beauchamp (played by Jeremy Irvine) and Julia Moriston (Hermione Corfield) and feuding clan members Brian Fraser (Jamie Roy) and Ellen MacKenzie (Harriet Slater), both pairs are the respective parents of Outlander's main characters Jamie (played by Sam Heughan) and Claire Fraser (Caitriona Balfe).

As Blood of My Blood's scriptwriters have already indicated, those who've never watched an episode of Outlander in their lives, let alone encountered the words "sassenach" or "dinna fash", can completely engage with the series as a self-contained show. Outlander, inspired by the globally best-selling novels penned by American author Diana Gabaldon, was born out of an episode of Doctor Who featuring Patrick Troughton as the Time Lord and his Highlander companion Jamie McCrimmon (Frazer Hines).

Unlike its predecessor, Blood of My Blood isn't tethered to any source material, with Gabaldon's novels merely providing a springboard for the series.

This is where the charm of Blood of My Blood lies, and why it might just surpass its parent series. The blank slate allows the writers free rein to steer the story in any direction they wish, with the decision to make both Claire's parents time travellers being a stroke of sheer brilliance.

Gabaldon has previously expressed no interest in delving into the story of Claire's parents, but she gave her blessing to the showrunners to forge a new path that envisaged the couple having lived and travelled to the past.

Blood of My Blood also benefits from hindsight, and it's evident that the show has integrated all the finest elements of Outlander into the prequel series, from gallant heroes and powerful female leads to drama and history set against the backdrop of the Scottish Highlands, with a sprinkle of time travel and allure added for good measure.

The series delivers everything fans could desire from Outlander and more, while standing as a captivating watch in its own right with characters you're cheering for.

The steamier scenes, reminiscent of earlier Outlander seasons, are very much part of the show and will leave audiences swooning.

Meanwhile, the villains feel more nuanced, in fact, all the characters are various shades of grey with some delicious complexities to them.

Performance-wise, the central quartet are fab, with Julia and Henry's love story serving as the beating heart of Blood of My Blood given the high stakes involved. No doubt, Ellen and Brian's burgeoning union will become dicier as the series goes on.

As many have already stated, the casting is spot on for all four of the central leads, whose physical similarities to Balfe and Heughan are undeniable.

Special mentions goes to Mary & George star Tony Curran as the skin-crawlingly creepy Lord Lovat and Sam Retford as a feral young Dougal MacKenzie, who's every bit as red-blooded and pugnacious as his older incarnation. Graham McTavish must be proud.

This isn't to say there aren't some weaker moments. At times, the series opener felt wobbly with some exposition-heavy scenes explaining Ellen's predicament in the wake of her father Red Jacob's (Peter Mullan) sudden death and subsequent power vacuum.

These felt unnecessary in a post-Game of Thrones and Succession TV landscape. Audiences are canny to politicking and machiavellian power-play, with the show initially breaking the golden storytelling maxim of show don't tell.

Despite a slow start, Blood of My Blood truly finds its footing in the second episode, providing a cinematic experience that leaves viewers eager for more.

Having seen the first two episodes of Blood of My Blood, it's clear that this show is Emmy-worthy. It's a captivating watch and signals a new chapter for Outlander.

Outlander season 8 will premiere on Starz and MGM+ via Prime Video in early 2026

Outlander: Blood of My Blood drops on Starz on Fridays in the USA and on Saturdays on MGM+ via Prime Video in the UK