Outlander: Blood of My Blood takes viewers to the past to reveal the untold love stories of Jamie and Claire’s parents across two centuries.
Starz is once again taking fans through the stones — but this time, even further back in time. The highly anticipated prequel series Outlander: Blood of My Blood, premiering Friday, shifts the spotlight from the iconic love story of Claire and Jamie Fraser to the romances that shaped them: the relationships of their parents.
Set in two distinct timelines, the series tells the story of Jamie’s parents, Ellen and Brian, in 18th century Scotland, and Claire’s parents, Julia and Henry, during World War I — with an unexpected twist that also sends them back to the 1700s.
Showrunner Matthew B. Roberts, who also helms the original Outlander series (set to air its final season early next year), had no direct book to adapt this time. While Diana Gabaldon’s novels inspired the characters, their stories only appear in small references. “There’s a lot more room to play in,” Roberts said, noting that unlike the flagship series, the prequel isn’t tied to “tentpole moments” from the page.
The Frasers
For Ellen and Brian Fraser, love is forbidden. “They don’t mix. It’s completely forbidden,” said Harriet Slater, who plays Ellen. “My father’s worst enemy was Brian’s father, so I’m sure he’d have had some strong words to say about the whole thing.”
Jamie Roy, who portrays Brian, says the character has two sides: the “tough, stoic, Highland warrior” and the “lovely, gentle, poetic, romantic guy who wants nothing more than to take care of other people.” To prepare, Roy revisited early Outlander episodes to study Sam Heughan’s portrayal of Jamie Fraser, noting similarities in their performances.
The Beauchamps
Claire’s parents, Julia and Henry Beauchamp, appear even less in Gabaldon’s novels. In the original series, they’re known to have died in a car accident when Claire was young. Blood of My Blood imagines their meeting in World War I, where Henry, a soldier, sends a heartfelt open letter home, and Julia, working in postal censorship, is compelled to reply.
Their romance builds through written correspondence — until a dramatic shift sends them back to the 1700s. “The time they’ve gone back to is not a friendly time to be an outsider at all,” said Jeremy Irvine, who plays Henry. “Being an outsider would likely mean death. Henry and Julia, as is Claire, are very quick-witted, fast-thinking, intelligent people. They survive by the skin of their teeth.”
Looking ahead
Season two is already in production, with Hermione Corfield (Julia) describing the experience as filming “in our own little secret bubble.” She admits that promoting the show is a balancing act, as the cast must avoid mixing up events from each season. “You almost forget what you did in season one because you’re already onto that next journey and storyline,” she said.
With romance, danger, and time travel woven into both love stories, Outlander: Blood of My Blood promises to deepen the Outlander universe — showing that the courage, wit, and passion of Claire and Jamie began long before they ever met.
