BLOOD OF MY BLOOD update, and a few thoughts

Some unexpected news from SDCC yesterday: STARZ will be releasing the first TWO episodes of OUTLANDER: BLOOD OF MY BLOOD on Friday, August 8th! Apparently Episode 101 will focus on Jamie's parents, Brian and Ellen, and Episode 102 will focus on Claire's parents, Henry and Julia. I was surprised to hear about this "double-header", but I think it's probably a good decision on their part, because they need to introduce the main characters as quickly as possible, to make it clear from the beginning that the series will focus on both couples.

Look here for more details, and a few video clips. (I haven't watched the videos myself. At this stage, with less than two weeks to go until the series premieres, I am trying to avoid spoilers.)

A FEW THOUGHTS ON BLOOD OF MY BLOOD

Some of you may be wondering why I haven't said much about what I personally think of BLOOD OF MY BLOOD (aka BOMB). The truth is that my opinion hasn't changed much from my initial reaction in February 2024. The fact that so much of this series (including ALL of Claire's parents' storyline!) will be completely invented by the writers, "untethered", if you will, from anything that Diana Gabaldon has written or plans to write, makes me uncomfortable.

Diana responded to some of my concerns in a post on TheLitForum on July 17, 2025:

BOMB consists, essentially, of two intermittently touching story lines: the story of Jamie's parents, Brian and Ellen, and the story of Claire's parents, Julia and Henry.

The Jamie's parents story is about 90% mine (allowing 10% for adaptations <g>). Julia and Henry's story is about 90% Matt (with 10% input/adaptation/suggestions from me). The actors are ALL great, and the production standards are well up to the original OUTLANDER show.

Scotland is still Scotland. <g>

In short, you aren't seeing an "alternate" story, because you've never seen any of this story before. You've only heard the brief story Jamie told Claire about his parents.

Still, there's no reason whatever to watch it, if the notion of it upsets you. I will say it's good, though.

That helps, as does the knowledge that Diana wrote the script for Episode 109 and co-wrote the season finale, Episode 110, with showrunner Matt Roberts. But in this case, her opinion isn't enough to convince me. I want to decide for myself! At the end of the day, it's just a TV show, and I reserve the right to stop watching if it turns out I'm not enjoying it.

I still intend to watch the show, to make up my own mind, but I'm not feeling anything like my usual level of enthusiasm, let alone excitement, about BLOOD OF MY BLOOD. (In contrast, I was genuinely excited by yesterday's announcement about OUTLANDER Season 8 coming in "early 2026".) At this point, I'm feeling a sort of mild curiosity, but nothing more than that.

I will be posting my general reactions to the episodes, but I'm not planning on doing the sort of detailed episode recaps that I've done for OUTLANDER. (I will definitely be doing those episode recaps for Season 8 when the time comes, though.)

I don't mean to dampen anyone's enthusiasm, at all! Who knows, maybe I'll love it? I'm sure the acting, the cinematography, Bear McCreary's music, and much more, will be very enjoyable. But I still have doubts, and I know I'm not alone in feeling that way.