Blood of My Blood (S1E8): “A Virtuous Woman” (Review)

Directed by Azhur Saleem
Episode written by Kiersten Van Horne
Series developed by Matthew B. Roberts
Based on characters created by Diana Gabaldon

Image courtesy of Starz.

In “A Virtuous Woman”, the eighth episode of the season, the multiple plotlines converge on one locale–Castle Leoch–which creates a bit more fluidity between the storylines. Ellen’s (Harriet Slater) virtue has come into question, and a physician has been called upon to determine her innocence. 

Beauty and the Beast

The episode cold opens with Ellen being prepared for a purity test with shots of the soft preparations on her side cut with shots of the cruel tools of the medical trade for the test itself. This montage shows the cruelty of the situation contrasted with extreme femininity.

In the main hall, Dougal (Sam Retford) inspects the tools and, with Colum (Seamus McLean Ross), is aghast and informs the physician (Andrew John Tait) he will do a manual examination only–avoiding the massive speculum and hideous other tools. Colum speaks with Dougal about any chances Ellen may have “misbehaved” at the House of Nairne, and then does the same with Ned (Conner MacNeill) regarding Beltane. Ned, then, asks Mrs. Fitz (Sally Meesham) the very same question regarding Ellen’s innocence. She reassures him, but once she is alone, her doubt is apparent before she wills herself to faith once again. She returns to Ellen, but Ellen’s shaky breath and worried look shows her own lack of faith that all will be well.

Prep and Travels

The episode proper opens at Castle Leathers, as Lovat (Tony Curran) packs a trunk. He tells Julia (Hermione Corfield) that he will take the waters at Aberdeen to restore his recent challenges in the bedroom. Julia is anxious about this, as this will result in her being assaulted by Lovat upon his return in just two days. As Lovat and Balloch (Chick Allen) load his trunk into a wagon. Lovat tells Brian of the purity test facing Ellen, and Brian (Jamie Roy) tells him that he loves her. Lovat laughs it off, and as he leaves, Brian and Davina (Sara Vickers) share a look. Brian storms away, saying to Davina that he is going to rescue his wife.

At Castle Leoch, Mrs. Fitz feeds Ellen repeated full glasses of water. Mrs. Fitz tells her the instructions: that she must urinate clear, but also not urinate until instructed to do so. Mrs. Fitz asks who Ellen lay with, but she refuses to share his name. 

At Leathers, Davina tries to talk sense into Brian and pleads with Julia to help her. Julia says she can help Brian to save Ellen. Julia begins an “elixir” and insists that she will go with Brian, as she can actually go to Ellen to help her, dressed as a servant as she is. Davina agrees to protect baby William while Julia is away, showing that a deep bond has formed between them. 

Cut to the Grants en route to Leoch, with Henry (Jeremy Irvine) in tow. Henry and Malcolm talk about Malcom’s love for Ellen, and Henry finds him to be a genuine person. Henry pledges his support for Malcolm and encourages him to be his own man and step out from his father’s shadow. 

Brian and Julia race to Leoch, but Brian stops at a fork in the road. Brian points out the way to Castle Grant for Julia to escape, but she says she needs to save Ellen first (but viewers know that Henry is also on his way to Leoch).

All Together Now

Inside Leoch, Colum, Dougal, and Ned look over the dowry trunk and contract. When Malcolm and Henry enter, Ned tells them that the MacKenzie physician, Davy Beaton, is trustworthy, but Henry interrupts and says that Isaac Grant insists on his own physician doing the inspection. 

Malcolm is clearly upset by the details of the procedure and worries Ellen will blame him, so Henry carries these tidings to Ned. Henry walks aside to wait for Ned and looks up just as Julia passes through the hallway. His mental state waivers for a moment, and he convinces himself he has imagined her.

Julia finds Ellen’s bedchamber and presents the concoction she has brought to Ellen, who does not hesitate to follow Julia’s directions. 

In the study, Henry and Ned discuss how Malcolm is different than Issac and how Henry may re-attempt his escape. Arch Bug (Terence Rae) enters the study with them and spends several awkward minutes trying to tell them a joke while making a fool of himself. (Side note: Arch Bug’s hatred of the men deemed more intelligent than him coupled with his disdain for women are telling and would fit nicely to additional gender studies.)

Malcolm visits Ellen’s bedchamber and speaks to her in the hallway. He assures her that the purity test is not his action, but rather his father’s. She asks who cast doubt on her, and Malcolm says Simon Fraser (Lovat). 

Ellen, flanked by Mrs. Fitz, enters the main hall to music best suited to a battlefield.

(Side note: Can’t help but notice the voyeurism of the women being in the main halls for both birth (Julia) and purity test (Ellen). Each in front of a lit fireplace, with people watching.)

Ellen is given a tonic to “test her waters”, but she is also forced to wait to urinate in order to test her bladder in the process. Finally, a chamber pot is pushed under her; she must urinate in front of the whole crowd. Her urine is poured into a clear glass and examined by the physician. He deems it time for the next round but reveals nothing definitive.

In the Final Round, Ellen is placed on a table–OB-GYN style–for the examination. Tears slide down her face to the table but she does not cry out or speak. Much like a terrible reality show, the physician makes everyone wait for his declaration: Virgo intacta (Virgin intact). 

Ellen walks out, staring down Colum as she does, and returns to her bedchamber to give Julia the good news. Julia leaves.

On her way out, Julia hears Henry’s voice–and then sees him. They are stunned and she waves for him to follow her. Once in a place alone, they hesitate. Henry doubts his reality, until Julia tells him that hope springs eternal, finally convincing him. Brian enters, looking for her, and Julia tells Henry that they must part for now as others are approaching, and she leaves with Brian. 

As the Grants leave, a rider gallops up with a letter that he hands to Henry; Issac has died, and Henry gives this news to Malcolm. This renders the entire purity test useless, since Malcolm had made it very clear that he wanted no such thing; the test was a demand of his father, now dead. 

As Julia and Brian leave, Mrs. Fitz grabs the door and hands Brian his folded piece of tartan that Ellen had kept hidden; showing she knows now who Ellen slept with and loves. 

The Virtuous Women

Several of the women in this episode could also be deemed the “virtuous woman” of the title: Ellen for the purity test; Julia for turning down a possible escape in order to save Julia; Davina for protecting baby William and Julia; or even Mrs. Fitz, who knows Ellen’s truth but takes steps to protect her. At every step in this episode, it is women protecting women.

Check out the original review posted on Nerd Daily: https://thenerddaily.com/blood-of-my-blood-season-1-episode-8-a-virtuous-woman/