Blood of My Blood(S1E7): “Luceo Non Uro” (Review)
Directed by Matthew Moore
Episode Written by Margot Ye
Based on Characters Written by Diana Gabaldon
Series Developed by Matthew B. Roberts
All images courtesy of Starz.
In the seventh episode of the premiere season of Blood of My Blood, we have fully reached the Murky Middle–where we now know the characters, but the plot begins to slow a bit.
Dude, Where’s My Kine?
In the cold open, there has been a raid on the Grants’ cattle. Arch Bug (Terence Rae) suggests it was the MacKenzies. Malcolm (Jhon Lumsden) wants to keep this information from his father, Isaac, and suggests it might have been Murtagh.
Following the opening credits, the episode opens with linen washing. Mrs. Fitz (Sally Messham) and Ellen (Harriet Slater) work on Ellen’s trousseau, sewing and embroidering. Mrs. Fitz reads Ellen’s dour mood as fear or anxiety about her upcoming nuptials–and the wedding night, in particular. She offers to answer any questions Ellen might have, but before Ellen can ask anything, Colum (Seamus McLean Ross) arrives to check her progress. He is rushing her to finish so they can have the wedding.
Then we shift to the christening for Julia’s (Hermione Corfield) infant son. She asks Brian (Jamie Roy) to christen the baby privately–William Henry Beauchamp–before the formal ceremony where the baby will receive a name from Lovat. The camera focuses on the sword Brian carries–the same sword Jamie will carry in Outlander.
Inside the church, the crowd is less than Lovat (Tony Curran) expected. The Howdie Horde arrives and are overly polite to Davina (Sara Vickers). Lovat worries about the howdies’ gossip, but calls for Julia to come anyway.
Davina finds her outside trying to feed the baby. Julia sings “I Do Like to Be Beside the Seaside”–yes, THAT song from Outlander (that Claire sings in Season 2 to her stillborn daughter and in Season 7, sung by Fanny). Brian heads inside, leaving Davina and Julia to talk. Julia expresses her anxiety about Lovat forcing her to his bed, and as Davina walks back to the church, Julia’s eyes drift to a nearby flower before she rises to join Davina. As the christening ceremony begins, Murtagh (Rory Alexander) arrives but declines Brian’s silent invitation to sit with him.
Time for Some Family Mottos
At Castle Leoch, Colum receives news from Ned (Connor MacNeill) that the Grants believe the MacKenzies are behind the theft of their cattle. Colum suspects Dougal is behind the theft, but Ned reports that Dougal has gone to run cattle to the House of Nairne–a household aligned with Jacobites, as Ellen informs them. Ellen proposes that she visit the House of Nairne to invite Lady Margaret to her wedding, but really she will find and stop Dougal. Ellen says, “Luceo Non Uro”–the episode title and the clan phrase for the MacKenzies: I shine, not burn (referring to resilience). After she leaves the room, Colum admits to Ned that their fate lies in Ellen’s control and that she may be just like their father.
At the christening, Julia’s child is named Simon Fraser. By the end of the ceremony, Julia leaks through her clothing, which disgusts Lovat. Lovat and Brian exchange barbs about the potential for an uprising, to which Lovat says, “Je Suis Pres”, the Fraser clan motto (“I am ready”).
Outside of the church, Brian tries to speak to Murtagh, but Murtagh punches him, and they finally talk about Brian’s falling in love with Ellen. Balloch (Chick Allen) overhears their fight, and whistles for Murtagh.
Inside the church, Murtagh reports about the Jacobites and the upcoming meeting. Lovat says Brian should go with Murtagh to the meeting. Brian does not wish to go, but Lovat threatens to harm Davina if he refuses.
The Murky Middle of the Murky Middle
At a pub, Ned finds and approaches Henry (Jeremy Irvine) to insist the MacKenzies had nothing to do with stealing the Grants’ cattle, but Henry says he already knows that it was, in fact, Rob Roy MacGregor who stole the cattle. Henry tells Ned he has encouraged Isaac to stay loyal to the crown (as we know that he knows the uprisings will fail). Henry tells him his search for Julia has ended and that he will leave the Grants, but Ned tells him the grants will hunt him down, though he wishes Henry well and walks away. Arch Bug joins Henry at his table, and Henry says he must retrieve something. As he walks away, Bug makes a joke about visiting the brothel too much.
Ellen arrives at the House of Nairne under the pretense of inviting Lady Margaret (Joanne Crawford) to her wedding. The women sit and chat for a moment, when Ellen hands her a white rose (a symbol of the Jacobite movement). Margaret discerns there’s another reason for Ellen’s visit, and Ellen is honest and tells her. Margaret agrees to help her find Dougal.
Brian arrives and meets Dougal (Sam Retford) and Rob Roy (Jamie Sives).
At Castle Leathers, Julia grinds herbs. Davina comes in, and Julia asks her to put some of the crushed violet berries (“monk’s pepper”) into Lovat’s food as a means of rendering him impotent. Davina laughs, clearly amused at the plan.
Ellen is shown to the meeting of Jacobites and finds Dougal, but the meeting begins as Rob Roy takes the platform to speak. Ellen and Brian make eye contact, with Murtagh noticing. Dougal offers a coffer of coin (Ellen’s dowry) to fund the uprising. Ellen is appalled and quietly tries to stop Dougal. The crowd shouts in support of Rob Roy’s words and agrees that they are ready to fight.
Henry arrives at the brothel, and when Seema (Lauren McQueen) pretends to be Julia, Henry asks her to stop. It becomes clear they only slept together once, and Henry has returned for the necklace Julia gave him (that he just keeps losing, apparently). Seema insists she can be whatever he wants, but he declines and hands her a bag of money, saying he must get back to someone else who needs him (Claire). He leaves as Seema cries.
Dougal and Ellen argue. Dougal asks Murtagh to keep an eye on Ellen so he (Dougal) can chase tail. Malcolm Grant and Arch Bug arrive (presumably after the Grant cattle), and Malcolm immediately asks her why she is in such a place. Ellen tells him she’s trying to stop Dougal in order to save their engagement. But Malcolm says she must leave immediately, for he has not come alone–and the British troops file in behind him.
They take Rob Roy, who says they might sell more cattle today (meaning, he will gain more followers for the Jacobite cause). Malcolm then says to call off the troops. Turns out, Malcom really did just want Rob Roy arrested for stealing the cattle, but the troops then begin to take action against the men there for treasonous acts. Brian fires his weapon into the floor to create a distraction, Dougal has his men take the money, but it is Brian who reaches for Ellen to get her out to safety. They embrace–and Dougal sees it, punching Brian and dragging Ellen away. He forces her onto a horse and rides away.
Time for the Quick Cuts
As has been the pattern for the show, the final scenes happen in quick succession and with numerous cuts between them. At Leathers, Julia is forcibly married to Lovat. He takes the baby and hands him to a wet nurse.
Henry rides quickly to Craigh Na Dun, but Arch Bug (how is Bug everywhere in this episode?) and a group of men stop him. Bug says it was Seema who told the Grants where to find Henry. They take him back with them.
The reverend enters Lovat and Julia’s wedding date into the ledger.
At the dinner table, Julia watches Lovat carefully, as his food has been…spiced. He notices the difference immediately, and Julia and Davina exchange worried looks, but Lovat likes the new flavour.
At Castle Leoch, Mrs. Fitz and Ellen return to working on the trousseau. Mrs. Fitz finds the tartan Brian used for their handfasting and panics. Ellen stops her from burning it, but Mrs. Fitz tells her to hide it well, Ellen puts it right back in the box where Fitz found it (well done, Ellen…). Colum sends for her, and she finds Colum and Dougal arguing and expects them to be angry with her, but then we see Ned and Henry are there, as well. Henry has brought the demand from the Grants that Ellen is to have a purity test done. Henry apologies and leaves with Ned. Colum threatens her, Dougal insults her, and they walk away.
Lovat welcomes Brian home, and Lovat thanks him for “ensnaring the MacKenzie lass”–putting Ellen’s reputation into question. Balloch has ratted out the argument he overheard between Murtagh and Brian earlier.
That night, Lovat is unable to perform in a scene that is both grotesque and laughable, as he tries to cajole his member into…service. Julia consoles him and tries to leave, but Lovat says for her to fetch more food with the new spice. She happily obliges.
Balloch drives the drunk reverend home in a wagon, and then clubs him to death.
Back in Lovat’s chamber, he sleeps, and Julia tidies the desk–and finds a letter in Henry’s handwriting–lettering she would know from their many exchanged letters in WWI. She knows he lives now–and is now using a different name.
Check out the original article at Nerd Daily: https://thenerddaily.com/blood-of-my-blood-season-1-episode-7-luceo-non-uro/
