‘Outlander: Blood of My Blood’ Episode 9 Ending Explained: That “Brutal” Breakup, the Gallowglass Assassins, and More

Outlander: Blood of My Blood Episode 9 “Braemar” brings the Starz show’s two sets of star-crossed lovers together in fittingly dramatic fashion. When the Earl of Mar (Craige Els) holds a tynchal at Braemar, all of the clans make it their mission to assemble there. The highlanders aren’t just there for the hunt; the real reason for the gathering is to see if everyone is (or isn’t) on board to launch a rebellion against the crown to reclaim a free Scotland. More importantly, though, for Blood of My Blood fans is the fact that the tynchal is also an excuse to get the entire cast of characters in one place at the same time.

**Spoilers for Outlander: Blood of My Blood Episode 9 “Braemar,” now streaming on Starz**

In Outlander: Blood of My Blood Episode 9, Henry Beauchamp (Jeremy Irvine) is reunited with his wife Julia (Hermione Corfield) and their newborn son, William, while Ellen MacKenzie (Harriet Slater) has to figure out how to handle her attraction to secret lover Brian Fraser (Jamie Roy) without getting in trouble with the Grants or her own brothers.

For Henry, Blood of My Blood Episode 9 is bittersweet. He gets to meet his son, but he can’t embrace the child. Furthermore, he finally learns Julia is “married” to the vile Lord Lovat (Tony Curran).

“I mean, it starts off a very happy moment,” Jeremy Irvine told DECIDER. “All he wants to do is grab her and just give his kid a big cuddle, but he can’t do that.”

“Very, very quickly, it turns sour and he realizes, yeah, she’s got a husband. Elation turns to confusion and anger.”

However, by the end of the episode, Henry has already forgiven Julia for partnering up with Lovat to save their son.

“This is a world — and this is a world throughout the Outlander universe — where true love exists,” Irvine said. “He knows that Julia would only have done something if it was to protect our child, protect herself.”

“There’s also the fact that they don’t have any time to actually really unpack it. So Henry, being this very pragmatic good guy — which I’m not sure I would be able to do — says, “I forgive you,” very quickly,” he said. “But also remember, he hasn’t been exactly an angel himself, so it would be a bit rich for Henry to give her a hard time about that straight away. He’s got some things he needs to admit, which will come up in Season 2…”

While all is well (for now) with Henry and Julia, this week’s episode blows up Ellen and Brian’s romance. Early in “Braemar,” Uncle “Malc” Grant (Simon Merrells) threatens to rip Ellen’s heart from her chest if she breaks Malcolm’s (Jhon Lumsden) heart. Later, Colum (Séamus McLean Ross) ups the ante by threatening Brian’s life if she continues to see him. Ellen reaches a deal with her brother, though, to protect Brian. She breaks up with him.

So does Ellen really want to break up with Brian? What’s going through the star-crossed lovers’ minds? And who could have sent the Gallowglass assassins after Brian at the end of Outlander: Blood of My Blood Episode 9?

Blood of My Blood Episode 9 Ending Explained: Harriet Slater and Jamie Roy Break Down That “Brutal” Break Up

While it’s easy to understand why Ellen broke things off with Brian — to save his life — it’s still awful watching her viciously tear him apart.

“We watched it the other day actually and it broke my heart as well,” Harriet Slater said. “It was so brutal.”

“Ellen came on really quite harsh, didn’t she?” Jamie Roy said. “Like just really full on. Didn’t give Brian a chance, I feel like. And he was just like, ‘No, no, no, no. Come on. You’ve got to be talking sense here.’ And you were like, ‘Absolutely not. No, you’ve got no money. You’ve got no friends, you’ve got nothing, really.’” 

“I get why she did it,” Slater said. “She had to break his heart.”

Roy said, “You had to be convincing.” 

“Yeah, she had to be convincing. She had to break his heart in order to save him. So I understand why she did it, but, my gosh,” Slater said. “Yeah, she’s a good actor.” 

The irony, though, is that Brian’s life is still in danger…

Who Sent the Gallowglass Assassins After Brian Fraser?

When everyone arrives at the tynchal in Outlander: Blood of My Blood Episode 9, they notice a trio of assassins known as the Gallowglass. By the end of this week’s episode, those same Gallowglass are trying to kill none other than Brian Fraser.

As of yet, we don’t know who wants Brian dead. Well, that’s not true. There are several people who might want him dead, from the Grants to the MacKenzies to even Brian’s own father. However, we now know there’s one person who is (back) on Brian’s side and that’s Murtagh (Rory Alexander). Brian’s cousin and best friend lets their beef go to save his life.

“I think without Murtagh, Brian probably would cease to exist in that moment in time, you know? So he’s very, very thankful that he’s there,” Jamie Roy said. “And all of that just happens so quickly.”

After Ellen breaks his heart, Brian has an explosive fight with Lord Lovat that ends with him basically cutting off ties with his father.

“He’s kind of at the end of his fuse. And then he just ends up going out to the woods by himself with his targe and then all of a sudden just getting chased by Gallowglass assassins,” Roy said. “Yeah, I mean, it sounds like a fever dream, actually, when you say it out loud.”

“But yeah, thank goodness for Murtagh,” he added.

“Thank goodness for Murtagh,” Slater said.

“Good guy,” Roy said.

The Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 1 finale will be on Starz on Friday, October 10.