Outlander time travel rule 'seals' Henry and Julia's fate

WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Outlander: Blood of My Blood season 1 and potential Outlander season 8 spoilers

Outlander: Blood of My Blood has concluded, leaving audiences on a massive cliffhanger, but thankfully, filming for season two is currently underway, reports the Daily Record.

The 10th episode, titled Something Borrowed, ended with Henry (portrayed by Jeremy Irvine) and Julia Beauchamp (Hermione Corfield), along with baby William, touching the standing stones at Craigh na Dun in hopes of escaping the 18th century and returning to their own era.

Despite their concerns that William couldn't time travel, particularly after the infant didn't react to the buzzing around the stones, Henry attempted to help them all return.

Now, it appears that many fans have already deduced why the time travellers can't return to their own era due to rules already established in Outlander.

In the original Outlander TV series, gemstones are necessary for safe passage through the stones, although in the books it's suggested these aren't essential but aid travel as does a blood sacrifice.

Julia lost the gemstone in her wedding ring when she first travelled through the stones, and now the couple lack any to assist their passage through time.

Numerous viewers highlighted this on Reddit, with one individual commenting: "So what we have learned in time travel 101 with Julia and Henry: they can hear the buzzing sound, suspect that it can be an inherited gene, and correctly assessed the possibility of their son not being able to travel through the stones.

"What they don't seem to know though is the role of gemstones. This makes me think that the probability of them remaining in the 18th century is high, especially because there was no closure with Ellen and Brian (which must be for the best because their relationship never existed in the first place)."

They continued: "If they stay in the 18th century, I fear that Henry is pretty much dead and Julia and the baby pretty much doomed. And of course they can still go separate ways."

Meanwhile, another user questioned: "Did Henry or Julia have any gemstones on them? And probably didn't know about them in the 1st place, since they would need 3."

A third viewer clarified: "Per the books, gemstones are not necessary to travel through the stones. They amplify and guide, but are not a requirement.

"The show made them a requirement, but that could easily be "retconned" with the show establishing that the Fraser family only THINKS they are required."

A fourth Reddit user remarked: "I was thinking the same thing about the gemstones. Unless they just happen to be carrying three gemstones, they're not going anywhere."

One viewer speculated: "I read this (and the shot of Julia's ring which opened the scene in the 20th C) as heavy foreshadowing that gemstones are about to be a factor in the story, my guess is they don't have them so can't travel [sic]."

Although gemstones might play a crucial role, it seemed like William himself wouldn't be capable of time travel, leaving the couple stranded in the past.

Despite the genetic nature of time travel, Brianna (Sophie Skelton) and Roger MacKenzie's (Richard Rankin) youngest child Davy MacKenzie lacks the ability, as mentioned in Diana Gabaldon's Outlander novel Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone.

A Reddit user commented: "I don't think William can travel. He had no reaction to the buzzing."

Another added: "I was worried about that too."

For now, viewers will have to hold their breath until season two to discover the plot's direction.

Star Irvine previously revealed to RadioTimes.com: "I can tell you this, season two starts in a place that even I couldn't figure out how that character had got there."

He further explained that while the first series was establishing the characters and their histories, the second series offered more "free rein".

Irvine stated: "This season, it's gone up a level, and there's some wild, wild stuff."

Outlander: Blood of My Blood is streaming on Starz in the USA and on MGM+ via Prime Video in the UK

Outlander season 8 will air on Starz and MGM+ via Prime Video in early