Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 2 premiered Friday on Starz, and it brought back two beloved characters from the original series — Reverend Wakefield and Mrs. Graham. Played by Tom Ashley and Emma Hartley-Miller as younger versions of the roles originally filled by James Fleet and Tracey Wilkinson, the pair showed up to help Henry (Jeremy Irvine) and Julia (Hermione Corfield) navigate the aftermath of their time-traveling adventure at Craigh Na Dun. The episode also gave fans their first look at a younger version of Claire, though Davis wouldn’t confirm whether she’d appear again.
The question now is simple: will more legacy characters from the OG Outlander series return in Season 2? The answer, according to executive producer Maril Davis, is that the door isn’t closed, but fans shouldn’t hold their breath.
The Time-Traveling Twist
Henry and Julia’s story starts with a fight. When Henry gets into a scuffle with Arch Bug (Terence Rae) and gets stabbed with his jewel-laden dagger, he passes through the invisible time portal and lands back in the past. Julia, meanwhile, is left behind at Castle Leathers with Lord Lovat (Tony Curran).
Henry’s journey takes him to Inverness in 1924, where he ends up in an asylum undergoing electroshock therapy. The treatments start erasing his memories, including his young daughter Claire’s existence. That’s where Reverend Wakefield and Mrs. Graham enter the picture.
“Obviously we see young Claire, but… I don’t know if we do, but you’ll just have to wait and see.”
What Davis Said About Bringing Back More Characters
Davis was asked about the possibility of more legacy characters returning at the New York City premiere of Blood of My Blood Season 2. Her response was cautious but warm.
“I think Mrs. Graham and Reverend Wakefield were so fun,” she said, echoing sentiments she and fellow executive producer Matthew B. Roberts shared in their Season 2 premiere aftershow. “It was so fun to cast them and try to find people who embodied their spirit; it just fit in so well. And that’s the thing, we’d love to bring back those characters as long as it fits organically into the story.”
The key word there is “organically.” Davis isn’t ruling out more returns, but she made clear that any future appearances would depend on the story needing them.
The OG Connection
Reverend Wakefield and Mrs. Graham were originally introduced in Outlander’s first season. They appeared during Claire’s trip to Scotland with her first husband, Frank (Tobias Menzies). Mrs. Graham proved to be an ally when it came to Claire understanding the journey she took through time.
In Blood of My Blood, Mrs. Graham serves a similar function for Henry. She reassures the tortured man that she believes his ramblings about existing in the 1700s.
The casting of Ashley and Hartley-Miller as younger versions of the characters was clearly a deliberate choice. Davis and Roberts praised finding actors who embodied the spirit of the original performances.
What Fans Should Expect
Blood of My Blood, Season 2, continues to unfold on Starz in the weeks ahead. Davis’s comments suggest that the decision will come down to storytelling.
Fans will have to watch and see.
The Schedule So Far
| Episode | Title | Air Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Season 2 Premiere | Friday |
The premiere has landed, and the season is still to unfold. For now, the legacy characters are back, and the door to more is cracked but not slammed shut.
The wait for answers continues.
Source material: “Will ‘Outlander: Blood of My Blood’ Bring Back More Legacy Characters After Season 2’s Premiere?,” TV Insider.
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