Janet MacKenzie Dies Heroically in 'Outlander: Blood of My Blood' Season 2, Episode 3
The latest episode deviates from the book's canon for Janet's death and Ellen's pregnancy.
In the latest installment of "Outlander: Blood of My Blood," Season 2 Episode 3, titled “Rabbits Don’t Swim,” Janet MacKenzie meets a tragic end that significantly alters the established book narrative.
Janet (Ailsa Davidson) dies while bravely assisting Ellen MacKenzie (Harriet Slater) in defending Castle Leoch from invaders. Her heroic act involves helping Ellen lure James MacKinney’s men into traps. This marks a departure from Diana Gabaldon’s books, where Janet’s death in the established canon is attributed to a fever at age 24, as detailed in "The Outlandish Companion" Volume 1.
During her final moments, Ellen reveals to Janet that she is pregnant with Brian Fraser's (Jamie Roy) child. She pledges to name her daughter Janet Fraser if the baby is a girl, a promise that aligns with the future naming of Jamie Fraser’s sister, Jenny.
Harriet Slater, who plays Ellen, commented on the scene, stating, “It was a hard watch, but I think it’s also kind of beautiful in a way, because she promises that if she has a daughter, she’ll name her after Janet. I think Outlander fans will enjoy that one.”
The episode also addresses Ellen's pregnancy, indicating it is her firstborn child, William. In the original Outlander timeline, William dies young, and Jamie later names his illegitimate son after him. Jenny is Ellen's second child, followed by Jamie as the third. Ellen's eventual death in childbirth, with the infant also perishing, is part of the original story.
Actors Harriet Slater and Jamie Roy remained tight-lipped when asked about the possibility of seeing Lallybroch in future episodes of "Outlander: Blood of My Blood," suggesting that viewers will have to wait to see how events unfold.