In 2023, when Starz confirmed a new Outlander series centered around James and Claire Fraser’s parents was going ahead, numerous dedicated readers of Diana Gabaldon’s novels expressed their disapproval.
Fans were uninterested in a prequel not connected to any specific book, especially since the character of Lord John Grey was available and already had several spin-offs focusing on him.
In those brief stories that began with “Lord John and the Hellfire Club” from 1998, the main character embarks on his own journeys. These tales combine elements of historical fact and mystery, making them appealing to some fans of Outlander as potential television adaptations.
In the realm of Outlander, I found myself struggling to make Lord John Grey captivating for quite some time because his portrayal wasn’t as compelling as it should have been.
Since David Berry’s introduction in Outlander, Lord John has become a captivating character who has demonstrated his value by rescuing the Fraser family multiple times. This impressive record led to plans for a standalone series about him being approved approximately six years back.
A writer was attached; a contract was signed; Berry was ready to go.
Initially, Starz chose not to move forward with the project, leading to its eventual abandonment. This outcome was deeply disheartening for Berry, although it’s fair to say that Lord John’s character in season 4 wasn’t all that captivating.
Although he delivered several impactful moments, he lacked the charisma typically associated with a leading role, often appearing more as the overly devoted admirer of Jamie, willing to go to any lengths for him.
However, readers who love the books have long anticipated his capability to play an impressive lead character, and after three seasons, things have evolved.
During the latter part of Outlander’s seventh season, Lord John has emerged as one of the most captivating and humorous characters, almost single-handedly carrying the weight of those eight episodes.
Initially, John found himself once more excelling at his usual heroics – proposing to Claire amidst the Frasers’ turmoil, as Jamie was presumed dead and Claire faced spying allegations. However, it was from this point onwards that he truly began to outshine himself in aspects we hadn’t previously witnessed.
Experiencing Jamie’s passing stirred up profound sorrow within him, which unexpectedly fostered an extraordinary bond between him and Claire. As Lord John opened up, he displayed aspects of his character such as compassion, resilience, and tenacity that were previously hidden.
Despite the potential overshadowing by Jamie’s return, thanks to John and Claire’s night of intoxicated intimacy and William discovering his true father, the character maintained a significant role throughout the season, thereby allowing viewers an insightful glimpse into the true nature of Lord John.
The moving tale of his relationship with Manoke revealed the way he handles his sexual identity; his encounters with Percy Beauchamp highlighted instances where individuals other than Jamie Fraser have caused him pain in the past; being taken captive by the Americans provided an opportunity to display his cleverness and strategic abilities.
Indeed, during the second half of season 7, Lord John found himself right in the thick of intriguing storylines, providing ample opportunity for him to display his humor and sharp dialogue exchanges with clever quips and catchy remarks.
The man is actually clever, courageous and funny after all.
Prior to Season 7, it wasn’t feasible for Outlander (the show) to fully develop John Grey as a main character. However, he has been prepared and is now poised to take center stage in a spin-off series that will delve into his life separate from the Frasers.
According to the narrative presented in Gabaldon’s books, the series has the potential to broaden the Outlander universe visually and invigorate it by focusing on tales within the spy, mystery, crime, and adventure genres. This strategic approach could undoubtedly captivate a fresh audience in addition to its current fanbase.
Given that Outlander is approaching its last season, even with the prequel Blood of my Blood set to premiere soon, maybe it’s worth revisiting the idea of creating a spin-off series based on Lord John.
As a movie aficionado, I can confidently say that David Berry’s performance across all seasons, most notably in season 7, has been nothing short of extraordinary. He’s managed to make Lord John both entertaining, compelling, and touchingly human – a testament to the depth of his talent. Given this exceptional portrayal, it seems promising that a spin-off series centered around Lord John could be the key to unlocking the future potential of the Outlander universe.
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2025-01-27 17:35