#isobel dunsany

[userkayjay]

OUTLANDER 3.04 “Of Lost Things” [DELETED SCENE] 

-I take it you enjoyed your chess game. -I’m not certain “enjoyed” is the word. -Victory was not yours?  -As a matter of fact, it was. I’ve triumphed over Mr MacKenzie these past three occations. -Why then so gloomy?  -Well, the truth is... He’s the better player.

[enidsinclair]

"I’ve known the major since we were youngsters. I find him to be a rare and… interesting person. I imagine he’ll make someone a good husband."

[cookie-de-baunilha]

One thing that I’ll never forgive the OL writers regarding John’s character: making the “not born the right person for them” line about Isobel instead of Jamie.

I mean, it makes sense in the Isobel context too, I guess. But it’s not… what it was supposed to be.

[rubadubdub3nunsinatub]

We posting fanfic again baby!!

Title: Families Grow

Rating: G

Pairing: Lord John Grey/Isobel Dunsany

Tags: Isobel Lives, Family Fluff, Chance Meetings

Summary: Jamie unexpectedly runs into a familiar face one day and is surprised to be introduced to someone new.

Read on AO3

[contemplatingenjoyingoutlander]

I can't wait for this either. It is one of the weirdest plots in the book series, but given that Lord John was in love with Jamie, raised Jamie's son, and was engaged to Bree for a while, it was perhaps inevitable that Lord John would have a "relationship" with Claire!

I made this chart a long time ago for a different post. But it illustrates the weird connections that Lord John has to the Frasers and the Dunsanys.

If there is a soap opera element to Outlander, Lord John is at the heart of it! [pun intended]

Claire and Lord John getting married is probably getting closer to see. Not a big fan of this plot but the drama it's going to be insane.

Call me crazy but I can't wait for this!

[wardrobeoftime]

Master Post - N to Z

If you notice any show, movie or character missing that I’ve made gifs of, please let me know. Characters are sorted alphabetically by first their last name and then their first name.

Go to A-M | Last updated: December 19th, 2024

N

Nussknacker und Mausekönig (Louise Stahlbaum | Marie Stahlbaum | Zuckerfee/Sugar Fairy)

O

Oktoberfest 1900/Oktoberfest: Beer & Blood (Clara Prank | Curt Prank)

Once Upon A Time (Belle French | Colette French | Cora Mills | Ella Mills | Regina Mills / The Evil Queen | Robin Mills | Emma Swan | Anastasia Tremaine | Drizella Tremaine)

Once Upon A Time in Wonderland (Alice | Cora Mills | Anastasia Tremaine)

Outlander (Abigail | Marie Louise de La Tour d'Auvergne | Jocasta Cameron | Margaret Campbell | Geilis Duncan | Geneva Dunsany | Isobel Dunsany | Madame Elise | Brianna Fraser | Claire Fraser | Jamie Fraser | Janet “Jenny” Fraser Murray | Harold “Hal” Grey | John Grey | Lady Grozier | Mary Hawkins | Jeanne LeGrand | Louis XV | Mairi | Laoghaire MacKenzie | Letitia MacKenzie | Joan MacKimmie | Marsali MacKimmie | Mary MacNab | Elias Pound | Alexander Randall | William Ransom | Charles Edward Stuart | Suzette | Margaret Wake Tryon | Martha Washington | Elizabeth “Lizzie” Wemyss | Extras)

Oz the Great and Powerful (Evanora | Glinda | Theodora)

P

Q

Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (Agatha Danbury | Queen Charlotte | Violet Ledger | Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Princess Charlotte of Wales)

R

Reign (Aylee | Kenna de Poitiers | Amy Dudley | Robert Dudley | Claude of France | Greer Norwood | Penelope | Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots | Elizabeth Tudor/Elizabeth I | Elisabeth of Valois)

Reinas/Queens: The Virgin and the Martyr (Joanna of Austria | Empress Maria / Maria of Austria | Margaret Douglas | Bess of Hardwick | Isabel de Osorio | Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots | Isabella Clara Eugenia of Spain | Anna Throndsen | Elizabeth I/Elizabeth Tudor | Elisabeth of Valois)

Rise of Empires: Ottoman (Katarina Branković | Mara Branković | Gülbahar Hatun | Hüma Hatun | Constantine XI Palaiologos)

Romeo & Juliet [2013] (Juliet Capulet)

S

Sechs auf einen Streich (see the individual movies)

Shadow and Bone (Tatiana Lantsov | Zoya Nazyalensky | Genya Safin | Alina Starkov)

Sisi [2009] (Elisabeth “Sisi” of Austria | Archduchess Sophie of Austria | Helene “Néné” in Bavaria | Charlotte of Belgium | Eugénie de Montijo)

Sisi [2021] (Elisabeth “Sisi” of Austria | Archduchess Sophie of Austria | Helene “Néné” in Bavaria | Karl Ludwig von Grünne | Eugénie de Montijo)

Sissi Trilogy (Elisabeth “Sisi” of Austria | Archduchess Sophie of Austria | Helene “Néné” in Bavaria | Ludovika, The Duchess in Bavaria)

Snow White and the Huntsman (Ravenna)

Sophie - Braut wider Willen (Sophie von Ahlen)

Still Star-Crossed (Guiliana Capulet | Juliet Capulet | Rosaline Capulet | Tessa Montague | Princess Isabella of Verona)

T

The 100 (Emori | Clarke Griffin | Lexa)

The Age of Adaline (Adaline Bowman)

The Last Duel (Marguerite de Carrouges | Jacques Le Gris)

The Little Mermaid [2023] (Vanessa)

The Crown (Catherine Middleton | Queen Elizabeth II | Princess Margaret)

The Empress (see Die Kaiserin)

The Eras Tour (Taylor Swift)

The Gilded Age (Mamie Fish | Bertha Russell | Peggy Scott | Extras)

The Great (Countess Belanova | Catherine the Great | Georgina Dymova | Marial | Queen Agnes of Sweden | Extras)

The Greatest Showman (Jenny Lind)

The Hunger Games Trilogy (Katniss Everdeen | Peeta Mellark | Johanna Mason | Finnick Odair | Coriolanus Snow)

The Hunger Games: A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (Lucy Gray Baird | Livia Cardew | Arachne Crane | Clemensia Dovecote | Palmyra Monty | Iphigenia Moss | Juno Phipps | Persephone Price | Diana Ring | Vipsania Sickle | Tigris Snow | Lysistrata Vickers)

The Huntsman: Winter’s War (Freya | Ravenna)

The Originals (Davina Claire | Hayley Marshall | Aurora de Martel | Freya Mikaelson | Hope Mikaelson | Keelin Mikaelson | Rebekah Mikaelson)

The Other Boleyn Girl 2008 (Anne Boleyn | Elizabeth Boleyn (née Howard) | Mary Boleyn)

The Pillars of the Earth (Empress Matilda)

The Princess Switch (Margaret Delacourt | Fiona Pembroke)

The Royals (Princess Eleanor Henstridge | Queen Helena Henstridge | Wilhelmina “Willow” Moreno)

The Scandalous Lady W (Seymour Fleming)

The School for Good and Evil (Emma Anemone | Clarissa Dovey | Leonora Lesso)

The Serpent Queen (Catherine de Medici | Diane de Poitiers | Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots)

The Spanish Princess (Catherine of Aragon | Henry VIII | Mary Tudor)

The Tudors (Catherine of Aragon | Bessie Blount | Anne Boleyn | Anne of Cleves | Katheryn Howard | Ursula Misseldon | Kathryn Parr | Jane Seymour | Elizabeth Tudor/Elizabeth I | Margaret Tudor | Mary Tudor/Mary I)

The Twilight Saga (Charlotte | Alice Cullen | Edward Cullen | Katrina “Kate” Denali | Jasper Hale | Rosalie Hale | Peter | Bella Swan | Caius Volturi | Demetri Volturi | Jane Volturi)

The Vampire Diaries (Bonnie Benett | Caroline Forbes | Elena Gilbert | Jo Laughlin | Rebekah Mikaelson | Katherine Pierce | Annabelle “Anna” Zhu | Pearl Zhu)

The White Queen (Anne Neville | Isabel Neville | Margaret Plantagenet | Bona of Savoy | Elizabeth “Jane” Shore | Elizabeth Woodville | Cecily of York | Elizabeth of York | Margaret of York)

The White Princess (Mary of Burgundy | Elizabeth of York)

The Witcher (Calanthe of Cintra | Pavetta of Cintra | Tissaia de Vries | Philippa Eilhart | Sabrina Glevissig | Margarita Laux-Antille | Triss Merigold | Keira Metz | Lydia van Bredevoort | Yennefer of Vengerberg)

The Young Victoria (Victoria, The Duchess of Kent (née of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld) | Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha | Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen | Queen Victoria)

Three Thousand Years of Longing (Hürrem Sultan | Kösem Sultan)

Trenck - Zwei Herzen gegen die Krone (Anna Amalia of Prussia)

Tulip Fever (Mrs Overalt | Sophia Sandvoort | Mrs Steen)

Tut (Ankhesenamun)

U

V

Vampire Academy [2022] (Vasilisa “Lissa” Dragomir)

Victoria (Queen Victoria | Victoria, Princess Royal)

Vom Reich zur Republik (Victoria, Princess Royal)

W

War & Peace [2016] (Natasha Rostova)

What We Do In The Shadows (Marwa | Nadja of Antipaxos)

Wolf Hall (Anne Boleyn | Catherine of Aragon)

X

Y

Z

[mgscat]

Just Lord John being very handsome and very gay.

[scotsmanandsassenach]

They’d say I hustled, put in the work. They wouldn’t shake their heads and question how much of this I deserve. What I was wearing, if I was rude, could all be separated from my good ideas and power moves. THE MAN - TAYLOR SWIFT (2019)

[ladywynneoutlander]

Fan’s Choice Outlander Challenge: Day 20 Lord John Grey or Isobel Dunsany

Too good for this world.

[contemplatingoutlander]

LORD JOHN GREY AND ISOBEL DUNSANY: PART 2: Isobel and John’s marriage

In PART 1 of this two part essay series, I discussed how the show deviated from the books in making Isobel a more likeable character and in having her appear to be genuinely smitten with Lord John.

Lord John, although gay, felt great brotherly affection for Isobel both in the show and the books. But in the show it was clear how great that affection was when he proposed to Isobel:

Proposal gif: scotsmanandsassenach

This gave me some small hope that the outcome of their companionable marriage would be more positive in the show than in the books. Alas, it appears that the marriage in the show was in some ways more tragic because of the  differences in how their marriage began in the show as opposed to the books.

Episode 406 started out with Lord John appearing to be grief stricken when he told Jamie about his wife’s death.

JAMIE: “Is, uh, Isobel with you?”

JOHN: “No. Isobel has died. On the ship between England and Jamaica. She and William were coming to join me there, and she took ill.”

JAMIE: “John, I I'm sorry to hear it. How are you bearing up?”

JOHN: “As you'd expect. It has been a trial. For William, especially. He's grief-stricken. But I must keep my chin up for him.”

JAMIE: “She was such a kind soul. And a wonderful mother to Willie. William.”

JOHN: “Yes, she was.”

So I had my hopes that the show’s version of the marriage would have turned out better than the book’s. But then the show’s writers decided to mirror the book almost exactly.

JOHN: “I need to make a confession. When I heard that Isobel had died I felt nothing. We shared a life. I should have felt something. But I didn't.”

CLAIRE: “Just relax.”

JOHN: “You asked me why I came here. I came to see whether I can still feel. Whether it is my feelings that have died. Or only Isobel.”

Okay, I have to admit I wish Diana hadn’t written this scene the way she did in the book and that the show’s writers hadn’t put this scene in the show. First of all from a character perspective, IMHO it makes no sense. Even though John just loved Isobel as a sister (as he said in both the books and show) he should have felt something when Isobel passed away.

And let’s not confuse John’s inability to feel with the numbness that people often experience immediately after hearing about a death. That “numbness” is actually “painful” in its own way. It isn’t an absence of feeling but a suppression of it. People who feel numb after a death can often feel the grief bubbling below the surface but they are in shock and for whatever reasons need to keep the depths of their grief at bay. And so they go numb. IMHO that is not what John is describing.

From what we know of John he is a caring, compassionate man. It would be out of character for him to feel nothing for Isobel. Yes, I know in the book (and presumably in the show) they had been separated for two years (she at home with Willie and Lord John at his post in Jamaica) and they were to be finally reunited when she suddenly died. 

The two year absence might have taken a toll. But not that great a toll to explain why John didn’t feel anything.

The Isobel of the show was a very likeable character. Heck, I felt sad for that character dying and she was only on one episode. From my perspective, it makes no sense that John felt nothing.. 

At least John knew enough to feel ashamed that he was lacking feelings for Isobel. But later in the episode he talks more about it and just adds to the tragedy of their marriage.

JOHN: “I must beg your forgiveness. My lack of discretion, it pierces my very core.”

CLAIRE: “You were very ill.”

JOHN: “It's no excuse. But you were wrong. Knowing you have Jamie and I never will is not that which grieves me. It's a truth to which I am reconciled. It's witnessing the satisfaction on your face that wounds me. Something I could never give Isobel.

“Do you know what it's like to love someone and never be able to give them happiness? Not through any fault of yours or theirs, but simply because you were not born the right person for them?”

CLAIRE: ��I understand. All too well.”

This scene did not happen this way in the book version of TDoA. However, Lord John said something similar to Claire in Voyager--but John was referring to Jamie in that scene, not to Isobel (see p. 767 in Voyager, Kindle Edition).

So the show’s writers took John’s words about his relationship to Jamie and made them about his relationship to Isobel. In doing so, IMHO they made what happened in John and Isobel’s marriage even more tragic than it was in the book. 

This broke my heart for both John and Isobel. Because it suggested that Isobel was not content with the marriage. And I might not have been concerned if Book Isobel felt discontented in her marriage of convenience to John but IMHO Show Isobel deserved better.

No, I never expected John and Isobel to have a great sex life. John is gay after all. He could perform the act of having sex with Isobel but not feel the passion towards her. But I hoped they could be great companions and friends for each other. John’s speech suggests that Isobel was frustrated in the marriage, much like Frank was in his marriage to Claire and Laoghaire in her marriage to Jamie. 

And that breaks my heart. 

What do others think?

ADDENDUM. Other than the way they handled John and Isobel, I loved the way the show’s writers depicted John in episode 406. 

[edited]

transcript from episode 406: Springfield! Springfield!

[cookie-de-baunilha]

I know the fandom has already debated this several times before, but I think I have a different opinion (kind of) on the matter of John being faithful to Isobel during their marriage.

I don’t remember if Diana ever answered this question. So if she did, please, let me know in the comments.

To keep it short: I believe he was, but I don’t think he would’ve remained faithful if the marriage lasted longer. And I actually don’t think he intended to be faithful in the first place. I don’t believe he was actively looking for sexual encounters and one-night stands though, but if the opportunity presented itself to him, I don’t think he would’ve denied it. And eventually, it would happen.

A lot of people assume he was willing to be faithful because the marriage lasted only a few years (4 years, I think?), so looking in hindsight it doesn’t look like he made that big of a compromise.

But that’s the thing: he couldn’t possibly know that Isobel was going to die so young. When he decided to marry her, he was prepared to spend the rest of his life as a married man. And don’t get me wrong, John might be an honorable man, but I don’t believe for a second that he was willing to take on some kind of gay celibacy in order to stay faithful to Isobel for the rest of his days.

He told Claire he was loyal to Isobel, and I believe him. Maybe his sense of duty and honor prevented him from keeping the same energy as before lol. Maybe it just… didn’t happen.

But did he marry Isobel with the intention of not sleeping with another man ever again? Honestly, I don’t think so. At some point he would and he knew that beforehand, even if he wasn’t sleeping with anyone else during those years.

(Which we don’t really know for sure? My guess is that he didn’t sleep with any men, but he might have done it. Unless Diana already confirmed it)

He would’ve been extra careful about it, though. A lot of people believe that he wouldn’t risk exposure — therefore, dragging both his and Isobel’s names through the mud — and that’s why he remained faithful. But that goes back to the same problem: would he have done it for the rest of his life? Hmm 🤨 doubt it. So no, I don’t believe the risk of exposure would do much to keep him from cheating.

Also, William’s name (and the Grey family, may I add) would be affected by an exposure too, and we know for sure that being a Grey and raising William never stopped him from doing anything so there’s that.

He is just very careful and discreet* and being married and having a child would make him even more careful and discreet, but wouldn’t stop him from having sex with men.

*cough cough George Everett cough that problematic scene in Drums (sensibly modified for the show, thank God) cough cough… well, he has been reckless but whatever, he is discreet overall*

Also, John is an aristocrat man living in the 18th century. His idea of an honorable marriage would be different — and yes, it might involve a tolerance for indiscretions, depending on the circumstances. Convenience marriages were very common among his peers and faithfulness was not something expected in such arrangements (especially not from men).

I believe that, with all the information that we have, it’s safe for us to say that John is talking about his own marriage to Isobel in this scene in Drums when he is talking to Bree:

“You're right, I think. To live with someone you love, knowing that they tolerate the relation only for the sake of obligation — no, I wouldn't do it, either. Were it only a matter of convenience and respect on both sides, then yes; such a marriage is one of honor. As long as both parties are honest —” His mouth twisted briefly as he glanced in the direction of the servants’ quarters. “There is no need for shame on either side.” (Drums of Autumn, ch. 59)

I don’t think Isobel was operating on the idea that John loved her, and vice versa. They both knew it wasn’t love, but it was suitable. And that’s the way things work in their upper crust world. I truly believe that they liked and respected each other a lot. And if Isobel was to take a lover for herself, John wouldn’t mind. He would’ve wanted her to, actually, so he wouldn’t be the only one seeking partners elsewhere.

Now, if they ever discussed this openly is another matter. I don’t think they did, it might have been an unspoken agreement. And Isobel definitely wouldn’t know about John’s sexuality — so maybe that’s the irony of “as long as both parties are honest” in his speech. They were honest to a certain extent: they both knew it was a convenience marriage and that love played no part in it, but Isobel never knew the truth about John.

I don’t believe John would’ve had any serious relationships though. Well, he doesn’t have any as a widower either lmfao John runs like the devil from serious commitments, so being married or not doesn’t really make a difference.

Maybe we will get more information on all of this in the next LJG novel if it ever sees the light of day. Diana said the novel was going to cover his years working for the English Black Chamber, which I believe to have happened at the same time as his marriage to Isobel? idk I suck at keeping up with the timeline of these books

[rubadubdub3nunsinatub]

This has been in my head for years now and she is finally out and ready for you to see!

Title: First Time In London?

Rating: G

Pairing: Lord John Grey/Isobel Dunsany, Lord John Grey&William Ransom

Tags: Family Fluff, Father-Son Relationships, Missing Moments

Summary: John accompanies Willie on his first trip to London and realises what he's gotten himself into. Lots of John being a dad!

Read on AO3

[outlanderfandomfollies]

We learn more about Isobel's backstory in one of the Lord John Grey novellas. It's very different than in the series, and I prefer the series version of Isobel.

My impression was that in the books, even though it wasn't clear that Isobel knew, it seemed that the Dunsany family suspected Jamie was William's father after he killed the old Earl. (But it's been a long time since I read the early books, so I could most certainly be wrong, and confusing the books' plotline with the show's.🤷🏻‍♀️)

Did Isabel know Jamie was Willie's before he was born. I don't remember that part very clearly. LBJ does have relations with her doesn't he? Too bad they didn't have children . She was a good mother.

In the book she did not. In the book we barely meet her at all - and we certainly get no sense of who she is as a person.

I so love how in 03x04 we really got to know her - and her relationship with her sister - and her relationship with John. Something tells me that their marriage, while based on pragmatism, will be surprisingly happy and full of love for William and respect for each other. And I’m so happy to see evidence that she will be a fantastic mother to William.

These are the small things that the series does so well - fill in the gaps, mend the holes, and give flesh to otherwise flat characters. Makes the entire story that much richer as a result.

[johnwgrey]

[kosemsultanim]

Geneva and Isobel Dunsany + Costumes

[thegirlwiththecoffintattoo]

Dinna fash, lad. I’ll remember ye.