Lord John Grey mentioned a character from the Outlander books during Outlander season 7, episode 11. Let’s take a look at who this character is. What are the chances of meeting him in the series?
Caution: There are SPOILERS for Outlander season 7, episode 11 and the books in this post.
After a night of emotional love making, Claire and Lord John Grey discussed their pasts. Well, Claire asked Lord John Grey about his past and the loves of his life. This led to John sharing something he hasn’t told anyone: his love for a man named Manoke.
We learned a little about Manoke in the episode. He’s an Indian man who John sees every now and then. They enjoy and are grateful for each other’s company, but it doesn’t sound like we’ll ever meet Manoke in the series. We do meet him in the Outlander books, though.
Who is Manoke in the Outlander books?
We meet Manoke during the Lord John Grey series of books. These are the books set during Voyager, picking up off the back of Ardsmuir closing and Jamie seeing John again in Jamaica. Manoke then shows up during An Echo in the Bone and Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone.
During Lord John and the Custom of the Army, John is sent to Quebec, Canada in 1759. There he meets Manoke, an Indian scout working for the British. Manoke and John immediately take a liking to each other, and the two end up becoming lovers during a two-week fishing expedition, which Manoke invites John on.
By An Echo in the Bone, Manoke is working at a plantation in Virginia as a cook. This is the story he tells Claire in both the books and the show. The two enjoy each other’s company, but there is no possession between them. They are simply grateful for the time that they get together.
Could we see Manoke in the Outlander TV series?
Manoke does come up in Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone. This is in a storyline linked to a character called John Cinnamon, who has an excellent story with William as he goes out in search for Lord John Grey, believing the man to be his father.
There is a small chance that we could see this storyline play out. It’s a lot to fit in, but with Lord John Grey currently getting more screentime and William now on his journey to figure out who he is in light of his paternity coming out, there’s a chance that we’ll see this storyline. William ends up jealous of John Cinnamon in a way due to Cinnamon’s connection to Lord John Grey. However, it soon turns on its head, as John isn’t Cinnamon’s biological father at all.
I doubt we’ll meet Manoke, though. The role is a small one, and there’s already so much to fit into the episodes that are left. I don’t even think we’ll get the Cinnamon storyline, if I’m honest.
Outlander airs on Fridays on STARZ.
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