Ruby Red (2013) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The story takes place primarily in aristocratic London, England. Key locations include fashionable party scenes, quiet streets around Hyde Park, and a hidden headquarters where the Order of Count Saint Germain operates. The city serves as a backdrop that contrasts tradition with the secret time-bending ambitions of its inhabitants.

• london england
• hyde park
• aristocratic setting
• british locations

Ruby Red spans multiple historical eras: the late 18th century (1782), the early 20th century (1912), the World War II era (1942), and contemporary present-day 21st century settings. Each era introduces new dangers, technologies, and social norms that influence the characters' choices.

• time periods
• 1782
• 1912
• 1942
• present day
• historical eras
• time travel eras

Time travel is the central theme driving the entire narrative. The film explores how past actions shape present consequences and reveals that personal destiny can be negotiated, not fixed. The Chronograph and the prophecy create moral tension over who should control time and why.

• time travel
• destiny
• prophecy
• chronograph
• causality

A powerful family lineage governs who can time travel, creating a web of secrets and rivalries across generations. Protagonist Gwendolyn Shepherd must navigate inherited duties and the pressure to fit a predetermined role as the 'Ruby.' The story shows how lineage can grant both privilege and burden, shaping identity and choices.

• legacy
• family lineage
• inheritance
• royal bloodline
• predetermined fate

The Order aims to harness Gwen's power with secrecy and a dangerous device, highlighting a struggle between control and personal autonomy. The prophecy and the threat of sacrifice raise stakes about who gets to decide one's fate. The narrative continually questions whether power over time should be used or resisted.

• control
• freedom
• autonomy
• order of saint germain
• sacrifice
• prophecy

The Order is a secretive society that governs the time travelers and seeks to control their abilities. Led by the enigmatic Graf von St. Germain, who can read minds, the Order operates from hidden headquarters and maintains strict control over time travel. They view Gwendolyn as a key piece in their plans due to her unique genetic ability.

• order of count saint germain
• secret society
• graf von saint germain
• time travelers organization

Gwendolyn Shepherd is the main protagonist, an aristocratic London teen who discovers she carries the rare time-travel gene. Initially unaware of her abilities, she learns she can jump across centuries and see ghosts. Throughout the story, she evolves from a wary participant to a determined traveler who must decide between family duty and personal freedom.

• gwendolyn shepherd
• protagonist
• main character
• time traveler gene
• ruby

Gideon de Villiers is a fellow time traveler and trained member of the Order. He is intelligent, guarded, and brave, serving as Gwendolyn's guide through the complexities of time travel. Though initially loyal to the Order, he grows to question its goals after developing romantic feelings for Gwen, ultimately helping her uncover the truth behind the Chronograph.

• gideon de villiers
• love interest
• time traveler
• order member
• romantic interest

Graf von St. Germain is the enigmatic grandmaster of the Order who possesses the ability to read minds. He serves as the primary antagonist, embodying the pursuit of power over time. His goal is to control Gwendolyn's time-traveling abilities for the Order's purposes, making him a formidable moral and strategic obstacle for both Gwen and Gideon.

• graf von saint germain
• antagonist
• grandmaster
• mind reader
• villain
• order leader

Charlotte Montrose is Gwendolyn's cousin who appears to be the rightful 'Ruby' with a secret time-travel gene of her own. Initially favored by the Order, she is competitive and often taunts Gwen, driving conflict between them. She remains a complex figure tied to the prophecy and the multi-generational history of their families.

• charlotte montrose
• cousin
• rival
• ruby
• order favorite

Lucy Montrose is a cunning time traveler who previously helped steal the Chronograph and escape danger. She reappears across different eras as a wary ally to Gwendolyn, carrying a talisman and guiding her with hard-won knowledge about the risks of their shared mission. Her actions demonstrate defiance against the Order.

• lucy montrose
• ally
• chronograph thief
• mentor figure
• time traveler guide

Time travel is genetic in this film, only those who carry the rare time-travel gene can move between eras. The ability passes through family lineage, and the protagonist Gwendolyn discovers she has inherited this gene on her 16th birthday. The Chronograph is a key device associated with controlling or facilitating time travel.

• time travel gene
• genetic ability
• chronograph
• time travel mechanics
• family gene