My Lady Jane: Review
By Sioph W. Leal
My Lady Jane is an alternative historical approach to Lady Jane Grey, the woman in Tudor history who was only queen for nine days. Not only does this series take a whimsical, romantic twist that strays from the history books, it also adds a fantasy element where individuals are classed as Ethians who hold the magical ability to transform into an animal (though not an animal of their choosing) and Verity, humans who hold no transformation abilities. The kingdom is divided between these two, with the Ethians being pushed into the forest to starve to death while the royal court argues over succession.
With almost every other streaming service offering their own version of a new take on period dramas, My Lady Jane takes a different approach in combining the supernatural with the genre. This combination is all in the background, woven in by the Verity fearing the Ethians, who, in turn, are forced from their homes into the woods to slowly starve. Through the supernatural, it paints the image of a divided kingdom and highlights the brutality Ethian’s face, which can sometimes take away the levity of the series but maintains its core structure and theme well. Having the Ethians and Verity’s against one another is reminiscent of the religious civil wars during Henry VIII’s reign, which keeps the show grounded in its realism.
Telling the story of the infamous nine-day queen, and rather than repeating history, viewers are given a brief history lesson of the true demise of the short-reigning queen in the form of a narration. While it was good for viewers to hear the real story to compare, the continued narration and too much exposition negatively impact moments in the show. In a lot of instances, the narration hinders excellent performances, and unfortunately, it is the emotionally impactful ones that bear the brunt of this choice. Viewers aren’t allowed to sit with the more serious tones of the series because of the overly explained narration, but it does work better during the comedic moments of the series.
Emily Bader takes on the titular role as Lady Jane Grey, the studious and headstrong young woman who dreams of studying herbology and aiding people with her medical herbs. Despite her ambitions, her mother, Lady Frances Grey (Anna Chancellor), needs her daughter to marry Lord Guilford Dudley (Edward Bluemel) to save their financial worries. As soon as you are introduced to Jane, you see her compassionate side, and although she has her stubborn, naïve moments, Bader creates an empathetic character who cares for more than herself or her own ambitions. Jane’s other half is Guildford Dudley, and Bluemel encapsulates his vulnerability but also his cocky, confident self, another who isn’t focused on his own station or rise in power. Jane and Guildford oddly make the ultimate power couple, though their bickering offers a lot of entertainment for the show.
Jane and Guildford are the romantic leads of the story, and while their attraction is instant, the only downside of their relationship is that steamier, more intimate moments feel rushed, but that’s no fault of Bluemel or Bader. We rarely get to see Jane and Guildford as a couple, and though it is good to see the characters stand on their own, their time spent together is something that is missed.
The sensual drive of the show is more of a focal point for the Chancellor's character, Francis Grey. Chancellor is perfect for the role, and while she is one of the strongest, more seasoned performers, it doesn’t take away from the main storyline. Instead of the main couple getting the more sensual side, Lord Seymour (Dominic Cooper) and Princess Mary (Katy O’Flynn) are offered that, and given the previous acting talents of both, they are wasted on these characters. Lord Seymour and Princess Mary are supposed to be one of the major complications of Jane’s new history; instead, the characters feel like a caricature, one-dimensional, and often over-the-top dialogue or situations that pull focus away from the series.
As supporting characters, the familial bond that has been missing in some period and comedic pieces is one of the best things about the series. From the sisterly dynamic of the Grey siblings in Katherine (Isabella Brownson) and Margaret (Robyn Betteridge) to the supportive kingly cousin King Edward (Jordan Peters), this close bond is executed brilliantly while highlighting the troubles of the time that women faced.
While My Lady Jane is an alternative history, adding the fantasy element of the Verity vs. Ethians and how this all came to be adds an interesting backdrop that elevates the show into something more than a comedic piece. Sometimes My Lady Jane can struggle to find the balance between comedic and dramatic, but that doesn’t take away from it being an enjoyable watch. As a period piece, there is more modern language used, and with the help of modern music, it successfully brings the modernity into a genre that is already on the cusp of being oversaturated.
My Lady Jane premiers on Amazon Prime, June 27th 2024.