My Lady Jane: The Show I Never Knew I Wanted
Get ready for an epic adventure...
Amazon Prime Video has gifted me with a new favourite TV show, and I hope to Ethian God that it gets renewed for a second season.
The film and television industry has a flare for rewriting history. Quentin Tarantino is a prime example, with his films Inglorious Bastards, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and Django Unchained. In television, some of the more notable titles include Ryan Murphy's Hollywood, Shondaland's Bridgerton, and another Prime Video production The Man in the High Castle.
One of my personal favourites, with the same irreverent and wry humour as My Lady Jane, is The Great, a Hulu series that ran for three seasons and starred Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult. The show was a (slightly, moderately, pretty much) fictitious account of Catherine the Great, the longest reigning empress of Russia. Its witty tagline coined *an occasionally true story.
My Lady Jane, like The Great, is a hilarious adaptation of history, based on the historical figure Lady Jane Grey, also known as the 'nine day queen'. Jane Grey was the great niece of Henry VIII (yes, the one with all the wives) and was in line for the throne after her cousins. She was married to Lord Guildford Dudley in 1553, the same year her cousin Edward VI named her his successor in his will, removing his half-sisters Mary and Elizabeth on account of their illegitimacy, and Mary (next in line) being a devout Catholic, while Edward (and Jane) were committed Protestants. Despite Edward's will, support for Mary grew, and Jane's supporters began to quickly withdraw. After just nine days as Queen of England, Jane was deposed and replaced with Mary, who sentenced her and Guildford to death for treason. Both were beheaded on the 12th February 1554.
As for Jane Grey's ending, as the show likes to put it - f*ck that.
The show cleverly follows history but twists it with magic, mayhem, and mischief, whilst also giving us a happy ending (and leaving it open ended for a second season). In the world of My Lady Jane, England is politically separated by Verities and Ethians. Verities are human, while Ethians are people who can morph into certain animals at will, and are forbidden from English society and banished to the outer regions.
Jane is forced into an arranged marriage at the behest of her mother, and is shocked to find out, as she walks down the aisle, that her betrothed is the same man she met (and flirted with) at a tavern only a short time prior to their wedding day - Guildford Dudely. If she didn't object to the marriage before, she certainly did when day broke and her husband turned into a horse. Unlike other Ethians, Guildford can't control his change, and therefore lives as a horse by day and a man by night. He agreed to marry Jane because of her reputation as an educated, well-read, and intelligent woman, in the hopes that she can find a cure for his condition. In return for doing this, Jane only asks for one thing - a divorce. Other than her desired freedom, Jane requests this because interracial marriage is illegal and punishable by death.
What follows is a legendary adventure of magic spells, sword fighting, ransom notes, assassination plots, secret meetings, lies and deceit, hidden feelings, and sexual tension you could cut with a knife. Not only does it scratch that fantasy itch, but it delivers on several popular romance tropes; lust at first sight, enemies to lovers, marriage of convenience, AND forbidden romance.
Other than the similarity in tone and humour to The Great, what made me love this show was its nostalgic storytelling and technical similarities to the 2004 film Ella Enchanted, starring Anne Hatheway. The show is edited with the infamous transitions of slides, diagonal swipes, and iris wipes, along with a sound effect of a sword being unsheathed. I immediately recognised it from the film. The show is also narrated by a middle-aged English man with a modern (and rather camp) diction, as does Ella Enchanted (except you don't physically see him in My Lady Jane). It reminded me of it so much that I would be very surprised if it wasn't one of the inspirations for the show.
It is stacked with a talented cast, including a fresh faced Emily Bader as our leading lady Jane Grey. You might also recognise Edward Bluemel as Guildford Dudley, known for A Discovery of Witches, Killing Eve, and Sex Education. Bader and Bluemel's romantic chemistry on screen is electrifying. However, there are two other actors who stood out for their comedic chemistry on screen. Kate O'Flynn and Dominic Cooper as the formidable Princess Mary and the conniving Lord Seymour were comedy gold. As the two antagonists of the series they conspire to assassinate King Edward and Jane Grey, and put Mary on the throne. As well as their political alliance they are also engaged in a rather bizarre sexual dynamic that plays into Mary's dominance over Seymour.
With a 7.1/10 on IMDB, a 4.5/5 on Amazon, and a 93% score on Rotten Tomatoes, I think we might be blessed with a season two. I for one can't wait to see what epic adventures are in store for us.
Prime originals can often be a hit or a miss, but this is definitely a hit!
About the Creator
G. A. Mckay
I am a Scottish writer based in Glasgow. I like to write articles about film, television and literature, also book reviews, and short stories.
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Freezing Rain and Ice Disrupt Travel Across Central and Eastern Europe
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Instead of freezing mid-air like snow, the rain remains liquid until it hits a cold surface, where it instantly turns to ice. The result is black ice — a thin, transparent layer that covers roads, sidewalks, power lines, aircraft wings, and railway tracks. Unlike snow, it offers no traction and is extremely difficult to remove. Experts describe freezing rain as one of winter’s most dangerous hazards, capable of crippling transport networks within hours. Travel Chaos Across the Region Across central and eastern Europe, the effects have been swift and severe. Major highways have reported multi-vehicle accidents, while local roads have become impassable in rural and mountainous areas. In several countries, authorities temporarily closed sections of motorways after trucks jackknifed on ice-slick surfaces. Rail networks were also hit hard. Ice accumulation on overhead lines caused power failures and signal disruptions, forcing trains to run at reduced speeds or be canceled altogether. 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Power Outages and Infrastructure Damage Beyond transport, the ice storm also affected energy infrastructure. Ice-laden power lines sagged and snapped under the weight, leading to localized power outages in several regions. In rural areas, repair crews faced dangerous conditions as they worked to restore electricity. Icy roads slowed response times, leaving some communities without power for extended periods during freezing temperatures. Telecommunications networks also experienced disruptions, further complicating emergency response efforts. Economic Impact and Business Disruptions The freezing rain has had an immediate economic impact. Delivery services were delayed, factories reduced shifts due to staff shortages, and retailers reported lower foot traffic as customers stayed home. Logistics companies warned that prolonged icy conditions could disrupt supply chains, particularly for food and medical supplies that rely on just-in-time delivery systems. 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Comments (2)
I just might have to watch this series . Nice🤗
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