Prime Video’s My Lady Jane Gives a Historical Underdog a Chance to Shine

If you’ve never heard of Lady Jane Grey, who briefly held the English throne between the reigns of Edward VI and “Bloody” Mary I, that’s to be expected. After all, Jane was only Queen for nine days in 1553 before she was deposed by her cousin, the aforementioned “Bloody” Mary, and later executed in 1554 alongside her husband, Lord Guildford Dudley. At the time, she was only a teenager, likely only 16 or 17 years old. 

Lady Jane’s chapter in the history books may be short (probably more like a paragraph), but in the 2016 YA novel My Lady Jane, co-written by Brodi Ashton, Cynthia Hand, and Jodi Meadows, she takes center stage. Their version of history reimagines Jane’s story as one not of the tragic death of an unfortunate teenager, but as a whimsically magical tale of romance, intrigue, and clever misdirection. Now the series of the same name from Prime Video aims to do the same, albeit for a slightly more mature audience than the novel.  

My Lady Jane follows the titular heroine (Emily Bader), a smart and spunky teen far more interested in science than romance, who is swiftly married off by her scheming mother Frances (Anna Chancellor) to the first nobleman’s son who will have her: Lord Guildford Dudley (Edward Bluemel), son of the socially climbing Lord Dudley (Rob Brydon). While Jane’s independent spirit bristles at the idea of an arranged marriage, she finds herself with few options preferable to matrimony, and thus winds up wedded to Guildford, who is made only marginally more appealing by the fact that he turns out to be the mysterious man who caught her eye in a tavern before she knew his true identity. 

It’s only after the knot is tied that she learns the true reason for Lord Dudley’s enthusiasm about the match: Guildford is an Eðian (EE-thee-un), a class of humans who can transform into animals. And unlike other Eðians, who can transform back and forth at will (although no one gets to pick their animal alias), Guildford cannot control his own metamorphosis. He is a man only at night; by day, he is a horse. 

Although the trailer for My Lady Jane evoked plenty of comparisons to Netflix’s Bridgerton, this series is far more akin to Hulu’s The Great, with its occasionally ribald humor and intentionally anachronistic storytelling. And with the exception of a profane and somewhat crass narrator who doesn’t tonally mesh with the rest of the show, My Lady Jane largely manages to pull off the tricky balance between contemporary absurdity and historical gravity with similar deftness. 

In the world of My Lady Jane, Eðians live in the shadows, while Verities (non-transforming folk) enjoy all the privileges of high society. There are even laws to keep the two classes separate, namely, the Division Laws which decree that Eðians remain hidden away, while the Verities bask in the limelight. Jane, as we begin the series, doesn’t think much of this, but, of course, she soon will once she realizes she’s been wed to an Eðian.

That’s when My Lady Jane is at its best: when it is focused on the tension between Jane’s comfortable acceptance of the status quo and her dawning realization that, not only has she never truly understood Eðianism, but that no part of the British monarchy has ever been structured with the best interests of all its citizens in mind. As she gradually comes to understand the harsh truths of the royal position to which she has been appointed—as in real-life history, Jane’s cousin Edward IV (Jordan Peters) names her as his successor in his will, cutting out his sisters Elizabeth (Abbie Hern) and Mary (Kate O’Flynn)—Jane becomes determined to use her newfound power to improve the plight of the average British citizen, Verity and Eðian alike. 

Of course, much like Elle Fanning’s Catherine in The Great, Jane’s idealism rapidly dissipates as she is forced to reckon with the backstabbing realities of life at Court, and the political machinations of her ruthless cousin Mary and her paramour, Lord Norfolk (Will Keen). Complicating matters is that she finds herself actually falling for her husband, despite her resolution to keep their relationship strictly business. 

Historically, of course, Jane was deposed, and ultimately executed, after only nine days on the throne, and the series sticks to… some of that. However, the magical twist obviously opens the door for some alterations, so historical purists should prepare themselves for the series to take some generous narrative liberties. Still, Jane’s historical title of “The Nine Days Queen” adds an effective ticking clock to the series, even if Jane herself is unaware that her reign is doomed for brevity. 

Bader does solid work here as Jane, giving us a clever and sharp-tongued heroine we can easily root for, and Bluemel’s Guildford is appropriately charming, brooding, and enigmatic as needed. Their chemistry doesn’t exactly leap off the screen, but it’s definitely there, even if it is more of a simmer than a sizzle. However, despite the appeal of the two leads, and while the series does turn up the heat considerably from the teen-friendly book, viewers shouldn’t expect anywhere close to Bridgerton levels of steam. My Lady Jane may be aiming for an older audience than the novel it’s based on, but its romantic scenes still feel more CW than HBO. 

As for the rest of the cast, it’s a little hit or miss, with Mary and Norfolk coming across as pretty one-note cartoonish villains, and several other supporting characters winding up frustratingly underdeveloped. But there are also some bright spots, particularly in the scheming parents; Chancellor and Brydon do great work in their respective roles as Lady Frances and Lord Dudley, imbuing their morally ambiguous characters with more depth than their initial introductions would suggest. But perhaps the most surprising standout is Henry Ashton as Guildford’s brother, Stan Dudley, who starts out as an insufferable dolt, but winds up delivering some of the biggest laughs and most heartfelt moments of the season. 

Throughout the series, as Eðian characters and their allies plead for dignity and equity, it’s easy to see the parallels between their struggles and those faced by marginalized communities today. For all its magic and romance and courtly intrigue, My Lady Jane is equally concerned with social justice, with Eðianism serving as an obvious allegory for modern marginalized communities. 

One could argue that’s painting with too broad a brush, and it would be a valid critique. Much like Bridgerton, the world of My Lady Jane doesn’t pay much attention to race, even as it focuses deeply on gender and class. And aside from certain Eðians who were once members of the nobility, intersectionality doesn’t really come into play. This overly simplified approach to identity and marginalization may not work for all viewers, especially for those who are already well-versed in these themes and are ready to move the conversation forward.

Still, while My Lady Jane isn’t breaking new ground in its social commentary, it is an effective introduction. The Division Laws that Jane works so hard to revoke—and the vehement opposition she faces from those in positions of power and privilege—mirror the real-life battles being fought in courtrooms and legislative sessions today. And despite the show’s lighthearted tone, it’s hard to watch some of the persecution the Eðians face at the hands of the Verities—including being hunted and executed for sport while in their animal forms—without acknowledging the injustice of it all. 

Overall, My Lady Jane is a fun and fast-paced fantasy filled with romance, intrigue, and magic in equal measure. While it can be a bit uneven in both its tone and execution, it never fails to entertain, and even occasionally delight with its clever and whimsical approach to history. The real Jane Grey’s story may have ended with the fall of an ax, but My Lady Jane gives her the chance to live again. And this time, we’re all rooting for her. 

My Lady Jane premieres Thursday, June 27th on Prime Video. 

Lauren Thoman is a Nashville-based freelance pop culture writer whose writing has appeared in numerous online outlets including Parade, Vulture, and Collider. She is also the author of the novel I’ll Stop the World. Find her at her website, or on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook. 

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