American actress Emily Bader stars as the titular Lady Jane Grey in My Lady Jane. PHOTO: PRIME VIDEO
Those familiar with the Tudor period (1485 to 1603) of English history will know the real-life story of Prime Video’s new period series My Lady Jane, based on the historical figure of Lady Jane Grey. She is an unfortunate English noblewoman known as the “Nine Days’ Queen”, who was deposed after just nine days as Queen of England and eventually executed.
In this reimagination of her rise to power and downfall, historical accuracy is thrown out of the window.
At first glance, the eight-episode show reminds one of Netflix’s Bridgerton (2020 to present). With a racially diverse cast, lavish period costumes paired with pop music, and a whip-smart female protagonist in Jane Grey (Emily Bader), one would think it is an irreverent take on English history.
It certainly is all that. But when a maid of Jane’s transforms into a bird and escapes in an early sequence, it becomes clear – My Lady Jane is not just fun, but is also fantastical.
Here are three reasons to tune in.
1. Fantasy twist
In a not-so-subtle nod to the Catholic-Protestant rift during the Tudor dynasty and as a wider metaphor for the discrimination against minorities, the England of My Lady Jane persecutes Ethians, humans who can shape-shift into animal forms at will, and segregates them from Verity, or human, society.
This fantasy element turns a story largely set in stately courts into an outrageous, swashbuckling adventure, with spies, secret hideouts and entertaining battles.
The ailing King Edward (Jordan Peters) gets the shock of his life when his pet dog suddenly turns into a woman and warns the monarch about a threat to his life; a suave bandit transforms into a bear in a dingy watering hole and fights off a group of soldiers; and, in a highlight, a hawk mounts a dramatic rescue of a main character by pecking out someone’s eyes.
The ridiculousness of the story is commented upon by an omniscient narrator (Oliver Chris), who chimes in with well-timed and self-aware quips that puncture even the most tense moments with humour.
2. Hot romance
British actor Edward Bluemel and American actress Emily Bader have a steamy enemies-to-lovers romance in My Lady Jane. PHOTO: PRIME VIDEO
What is adventure without a little love?
Their love story hits all the tropes – arranged marriage, enemies-to-lovers and forbidden romance – but is addictively watchable due to the palpable chemistry between the leads.
Bader and Bluemel imbue the first meeting of Jane and Guildford with simmering sexual tension, layered under a witty tit-for-tat banter that shows their intellectual compatibility. The tension builds through lingering looks and fleeting almost-touches as the two grow more attracted to each other, even as Jane insists on a divorce.
Things get more complicated when it is revealed that Guildford is a secret Ethian unable to control his powers – he shape-shifts into a horse at sunrise and back into a human by sunset – because marriage between an Ethian and a Verity is a capital offence.
3. Villains you love to hate
British actress Kate O’Flynn (left) plays the power-hungry, violent antagonist, Princess Mary, while British actor Jordan Peters plays the ailing King Edward VI in My Lady Jane. PHOTO: PRIME VIDEO
The series is made stronger by its villains, who are often hilariously and cartoonishly evil antagonists.
British stars Kate O’Flynn and Dominic Cooper steal the scene every time they are on-screen. O’Flynn plays the power-hungry Princess Mary, history’s “Bloody Mary” who deposes Jane Grey, while Cooper is Mary’s deferential paramour Lord Seymour.
O’Flynn nails the exaggerated humour of a crazed, carelessly cruel tyrant who delights in killing Ethians, is excited to poison her brother and often has emotional, childlike outbursts when she fails to get her way.
Cooper is by her side at every step, alternately scheming along with her or placating her ferocious moods.
This pair may not be likeable, but they are certainly antagonists that viewers will love to hate.
