It’s sad news that My Lady Jane, even with its sharp wit and lovable charm, has been canceled after just one season. Prime Video’s bold new series tells a fun, reimagined history of the Nine Days’ Queen, Jane Grey (played by Emily Bader), and her unexpected rise to England’s throne, followed by her execution.
While the real Queen Jane couldn’t avoid her fate, the fictional version of Tudor England’s brightest woman manages to escape her execution. It even saves her husband, Guilford Dudley (played by Edward Bluemel), in the process.
But as the couple makes their daring escape from the executioner’s block, their story is far from over. With the disappointing news of the series being canceled, fans are left wondering about the many unanswered questions from this romantic fantasy—questions about Lady Jane, the crown and kingdom, and the tangled love stories inside the castle.
My Lady Jane follows the story of Lady Jane, likely the smartest woman in England, during her unlikely rise to the throne. This romantic fantasy series takes a bold approach to history, choosing to tell a creative version of Jane Grey’s tragic life rather than sticking to historical facts.
The show has a lively energy, blending fantasy and romance in its already engaging story, as Jane’s quest for freedom is a journey full of humor and character.
Soon after marrying Guilford Dudley, Jane’s world is turned upside down. First, she discovers that her husband is secretly an Ethian, a person who can magically turn into an animal (in his case, a horse), although he can’t control when he transforms.
Second, her cousin King Edward VI (played by Jordan Peters) is believed to be dead, leaving England without a ruler. Third, the “deceased” king’s will is found, naming Jane Grey as the new Queen of England. As the unexpectedly crowned Queen, Jane becomes a forward-thinking and brave ruler, challenging the old laws that separated Ethians from non-magical people, the Verities.
However, even though she gains favor with the Ethians, there are people at court who are jealous and seek to bring Jane down. The most determined of her enemies is Princess Mary (played by Kate O’Flynn), the half-sister and would-be assassin of the former king.
After several failed attempts to kill the new Queen, Mary and her loyal ally Lord Seymour (played by Dominic Cooper) return to the castle and forcefully remove Jane from power. Unfortunately for Jane, her progressive ideas leave her with few supporters, making her an easy target for a coup.
Mary arrests Jane for treason, claiming her claim to the throne is entirely invalid. Although the support of Princess Bess (played by Abbie Hern) nearly secures Jane’s freedom, Guilford’s secret is exposed to the court. With the old laws still in place that forbid Ethians from marrying Verities, Jane and Guilford are sentenced to death.
However, just before Jane is beheaded, she is rescued by a group of Ethians led by her dear friend, Máiréad Tyers, allowing her and Guilford to escape the Tower of London with their lives. But while they escape Queen Mary’s grasp, there are still many unresolved issues.
Although Jane escapes in the season finale, there is still much to be done for the former queen. Her mother, Frances (played by Anna Chancellor), and two sisters, Katherine (played by Isabella Brownson) and Margaret (played by Robyn Betteridge), are still under Queen Mary’s control. Now that she’s escaped death, will Jane be able to save her family from the vengeful queen?
Even within the castle walls, the Grey family has plenty of unfinished business. Will Frances’ affair with Guilford’s brother, Stan Dudley (played by Henry Ashton), lead to anything? Will Katherine truly find love with William Seymour (played by Brandon Grace), the son of one of her sister’s greatest enemies?
And will little Margaret learn from her mistakes and become a more loyal member of the Grey family? There’s still a lot of drama and conflict to within the castle’s walls and its beautiful gardens.
Not only does Jane need to save her family, but she also has to figure out how to remove Mary from the throne. Even though she’s no longer queen, Jane still has her sharp mind to help her in this mission—along with the support of King Edward VI, who survived his assassination attempt, and the Ethian camps, who admire Jane for fighting so hard for them.
What plan will Jane come up with to remove Mary from power? And will Edward reclaim his rightful place as King of England? The entire story revolves around changing history, but the line of succession has so far followed real-life events, raising the question of whether Princess Bess, or officially Princess Elizabeth, will one day wear the crown.
Like the ambitious Lady Jane, the series doesn’t settle for just being creative enough. The fantasy elements add layers of intrigue and excitement. The introduction of the Ethian-Verity divide is a great example of the show’s unique writing style, adding tension and complexity to the story.
In some ways, it’s a simple way to comment on social issues, finding class division through a highly fictionalized lens. In other ways, it’s a sharp critique of classism, told through a satirical and intentionally exaggerated medium.
While the show’s main themes can still be understood without a second season, it’s unfortunate that some questions may never be answered. Curious minds may always wonder what makes a person an Ethian, or what caused the division between Ethians and Verities in the first place.
Will Spain’s ruthless Beast Inquisition threaten England? And how will Jane and Edward bring peace between Verities and Ethians? As Jane remains free, her desire to see an England without Ethian-Verity division remains unfinished, but luckily, Jane Grey never gives up.
