For all fans of Bridgerton, Reign, and The Buccaneers, Prime Video’s latest historical fantasy series will not disappoint. On June 27th, the first season of My Lady Jane was released and featured eight episodes. My Lady Jane is a British historical fantasy based on a novel by the same name, written by Jodi Meadows, Brodi Ashton, and Cynthia Hand. The book provides a historical reimagining of the life of Lady Jane Grey, who is most infamously known for being the great-niece of Henry VIII and for having a stint as queen of England for a total of nine days. When King Edward VI, Jane’s cousin, died, Jane was named as his successor and was crowned Queen. However, just nine days later, she was branded a traitor and was eventually beheaded. My Lady Jane takes the facts of history and twists them, causing viewers to remember Jane as more than just a damsel in distress, but a woman who could have been a great leader. 

Season One Overview 

My Lady Jane begins by showing Jane as a smart and independent woman who has no desire to marry and wants to focus on creating her own medicinal cures. However, her family’s financial situation forces her mother’s hand, and Jane is coerced by her family to marry Lord Guildford Dudley in order to maintain a stable financial standing. After numerous attempts to get out of this marriage, Jane and Guildford eventually make their way down the aisle and say their beloved I Do’s. What starts as a marriage of convenience and a classic “enemies to lovers” relationship quickly takes a turn as Jane and Guildford are bonded together through their own secrets. These secrets allow Jane and Guildford to realize that they are better with each other than against each other. Throughout the season, audiences see their tumultuous relationship turn into one with mutual respect and love, as the stakes of their political world only get higher. 

What If History Were Different?

One of the biggest differences between Lady Jane Grey’s factual life and My Lady Jane would be the inclusion of Ethians. In My Lady Jane, Ethians are humans who can shapeshift into animals. Ethians were allegedly sent down to earth as spawns of Satan, and the ordinary humans, known as Verity, drove Ethians out of society and banished them to the woods, where they are now forced to starve and beg for their lives. As My Lady Jane progresses, viewers learn that Ethian characters may be lurking closer to the screens than they think and that Ethians are not as cruel as they are made out to be. 

The inclusion of Ethians is a fantastic addition to the series as it allows the show to dive into deeper themes of segregation and unfair treatment of civilians. Throughout the show, viewers learn which characters will put their lives at risk to fight for fair treatment of Ethians and which characters will do everything in their power to ensure that Ethians stay outcast to the woods.