Are you ready for a historical action-adventure/rom-com full of supernatural conflict and delightful homages to the best of ’80s/’90s/’00s fun-tastic films? Nope. Believe me, you aren’t. But even so, you should gird your loins for Prime Video’s My Lady Jane and steel yourself for heart-racing, pulse-pounding, side-splitting shenanigans.
Adapted from the novel of the same name by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton and Jodi Meadows, the series manifests a reimagined story for one of history’s greatest victims, Lady Jane Grey, the Nine Days’ Queen. Emily Bader stars as the independent-minded, sharp-witted titular lady of royal lineage and herbal interests. The series reframes her relationship with her husband, Guildford Dudley (Edward Bluemel), while filling in the corners of her life with her family, especially her mother, Lady Frances Grey (Anna Chancellor).
And Don’t Forget the Shapeshifters
The other thing that’s reimagined is the central conflict in Tudor England. Historically, this was a time dominated by Protestants versus Catholics. Instead, we have Ethians and Veritys. Ethians can change into animals, but Veritys cannot. Somehow, the Veritys are in charge, which means trouble for Ethians.
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But it’s not all, “Is she a bird?” and “Isn’t he a grasshopper?” (Admittedly, that is a pretty cool part of the show.) There’s also some straight-up feminist ire at the absurd expectations and restrictions on the lives of young noblewomen.
From the disgusting Duke of Leicester (Jim Broadbent) and Jane’s father-in-law-to-be, the condescending Lord Dudley (Rob Brydon), to her beloved childhood friend and cousin, Edward Tudor, aka King Edward VI (Jordan Peters), the men of this world expect the women to fall in line, whether in marriage, politics or death.
Her-stories Abound
Considering the women we meet in the series, it’s utterly baffling how the men could be so misled by their societal beliefs. From the Princesses Royal Mary (Kate O’Flynn) and Bess (Abbie Hern) to Jane’s baby sister, Margaret (Robyn Betteridge), they are all clever and determined individuals. In a variety of ways, they each take control of their lives.
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Of course, even intelligent and capable women can choose to play the game of court. Lady Frances is Jane’s most obstinate adversary despite — or maybe because of? — her fate being tied to Jane’s success. Chancellor is magnificent in presence, grand in gesture, and completely unapologetic in delivering some of the most outrageous comedic lines in the series.
While she is the peak antagonist, she isn’t actually villainous. That honorific goes to the crown-crazy Princess Mary and the simpering Lord Seymour (Dominic Cooper). The pair are deeply immersed in all sorts of plots and ploys, with the taking of England’s throne only a step on a path toward a more nefarious goal.
A Set So Sumptuous You Can Smell It
With gorgeous (sometimes iconic) costumes and a range of palatial settings, the series delivers on the promise of rompy-pompy-ness. The visually diverse and nuanced cast sells the negging and insidious betrayals of social infighting with authentic ire and brazen optimism. Everyone believes they deserve their happily ever after. Since that’s simply not true or possible, people are bound to take unexpected detours. Repeatedly.
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While still cleaner than the real Tudor world would’ve been, the lack of indoor plumbing and modern medicine is shown in all its unhygienic and stomach-turning glory. Urine raining down on dungeons. Leeches. Gout. Something called The Affliction. Even the menus are bound to elicit a “What’s that, now?” double-take at times. That’s history for you. Rejoice in the ick.
A Feast to Delight the Senses
Keen-eyed (and eared) audience members will delight in the many Easter egg moments embedded in the visuals and script. There are homages to Miss Congeniality, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, The Princess Bride and even Crocodile Dundee. Watch out for at least one high-speed barge chase.
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The soundtrack rivals the best jukebox musicals of the modern age. My Lady Jane is a blend that will thrill with clear notes of The Great and Dickinson, leaving a lingering sense of Black Adder and Monty Python on the palate.
The romantic bits are hawt, and the political bits are haughty. Family dynamics are ri-donk-ulously complicated, and the Ethians really know how to get up in the Veritys’s business. There’s murder and mayhem and mobs. Oh my. And the omniscient, omnipresent and verbose narrator who isn’t afraid to drop an F-bomb or two ties it all up in a glorious and irreverent parcel worthy of a queen.
All eight episodes of My Lady Jane drop on Prime Video on June 27.
https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/the-great-season-4-questions-hulu-elle-fanning/
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