Fix: Historical Fantasy, Alternate Histories, Arranged Marriage, A+ Chemistry
Platform: Amazon Prime
Prime Summary:
Are you ready for an epic tale of true love, high adventure, regicidal maniacs, deadpan heroism, devious intrigues, swashbuckling swordfights, a soupçon of magical realism and oodles of yearning, banter and undeniable chemistry? Of course you are. Welcome to My Lady Jane.
FYA Summary:
Lady Jane Grey wants nothing more than to live her life, away from the hustle and bustle of London society. Her mother has other ideas, the worst of which is marrying her off to Lord Guildford Dudley, the son of one of the king’s most trusted advisors. Jane reaches out to her cousin, King Edward, in the hopes of getting out of the marriage, but he’s got his own issues. You see, he’s dying, and Jane is to be his heir (not that she knows that until it happens).
Familiar Faces:
Edward Bluemel as Guildford Dudley and Emily Bader as Jane Grey
Bluemel isn’t a conventionally handsome man, but boy does he smolder onscreen. I know him best from his role as Marcus in A Discovery of Witches, and he brings that tortured bad-boy emotion to the role of Guildford. He plays perfectly off of Bader, who is a new face to me but wholly delightful in the role of Jane. She’s confident and witty and needs no man, but there’s something about Guildford she just can’t deny, even as the two swear they’ll be enemies until the end.
Dominic Cooper as Lord Seymour and Rob Brydon as Lord Dudley
Cooper and Brydon both play hilariously bumbling advisors to the King, and they’re both excellent in their own ways. Cooper, who’s been in everything from Agent Carter to Mamma Mia, is a villain, but one who can’t get out of his own way. Brydon, who’s been in a lot of things, but is most recently recognizable to me as Sugar Daddy Ken from the Barbie movie, is much less of a villainous character, but he’s got a strained relationship with his son Guildford that makes him surprisingly nuanced—eventually.
Anna Chancellor as Lady Frances Grey
Chancellor, too, is a known British media persona. Her Lady Grey is a total Patty Chase of a mother, willing to sell her daughters to whomever will take them to keep herself afloat and living in the manner to which she is accustomed. She’s a brutal woman and a terrible mother, but she helps Jane in unexpected ways.
Couch-Sharing Capability: Call your Bridgerton Friends
Have you ever wished that Bridgerton was just a tad more funny? And featured people who could turn into animals? (I forgot to mention that part earlier in this review …) My Lady Jane scratches that itch and then some. (And yes, I realize they’re two very different shows set in two very different times, but go with me here.) And if you have complaints that the fire between Colin and Penelope doesn’t match the swoon of the first two seasons (I don’t feel this way, but I know it’s a big complaint), you’re in for a treat with the chemistry between Bluemel and Bader.
Recommended Level of Inebriation: Social Drinker
I wouldn’t drink too much while watching this show so that you don’t miss anything; nearly every scene adds to the enjoyment, and I would hate to have suggested anything that would be seen as me promoting a distracted viewing.
Use of Your Streaming Subscription: Queenly
I’ve been a fan of My Lady Jane, the book, since I read it back in 2016. (I even pestered the rest of FYA HQ to choose it as a Book Club selection in 2017.) So when I found out it was going to be a TV show. I was cautiously excited. We’ve all seen some terrible adaptations of our favorite properties, and I didn’t want to come out hating something that could have been delightful. Thankfully, I was very pleasantly surprised by the show; it’s one of the better adaptations I’ve ever seen, and everyone involved seems to have “gotten” the meat of the book quite well. (Praise be!) It’s a funny, quirky, sexy show with a great cast and the promise of more to come. What’s not to love?
I really enjoyed it! The humor drew me in and the performances were excellent.
Love to hear it, Terrie!
I want to watch this so bad, but I refuse to give any more money to Amazon. I’ll have to see if I can use my sister’s account. I loved the book, but it’s been long enough that I won’t remember if they changed anything too important from it.
Totally hear you, Meredith. And I’m in the same boat; it felt close enough to what I remember to not make me frustrated by anything they might have changed. And some of what they changed was for the better? Not that the book wasn’t good, but I think you know what I mean.
Guildford and Jane had INSANE chemistry! It was delightful. Better than many of the recent romcoms I’ve seen (I’m looking at you, Anyone But You). When I gave the book a try a few years ago, it didn’t capture my attention, but I enjoyed the show so much I think I’m going to go back and give it another try.
I hope you enjoy it this go-round, Jessi! I found it to be not as sexy—I mean, how could it be?—but just as funny and totally swoony.
So so fun! Can every show be a slightly silly costume dramedy???
Seriously! I’d be all for that.