The historical fantasy show ‘My Lady Jane,’ which premiered on Prime Video, reimagines the brief and tragic reign of its real titular character, blending historical context with an alternative, fantastical spin. Lady Jane Grey, often dubbed England’s ‘Nine Day Queen,’ briefly ascended to the throne in 1553.
Her story is one of political manoeuvring, religious conflict, and untimely tragedy. The new series is a “radical retelling” that alters the fates of Jane and other historical figures while still paying homage to the real events of the 16th century. Plus, there’s a major fantasy twist. Created by Gemma Burgess and based on the best-selling novel by Brodi Ashton, Cynthia Hand, and Jodi Meadows, the series incorporates the spirit and context of the real Jane while deviating from reality through fantasy and altered history.
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But how much of ‘My Lady Jane’ is rooted in the history of the actual queen from which the show takes its name? The series pilot opens with a narrator giving an accurate historical recap (with wit and modern flair) of the events leading up to Jane taking the throne, including Edward VI’s death and Jane’s crowning. However, the recap ends with the question, “What if history were different?” and the series that follows offers a whimsical (and less tragic) retelling of Jane’s story.
Still, ‘My Lady Jane’ maintains the essence of Jane’s spirit, highlighting her intellectual curiosity and the political intrigue surrounding her rise and fall. The show borrows aspects of the real Jane’s story, such as her forced marriage, and gives them an alternative narrative, where she ends up falling in love with Guilford despite the odds.
In the end, it’s a fantastical reimagination that explores factual conflicts through otherworldly elements. The conflict between Protestants and Catholics is reinterpreted as a struggle between regular humans (called Verities) and Ethians (humans who can transform into animals). In the show, Jane promotes unity and respect for Ethians during her brief reign, and her husband, Guilford Dudley, is depicted as an Ethian who occasionally doubles as a horse.
So, is ‘My Lady Jane’ based on a true story? Yes and no. While the show takes significant creative liberties, it is inspired by the real Jane, the events leading up to her brief reign, and the conflicts of the era in which she lived.
-Sushmita Sarkar