Summary
My Lady Janeis officially not returning for season 2, andI can’t believe the Amazon series will never get the chance to adapt the most satisfying part of the book.My Lady Janedebuted on Prime Video on June 27, introducing viewers to a reimagined — and magical — version of Lady Jane Grey’s history. Like the book it’s based on, the Amazon series puts a feminist spin on Jane’s story. It also rewrites the religious tensions of the time period as a conflict between magic and non-magic folk.
Although thetrue story behindMy Lady Janeends in tragedy, Emily Bader’s heroine escapes with her head in this fictionalized take. But whileMy Lady Jane’s endingsees Jane and Guildford Dudley riding off into the sunset, the finale leaves many storylines unresolved. The biggest has to do with the series' villain, Queen Mary, who still sits on the throne when season 1 comes to a close. WithMy Lady Janecanceled ahead of season 2,we won’t get to see what becomes of Kate O’Flynn’s monarch. Those who have read the book know that’s a real shame.
10 Best TV Shows Like My Lady Jane
My Lady Jane was an incredible historical fantasy that left many viewers craving a similar series that blended fact and fiction with a humorous tone.
My Lady Jane’s Cancelation Means We’ll Never See Queen Mary’s Fate On-Screen
Queen Mary Isn’t Dethroned In The Show’s First Season
My Lady Jane’s cancelation means we won’t get closure on numerous storylines, andit confirms we’ll never see Queen Mary’s fate on the small screen. At the end oftheMy Lady Janebook, Queen Mary is dethroned and imprisoned. She’s forced to give the crown back to Edward, though he decides he doesn’t want it after everything he goes through. Still, Mary ends up worse off for her terrible behavior. It’s a satisfying conclusion to the story, which makes her character very difficult to like.
Sadly,My Lady Janeseason 1 only adapts part of the source material, so it concludes with Mary still sitting on Edward’s throne. His people don’t know he’s alive yet, and they seem content to follow Mary — or perhaps too afraid to defy her. There’s no clarification on whether Mary’s reign is hurt by Jane and Guildford’s escape at the end of season 1.My Lady Janecould have showed the fallout of this and chronicled Mary’s downfall. That’s something I really wanted to see, but it doesn’t look like I’ll get the chance to.
I Can’t Believe Queen Mary Won’t Get Her Comeuppance In My Lady Jane Season 2
Someone Really Needs To Put Queen Mary In Her Place
Queen Mary gets worse and worse throughoutMy Lady Jane,treating everyone from the show’s heroine to Edward and his sister poorly. She schemes her way onto the throne, and she’s not even likable as a villain. While characters like Cersei Lannister are fun to hate, Mary is simply detestable from start to finish. I was desperate for someone to put her in her place, but it didn’t happen during the first season. WithoutMy Lady Janeseason 2, it never will. This means the adaptation’s version of her character will never get the comeuppance she so rightly deserves.
Mary wrongs a lot of people throughoutMy Lady Jane, and it’d be so satisfying to see her on the losing end of these relationships. As a character with few redeeming qualities, there’s nowhere for her to go but down. And as terrible as it is,that downward spiral would have been a joy to watch inMy Lady Janeseason 2. I’m upset that we won’t get to witness it after Amazon’s cancelation. But knowing how easily shows get axed in the streaming era, I’m also annoyed that Prime Video only covers half the book in season 1.
Leaving The Story Unfinished Was A Risky Choice
While I understand wanting to build excitement for season 2, that backfires spectacularly when a show isn’t renewed.
Although I understand whyMy Lady Janeseason 1 doesn’t cover the entire book, leaving the story unfinished was a risky choice. TV shows get canceled easily nowadays — too easily to leave something as important as the villain’s demise for next season. With a couple more episodes,My Lady Janewould have fit into one full season. There isn’t much left to resolve after Mary and Guildford escape. And while I understand wanting to build excitement for season 2, that backfires spectacularly when a show isn’t renewed.
Additionally,My Lady Janecould have taken an anthology approach to its futureif the creators were committed to a second season. TheLady Janiesseries consists of multiple books, all of which follow a different figure named Jane through a reimagined version of her story. The second installment tackles Charlotte Bronte’sJane Eyre,which would likely make it a hit as a TV show. Unfortunately, we won’t see that r any other version ofMy Lady Janeseason 2 now.
My Lady Jane
Cast
My Lady Jane is a Prime Video original series created by Gemma Burgess. The story is a “what if” style story of English royal history where King Henry VIII’s son Edward, Lady Jane Grey, and her husband Guildford all survive their real-life deaths. In the retelling of history, Jane Grey takes center stage, becoming queen and immediately finding herself facing nefarious villains.
