Summary
- Season 2 cancellation of My Lady Jane is a major misstep for Amazon Prime, especially with its strong critical acclaim and potential for growth.
- Best scenes with Jane and Guildford showcase a dynamic romance matched by few on TV, along with deep themes of prejudice and political intrigue.
- My Lady Jane had potential to compete with Bridgerton, offering unique fantasy elements and engaging storylines that could have drawn in a large audience.
My Lady Jane is one of my favorite romance TV shows of 2024, and its cancelation doesn't bode well for Amazon Prime's future compared to other streaming services. Based on the novel of the same name, My Lady Jane was an unexpected delight from Prime Video this year, capturing my attention with its strong fantasy elements and an even stronger central relationship between Jane and Guildford. Played by Emily Bader and Edward Bluemel, the characters have the kind of chemistry that period TV series' thrive on. Not knowing what will happen next in their story is devastating.
's season 2 cancelation comes on the heels of a 94% on Rotten Tomatoes and strong critical acclaim, making me wonder why Amazon would decide to end the series before it could properly begin. Bridgerton, Netflix's romance TV juggernaut, which consistently performs well for the streamer, has similar themes to My Lady Jane and has improved in quality and viewership numbers with each ing year. While I know that fantasy and romance aren't for everyone, My Lady Jane deserved the chance to find its audience and grow its following with a second season.
Amazon Canceling My Lady Jane After Season 1 Is A Major Misstep
Season 2 could have seen an increase in viewers if Prime had bolstered the series.
The My Lady Jane show a romantic dynamic on par with the best couples of any love story on television. Additionally, My Lady Jane didn't solely rely on its romance angle to propel the story forward, dealing with many complex characters besides Jane and Guildford and engaging with themes of prejudice and political intrigue. I was heavily invested in every character on screen and appreciated that the series had a sense of humor to go along with its more melodramatic aspects.
The quick turnaround of shows like My Lady Jane means that these large companies feel no reason to commit to multiple seasons and give creators any artistic license to take chances and evolve their characters.
Prime has cited several reasons for canceling My Lady Jane. While I'm disappointed on behalf of the series, this choice also represents a deeper problem with the era of streaming television. The quick turnaround of shows like My Lady Jane means that these large companies feel no reason to commit to multiple seasons and give creators any artistic license to take chances and evolve their characters. There's no question that season 2 needed to happen for vital plotlines and character arcs to resolve. Some of the most promising secondary storylines and relationships will forever be open-ended.
My Lady Jane Was Prime Video's Most Promising Bridgerton Competition
The fantasy element made My Lady Jane stand apart, creating a niche that Bridgerton doesn't fill.
Bridgerton and My Lady Jane are two of the best period romance TV shows ever made, but Bridgerton had the advantage of premiering in 2020 at the height of the pandemic when audiences were watching more television than ever. Part of My Lady Jane's cancelation arguably comes down to timing and a variety of other elements out of the series' control. However, given time and the proper backing, My Lady Jane could've given Netflix's powerhouse a run for its money. Bridgerton's popularity demonstrated that audiences have an appetite for great romance TV shows.
While Bridgerton is a great show and can go on for many seasons thanks to its significant source material, My Lady Jane appealed to much of the same audience base while drawing in new viewers interested in fantasy. When I watch Bridgerton, I'm compelled by the relationships, but I often find myself wishing there were larger overarching plots, conflicts, and stakes. Additionally, the historical aspects of My Lady Jane tie it into a similar territory as long-running dramas that have received great critical acclaim. Amazon giving the series a larger press presence could have put it on par with Bridgerton.
My Lady Jane
- Release Date
- 2024 - 2024-00-00
- Showrunner
- Gemma Burgess, Meredith Glynn
- Directors
- Jamie Babbit, Stefan Schwartz
WHERE TO WATCH
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.
- Writers
- Jodi Meadows, Brodi Ashton, Cynthia Hand
- Seasons
- 1
- Streaming Service(s)
- Prime Video
- Creator(s)
- Gemma Burgess
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