Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin gives his stamp of approval to the canceled Prime Video series My Lady Jane, potentially turning the tide of a passionate but so far futile outcry by fans to renew the fantastical romance for a second season. Despite earning rave reviews upon its release in June, My Lady Jane was canceled by Prime Video in a move that many criticized as premature, sparking several petitions pushing for the show’s return.
Posting to his “Not a Blog” blog yesterday evening, Martin unveiled a high opinion of My Lady Jane, praising it as a clever and original storyline despite some viewers drawing parallels to Bridgerton due to the historical nature of both shows. However, Martin highlighted the “alternate history” aspect of My Lady Jane as one of its standout characteristics, and commended showrunner Meredith Glynn for her work, revealing that he once collaborated with Glynn for an HBO Game of Thrones spinoff that was ultimately shelved. Martin also shared his disappointment with Prime Video’s decision to cancel My Lady Jane, and praised fans for their continued efforts to renew the show.
Speaking of television shows, I have always loved alternate history and Jane Grey, England’s nine-days queen, has always fascinated me. Small wonder, then, that I really enjoyed MY LADY JANE, a clever and original historical fantasy on Amazon Prime, set in an England full of witches and shapechangers, where Jane lasts more than nine days… Witty and original, it reminded me a bit of THE GREAT, a show I loved.
My Lady Jane is a fantastical spin on the story of the real-life Lady Jane Gray, who was famously crowned queen for only nine days before she was executed by her cousin, Queen Mary I, or “Bloody Mary.” The show takes place in an alternate version of 16th century England, where — as Martin notes in his review — fairytale creatures such as witches and shapeshifters run amok. American actress Emily Bader played the titular Jane, alongside various other real-life historical figures such as King Edward VI (Jordan Peters) and Princess Mary (Kate O’Flynn).
According to Prime, My Lady Jane was canceled due to low viewership; however, this reasoning appeared to only enrage fans further. Taking to X to share their thoughts, viewers pointed out that the cancelation occurred only two months after the show’s release, which they felt did not give audiences enough time to discover and fall in love with the show.
Why Martin’s Opinion of My Lady Jane Matters
With a petition on change.org to renew My Lady Jane that has already garnered 60,000 signatures, it’s unlikely that Prime Video is deaf to fans’ pleas to save the show. However, due to the immense success of Game of Thrones and its spinoffs, Martin’s approval of the show carries a certain weight that is even more difficult to ignore. Many a fan campaign has rallied behind a canceled show and failed to revive it, but as a pop culture mogul with a massive following, Martin’s praise may inspire Prime to reconsider their decision with the promise of potentially attracting Game of Thrones fans.
However, viewers’ ability to change the minds of massive streaming services like Prime Video is regrettably uncertain. While some fan campaigns have been successful in renewing shows, such as the outcry that famously saved Brooklyn Nine-Nine, others haven’t been so lucky. Although Martin’s praise is certainly a positive development in the fight to save My Lady Jane, it’s impossible to determine how successful this particular fan campaign will be.
My Lady Jane
can still be streamed on Prime Video…just don’t get too attached to the characters.