My Lady Jane Nails Jane & Guildford's Enemies-To-Lovers Romance
Amazon Prime Video's My Lady Jane is successful in many areas, but it especially nails a Romance formula that many other TV shows get wrong. With a fantasy twist, a rewritten British history, well-timed comedy, and a compelling narrative, My Lady Jane has exceeded all expectations as a historical fiction show. It is a unique twist on a fascinating British historical era, and it brings a lot to the table, even though the true story of Lady Jane Grey is different. However, Jane and Guildford's romance is the most compelling aspect of the entire show.
It is no secret that Lady Jane Grey and Guilford Dudley begin their marriage on the wrong foot - they despise each other. Although they meet in a tavern, Guilford's charm and roguish demeanor quickly annoy Jane. Jane initially captivates Guilford, but when they meet again at the altar, and Jane tries to fake her death, Guildford likewise develops contempt for her. Their marriage begins sourly. They cannot stand each other and always look for reasons to bicker. However, throughout the season, Jane and Guildford slowly learn to tolerate each other and eventually fall in love, an approach that is consistently handled well all the way through to My Lady Jane's ending.
What Makes Jane & Guildford's Relationship So Compelling In My Lady Jane
One of the most overdone tropes in the romance genre is the Enemies-to-lovers theme, a narrative that sees two people with a mutual dislike for each other fall in love. That creates a challenge in making such a story worthwhile. However, Jane and Guildford's Romance certainly exceeds this standard. Of course, their undeniable chemistry comes from their initial disdain for each other, but they are so much more than that. As Jane and Guildford get to know each other, their disdain slowly becomes toleration, and then a genuine friendship.
During this friendship, Jane and Guildford develop feelings for each other. Jane sees Guildford for who he is, at his best and his worst, but she loves him anyway. Jane truly loves Guildford because she knew him when she hated him the most. Guilford is not interested in being king; he just wants to be with Jane. He does not care about her inheritance or her connections to the throne. Jane and Guilford spend all their time together, which develops into a will-they, won't-they situation. Jane falls in love with Guildford, which defies her views on arranged marriage.
Other TV Shows Should Take Note Of The Amazon Series' Approach To Romance
My Lady Jane's romance between Jane and Guildford is how an Enemies-to-lovers romance should play out. Everything occurs organically; the narrative does not rush to the point where the romance is unbelievable, but it is not so slow that audiences will grow bored. Bridgerton can undoubtedly learn from My Lady Jane. While Bridgerton has its fair share of excellent romances, the ensemble aspect tends to be a hit or miss. If the subplots do not connect to the primary romance, it creates a disjointed narrative, taking away from the primary romance when it needs more time to develop.
The subplots should help the primary romance, not hinder it. My Lady Jane does an excellent job of portraying that when Jane's mother tricks Guilford so that she can remove him from Jane's life permanently. Miscommunication is also a red flag that many TV shows tend to rely on, including The Summer I Turned Pretty. One of the reasons why the love triangle endures for so long is the constant miscommunication between Conrad, Belly, and Jeremiah. Jane and Guildford prove that misunderstandings is unnecessary in crafting a compelling romance.
