The Lady Review: Following her dreams of doing something big, small-town girl Jane Andrews gets a job as the Royal dresser for Sarah, Duchess of York, only for her dreams to shatter once she is convicted of murdering her boyfriend.
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The Lady Cast
Mia McKenna-Bruce, Natalie Dormer, Ed Speleers
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The Lady Series Director
Lee Haven Jones
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The Lady 2026 Writer
Debbie O’Malley
The series has 4 episodes, each about 45 minutes long.
The Lady Review
Exploring themes of class ambition and social climbing, The Lady brings forth an intriguing tale of an ambitious young woman whose life turns upside down when social pressures get to her, and she is eventually sent to prison for murdering her boyfriend. The series follows her rise from her small town to the royal palace, where she becomes the royal dresser for the Duchess of York and is a rather entertaining watch… for the most part.
The series starts with Jane’s humble beginning, tracing her steps as she goes from one disaster-filled life circumstance to another. The lucky break comes at an opportune moment, and things change immediately. Most of the series is carried by the fantastic Mia McKenna-Bruce, who holds the series strongly on her shoulders. Her ambition to get somewhere and be someone can be felt by audiences as she is so convincing of her goals.
McKenna-Bruce captures Jane’s fragility exceptionally well – she’s vulnerable, dangerous and unpredictable, which makes her such a magnetic watch. Her volatility makes her the perfect mix of a protagonist and an antagonist, adding depth to her character, especially in light of the tragedy the series is based on. Natalie Dormer is great as well and adds nuance to the royal dynamics and situations. Her relationship with Jane is interesting and opens the series up for discussion surrounding their attachment.
The character itself is complex, and while we don’t start off wondering whether Jane can be a future murderer, she isn’t the most favourable character that one can come across. Her mental health struggles are introduced within the first few minutes, and so we are made aware that they might play a part in the future. The series opts for a humanised portrayal of the situation rather than making it overly dramatic and thus, side-steps becoming too sensational. That being said, I still found it a bit exploitative, considering everyone involved in this case is still alive.
The inconsistent pacing is its biggest issue, though, and can get on your nerves. There are long stretches when the series falls flat and loses momentum, making us wait for the next thing to arrive. Plus, Jane herself can be unlikeable, which is problematic considering she’s the protagonist. Another surprising problem is that the entire series is based on our belief in the romance between Jane and Thomas for the murder to affect us. However, that doesn’t turn out to be the case as it feels underdeveloped and unconvincing.
Final Thoughts
In the end, the series puts forth a thoughtful look at the class distinctions in British society that will be relatable to many. The occasional emotional depth and insight, along with fantastic performances across the board, make this a compelling watch. Its character-driven approach prevents it from becoming a pure crime thriller, which, I think, works in its favour. Expect some lull moments, though.
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