Why Jane From Jupiter's Legacy Looks So Familiar

When it comes to superhero adaptations for film and television, we might be entering a postmodern era. General audiences have become familiar with the tropes and archetypes associated with these properties, and now, they're starting to see subversions of those clichés. Recently, Amazon Prime has been on a hot streak with shows like "The Boys" and "Invincible," and now, Netflix is hopping aboard a similar train with the release of "Jupiter's Legacy."

Based on the comic book series from Mark Millar, the Netflix show depicts a new generation of superheroes who attempt to live up to the legacy set by their parents in the 1930s. During the '30s timeline prior to Sheldon Sampson (Josh Duhamel) getting his powers, he's in a romantic relationship with a woman named Jane. She may not get powers herself, but she plays a critical role in Sheldon's emotional journey as he goes from a man rocked to his core by the Great Depression to the most powerful being on Earth. 

With a good deal of attention going to Jane in several episodes, it only makes sense for viewers to wonder where they've seen the actress before. She has a history of popping up on various TV shows over the years. 

Meg Steedle got to work with Martin Scorsese early in her career. With onboard as an executive producer, "Boardwalk Empire" on HBO had an air of legitimacy few mobster shows could claim. The 1920s during the era of Prohibition is ripe for adaptation, and the series follows Enoch "Nucky" Thompson (Steve Buscemi) as he builds an empire for himself supplying booze to the masses in secret. Of course, plenty of other people were in on the action during that time, and in Season 3 of the series, Nucky got himself a mistress in the form of Billie Kent (Steedle). 

She knows how to have a good time and allows Nucky to spoil her while she tries to make it big as an actress. Unfortunately, those dreams are cut short, as is the case with many characters on "Boardwalk Empire." In an interview published by HBO, Steedle had the chance to talk about the nuances of the role: "It's interesting that even though Nucky is used to taking care of people, he chooses a girl who is quite independent on the outside. In a way, they're both playing a role. They have this contract: Don't ask, don't tell; but there's an understanding that there's still vulnerability underneath all those trappings."

Apparently, Steedle has a face that just screams 1920s/30s Americana, seeing as how she keeps getting cast in roles set during the era between "Boardwalk Empire" and "Jupiter's Legacy."

A few years after her stint on "Boardwalk Empire," Meg Steedle found herself with another recurring gig on the short-lived NBC comedy-drama, "The Mysteries of Laura." Detective Laura (Debra Messing) is typically front and center, but on episode 15 of the first season, she had a little extra help added to her agency when Francesca 'Frankie' Pulaski, played by Steedle, strolled through the doors. She may come with her own baggage considering her husband died in the line of duty while also working as a detective, but she becomes a worthwhile asset to the team until the end of the first season.

Due to an inappropriate relationship, Frankie ends up getting transferred to another department, so when Season 2 begins, she's nowhere to be found. It was a major loss to the cast's chemistry, and she's replaced with Captain Santini (Callie Thorne), who swaps her chipper persona with one of contemplation and order. Fortunately, Steedle would go on to make brief appearances in the likes of "NCIS: New Orleans" and "Nashville" before landing her next recurring role. 

Stephen King is a master of shaking an audience to its core, and he doesn't need to include a child-eating clown in his story to accomplish that. Sometimes, he just has to reveal the utter darkness present in the human soul to craft a terrifying tale, and that's precisely what he did with "Mr. Mercedes," which was later adapted into a three-season television series. The story follows a retired cop who gets back into the thick of it after he continues to be haunted by a mass murder case he never solved. 

Steedle's character, Danielle Sweeney, is introduced in Season 3 as the girlfriend to Morris (Gabriel Ebert); however, their relationship is on thin ice as he begins acting strangely, especially around her. She suspects he's cheating on her, but there's something far more nefarious at play. As is typical for people who poke their noses where they shouldn't, things don't work out too well for Danielle at the end of her arc.

"Mr. Mercedes" originally aired on the AT&T Audience Network, but luckily, there's a much easier way to check it out these days. All three seasons have moved to Peacock for you to binge-watch if you want to indulge in a little darkness.