When I was first pitched the show, I was like, 'Oh, God, a soapy

In the ancient stories told by the fireside, we hear of great heroes who face betrayal and deceit, their lives entwined with conflict and the sharp edge of rivalry. Jealousy, betrayal, and violence have long been the themes of many tales. Yet, in the words of Jes Macallan, there is a subtle revelation—a deeper truth beneath the surface of what we see. She speaks of a show, a story that, at first glance, seemed filled with the chaos of backstabbing and rivalry, a world where women clawed and fought for dominance. But as she came to know it, she realized it was far from that. What lay beneath the drama was not a tale of rivalry, but a bond of friendship, steadfast and true. “We really have a core friendship,” she says, and in those simple words, there is profound wisdom for all.

Friendship, as we have been taught through the ages, is not a mere passing gesture or a fleeting connection. It is a deep and enduring force, a thread woven between the souls of those who walk through the trials of life together. Jes Macallan’s experience reflects an ancient truth: the power of true connection transcends the storms of life. When we first meet someone, we may be tempted to judge them by the superficial layers of their story—by their outward actions, their appearances, their reputations. But beneath the surface lies the heart of the matter. In the show she speaks of, what appeared at first to be a world of conflict and deception was actually a story of loyalty, of love, and of unbreakable bonds.

In the ancient days, the bonds of friendship were often forged in the fires of battle. Consider the tale of David and Jonathan, whose friendship stood as a beacon through the turmoil of their world. They were not bound by mere circumstance, but by something far stronger—loyalty, trust, and an unwavering commitment to each other’s well-being. Even when enemies encircled them and betrayal loomed large, their friendship endured, untouched by the external forces trying to tear it apart. The power of this bond, the essence of true friendship, is what Jes Macallan came to understand in the depths of her role. What might seem, on the surface, to be a show of drama and division was, in truth, a story of unity.

There is a deeper lesson here, a truth that Jes Macallan has revealed, though not through grand speeches or proclamations, but through the quiet understanding of what friendship truly means. True friendship is not a space for competition or betrayal. It is not a game of one-upmanship or of tearing each other down to build oneself up. No, true friendship is a sanctuary, a place where souls can rest, where the weight of the world can be shared, and where, even amidst the chaos of life, there is peace. It is a bond of support, where each friend offers strength when the other falters, and where, when the world falls into darkness, there is always the light of mutual respect and care to guide the way.

In the world of modern entertainment, we often see the clash of egos, the drama, the deceit. But Jes Macallan's words call us back to the ancient wisdom of friendship. The lesson is clear: do not judge the stories of others too quickly. Beneath the surface of any tale, there may be a bond of love and friendship that runs deeper than we can understand. Even in a world where conflict seems to reign, we must look for the threads of unity and trust that hold us all together. It is in these moments of connection, when we open our hearts to the possibility of true friendship, that we find our strength.

Let us then, as the ancients taught us, look beyond the outer drama and see the true essence of those around us. Do not be quick to judge or to believe the stories that others tell of themselves. Look deeper, and you will find that the greatest gifts lie not in competition, but in the quiet loyalty and mutual respect that bind us together. In our own lives, we must cultivate these relationships, for it is in friendship that we find our greatest strength. Seek not the false drama of rivalry, but the true connection of those who walk beside you, who lift you up when you falter and stand with you when the world falls away. This is the wisdom that Jes Macallan imparts to us: that friendship, true friendship, is not an illusion, but the foundation upon which all else is built.