Young Royals - General Discussion

[theschnauzers]

Now that Netflix has officially confirmed a second season of Young Royals to air globally on Netflix in 2022, it makes sense to fix the oversight of not having a place to discuss this interesting young adult drama. 
http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2021/09/22/young-royals-renewed-for-season-2-at-netflix-309514/20210922netflix05/

For those not familiar with this series, which dropped its six episode season one on July 1st globally on Netflix, with both Swedish and English audio tracks, ( the entire cast did their own voice dubbing for the English soundtrack) is the story of Prince Wilhelm (Edvin Ryding) adjusts to life at his prestigious new boarding school, Hillerska, but following his heart proves more challenging than anticipated.

Spoiler

Wilhelm develops a romantic relationship with Simon (Omar Rudberg) and the season ends with complications for Wilhelm between his new responsibilities as Crown Prince and his romance with Simon.

 

[meatball77]

Yay!  I loved this show.  The actors looked like real teenagers, acne and all.

[sking24450]

Happy to have found the forum for this show. I wasn't expecting a lot when I started and was hooked pretty quickly. I loved that the teenagers looked like teens and more importantly acted like teens. It gave me Skam vibes in both those respects. 

Can't wait for S2 and what the look at the end meant.

[scarynikki12]

[scarynikki12]

Coming 2024. I’m hoping this means January or February but it could technically be New Year’s Eve 2024 so I’m not getting too excited yet.

 

[Sailorgirl26]

I was really enjoying this, but I'm halfway through season 2 and am just over Simon. As much as he's giving Wilhelm a hard time about being open, Simon is completely disregarding Wilhelm's very valid concerns and role as the Crown Prince -- Simon is a toxic manipulator, not the tender, sensitive artiste they're trying to make him out to be. 

The only way this relationship can progress if it happens on Simon's terms. That's bullshit. He's whining because the relationship is secret, but literally the entire school knows, and right now at this point in their lives, that is everyone who matters -- its not like sixteen-year-old royals parade their flavor of the month at every -- or any -- appearance. The kids at the school keep things at the school (August releasing the video was a one-off as clearly Erik made it through his school years and his unroyal behavior was never leaked). There could be external public speculation, sure, but no proof. 

Nesse is right -- Wilhelm needs to find someone who understands the larger, national and international implications at play and that this isn't just a normal coming out situation.

Based on the season 3 preview, I'm thinking that Wilhelm is going to step down as Crown Prince to be with Simon and then we're stuck with dipshit August.

Wilhelm is friggin' sixteen years old -- sure, he clearly understands the implications of what he's doing -- throwing away centuries of monarchical succession for a first love. 

Edited October 27, 2023 by Sailorgirl26

[scarynikki12]

I think if Wille hadn't broken his promise to be open about their relationship things would be different. The Palace did what anyone would have assumed and convinced Wille to deny he was the other boy, did nothing about the video breaking the law, and, as far as Simon knows, has made no moves to do even find out who recorded and leaked it. The Queen claims to be ok with Wille not being straight but wants him to wait until he's eighteen before going public. Yet she isn't giving any indication she's working to lay the ground work so the full power of the throne is ready to support him on that day. If anything her asking for a couple of years just sounds like her buying time to keep Wille in line. If I were Simon I would absolutely assume she and the Palace intended to use that time to either convince Wille to remain in the closet "for the good of the crown" or to find, and prep, his spare to be ready to take over Crown Prince/Princess duties. Simon has no reason to trust the Palace when it comes to Wille's personal life and we the viewers know he's right. The Queen is fully aware August took and leaked the video of Simon and Wille and yet she has no intention of having him arrested or punished in any way for his crimes. Instead he's being rewarded by being second in line to the throne.

Simon doesn't want to be a dirty little secret and the Queen asking for those two years of silence makes him exactly that. If this were simply about Wille not being ready to come out I think Simon would understand. Or if it were something he and Wille decided together while the Palace sidestepped denials in favor of loudly excoriating those who make and distribute child porn then he'd probably be fine. You're right about the whole school knowing but Wille and the Palace issued a denial to the world rather than the student body. Simon feels betrayed and hurt and is trying to avoid Wille as best he can in response. 

I do think there's a good chance season 3 will have Wille abdicate, not just to be with Simon but because the royal structure isn't set up to support openly LGTBQIA+ royals and he doesn't want to be a company man like closeted princes and kings of centuries past. What I'd like to see is Wille being out and the show to at least mention the changes real life monarchies would have to make in the event the first or second in line to the throne comes out of the closet. I'd also like to be pleasantly surprised about the Queen and see her support Wille like she promised but I suspect she and the Palace will continue to be the bad guys. At best I think she'll show class snobbery like Nils mentioned and push Wille to date gay aristocrats and forget Simon.