Young Royals — Season 1 (2021) review and series summary
“Young Royals” is a Swedish series on Netflix that exploits the European noble high school narrative that has made shows like “Elite” a major success in recent years. It is in its own right one of the better releases on Netflix in 2021.
Set in present-day Sweden, this teenage flick follows Wilhelm — eventual Crown Prince of Sweden, his love interest, Simon, and the rest of Hillerska, as they navigate school life, fall in love with each other, and gain new experiences.
What makes this series an instant favorite is its pace. The storyline was not dragged on the floor; it moved fucking fast and the plots were tied to each other very quickly, from the beginning to the end. The last scene of the last episode could just as easily have been the first scene of a film or a show.
The High School clichés are present, of course. There’s the popular senior who philanders and bosses young boys around (August), there are students that come from a humble family who don’t really fit into the vibe all around them (Simon and Sara), and there’s the hot and popular girl who is always taking photos for Instagram (Felice.) Then there are parties, there’s alcohol, drugs, sex, and whatnot.
While there’s no special cast that should turn your head from the start, the character development is something. Teenagers ‘finding’ themselves will forever be a delight. The synopsis is based on teenage Wilhelm’s interest in Simon, which was first introduced as a subplot. Towards the end, the aftermath of their complicated relationship made it clear that Season 2 will focus primarily on just that.
The themes that bind the story together are very interesting, to say the least. For instance, August thought he had problems, but wait till he realizes the colossal problems coming his way. The main theme itself is a ‘royalty falls in love with peasant’ kind of stuff.
The themes and storyline are held together by the occasional suspenseful twists that just keep you glued. Like, who knew little Wilhelm could stand up for himself? Or that the heartbroken, sad, and bitchy Felice could turn nice all of a sudden? You can always guess what’s coming, yes, but that doesn’t take away the fun at all.
By the end, it was all a mess. But I tell you, it is a beautiful mess. Season 2 has been confirmed for a 2022 release and then we finally get to see how things unfold, after a little period of bliss came crashing down like an asteroid.
If you are into films about young adults as they develop (“Sex Education”), or movies set in modern-day Europe (“Elite”), then “Young Royals” is for you. Otherwise, I still recommend you watch the series for a good time.
Binge-worthy? Yes.
“Binge-worthy” means it’s so interesting you can totally watch it in one sitting. You wouldn’t want to get up to take a leak even.