When I used to think of the “romantic drama” television genre, I pictured cheating, manipulative, and mistrusting couples—the ones that should never have been together in the first place, or, at the very least, should never have stayed together as long as they did. The Netflix Original series “Young Royals” introduced me to a new type of romantic drama—one that is well worth the watch. “Young Royals” is a friends-to-lovers queer romance that portrays how realistic, non-abusive characters can struggle and grow in relationships and as individuals.
The series begins with Prince Wilhelm of Sweden getting sent to an elite boarding school, Hillerska, after footage of him fighting at a party hits the news. The only person he knows at the school is his neurotic cousin August; it is a hard adjustment from the public school he previously attended. Meanwhile, Simon is a Hispanic boy from a poor, working class family that managed to send him and his sister to Hillerska as non-boarders to give them a better education and chance in life. With both Wilhelm and Simon feeling out of place in the rank-obsessed, exclusionary culture of the school, they form a controversial friendship which then develops into something more.
Although their relationship is fraught with tribulations, the boys are more victims of class divisions and outdated traditions than instigators of a problematic relationship. On one hand, Wilhelm faces the pressure to be perfect as his family emphasizes the responsibility he holds for the family and country legacy. According to his family, dating a lower-class boy does not fit that image. Wilhelm’s conflict is well-explained by a sign on a wall at the school, which the show translates from Swedish to: “This is your school, feel your responsibility for the legacy.” On the other hand, Simon endures public judgment and invasions of privacy as a result of his illicit relationship with the prince. Despite his supportive circle of family and friends, he worries about his chances of finally leaving his small town and making something of himself, as well as his feelings for Wilhelm.
As a queer person myself, this type of queer love story is a breath of fresh air. The main conflict in the series is not the fact that Wilhelm and Simon are queer. As a matter of fact, as of season two, Wilhelm has not used any label for himself; Simon has stated that he is gay, but Wilhelm, as someone who has been dragged down by labels his whole life, is more focused on the relationship itself than a label for it. While it is clear that being queer is not something that they can openly discuss at Hillerska, the problem is secondary to that of class.
Particularly in the second season, anxiety is also depicted very well; I struggle with anxiety and have never related more to its portrayal on television. While some moments showing anxiety do convey the stereotypical shortness of breath, nausea, and panic, other moments are merely the character sitting with a deep sense of uncertainty and helplessness, with no one around them realizing their struggle. It took me over a decade to recognize and get help for my anxiety because it rarely manifested for me as it did for television characters. “Young Royals” takes a blow at that norm.
“Young Royals” is an excellent watch for realistic conflicts with a new take on old tropes. It has strong, diverse characters with whom you will quickly fall in love (or despise, depending on the character). The series is originally in Swedish, but the English dubbing is done very well by many of the same actors who play the characters on screen. So far, two seasons are on Netflix, and the third and final season is expected to be released in 2024. It is the perfect show to watch either as an escape from college responsibilities or for therapeutic relatability.
