Young Royals is a Swedish drama-romance TV series directed by Erika Calmeyer and Rojda Sekersöz, and stars Edvin Ryding, Omar Rudberg, Malte Gårdinger, and Pernilla August, alongside other cast members. Young Royals season 1 has 6 episodes, each with a runtime of around 45 minutes.
The official Netflix synopsis for the Young Royals series reads:
Prince Wilhelm adjusts to life at his prestigious new boarding school, Hillerska, but following his heart proves more challenging than anticipated.
2021’s Young Royals had all of us swooning over a relatable and scandalous romance between a royal and a commoner. A tale as old as time, the series was reconstructed to appeal to the current generation who like to watch things in which they find commonality. To be honest, it’s always refreshing to watch a couple of kids whom you resonate with.
That being said, with the second season dropping on November 01, we don’t want you to miss out on anything!
Young Royals Season 1 Recap
Class and culture divide are the main talking points in the first few episodes of Young Royals season 1, with Simon and Wilhelm’s vastly different economic statuses becoming apparent as the two get close together. Wilhelm’s wild days result in him getting sent to an elite boarding school, wherein he meets the struggling Simon, and sparks fly as the two of them battle their own personal demons and common enemies.
However, things are never really black and white when you’re in an institution like this, more so because Wilhelm’s cousin, August, also studies there. His huge ego and superiority complex don’t match the fact that his family is bankrupt, resulting in him lashing out and throwing tantrums and destroying the lives of those around him.
August constantly butts heads with Simon from the very first episodes. You see, August’s well-hidden drug problem makes him get into the worst possible situations to Simon’s detriment. He owes Simon a huge debt for the alcohol and the illegal medication that he secured for him, which he is constantly trying to run away from. In the end, August goes as far as to blame Simon for something serious, which Wilhelm, thankfully, is able to put a stop to.
Either way, things are clearly not well among these three boys. On the other hand, Simon and Wilhelm’s growing closeness is not unseen by anyone. There’s a sexual tension in the air that the two teens aren’t able to ignore, and after one particularly difficult moment, they sleep together at Simon’s place. Unfortunately though, because the audience can’t have a nice moment, August records their interaction and releases it online, resulting in the video going viral.
Simon’s sister Sara is the only person who knows the truth, but unfortunately, she, too, stabs her brother in the back in lieu of staying at Hillerska and strikes up a deal with August. Meanwhile, Felice, too, after some amateur sleuthing, figures out who shot the video.
In the end, Wilhelm doesn’t take his lover’s side and instead chooses to make the statement according to what the family wants, resulting in a final argument between the two. Later, Felice does end up telling Wilhelm the truth, who immediately tells confronts August and tells his mother, only for her to confirm that she knew and did nothing. Now helpless and without any choice, Wilhelm finds himself lost and can only get any sort of warmth from Simon. Unfortunately, he’s not ready to accept him.
What will be the fate of our star-crossed lovers? Will they be able to find their way back to each other?
Did you like the first season? What are your predictions for the second season? Let us know in the comments below! Meanwhile, you can watch Young Royals season 1 on Netflix.
Also Read: Netflix’s Young Royals Review: Royal Romance