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 2 has 6 episodes, each with a runtime of around 45 minutes.
The official Netflix synopsis for the Young Royals reads:
Prince Wilhelm adjusts to life at his prestigious new boarding school, Hillerska, but following his heart proves more challenging than anticipated.
– Young Royals Season 2 Review Does Not Contain Spoilers –
Young Royals season 2 starts with chaos – reeling from heartbreaks, going through tons of guilt and being initiated into the Manor House. The second season feels like a chapter that discusses the consequences of the actions that the first season brought forth. It showcases some moments of wonderful vulnerability, the feeling of not being in control of one’s life and how grief and love can shape one’s perspective.
Wilhelm, Simon and August (and honestly, everyone else), although the characters in a TV show, represent kids who are figuring out life. They are all from different backgrounds, but they still go through similar things and have emotional reactions to them, much like everyone else. Young Royals season 2 is, in fact, emotional and vulnerable, with the characters’ plights taking the forefront.
Although we have a clear idea about right and wrong, it’s still sad to watch our beloved characters struggling to stay afloat. The story is such that it gives breathing room for everyone to shine – it’s not just about Wilhelm or Simon. The others’ struggles, too, come forth with tons of depth and compassion. Yes, sometimes our characters make the worst possible decisions, but hey, here’s something heartbreaking to balance out the horrible act!
That, of course, isn’t to say that these are good people. Sure, they are going through a rough time, but it doesn’t excuse their horrible and selfish behaviour. It’s nice to watch Young Royals season 2 pointing that with the help of the other characters. It’s maddening to watch the innocent and cute story from last season breaking down and see the truth about these people.
Young Royals season 2 is, unlike the first season, more complex and brings different angles of the character’s thought processes, especially on those who have huge responsibilities on their shoulders from a young age. It’s interesting to watch them try to meander their way through really bad issues, and difficult emotions and loyalty and love become really important topics this season.
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For those coming to the second season for the cute talks and stolen glances, those are very few and very far in between. As I mentioned before, it’s all about consequences this season, and that is never fun or comfortable. I think there are some true emotions this season and some uncomfortable face-offs.
The last few minutes of the last episode, thus, are by far the tensest. It honestly feels so insignificant, but the weight of the situation rings heavy in the air, and you feel Wilhelm and his discomfort and determination. Wilhelm has not been the best character this season, but man, do you feel for him. I think that’s the beauty of Young Royals, personally. That it showcases very real struggles (ok, except for the monarchy part) of teenagers, who are burdened with adult responsibilities.
Edvin Ryding and Omar Rudberg are, as usual, very good in their respective roles and share some really good chemistry together. Even when they aren’t really fond of each other, you can see in the way that they interact that there’s something there – a whisper of feeling hidden deep inside. Their portrayal of these characters makes you want to reach out and give these kids a hug.
That being said, the series is a bit too slow this season. I mean, I get it; you want the audience to sit around with the slow burn. Unfortunately, though, the slow burn feels a bit too slow for its own good and doesn’t really bring any intensity. In the first season, the couple’s quest to figure out their emotions seemed very genuine, and there was an intensity in the air. However, the series milked that feeling this season, giving us unnecessary plots and characters who don’t bring any tension or conflict, and you are forced to push the fast-forward button a few times over.
Unfortunately, though, we are again left with a cliffhanger – only to wonder, until the next season, the fate of our star-crossed lovers and the monarchy.
Summing Up: Young Royals Season 2
Young Royals feels real and raw. Although without the cuteness of the first season, the second season is raw and vulnerable and deals with some major issues that we all feel sometimes. The series does tend to drag a little bit sometimes, but we love a royal LGBTQ+ romance any day.
Young Royals is streaming on Netflix.
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I watched Season 1 so many times i can’t count. What did i like? Outstanding actors with outstanding character development; expert writing and directing creating tension, passion, humor and affection; impeccable timing among lines and actions; totally a Master’s Class in acting and drama writing. Season 2? Well, I hope they get a Season 3 to redeem themselves. Writing? So many flip flops in story lines my head was spinning, and most undeveloped, each scratching only the surface, as though the writers felt they had to include everybody (and in only six 45 min episodes). The Marcus distraction was nothing more than that, and it could have fed the intensity of the story. Some of the plot twists were as predictable as they were mean. Season 1’s ending was indeed a cliff-hangar…there was no other choice but to give it a Season 2. Season 2? Well, yeah…there would be a lot of things where we would like to see what happened….but i’d hardly call it a cliff hangar. It’s a great cast, with great directors and writers, who seemed to fall just a bit short of living up to their first masterpiece. And like I said, I hope they get a Season 3 to match Season 1. And my pet peeve: they only get 6 episodes (vs 16 in K-dramas, for example, or worse, “Emily in Paris”). What gives? and we wait a year and a half between Seasons? for 6 episodes?