“Young Royals” is a show you need in your life.
The Swedish Netflix original series “Young Royals” aired on July 1st with six glorious episodes.
The first episode sets up the plot lines and relationships, with the love interest being at the forefront, setting the tone for the show — academia, rich kids, queer romance. Told with a delicate touch, an even, humanizing gaze, and most of all, respect, it adds to the positive representation of the LGBTQ+ community in the entertainment field.
The premise of “Young Royals” isn’t unique. We follow prince Wilhelm, played by Edvin Ryding, who is shoved into a boarding school by his mother, the Queen, after a fight at a party. The show takes off as Wilhelm explores his relationships, trying to find his place within the school and within the wealthy kids and balancing his feelings for a working-class, anti-monarchist boy.
If the plot line of “Young Royals” sound generic to you — well, it is. But the plot isn’t the show’s selling point. It’s their actors. The show, not being American, disregards entirely the honored American traditional portraying teenagers with near-30-year-olds with perfect skin and hyper-sexual attitudes. This show gives you characters with natural skin, acne scars, realistic bodies and realistic teenage worries. In other words, you don’t have to suspend your belief when watching. For many of the actors, including one of the leads, Omar Rudberg, it’s their acting debut. Not that one can tell — the performances are authentic and heartfelt, and the chemistry between actors are truly teenage-appropriate and natural.
“Young Royals” is a fast watch, each episode only lasting 40-50 minutes, but it is worth every second.
