Reacting to Young Royals Season 3 - Episode 2

I just don’t think anything in Young Royals is there by accident, so for me, this scene is intentionally uneasy and that mood is created as much by the odd pacing as by the script, a bit like Frank Sinatra singing deliberately off the beat. God, I am soooo old…😂

Ruth May

I actually didn’t like this episode 🫣 The soundtrack was strange, the conflicts forced, and the party..? Everything just felt off for me. Except Augusts storyline is getting really interesting.

annanas

That’s not how I feel it. The off pace doesn’t make me feel an emotion it just makes me feel the scene was incomplete. I just don’t think it was a particularly well written part of the show, personally.

Jackie-Ross Lavender

Isn’t the pace deliberately ‘off’ in order to create the uneasiness we feel in this scene

Ruth May

I think you’re right, Jayne. I think it’s possible to enjoy Young Royals on a superficial level but it’s so much more rewarding if you ‘read’ it with awareness of how it was written and why. The brilliant writing is one of the thrilling aspects of the show for me. All the symbolism, parallels and echoes from the very beginning of season 1 up to now are juxtaposing duty versus love, the privileged elite versus those from ordinary backgrounds like Simon and Sara, one’s true self and freedom versus familial and societal expectations and conformity. There’s such a richness of detail and so many layers that I can’t imagine ever becoming tired of watching it. ❤️👑❤️

Ruth May

Thanks for this, very interesting.

MIchelle Arbery

Also people seem to forget that this show is more than just a simple love story it is about class, politics the system. Power and privilege and the right to choose your own future.

Jayne Riley

I just wanted to share something that I saw posted on tumbler about this show that I think is true and often gets overlooked. Everything in this show has meaning all the details are important every line every prop every action every wardrobe choice is important. In the 1st episode of this season we saw Willhelm with the heart on his hand s1 ended with the revolution song lyrics a resolution written on your hand. Quote from tumbler Simon draws a heart on Wille's hand, and it's very cute and teenager of him, but he's also creating a symbol of their love. On Wille's left hand, the one on the side of the heart.He's doing it with his hand on Wille's left wrist, over Erik's clock. Which is covered by his pink sweater. Red is the colour of trauma in YR, and Wille is literally wearing a fair coloured version of it. Wille didn't reject the tattoo idea, he said his mother would cut his head off if he got one. Decapitating Royals, another nod to the French revolution. It tells us that it's what she's trying to do - murder their love. Because it's making her sick. Literally. That's her feelings about her son's sexuality and his love for Simon. Leaving the rest of it out for potential spoilers

Jayne Riley

I think this is the point of this season though learning how to do this.

Jayne Riley

Just to clarify, I wasn’t referring to anyone in particular. Just a general observation. It’s all Netflix’s fault for hyping us all up to breaking point by making us wait a week for the finale! 😫

Ruth May

i think they both are scared because of what going on around them but they both should communcat with each other and understanding each other and just talk to each other and they should work it out together because they are in this together and lean on each other for support because they need each other now but i feel for both of them because i love them both and they can work it out together because they both love each other they can get though with everything if they just lean on each other matter what

lisa mcarthur

Ingrid - I think it’s absolutely fine to draw the comparison between the shows. As I’ve said I actually felt the same way with a few of the scenes plot lines in this season of YR. No one is reducing either show by doing so. But, it’s also important to understand that given the timeline of when each show was written/filmed that it is just purely a coincidence.

Jackie-Ross Lavender

Hey Amber please don’t deduce that this isn’t a safe space where you can’t share your opinion. I’ve worked very hard to make it that way and this community has been nothing but supporting in that endeavour.

Jackie-Ross Lavender

I think our feelings are running pretty high at the moment, judging by some of the comments here. In a way, that says a lot about Young Royals, that it arouses such strong responses, whether they are positive or otherwise. We’re mostly very invested in this series for lots of reasons (I definitely am) and therefore have high expectations of this final season, but I think it would be a shame if anyone felt that they couldn’t express their opinions in this safe space. I can’t help feeling sad if anyone is not enjoying it, and saying so, but I respect their right to feel like that.

Ruth May

That would make a lot of sense.

Ruth May

Of course you can and some people agree with you and some don't and that's okay. You are right. It's not about right or wrong. Just different perspectives.

Ingrid Machado Pena

I'm with you, Ruth! I get that people have Heartstopper as a reference, but not everything is about Heartstopper. The shows are completely different. Cute, adorable, intimate moments are not something exclusively found in Heartstopper. Many productions before have done it. It was curious when I saw someone describing a Brazilian film done in 2014 as a film with Heartstopper vibes. Heartstopper wasn't even a reality. Let each production has it's place. I think it's sad when people don't see YR for what it is. You may not like it and that's completely fine, but I think it's unfair to kind of try to reduce it as a Heartstopper "copy" or something like that. I am pretty sure Lisa didn't have this in mind when she wrote the show.

Ingrid Machado Pena

No it's not August it could be Niles.

Jayne Riley

The money dig and the diversity nonsense from not-Annette made me so mad. Just ugh.

snallahej

I completely agree with you about Wille here, Marstrand. 👏

Ruth May

I have thoroughly enjoyed what I’ve seen of season 3 so far but I do agree about the parallels between this season and HS S2! But, realistically, the season wrapped filming before HS S2 even aired so it is just a coincidence. I have thoughts for this season overall but I’ll be saving them for a wrap up video.

Jackie-Ross Lavender

I don’t agree with you at all and I just feel sad that you feel that way.

Ruth May

I have even seen a couple of people speculating that it could have been August, but that seems a bit of a stretch..?

Ruth May

I do agree with you. And I feel so sad bc of it.

Natasja Mrdjanov

I totally agree, but I wonder if in this particular scene Simons reaction and anger in the tent also stems from him being upset that Wille will be gone for princeschool all summer. Besides him feeling that Wille does not understand his privilages…even if thats not something that is not said out loud.

Hanna

Exactly Jackie, and I think Wilhelm on purpose left out the word ”princeschool” to not offend anyone and just said that he was attending a course this summer. He was trying but in Simon’s eyes failed 😔 sadly

Marstrand

I actually completely agree with you! The overwhelming consensus has been that people were cringing at Wilhelm during this moments but I didn't find it cringe at all I actually found it quite endearing how he was trying to relate to Rosh in that moment. There is no elephant in the room - they are quite aware that they are on opposite ends of the class scale but it really felt to me that Wilhelm was trying to bridge the gap by relating to what Rosh was saying in that moment.

Jackie-Ross Lavender

Ok so here is me going against everyone else 🤷🏼‍♀️😏. I did not get why Simon got so mad at Wille for trying to involve Simon’s friends at the rave. Simon knows who he is dating and that this is new for Wilhelm too just as for Simon. He was trying to be nice. Yes Wilhelm was abit awkward, but Simon overreacted in my opinion. This was their first sleepover since we dont know when so that was sad that Simon turned his back to him. And yes Jackie, the royal court should have sat down with both Wilhelm and Simon and explained the expectations on the two of them as a public couple now and especially helped Simon since this royal life is new to him. Simon losing more and more of himself right now and Wilhelm getting more and more responsibility in his lap is setting up for failure between them. I think Wilhelm feels guilty for his mom beeing sick and feels guilty for Simon feeling traped by all this new restrictions on him and Wilhelm feeling guilty for not handeling the princerole as good as his brother. I feel so sad for Wilhelm who is only a 16 year old boy with parents who doesn’t seem to care about him if I’m beeing frank. I love the cute scen between Wilhelm and Simon after the choirpractise. They are so in love ❤️. Felice friends are called Stella (blond) and Fredrica ( brown hair).

Marstrand

I don't think it was Alexander who talked to the press as he didn't have the same initiation as August because he is a 1st year like Willhelm

Jayne Riley

I‘ve never thought about it but this is possible. You may be right.

Anja

Amber

Not wrong that’s exactly what I thought as well.

Darcy Bandaru

I think that the royal court is at least trying to set Simon up for failure, at least indirectly. Its no secret that they don't like Simon. then again, it could just be the fact that everyone in the palace seems to forget that they are in-fact dealing with a 16 year old that has been through a lot.

Dan

Yes, they are stunning!

Natasja Mrdjanov

I also totally loved that scene after the choir. They are both exceptional actors.

MIchelle Arbery

Yes, Jayne, and notice Alexander's reaction when the other kids talk about how the initiation wasn't so bad and they weren't bullied. Alexander's been treated like crap through both seasons. And I suspect that he's the one that leaked the story to the press.

Dennis Verner

Have seen it. Is hysterical

MIchelle Arbery

I agree the directing, creative symbolism and even the editing and use of lighting is not the high standard we are used to seeing. A shame but I think the acting by the leads is even better if that is possible .

MIchelle Arbery

Yes Dennis you are so right that is exactly what I think as well. It is a complex story about society in general and needing to change. It is about having the right to choose how you live in every way.

Jayne Riley

I also think in this series you have to see subtext and see how complex all the characters are. Felice is being used as the token person of color and Felice faces all these microaggresions every day that the other students don't notice.

Jayne Riley

I think Royal courts do set people up for failure in real life. Look at Megan and Harry and Diana before this. They are a clan with lots of unwritten rules that people who have not been brought up in this system will always struggle to understand. They will leave you without protection and throw you to the wolves if it suits them. They care about maintaining the system not the people caught up in the system. This series is about privilege and society. Also Lisa did a lot of research before the show about boarding schools and the culture of silence in the class system. The initiation scandal is similar to the real life scandal at the school the Danish Crown Prince was attending. He had to be moved to another school and his Sister didn't start there as planned. In fact the things that went on in that school were worse than in the series https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/28/world/europe/denmark-bullying-private-school.html

Jayne Riley

I think one of the themes that Lisa has tried to illuminate in this series is class. And I think that aspect sort of gets lost in the love story, which is understandable. I'm no expert, of course, but I think Lisa is trying to say that to Swede's, class is not only a thing, sometimes it is THE thing. Remember Simon's conversation with his friends after he comes in from rowing practice in Season 1. First they're giving him the piss for rowing at all and then are offended when he says he's doing it for grades so he can get out of Bjärstad. Viewers have asked why his friends didn't help him when Simon attacked August. My guess is his friends attitude is -Hey, we are proud people- we don't act that way and besides, they have the power to make things tough, don't give them a reason. The subtitles say August calls Simon a "socialist." The word he actually uses is "Sosse." The literal meaning is really the same but to Simon it's a real classist slur. Wille is trying to be a friend and say see, I'm a working man too. And Simon is saying, dude, you're never had to work a day in your life! Don't try to make an equivalence when you have no idea what you are talking about.

Dennis Verner

I agree about the pace, but I also think it feels a bit off in the storyline.

Natasja Mrdjanov

In general they seem to have a lower budget this time. They don't have as meny extras as in S1 and S2 and that make many of the scenes look empty. Compare the gym scenes in S1 and S2 with this gym scene. They are about 20-25 students in class in the first two seasons but here they're only like ten. In school and in the library it's almost always empty - which in the first seasons only happens once, when August posts the video and Sara sees him. But then we know the others are outside practising or waiting in the common room to see the Lucia performance. Even the manuscript - the camping and the rave, Sara living with Micke and so on - and the directing seems to have stepped down a bit and I'm very sensitive to that so I'm trying to concentrate on Wille's and Simon's mega cuteness instead.

Natasja Mrdjanov

To clarify - it's not what happens in the camping/rave scene that I found odd. It's the way it's written/paced.

Jackie-Ross Lavender

Very well said here and I fully agree with all points!

scarr

I agree with all of this. I also didn't find the rave scene that weird of a scenario, though perhaps a bit bougie - they were definitely glamping! I did think the whole camping trip was a bit rushed though. There was A LOT in this episode and it seemed like they could have done more with this part - it was only like the last 10 minutes of the episode. I also fully understood Simon at the end - I know Wille was coming from a good place and trying to relate to Simon's friends but he definitely missed the mark and I was really cringing for him. Then I was MORTIFIED at the shush in the tent. So something his mother would do to him 😭

scarr

Totally agree - I loved the transition from the scene with Felice talking to the new principal to her in gym class punching out her completely justified frustration.

scarr

I agree about how they use the music this season - it's not as pungent as in S1 and S2.

Natasja Mrdjanov

Omg!!!! Just came across this. Please record your reaction! Its Omar singing a recap of the 1st 2 seasons with Edvin coming out w interpretive dance for the 3rd season part. There are no spoilers. Its hilarious! https://youtu.be/GrARxy-wpq4?si=J7MN9_hDlneQGf6b

KL M

100% agree

Kimberly Green

I think you're so right that Wille's INTENT was to connect and relate to Simon's friends, and I totally understand why he'd be hurt that his efforts to do that seemed to upset Simon. However, I also totally get why Simon would feel like Wille comparing his Crown Prince lessons to the jobs that Simon, Ayub, and Rosh have to work to stay afloat was a little tone deaf. I think he could have handled his complaint about that with a lot more grace, but I don't think the core of it was necessarily wrong, and I also don't think the way Wille responded was fair at all. Like, Wille shushing him, and then throwing the settlement money in his face? 1) As if the settlement money Simon got for being a victim of a crime is at all comparable to Wille's insane generational wealth, and made what Simon was saying illegitimate, and 2) knowing that Simon grappled with accepting it and that doing so went against his sense of integrity, but ultimately did it knowing it was the only way he'd get anything resembling justice? Man, that just felt like a low blow to me. I still adore them both, and at the end of the day, they are just teenagers navigating an insanely difficult situation. Not to mention both of them are in pretty dodgy places mental health-wise; we've seen Wille's struggle with his mental health since the start, but more and more, it feels like they're letting us see just how much Simon is struggling, with his remarks to Linda and his confession about not enjoying music as much anymore. In general, he just seems quieter and more subdued. I have so much empathy and love for both of them, but the tent scene was definitely not the finest moment for either of them.

Jojo Rich

The good thing about reactions coming out at what is 1 AM for me is that there’s a delightful present waiting for me when I get up. The not so good thing is that by the time I’ve watched the reaction, everything I have to say has been said by somebody else here in the comments. The one thing I haven’t seen anybody say that I was going to mention is that I think that it’s not so much that between Wille and August one of them knew Erik better than the other, but that they knew him in very different ways. Each of them probably feels he knew the real Erik, but probably the real Erik was somewhere in the middle of their different perceptions. Beyond that, I’ll just say that I agree that Simon and Wille are both being set up for failure when they are not given instructions together about how to handle the situation, and that I understand why Simon is upset about Wille being so clueless about his privilege and the way it seems to disparage Simon and his friends.

Lane Wright

Exactly! It’s like a backhanded compliment

Diane Furlong

That is exactly what I was thinking about the scene with the new principal. As soon as she said that about diversity, I could see tokenism rearing its ugly head.

Lane Wright

The minute the head teacher said the word diversity she was telling Felice that she was pretty much only chosen for the interview because she was black, that made me so mad and I think it did Felice too. I think Simon is just looking for a way to make the people who ‘don’t know him’ but seem to hate him see him in a different light with his music. I mean, not once in the last two seasons did he even think of posting any of the music he wrote on the I tenet but now, at the worst time, he does just that. I think the rave/hike was just a way of them releasing all their pent up frustrations at the new rules, they hadn’t had any fun for ages and it didn’t really look that bad, it was just dancing to music with lights around them. I think it just looked more like a rave on the screen than it probably was there and there was a teacher and Wille’s royal protection there and they wouldn’t have let it happen otherwise I’m sure. As for the way Simon acted after the conversation about summer jobs etc.. I feel, more than anything maybe that he was embarrassed by the way Wille thought going to price school to do a course is the same as working an actual job for money. I don’t think that’s ever bothered him before but at that point with the class there and his friends he could see the vast difference in culture between them. Hopefully it is just a little blip and it passes over quickly as they both seem to be floundering at the moment and they need each other so much, especially with the news about the Queen.

Audrey Gunn

The conversation between Nils and August and seeing how traumatized they were and it seems still are makes me even angrier at August for what he did to Wille and Simon. He knows what it is to feel that vulnerable and exposed but he still posted the video because he was angry at Wille for telling people he was bankrupt. Kinda makes what he did worse imo. I’m sorry they went through that but why would you go and put your cousin through something similar if not worse.

Shanelle Maria

I have noticed that Vincent seems to have a more active role this season

Diane Furlong

I think the rave scene and hike/trip was really good. It's not uncommon for at least Scandinavian countries to go on trips like that. These are of course rich kids and so they can buy all these lights and bring them along. In episode 1 Rosh and Ayub talk about them and their class from Simon's former school (Marieberg) going on this hike/trip. So they are just nearby Hillerska's camp. The scene where they talk about their summer jobs etc. is interesting and I think it also highlights the differences between Simon and Wilhelm - I do get why Simon is mad - I mean you can't really compare crown prince school to a summer job. However he did overreact in my opinion, and I also get why Wilhelm gets mad. They really really need to look beyond themselves a lot more and not just be so caught up in their own "neck of the woods".

IAmom

Hey Jackie, thanks for the video today, a great start into the weekend !!! I feel the same about August, and I really don´t think this could happen after Season 1 and 2. This season is relly intense, I really hope for the best of everyone !!!

Prinsassy

Well you said it: setting him up for failure. Why would the Royal Court be setting him up for failure? Why have Wille do it? Perhaps because Wille being the messenger to constantly shut Simon down, puts a strain on their relationship.

Dionne Lakey

Just saying I noticed Vincent was wearing a pink jumper in last episode of season 2 have been wondering ever since if it was significant now that Wille has worn one. Especially now there is a story line with that group. And agree Jackie. The lack of communication and protection for Simon means he was always going to "fail".

MIchelle Arbery

Ruth May just now For me, what we’re seeing in this episode is the pressures on Simon and Wille individually and as a couple and how those pressures are potentially going to drive a wedge between them. I think that’s why the hike scenes feel weird and ‘forced’ in a way, because two worlds which don’t sit harmoniously together are being brought in contact to show the social and economic gulf between them. Simon is angry with Wille because he doesn’t feel that Wille really understands the divide between the world and class that he and Ayub and Rosh inhabit and the world of privilege and wealth to which Wille and the boarders belong. Wille is shown trying to bridge this gap in saying that he has to work too and will be doing a course. He even says to Simon that he doesn’t get the choice, suggesting that he thinks he’s in some way worse off than someone who at least has the choice of what job they go after- but he doesn’t fully see that’s not the point, at least for Simon. It’s interesting that Rosh and Ayub are shown as more tactful, more sensitive than the boarders here. They are spoken about once they leave the camp as the outsiders and intruders but when they are on the receiving end of ignorant chat about travel plans, they bite their tongues. One comment, ‘How was I supposed to know that she hadn’t been to New York /the States’ neatly sums up how clueless the boarders are about the real lives of what Vincent refers to in episode 1 as ‘the slums’. (And what a complete dick he is) Wille tries to bridge the gap too by joining the choir and giving up rowing so that he can spend more time with Simon, but I can hear the sound of tectonic plates grinding apart underneath the gorgeous soundtrack and I don’t like it! I think the question has always been, ‘ Can two people who love each other, even if they love each other this much, who come from such different backgrounds and inevitably find all these obstacles to their relationship, actually overcome them? Is it going to be Crown or Heart? Can it be Both?’ The look Wille gives to camera at the end of season 2 says, ‘I did it, I told the truth and there’s no going back now’, but isolated within his own family now, more than ever, he’s beginning to see the fallout in ways that he couldn’t be expected to foresee at the time. And Simon too is increasingly being cast as the outsider, even within his own family, with the added pressure of trying to be there for Wille and reaching across what divides them. In my opinion, that’s why the symbolism of hands touching is so crucial in the series and why so often with Wille and Simon we see them holding hands or interlacing their fingers.

Ruth May

The scene between Wilmon after Wille joins the choir is one of my favorites of the 5 episodes. I mean the authenticity is ridiculous!!! They seem like an actual couple, which shows how comfortable Edvin and Omar are with each other 🥰 And I completely agree with Veri about that scene where all the friends meet.

Frances

The rave scene haaha well I don’t think there was alcohol involved so it’s not so weird they weren’t shut down and these kids have been kind of starved for entertainment and I think the idea was that schools were doing it at the same time in the same area. But maybe it was kind of an odd scene, I didn’t really think about that when I watched. However I completely completely understand Simon’s reaction bc I know wille was trying to fit in but he came off as very oblivious and privileged and I think it probably embarrassed simon a bit and also made him feel like wille and his friends can’t get along bc they are sooo different. Honestly I was cringing when wille was talking about how hr was going to work in the summer bc it’s not the same thing. Also Wille still comes from a family where they “keep private things private” so he didn’t want anyone to hear them argue but WOW him shushing simon was wild haha

veri✨

Is it wrong that I love seeing Felice playing with a Slinky? At least that’s what it’s called here. On a different note, I hate that the School has asked Felice to represent the school and students when it seems that they’re covering their Butt to show diversity. Making her the “token” person of color at the school rather than focusing on her abilities. Maybe I’m wrong

Diane Furlong

Good Morning Jackie, It’s 2AM and I just woke up after dozing off on the Sofa. I was thinking about going to bed but maybe I’ll watch this with you for a little bit. Thanks

Diane Furlong