Young Royals Season 2 – A royal LGBTQ+ romance you can’t help but root for

Young Royals is a Netflix teen drama show centering on romance and drama. The first season was well-received from fans and captivated viewers across the world.

The series follows Wilhelm who is the Crown Prince of Sweden and is forced to join Hillerska Boarding School after a scandal erupts from his fight in a bar. The queen is hoping that her former school will help Wilhelm stay away from trouble and instill discipline in him. Initially, Wilhelm is against the idea but his encounter with a fellow student, Simon changes his mind.

Season 2 picks up exactly where we left off. The students are home for the Christmas holidays and Wilhelm is at odds with his mother. The fallout between him and Simon is depressing him and he is overwhelmed with grief as his brother Erik is dead and he has no one to speak to.

Season 2 keeps the same pace as season 1 as the writers continue to wow us with how each character has evolved. This season, some characters make mistakes that threaten to ruin their relationships with loved ones while others do their best to mend their relationships.

It was a good decision to introduce new characters this year, which work to shake Wilhelm both intellectually and emotionally. I believe we are all in agreement that the therapist did a great job and he opened up Wilhelm’s mind about all the possibilities that come with knowing and understanding himself. This works into the theme of mental health, which is woven through this season and reinforces the message to the audience that it is okay to get help. There is no shame in trying to be mentally healthy.

Meanwhile, Marcus’s inclusion this year helps to serve as a clear reminder to Wilhelm that he can be replaced in Simon’s life. Marcus adds good tension between the two and makes each of them re-evaluate what their relationships mean.

It is not surprising that the antagonist, August, continues to let his selfish ambitions draw him further from the people who care about him. And this year, we see him develop further down that slippery path.

On the other hand, Sara offers a shock this season as she makes the wrong decisions over and over again. She was so close to her dreams after getting new friends and being accepted in the girls’ manor house but by the season finale, her character is in a very different position.

This season also sees Felice becoming more independent and speaking up for herself, especially with her parents. Viewers get to understand her more and see different sides of her character, which is great to see.

The show may be a bit predictable but it is still entertaining to watch these young teenagers navigate responsibilities, duty, love and studies. The challenges that Wilhelm and Simon face in their relationship gives a sense of relatability to viewers and you can’t help but root for them.

It is worth pointing out that season 2 does a great job of following up on the success from last year. This season mostly focuses on the emotional struggle and longing between Wilhelm and Simon, and in that respect it’s captured on-screen perfectly. The soundtrack is well utilized too, emphasizing these emotions. Every song is absolutely on-point.

Although the story is well-written and the episodes flow nicely, not everything works. August’s budding relationship doesn’t always work and feels unnecessary in the grand scheme of things.

Nonetheless, Young Royals is another hit show from Netflix this year, and continues the great work done last time out. Season 3 please?