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I don't know what to make about you all's cognitive abilities if you've seen 3 seasons of a show demonstrating how people suffer having to live the life they haven't chosen, how they have to act against themselves for the only sake of keeping appearances, how they sacrifice others because it's convenient and get away with anything without consequences and say it turned you to be pro monarchy.

Ahh what a perfect representation of all the issues I have with this fandom!

Dear Anon,

I would perhaps be open to discussion and potentially changing my mind about some issues you brought up IF you didn't start by trying to insult me. See, it's a very unhelpful tactic when you are trying to make your point across. People stop listening the second they realize you don't have good intentions.

I build my real-life beliefs on much more than Young Royals - a show that was very ostentatious in its attempts to force me onto its message. I have this annoying habit of thinking with my own head and asking questions - it's very interesting, you should try it!!

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I don't know how to phrase this question better, but...

Does Wille have any personality, after all?

Well, I thought that being a prince was a pretty integral part of him His status came as a great point of conflict in the entire story. It had the proper weight, it gave him a solid background and his decisions were obviously informed by that.

Now, we learned in s3 that all his characteristics were merely the result of him hating his life? That he basically has no interests or hobbies of his own? (other than Simon, which is... Listen, I kind of like cheesy when it's fanfiction. In this story I just cringed,)

I wished that Young Royals would develop the characters this season. Instead, I felt like it destroyed all the parts I liked about them.

(And no, I am not interested in what the show's agenda was. I'm very critical of that. That's the point.)

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Apparently, me saying that Wille ran away from his problems was extremely controversial on tumblr.  I observed the reaction off-handedly (because I’m not up to long intellectual debates at this point) but nothing I saw really changed my mind. Every argument in the end asks me to bite into the idea that every problem Wille had was caused because he was a member of the Royal Family and getting away from this was a way to finally be free.

Okay. I thought in this fandom we didn’t like simple solutions to complex problems but I was wrong apparently.

I only commented on the fact that Wille’s issues were not addressed and it’s only one of the conflicts we were never given a solution to.

This reasoning also asks me to believe that Young Royals is a masterpiece and Lisa Ambjörn is a national treasure, to be protected at all costs. Sorry for thinking otherwise.

In the end, I feel disappointed because I thought I was watching a love story and now I have to accept the fact I was watching a political statement all along and… I just don’t like that.

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Too busy to write a 5k essay it deserves but neither the audience nor Wilhelm saw the actual monarchy as an institution worth fighting for or at least worth considering it.

The monarchy was completely absent from the show. You could replace it with a billion-dollar publicly traded company and it wouldn't change the plot. Concerns about public image? Check. Out of control sense of privilege? Check. Spoiled children of rich parents? Check.

No one from the unrealistically small royal family was given a chance to demonstrate or explore the gravity and the positive influence a thousand-year institution can have. Does the queen have causes she particularly cares about? Does she invest her time into fundraising for them? Does she think certain problems are overlooked by the society and does she use her celebrity status to draw attention to them? We have no idea, we only have been shown her caring about the public image of the institution she represents.

Same with Wille: in the show he was never given a chance to explore how his status could be used for good. Were there young people for whom his coming out meant a lot? Definitely, but we never heard about them. Would it be equally important for others if the crown prince started openly talking about his struggles with anxiety? For sure. This list is potentially endless but the creators were never interested in showing anything positive about the monarchy.

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So s3 only comfirmed what I always had a problem with: Simon and Wille don't know each other and.. great fucking thing that the last moments of this story were decided as a starting point for changing that. Was I all this time delusional to believe I was watching a love story? What a disappointing outcome.

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Saying that you’re “disappointed” that Wilhelm is “giving up his birthright and family for a teenage romance that’s probably not going to last” and that you “give him one wild summer before he runs back home” is literally the most bitter, ugly take I’ve ever heard in my life. Hope you can find some joy one day 🤗

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Been catching up on your thoughts and I agree. Making them break up so late in the season made no sense, they needed much more time to be actually able to spend some time apart, grow and then get back together.

It’s really laughable bc they at most spent a week apart and then got back together after the lake scene AND the song and barely even talked about stuff. But they are teenagers so in a sense it makes sense that they would simply ignore stuff.

It was another rushed ending and it’s clear to me that Lisa only had in mind to continue to show her political stance on the monarchy and it pissed me off how every other “couple” had a real and honest conversation while wilmon were either interrupted by third parts or interrupted each other (bc she only can deal with parallels). The lake scene was beautiful but it lacked of something. She put too much in this last season and really thought she could just put bandaids in ep6 but that’s not how it works.

Were we played with s1? I don’t get what happened. That season was perfect with its imperfection and from there it went downhill. Recycling the same things over and over and over again, it’s exhausting.

What other couples had a real and honest conversation? Sargust didn't, Stederika didn't.

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So the scenes of Erik at Hillerska don't make sense to me anymore.

Before S3, he was perceived by a half of the fandom as a Protective Older Brother, and for a good reason. Erik really tried to help Wilhelm, even though he himself didn't have the right answers for the questions Wilhelm was asking.

Back to S1E1. Why did Erik look so happy? Didn't he realize that his little brother was about to go through Forest Ridge initiation? Did he know that Forest Ridge boys excluded SA from the ritual? Or did he consider that experience necessary for Wille? Or was he sure that the students wouldn't do to Wille the same thing Erik did to them? If so, why? August was SAed, and he was a member of the royal family. Why didn't this perspective bother Erik at all?

Considering that it all would be extremely easy to resolve with one short scene, why didn't the creators do it? Erik could simply find a moment to have one-on-one talk with August to tell him "Don't do anything to Wille" or some version of this phrase. It would have let the audience know that something dark was happening in Hillerska and then The Erik Revelation wouldn't come as a complete shock.

Foreshadowing is an essential part of good storytelling. Things just can't come out of nowhere. Was it simply a case of bad writing? Or The Erik Revelation wasn't invented until S2 was shot, that's why there are no clues for it?

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Renouncing the throne would not set Wilhelm free

A question asked of those in the Young Royals fandom: Are you Team Monarchy or Team Abdication?

For those who wish to see Wilhelm fulfil his birthright, the desire comes from him being able to find peace with himself and thus the role, and setting an example by living as the first openly queer monarch in Swedish Royal history. That it denies August the position also helps this argument.

For those who wish to see Wilhelm renounce the thrown, the desire comes from wishing him to be free from the shackles of unasked for expectations, and emancipated from the pressure that crushes down on his wellbeing, his romantic relationship, and his ability to live a "normal" teen and adult life.

But here's the thing: Wilhelm is marked for life. Refusing to become King, and removing himself from all royal duties and the Crown itself, will not lead him to become a "normal" person.

There is a real world, contemporary example of a prince forsaking his duties and being no freer from the media circus that haunts him—Prince Harry of the British Royal Family. The details of his conflict and departure from his royal duties are widely publicised, no less than in his own autobiography. To be sure, the pressures and scrutiny he has faced growing up are horrific—least of all the media treatment of his mother's death—and the racialised aggression towards his wife is beyond disgusting. It makes total sense that he would want to remove himself and his own family from the shit show that is being a royal in the Internet Age.

But rather than give him and his family the peaceful life he seems to crave, the media fire has only intensified. How much of this is driven my him I can't say; but the point is, making an effort to step away form his expectations has not freed him.

And so, to Wilhelm. He can chose to renounce the thrown, and he can choose not to become King, but he will always, always, be Prince Wilhelm. Unless he were to completely cut himself off from society, run away into a forest and never be seen again, he will forever be marked as a Prince.

Wille has also stated that he actually likes the monarchy. Who would he even be outside of it? He can't just get a job in a bakery or be a bus driver. What would he do? How would he live?

What I want is for Wilhelm to be able to find peace with himself and his place in the world, and based on what we've seen in season 3, I don't think it's more likely that will come to him outside of the monarchy than within it. He is a young, troubled man who needs considerable help and support, and I don't think leaving the framework he's accustomed to—with all of the resources it provides—to walk into an even greater media fire will help him.

I want Wille to be happy and I want him to be free. But moving away from his family and birthright is not, for me, the answer.

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I have so many mixed feeling about the third season. The final episode was by far the best from s3 but it still felt incredibly rushed. My main issue with the whole season was just how unrealistic it was.

They had so many great opportunities to explore how the press and public viewed wilmons relationship, but it ended up very shallow. Also the fact that Simon didn't get any protection or even a room at Hillerska as if that's not a real safety concern.

I also feel like the ending was highly unrealistic. No way they are letting a 17 year old make the decision to renounce his title during a 5 minute conversation. I also feel like it won't fix the main issue Wilhelm has. His problem is the attention, but the attention will never go away, even if he is not crown prince anymore. So him renouncing the title and running away with his friends just seemed like a rushed ending that didn't focus on the actual issue.

Yeah. That is my problem with S3 as well. I like the fact that they touch on important issues as well as teenage heartbeats/heartbreaks. Moreso family dynamics. But there is a continuation problem. Not to mention plotholes and timeline issues.

I like they had a happy ending but E1-E5 made me so frustrated with their relationship, so that I cannot trust they will last long tbh. Plus, YR was a European show with masterful execution and it turned into an Americanish production in the end. So, it lost its soul a bit. It became too obvious, too woke for my taste. I like symbolism, I like hidden meanings, I like European type of filmmaking.

***

And yes, he is still Prince Wilhelm. We do not know if Riksdag will accept August as the heir. Maybe they will not? It takes time but let's say they had an extraordinary meeting and decided to take back Wilhelm's crown prince title; he will never not be a prince. There will always be a public eye on him, and on them (Wilmon). And now some people will accuse Simon of "stealing" their crown prince. They will say it is Simon's fault. Sure, they should not mind those people but these factors will all affect their relationship. No matter what, if the monarchy continues, Wille will not be only Wille, he is a part of the Royal Family and nobility. And let's say they decided to be a republic by abolishing the monarchy, it will take years. Attention will not disappear overnight and they did not give us a strong Wilmon relationship to trust they will last long.

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Lisa said that since 2019 Wilmon would be endgame in her mind, but she also said she was not sure Wilmon would be endgame. That is confusing and frustrating. Which one is true?

It is okay to decide on the road but if so, just say it, right?

I know she reads Tumblr posts sometimes. I hope she reads criticism posts as well.

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So many weird choises with the social media plot. It didn't work for me for three reasons.

First: It's stupid

The royal court left Simon and Wille completely alone to deal with the media. The court with a massive PR-team relies on the troubled 16-year-old prince to keep his boyfriend's social media behavior in check. Okay. I guess everyone in the court were busy trying to bring some life into Ludvig while Kristina was too sad and no-one thought to give her pills before episode six 🥲 (good thing that hearing how bad parent she is cured her depression)

I read a theory that leaving Wille to handle Simon's social media was intentional on the court's part to drive a wedge between Wille and Simon. It's a good theory if you believe in the evil monarchy (I guess Lisa does). I didn't see any indication about it in the show though. In episode 3 after Simon posts the First of May photo, Farima tells Wilhelm, "Talk to him. Or we will." This makes me think that it was Wilhelm and Simon in the first place who denied the court to have any contact with Simon. That I can believe at some level.

Simon would want his autonomy, but I don't understand his naivety concerning social media, especially since he recently was a victim of a grave online violation and got unwanted attention because of it. I assumed that he was already laying low in regards to social media after the sex video.

Wille was trying to talk to Simon about not posting with sensitivity and he apologises that Simon must do accomodations because of his Crown Prince status. Why didn't Simon listen at all?

Second: It doesn't fit the narrative

I have a hard time understanding why Simon felt so erased after deleting his social media. It was never established in YR universe that social media meant so much to Simon unlike in the case of Felice, for whom it played a big part in season one. She used it to create a version of herself that she felt other people wanted to see. In YR posting on social media has often been about conveying an image: Felice at the stables despite not wanting to ride, August posing at the gym while suffering from eating disorder. It didn't fit the show's use of social media that an authentic person like Simon would feel so sad about deleting his account.

I got the impression that Simon used little social media. It was implied that it was for example his first song that he posted (he got a comment that was surprised he could sing). So social media hadn't been an outlet where he commonly shared his creativity. Simon seemed to be sorry to delete pictures of people he saw all the time anyway, family and close friends. It's not good storytelling that we didn't see any foreshadowing about Simon's feelings towards social media earlier in the show. 

Third: It breaks my heart

The part that actually makes me cry is that it was established in season one that Wille and Simon truly see each other despite their differences. Wille was the first one in Hillerska to treat Simon friendly and be interested in him and it made Simon feel special and seen. In the same way Simon saw Wilhelm as a person first rather than a prince. Isn't that a big part why we fell in love with their love? Isn't Wille the person that makes Simon feel seen and not strangers in his social media? 😭

There where so many things that created or could have created drama between them; the drugs, August, Micke, their different backgrounds, homophobia, classism. I don't think that Simon posting was a needed storyline in the show.

Sorry to be a complete romantic, but the way Simon looks at Wille from season one—I thought he'd happily toss his phone to the lake to finally be with this boy.

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From Simon's perspective, this scene had to be incredibly eye-opening. Wille is fully surrounded with the choir behind him, the press to his right, classmates and alumni to his left, his parents and the royal court straight ahead. Guards and faculty are lurking. He's fully exposed with nowhere left to hide.

And Simon, standing in the choir right behind the podium, can finally see from Wille’s perspective. He can feel the eyes of the queen and the royal court.  The principal. And it’s terrifying. The frame switches from a shot of the Queen and the royal court looking at Wille expectantly to a nervous Simon, who is absorbing the gaze. All of their classmates are looking and the press are preparing for their shots. He understands the pressure that Wille has been under.

Somewhere inside, Simon feels like he was incredibly foolish to ever expect Wille to face up to all of this for him.  He eyes queen’s teary-eyed smile at the mention of Erik. Feels more than sees the levers on which the Queen could pull to change Wille's mind. And then Simon sees the Queen and August exchange a look when Wille goes off script.

When Wille is finally honest, the gestures coming from the Royal court, together with all of the camera flashes, startle Simon. Their friends, even, are staring. Simon freezes. There are so many cameraphones—is the entirety of the third year class filming?

And Wille just did that for him.  Simon finally understands the weight of what he's been asking Wille to do this entire time—understands that Wille didn’t do what he did because he didn’t love Simon, but because he was in an impossible position. Which he just made impossible for himself for Simon. Even though Simon didn't even ask him to; Simon just told Wille that he's wiling to be a secret.

Wille does this because he knew that’s what Simon needs. He faces up to all of this horrifying pressure and attention and relentless examination for Simon.  Because he can't let Simon sacrifice himself—his unflappable self-worth, his honesty, his integrity—to go into hiding with Wille. As much as that's exactly what Wille thought he wanted. And he does this right in the moment where it becomes obvious to Simon why Wille did things the way he had. Simon understands exactly what it means that Wille is willing to face up all of this for him.

Then the song comes in with, "And you loved me; I could feel it." Because Simon realizes just how fucking much Wille loves him to go through with this in the face of the monarchy, the press, their peers, the fucking world. Even after Simon takes off all of the pressure on his side and agrees to remain a secret, Wille chooses the parts of Simon that Simon himself was willing to give up over the easy choice. Wille isn't choosing himself in this decision—he's not even choosing himself and Simon, who will inevitably face blowback in the aftermath—he's just choosing Simon. The truest version of Simon who he fell in love with.

I'm very new to this fandom, so this has probably been pointed out before. I just can't stop watching the show....

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The time Simon chooses to commit to a relationship with Wilhelm has hidden symbolism. By picking the moment when his now boyfriend is about to give his first big speech, Simon not only confesses his love, he also shows his acceptance of Wilhelm as a royal.

Before the very end of S2 Simon hasn't really experienced Wilhelm as a prince. He only saw glimpses of that side of him. Hillerska is an environment in which students are supposed to be equals. It is not the reality, of course. Teachers do everything in their power to accommodate the prince, students are desperate to become a part of his circle from the moment Wilhelm arrives. Simon sees it but to him - new to the world of riches and nobles - this treatment probably doesn't look that different from the treatment other wealthy students get at Hillerska.

The speech after Erik's death can't give Simon an understanding of Wilhelm's role. The speech is made in a small room for a small audience. Even the welcoming ceremony for the prince happened in a more formal environment despite having less significance than the death of the heir to the throne.

Lastly, the interview Wilhelm gives after the video was leaked, fails to show his royal side to Simon. If Simon ever watched it, he saw a teenage boy who felt ashamed because the whole world could watch his intimate moments and is uncomfortable lying about his identity.

The speech at the end of S2 carries importance that other instances of Wilhelm acting as a prince didn't. He is about to give his first televised address as the crown prince. He wears a perfectly tailored uniform, the royal couple has arrived, students and teachers have gathered to witness Wilhelm addressing the nation. Cameras are ready to capture the historic event. And this is the moment Simon chooses to talk to with Wilhelm.

It is not a fully conscious decision on his part. The timing is just a coincidence to Simon (but not to the screenwriters.) He could have picked a more intimate and quiet moment to say 'I love you, let's be together' and that moment would have been equally significant. But those words are said when Wilhelm is about to present himself as the heir to the throne, and it allows us to see Simon no longer being bothered by his boyfriend's status. The fact that Wilhelm is a crown prince is not a temporary inconvenience or a threat or something to be ignored. It is reality and instead of trying to change it, Simon accepts it.

He doesn't make any remarks about the emptiness of the ceremony or Wilhelm's look. Simon downright says that he is now okay with their relationship not being public and that he no longer intends to report August. He is discreet and understanding even when Jan-Olof demands Wilhelm to finally go to the podium.

cupofteainme said this moment had to look exactly like that because it demonstrates the change in Simon's attitude. In E4S2 Wilhelm points out that he fully accepts Simon but Simon doesn't accept him being a prince. Until this issue is resolved, Simon and Wilhelm can't be together.

It wasn't a coincidence when Wilhelm chose the moment he chose to confess his love to Simon at the end of S1. It was his way of saying 'I am sorry I wasn't ready to tell the truth publicly. I will be someday.' And by the end of S2 Wilhelm is ready to tell the truth very, very publicly. Simon chose the moment he chose to say 'I am sorry I wasn't understanding enough. Now I am,' and I can't wait for S3 to see Simon as a monarchist a supportive boyfriend of the prince 🤭

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The Football metaphor

I'm currently taking a tumblr break. Linking this here in case somebody missed it and wants to read it:

Every single film shot in that 'football scene' is important. Each and every one of them means something...

Read more about the 'football' metaphor here:

This article is FREE.

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I'd love to talk more about the locker room scene in S2 E2 of Young Royals, where Wilhelm tries to convince Simon to get back together with him, in the process (sadly) demonstrating that he believes his mother's feeble offer to "talk" about him possibly coming out when he's 18. This takes place after his almost-removal from Hillerska.

Plenty of people have already pointed out how Henry snitched on Wille and Felice’s kiss, but apparently didn’t choose to tell anyone (as far as we’re aware) about Wilhelm almost pleading with Simon to get back together with him during that post-almost-dragged-out-of-Hillerska conversation. And that's definitely an interesting thing to chew on. But there's more...

Here are a few other things that stand out to me too:

First -

I think it’s worth pointing out the obvious — Wilhelm clearly sees Simon in his future long-term (possibly for the rest of his life). The way he casually says to Simon “So, we’d only have to keep it a secret for 2 years” implies three things very clearly.

a) He immediately and easily sees himself together with Simon in 2 years and beyond. Actually, specifically, definitely beyond. Because his eye is on the prize: coming out and living openly with Simon *after* he turns 18 — implying his focus is entirely on the intended afterwards period. He doesn’t even blink at that idea; it’s obvious to him.

b) He also really doesn’t seem to think 2 years is a big deal. For a teenager who’s only lived 16 years on this planet (only approximately ~11-ish of them in a state where they’re forming conscious memories) to think 2 years is just a drop in the bucket is kind of wild. Even 6 months feels like forever to a kid. So Wilhelm — a child — viewing time from this perspective suggests he’s likely balancing 2 years out against a much longer expanse of time; hence why those 24 months would look so minuscule and shrug-worthy by comparison. In other words: he sees himself with Simon in the LONG long term. Two years is nothing if you’re imagining growing old with someone and spending the rest of your many decades on this Earth with them. (All of this is pretty much confirmed later on in S2, when Wilhelm offers to abdicate the throne for Simon.)

c) He also doesn’t seem to think Simon should be appalled by the idea of waiting for 2 years. Yes, sure, we can chalk part of that up to selfishness and lack of mentalization / empathy for Simon’s point of view. But I’m going to suggest it’s more than that. My takeaway is that he assumes Simon also sees them as endgame, and so naturally wouldn’t be bothered by waiting a bit longer in order to spend forever together. (Sadly the conversation does not play out that way for him; ouch. Though no shade to Simon: what he said in response was realistic and fair.)

Second -

I think we have to rewatch his interactions with Simon as Henry slams a door and slowly walks past them with a raised eyebrow. Because, in S1, that Wilhelm would have immediately jumped away from Simon to create distance and try to pretend there’s plausible deniability about what their relationship has been and could be again. That’s (one) part of the whole point of S1: Wilhelm is not ready to be brave enough to face a homophobic aristocratic world and take a bold stance to stand by Simon.

Instead, in S2 E2, he sits still. He stays right next to Simon. In fact, he *leaves his hand resting directly on Simon’s thigh.* And he knows someone is coming their way! He heard the door slam inside the locker room. Obviously he knows someone else is here. But he doesn’t jump. He actually doesn’t really stir much at all.

He sits there like it’s of no importance, and he doesn’t care who sees. Or, even, who overheard this very intimate, vulnerable, and pleading conversation. A conversation in which the future King of their country is almost on the verge of begging his ex to please be his again… not just for now, but for multiple years’ time. I mean we’re like 2 steps away from Wille practically offering Simon a “promise ring” (not sure if that concept holds up in Europe, but it’s basically a very pre-engagement type thing in the US; it’s not common though). (Their convo also makes it very clear Simon was the one who dumped him and that he’s having trouble accepting that and moving on.)

Yet he doesn’t seem perturbed or disturbed by Henry’s presence and overhearing and seeing them. He doesn’t seem embarrassed at all. He’s not ashamed of his love for Simon. Even more specifically, he’s not afraid of people (Henry) seeing him put his heart out on the line, and of them knowing that he wants Simon back - not for just a hook-up, but for a very long-term, serious, committed relationship. And he doesn’t make any moves to emotionally or physically distance himself from Simon, despite Henry’s clear witnessing of this private moment.

This is a subtle way to show that, even though Wille hasn't yet gone through his full S2 journey of self-awareness and self-growth, he has still already begun changing and growing after the end of S1. So he’s at least started to learn some of his lessons about what he needs to do differently.

Anyhoo, the whole point I’m trying to make is… gosh there were so many fascinating things happening in that scene. And they rush right past us in the blink of an eye! But there is so much meaning built into every small interaction and non-interaction there, and into every nonchalant assumption the characters casually voice.

I’m sure there’s more meaning and are more details I missed, too! What did you think? I’d love to learn more from others’ perspectives, too. :)

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Young Royals and the three act structure, Part two

Here we go again! Last time we spoke about how season one is constructed within the three-act structure. If you haven’t read the previous post I’d recommend you do so, because I’m not gonna explain each plot point again. Now we shall look at how this applies to the rest of the show, and based on that make a small prediction about season three.

So now that we’re all up to speed, let’s get to it!

I wanna take a moment first to consider Wille’s Want vs Need in regard to season two. The Want hasn’t really changed - He still wants to be with Simon. Although we are now aware of his Need, because of how the previous season ended, his struggle now is more about how to get there. Essentially, coming to terms with taking accountability and committing to his values. Consider where he’s at the start of the season, compared to the end. In episode one he calls his mother and literally blames her and the court for everything. Missing the point that it was his own lack of communication that drove Simon away from him in the first place. He’s not ready to take accountability yet. That’s why he can’t have what he wants. In the end though, in episode six, that’s exactly what he does. He admits he was in the video with Simon, to correct what he did wrong. The emotional journey he’s been through this season pushes him to actively make decisions based on his own beliefs, not letting the crown manipulate him anymore. Wille has become fully aware of what he Needs.

We continue our structure analysis with season two. And I gotta be honest for a second, I struggled a bit identifying some of these beats. They’re not as grand as they were in the previous season, making the structure a bit less obvious. The way I see it, the second act this time around is veeery long. But once again, if you disagree with me, let’s chat!

Act 1

Act tension - Can Wille and Simon resume their relationship?

Sequence 1

Set up/Hook - Since this is season two, we already know most of the characters and there’s no need to go deep about what is plaguing Wilhelm, we know what happened last season. But when we catch up with him, it’s clear he’s had a terrible Christmas. He’s sad and alone in the castle, doesn’t speak to his mother, and is very angry at August. Then he returns to Hillerska.

Sequence tension - What’s gonna happen when Wille and Simon reunite?

Point of attack - Wille is eager to be around Simon again, but Simon is trying to avoid him and even asks for space.

Inciting incident - Wille finds out about Simon’s date with Marcus.

Sequence 2

Sequence tension - What is Wille gonna do with this new information?

Things are moving rather quickly here because again, this is the sequel, there’s no need to linger on the set up. So we are immediately faced with the first major plot point, the Lock-in - Wille calls the royal court and blames them for everything that’s gone wrong so far. He also makes the decision to actively fight them, by threatening to renounce the crown. This also establishes the royal court as the main antagonist for this season. August is still an antagonist, but no longer the main one. The main tension is also established.

Act 2

Act tension -  How will he win Simon back?

Sequence 3

The protagonist starts this sequence having learned something new - Simon is making attempts to move on. Wille responds with petty anger. Then we get a pinch point - Jan-Olof shows up to remove Wille from Hillerska. Demonstrating the royal court’s power. 

Sequence tension - Can Wille stand up for himself against the crown?

Sequence 4

The build-up towards the midpoint - Felice advises Wille to be around Simon as much as possible, to keep trying, and that he does. Like bargaining with Simon about having a secret relationship, helping Simon get a spot on the rowing team, and confronting him about his relationship with Marcus.

Sequence tension - Is Simon actually moving on?

And here comes the dreaded midpoint once again - Wille sees Simon and Marcus kiss. He now believes he’s lost Simon forever. What we could call “A false defeat”. This changes his aim from winning Simon back, to attempting to move on himself. 

Sequence 5

Wille is trying to adjust to this new reality where he can no longer hope for Simon to come back to him. We could identify two pinch points here. One is the locker room fight, where Simon admits he can’t accept Wille’s title. And the other is when Simon shows up at the ball with Marcus. Both of these remind Wille of the fact that he can’t be with Simon. 

Sequence tension - Can Wille let Simon go?

Again, some subplots advance here - Sara and August’s relationship intensifies.

Sequence 6

Starting with a plot point, a moment of reflection for our protagonist - Despite Wille’s attempts to let go, Simon runs after him at the ball. They end up kissing.

Sequence tension - They still love each other!

Wille is overjoyed by this turn of events, and for a moment believes that they can be together again.

Sequence 7

Just like last time, Young Royals drags out the drama by adding an extra sequence here. A pinch point - Another reminder of the royal court’s power. Kristina telling Wilhelm that August is next in line to the throne after him. Their argument in the music room could also be accounted for here.

Sequence tension - Wille is starting to realise how much his title affects Simon.

Wille’s offer to give up the crown could be more considered as a character-building moment, rather than a plot point. And Simon’s decision after this is more of a plot point in his own storyline.

The crisis that serves as build-up to act three - August threatens to report Simon for the drugs, if he reports August for the video. Wille reacts very strongly and takes it as a personal attack. 

The end of act two, where the protagonist faces their biggest challenge yet - The aftermath of the field scene. Wille is alone again, Simon isn’t talking to him, and his title has badly hurt Simon once again. On top of all this, he has to do the speech. 

Act 3

Act tension - Can Wille do the speech?

Sequence 8

Here the protagonist will make a big decision - Though perhaps is more Simon making the decision, to have a secret relationship.

Then we have the last major plot point, the twist - Despite the fact that Wille absolutely does not want to do the speech, he does it anyway, because he can’t let August be rewarded. 

Sequence 9

Sequence tension - What is he gonna say in this speech?

The climax - Wille stops, considering the contents of the speech, and disagrees with it. He decides to admit it was him in the video. 

Resolution - The smile they share I guess? But it’s still an open ending since this monumental decision leaves us with many question marks. Preparation for season 3.

The show obviously consists of so much more than just these beats, like subplots and character-building moments. The purpose of these things should be to strengthen the characters, as well as add more depth to the main plot. Take our beloved fish scene as an example, it doesn’t really do much to advance the plot. But it’s a very good moment for solidifying Wille and Simon’s relationship! Which is important to keep us, the audience, invested in their story. 

Subplots are quite interesting and tricky to get right. They tend to follow the same structure as the main plot. It’s also common for subplots to cross paths with the main plot as well, and sometimes even fundamentally affect it. However, since the main plot should always focus on developing the protagonist, you shouldn’t let any of the other character’s arcs hijack it. But you also generally don’t wanna keep the two narratives completely separate, because then the subplot might end up feeling forced and meaningless. A great example from Young Royals is the drug plotline between Simon and August. Let’s break it down real quick.

Act 1 - the deal

Set up/Hook - August approaches Simon. Clearly, they are not friends. Inciting incident - August asks Simon to get booze for him. Lock in - Even though Simon initially declined the offer, he eventually agrees to help August.

Act 2 - the money issues

Pinch point - August returns and now asks for drugs, despite being late with the payment. Midpoint - Simon learns August can’t pay him back because August is broke. Pinch point - Simon gives August more drugs to sell, so he may pay him back. Crisis - August threatens to frame Simon for the drugs after the party. (The plot lines cross and affect each other)

Act 3 - the threat 

Climax - Wille manages to convince the others to frame Alexander instead. Resolution - Simon is safe (for now)

The reason why I don’t account for Simon going to see his father here is because I’d argue that them reconnecting is its own subplot, more related to Simons relationship with Sara, than it is to the August situation. It’s also an unresolved plot line still. Micke showing up at Lucia I suspect to only be their crisis point, or maybe even midpoint? Depending on how the rest of it plays out in season three of course.

Another neat trick writers may use with their subplots, is to parallel the main plot, either to highlight the themes of the story, or to explore alternative outcomes. For example, the Sara and August plotline at times resembles Wille and Simon’s plot, for very good reasons. Like how August and Wille are from similar backgrounds, yet they’re very different people. Especially at the end of season two. By that point the emotional journey August has been on, falling in love with Sara and reflecting on his wrongdoings, you’d assume he would have learned something or displayed some kind of character growth. But nope. Instead, he doubles down and causes further intentional harm to the people he’s already hurt. While Wille, in the same episode actively works to redeem himself to Simon. This is meant to strengthen Wille’s position as the protagonist we should root for, by comparing him to August, who remains to be an awful person. So even though it may feel like season two is giving more screen time to the secondary characters, that still has a purpose for the overall narrative.

Young Royals in general like to use their secondary characters to highlight the overall theme of the show. As @darktwistedgenderplural pointed out to me, widening the view of Wille’s Want vs Need to the want of being loved for who you are, and the need to be your most authentic self, we find that the same principle can be applied to all the five main characters. Despite all their journeys being unique, their wants and needs remain universal. They are all there to strengthen the theme of the show.

So what was the point of all this rambling? I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the story consists of exactly three seasons. The way I see it, since the three-act structure can be found in every element of this show, each season is also meant to represent one of the acts. Season one is the set up, season two is the confrontation, and season three will be the resolution. If we try to map out the entire show that we have so far in the structure format, you can quite quickly find the pattern.

Season 1

Set up - Wille is sent to Hillerska where he meets Simon and falls in love. Inciting incident - The video is released. Lock-in - Wille does the statement and Simon breaks up with him.

Season 2

Pinch point - The royal court proves to be a major obstacle to Wille getting what he wants. Midpoint - Wille and Simon kiss at the Valentine’s ball, proving they still have feelings for each other. Pinch point - The royal court is still trying to manipulate him, making him do the speech. Moment of reflection - Wille considers how much his title affects Simon and chooses to come out.

My theory is that at the start of season three, we’ll get to the Crisis point of the over-arcing plot. Where our protagonist will face their biggest challenge yet and be at their lowest point before the climax. And hopefully, we’ll get a proper resolution this time around! (Something more than a cliffhanger at least, please and thank you)

So even though it’s sad that our lovely little show is coming to an end, I think it’s worth looking at the bigger picture here. The writers clearly intended for it to have three seasons so that we would have a satisfying story with a clear beginning, middle, and end. There are so many examples of shows that self-sabotaged by running for way too long and not being able to keep consistent quality. But the Young Royals team got to stay loyal to their story and tell it in their way, and I think that’s beautiful.

Young Royals is a love letter to storytelling, and you can’t convince me otherwise ❤

[partyp]

Young Royals and the three act structure, Part one

Seems like there was some potential interest in a full three-act story structure analysis, so I’m taking this opportunity to indulge myself by going full nerd. I’m going to attempt to make the argument that limiting the show to three seasons is actually perfect for Young Royals, by highlighting the pattern the story follows.

A few things to keep in mind before we start.

This analysis is not about the characters deep inner emotional lives. We are not here to pass judgment on their actions. We are simply identifying the beats of the story in a neutral and objective manner, for the purpose of analysing the structure of the story.

As you will notice, the points I have identified are all from Wilhelm’s perspective. That’s because he’s the point-of-view character, the main conflict is shaped by him and his emotional state. He’s the protagonist. Each subplot however, will follow the same pattern and has its own purpose, but I’ll get more into that another time.

I’ll be referring a fair bit to Lindsey Ellis’s video essay on the subject, because I like how she describes the structure pattern in sequences. So I’m gonna borrow some of her language. Also, note that the examples she uses to describe the tree-act structure are all feature films. Since Young Royals is a series, it’s gonna divert slightly from her description. But that’s what is so great about this structure, it’s flexible. It’s not meant to be set rules, but rather guidelines to help keep your story relevant and engaging all the way through. If you find this stuff interesting, I’d highly recommend watching her videos!

The three act structure is absolutely not the only way to tell a story. There’s many different formats that works just as well! It’s really about finding what structure works best to tell your story. The three acts however is the most common format you’ll find in more commercially viable works, such as Disney films for example.

And finally, I’m not a writer, but an animator, and I have studied film theory/structure. I’ll do my best to motivate the plot points I’ve identified, but if you’re a proper story expert and disagree with me, I’m happy to discuss!

Okay, let’s get to it.

A three-act structure is constructed of just that, three acts, and roughly looks like this. Essentially, a beginning, a middle, and an end. Or the set up, the confrontation, and the resolution. These acts may vary in length, act two usually being the longest and act three usually being the shortest. But what truly defines them is the tension of each act, meaning what drives the conflict forward at that point. A story will have a main conflict yes, but that conflict will take on many forms depending on where we are in the story. Lindsey Ellis describes each act as consisting of multiple sequences, and defines each sequence by its individual tension as well. Though all points of tension should always stay related to the main conflict! So the main points we’re looking to identify in the story are the main act tensions and the main sequence tensions. 

Let’s go through season one of Young Royals and talk about each story beat.

Act 1

Act tension - Wille has to attend Hillerska.

Sequence 1

We start with the Set up/Hook. The purpose here is to establish the world and the protagonist along with their internal conflict, such as their flaws and/or desire that makes them feel incomplete - The way Wilhelm’s character is introduced informs us that he is royal, but struggling with his role, because royals have set rules to follow.

“Why can’t I decide how the hell I want to live? I want to live a normal life!”

The thing that sets the story in motion is the point of attack. Something happens that is outside of the protagonist’s control/knowledge - That would be the royal court deciding to send Wille to Hillerska without his permission. This gives the protagonist something to react to.

Sequence tension is established - Wille does not want to go to Hillerska. The rest of episode one reinforces Wille’s discomfort at the school.

Next, we get to the inciting incident. An event that disrupts the status quo, and our protagonist has to get involved - The initiation party, particularly when Wille and Simon almost kiss at the end. This leads him to acknowledge his attraction toward Simon and become more proactive in his pursuit of the boy. 

The sequence tension is resolved. Notice how in episode two, Hillerska is no longer the main focus for Wille, but Simon is. The seeds for what will become the central conflict have now been planted. The conflict is usually driven by character motivation. This is where we can consider the protagonist’s Want vs Need. The want drives the main tension - Wille wants to be with Simon. But we’ll find want he needs later on in the story.

Sequence 2

The purpose here is to build up the creation of the main tension of the story. The main antagonist can also be established here -  August keeps getting on Wille’s nerves. Especially when he’s trying to hang out with Simon.

That’s our sequence tension - Wille is working to befriend Simon, but August keeps getting in the way.

The end of the sequence sees the first major plot point, the Lock-in. Where our protagonist makes a decision that changes everything. Usually, something they can’t come back from - In Young Royals that would be the first kiss. Wille and Simon’s relationship has fundamentally changed. The main tension is now established.

Act 2

Act tension -  Can Wille be with Simon, despite him being a prince?

Sequence 3

At the start of this sequence, the protagonist has most likely achieved some kind of milestone or learned something - He’s definitely like that.

To keep the story interesting, writers will add so-called pinch points in between the bigger plot points. These usually act as reminders of the antagonist or the pressure our protagonist may feel - Wille feels he needs to break it off with Simon because a prince is not supposed to be gay. As we established in the set up, royals have rules. 

Sequence tension - Can Wille deny his feelings for Simon? Queer pining ensues.

Sequence 4

The purpose of this sequence is to build up towards the midpoint. We see the protagonist making attempts to achieve their goal - The want never changed, Wille still wants to be with Simon, despite the pressure. Wille invites him to spend the weekend with him.

Sequence tension - Wille is trying to prioritise his new relationship with Simon, but August is still being annoying.

Then the midpoint hits. A major disruption, either from a character action or a force of nature. Can be positive or negative, just something that changes the aim of the quest without resolving the main tension - This time it’s literally halfway through the season. End of episode three, Erik dies and Wille becomes the crown prince. Everything has changed.

Sequence 5

Everybody has to adjust to the new world order after the midpoint disruption. We’ve reached another pinch point - Again we are reminded that royals have rules, and Wille makes another attempt to follow those rules. By embracing his new role, he breaks up with Simon once again, then sort of pursues Felice and joins the society.

Sequence tension - Wille adjusting to his new title while mourning his brother.

It’s common for subplots to advance around this time - Like Simon giving August the drugs to sell.

Sequence 6

Another plot point, where our protagonist may stop and reflect. Maybe have a heart-to-heart with another character, and perhaps make a decision - This is where we see the football field scene and the end of episode four. Wille reaches out to Simon for help, reconnecting with him. This leads them to pursue a relationship once again. They are put in a false sense of security. They are finally together, thinking all is good. BUT, we in the audience know that August has the video of them and the writers keep reminding us of him and the threat he poses. Even if Wille and Simon don’t know it yet.

Sequence tension - Can this happiness last?

Sequence 7

(Here’s where the story leaves the classic structure for a bit, and adds an extra sequence for some more drama, as filler. In theory, they could have skipped this sequence and gone straight to the video being released. This part is mainly here to give motivation for August’s character, making his actions clearer)

So we are essentially given another pinch point, a reminder of antagonist or pressure -  August tries to break them apart by telling Wille about the drugs, which leads to the music room fight. 

Sequence tension - August is becoming more hostile.

Wille saving Simon from being framed for the drugs is more related to August’s money subplot. And the Lucia hug scene is mainly there for character building purposes. I’ll talk more about that stuff in part two.

The plot has advanced to the culmination of the main tension. The crisis that serves as build-up to act three - August releases the video. At the end of act two, the protagonist faces their biggest challenge yet. They’ve hit their lowest point - The aftermath of the video’s release and Wille is totally lost. 

Act 3

Act tension - Can they save their relationship after the video?

Sequence 8

Begins with the protagonist making a big decision that creates the new act tension. The tension in act three will be different, but still related to the main conflict - Wille and Simon talk in the locker room, where Wille says he won’t do the statement. 

Sequence tension -  Can Wille avoid making the statement?

We’ve reached our last major plot point, located at the end of the sequence. Sometimes known as the twist in the third act - And what a twist, Wille does the statement anyway. This narrows down the tension further, to focus on a more character-driven intimate place for the next sequence.

Sequence 9

Sequence tension - Can they be together despite the statement?

Climax, the last big fight - Simon tells Wille off for being selfish and breaks up. Wille also finds out that both August and his mother betrayed him. The protagonist’s need has emerged from this journey and is now clear to us - Wille needs to decide who he wants to be. The want and the need should be different from each other, but still connected. Wille wants Simon, but in order for that to happen, Wille needs to break out of this cycle of self-preservation and stand up for himself against the royal court.

The climax will most likely lead to some kind of character growth - Wille is now pissed because he’s lost everything and realizes how corrupt the royal court is. As Lisa so beautifully put it, “A flame is ignited in him”. Hugging Simon in public is a display of his character growth.

And finally, Resolution. The point where the story is usually wrapped up neatly, but if left ignored, you get a cliffhanger - Which is exactly what happens in this season. Nothing is properly resolved at this point. Resulting in an open ending/cliffhanger.

Oof, that was a lot. How are we all doing? So these are the main beats of the plot. Makes sense? Let me know if you need any further clarification 😅 I was gonna get into how the rest of the show fits this format as well, but that’ll have to be in a separate post. So stay tuned for part two!