#Prince wilhelm analysis

[raincitygirl76]

Very cool post from someone about my own age discovering YR and ruminating on the power of both its queer story and its story about Wilhelm’s struggle between the monarchy and the desire to live freely.

[missbolt]

Yes, of course it hurts when buds burst

– Wilhelm in the light of Karin Boye

In the second season, Wille and Simon work together on a group project about the book Kris "Crisis" by Karin Boye. The book's plot has obvious parallels to Simon and Wille's story, allowing them to reflect on their own relationship through their discussion of the book. I wonder whether including a work by Karin Boye may serve another purpose in the series as well.

In Norway where I'm from, and I think in Sweden as well, Karin Boye's name is inextricably linked to her most well-known poem Ja visst gör det ont när knoppar brister "Yes, of course it hurts when buds burst". The title/first line of this poem is particularly famous and is frequently referenced. In fact, whenever I hear or think of Karin Boye, this line automatically pops into my head, and I don't think I'm alone in that. As it happens, this poem may also serve as a beautiful metaphor for Wille's journey in the series.

Here is the full poem, first in the original Swedish version, then in an English translation slightly adapted from Jenny Nunn's translation:

Ja visst gör det ont när knoppar brister.

Varför skulle annars våren tveka?

Varför skulle all vår heta längtan

bindas i det frusna bitterbleka?

Höljet var ju knoppen hela vintern.

Vad är det för nytt, som tär och spränger?

Ja visst gör det ont när knoppar brister,

ont för det som växer

och det som stänger.

Ja nog är det svårt när droppar faller.

Skälvande av ängslan tungt de hänger,

klamrar sig vid kvisten, sväller, glider –

tyngden drar dem neråt, hur de klänger.

Svårt att vara oviss, rädd och delad,

svårt att känna djupet dra och kalla,

ändå sitta kvar och bara darra -

svårt att vilja stanna

och vilja falla.

Då, när det är värst och inget hjälper,

brister som i jubel trädets knoppar.

Då, när ingen rädsla längre håller,

faller i ett glitter kvistens droppar .

glömmer att de skrämdes av det nya,

glömmer att de ängslades för färden –

känner en sekund sin största trygghet,

vilar i den tillit som skapar världen.

Yes, of course it hurts when buds burst.

Otherwise why would spring hesitate?

Why would all our fervent longing

be bound in the frozen bitter haze?

The bud was the casing all winter.

What is this new thing, which consumes and bursts?

Yes, of course it hurts when buds burst,

pain for that which grows

and for that which envelops.

Yes, it is surely hard when drops fall.

Trembling with fear they hang heavy,

clammer on the branch, swell and slide -

the weight pulls them down, how they cling.

Hard to be uncertain, afraid and divided,

hard to feel the deep pulling and calling,

yet sit there and just quiver –

hard to want to stay

and to want to fall.

Then, at the point of agony when all is beyond help,

the tree's buds burst as if in jubilation,

then, when no fear holds them back any longer,

the branch's drops tumble in a shimmer,

forgetting that they were afraid of the new,

forgetting that they were fearful of the journey –

feeling for a second their greatest security,

resting in the trust

that creates the world.

In the series, we see how Wille goes from letting his family dictate his life, to realising what agency he does have, and finding his own voice and path. We see him going from trying to conform to what is expected of someone in his role, to prioritising himself and Simon and their love. We see him going from struggling with whether he as a crown prince can be openly queer, to coming out very publicly.

Karin Boye's poem reminds us of why Wille couldn't free himself from the expectations of him as crown prince and come out earlier: because the growth he goes through hurts so damn much. Even spring hesitates. How can we fault Wille for doing the same?

However, Boye's poem also provides us with hope. They start the group project on her book in episode three of season two, a very painful episode where Wille sinks into the depths of hopelessness and despair. It is as though the reference to Boye's poem which for me at least is implied here, tries to reassure us and Wille that everything will be alright. No matter how long spring hesitates, it will always arrive at last. The painful events of this episode is a catalyst for Wille and Simon's journey back to each other again, for Wille finding his voice and forging his own path. And we know that when no fear holds them back any longer, the drops will fall and spring will arrive at last. This moment comes during Wille's speech at the very end of the season, where he says: Jag är också rädd. Men jag tänker sluta med det nu. "I'm also scared. But that ends now." Immediately afterwards, he owns up to being in the video with Simon, thereby publicly coming out as queer and freeing himself from what has been expected of him as crown prince. The he turns and smiles at Simon, who smiles back. The buds have burst as in jubilation.

Whether the writers intend to evoke this poem or not, it perfectly encapsulates the enormous growth Wille goes through during these first two seasons. The growing process is incredibly painful, but it is what ultimately allows Wille to blossom and turn into a truer, better version of himself, letting everyone see the colours he has previously kept hidden inside himself. I can't wait to see Wille blossom in season three!

[raincitygirl76]

Growth.

The way Wille went from looking for a place to talk where nobody could see them together

To talking in the hallways without caring if someone sees them holding hands

[raincitygirl76]

Excellent, thoughtful review, but chock full of spoilers for all of Season 3 of YR.

[raincitygirl76]

A terrific review of Young Royals Season 2 in The Sophian.

The Sophian is the student newspaper of Smith College in Northampton, MA, USA. I don't know how long college newspapers keep their archives up, so just in case, I copy-pasted the article below. But assuming the link above works (and it worked just fine right now), please go to the link, don't read my copy-paste.

All Things Real: a Review of “Young Royals” Season Two

BY CATE CHRISTINIDIS ON NOVEMBER 15, 2022 | 

ARTS AND CULTURE, POP CULTURE, REVIEWS AND TV

Photo by Robert Eldrim via Netflix.

Hillerska: a private boarding school tucked away in Sweden; horseback riding, rowing, rowdy parties and, most notably, 16-year-old Crown Prince Wilhelm. Still, “Young Royals” (2022) is no fairytale. A simmering pot of angst, romance, betrayal and battles of the conscience, “Young Royals” displays unadulterated teenage reality. Season One ended with Hillerska’s most scandalous term to date, and Wilhelm, played by Edvin Ryding, reluctantly left it behind to the promising tune of Elias’ “Revolution.” In the rubble of Season One, audiences couldn’t help but wonder: would Season Two be that revolution? 

The short answer is yes. The romance that blossoms between openly gay Simon Eriksson (Omar Rudberg) and closeted Crown Prince Wilhelm enters uncharted territory. Wilhelm’s self-discovery is thwarted by the looming sense of duty pressed upon him by Sweden’s royal court, who deem queerness as a threat to the monarchy. Yet, the essence of the story does not lie in Wilhelm’s royal title, but in the title of the show itself: “Young Royals.” It is easy to forget, and equally important to remember, that the students of Hillerska are just kids. Their mistakes are children’s mistakes, and their resilience and bravery are monumental. 

This also means that every catastrophe is that much more devastating. Both seasons deal with a case of child pornography –– a cellphone video of Simon and Wilhelm, recorded through Wilhelm’s dormroom window. Regardless of social power, money or fame, the problems that overwhelm Wilhelm and Simon’s relationship are unmistakably larger than they are. 

“Young Royals” is all things real –– the bodies and situations portrayed on screen all reflect some semblance of teenage existence; simultaneous chaos, uncertainty, imperfection and beauty. The series doesn’t shy away from the ugly side of teenage life: where partying and stress meet drug use and where jealousy leads to impulsive, criminalizing mistakes. “Young Royals” is both dark and refreshing, unusual in its ability to look life right in the face. 

The American media tends to place a beauty filter over the formative years. Audiences lapse into patterns of falsified viewing, scarcely aware enough to ask themselves: Hey, aren’t teenagers supposed to have acne? “Young Royals” doesn’t blink twice at these “blemishes” –– acne, crooked teeth, etc. In fact, they are clearly embraced, normalized and desirable –– clear skin and perfect teeth are not deal-breakers for being the most popular girl in school or the Crown Prince. 

“Young Royals” likewise considers the psychological realities faced in the war between authenticity and duty. Season one introduced Wilhelm’s struggle with anxiety, but Season Two pursues the extent to which anxiety and panic consume Wilhelm after Season One’s events. It may sound cliché –– the prince who can’t handle the pressure of the crown –– but Wilhelm doesn’t ask the audience to feel sorry for him, and neither does “Young Royals.” Wilhelm is much messier in Season Two. He explodes with emotion –– fear, pain, anger, guilt and sadness –– and, without Simon, there is nowhere for it to go. He is selfish, rude, depressed, spoiled and makes bad choices. But Wilhelm’s reasons for not wanting to be Crown Prince are rightfully selfish; at 16, he is resigning himself to an empty and dishonest life. Forced by his mother, the Queen, Wilhelm begrudgingly sees a therapist, and while he resents the need for it, Season Two’s “revolution” finds Wilhelm overcoming his personal barriers to enact change.  

Wilhelm and Simon are separated by class more than anything. Wilhelm, as a member of the royal family, is an elite, while Simon, a non-boarder, can’t afford to live at the school. While Wilhelm tries to understand Simon (and vice versa), there are times when their differences speak louder than they do. Simon’s inability to understand why Wilhelm, as Crown Prince, can’t disregard the crown and take a stand, clashes with Wilhelm’s inability to see how Simon’s social status caused him to receive the brunt of the backlash for the sextape. Season Two is a testament to revisions and the rightings of wrongs; as Wilhelm works through his own emotions, he learns to use his power and status for progress.

Season Two of “Young Royals” is all about decisions; specifically, revising and listening to one’s conscience to make the right one. Which decision will start a revolution, which will fuel it, which will kill it? Despite the tumultuous path to togetherness, Simon and Wilhelm have an incredibly realistic and healthy relationship. They show love through communication; their need to be seen, heard and understood by each other is unshakable. It makes the moments when they do touch –– which are surprisingly few and far between –– feel all the more worth fighting for. Wilhelm certainly agrees; each season begins and ends with his eyes locked on the camera. This is his story, and he’ll go to war for it.  

[bigalockwood]

I think it’s worth mentioning that after the break-up in season three, we see what Wille has learned from the break-up in season two.

He approaches Simon in the library but keeps his distance, trying to hold the balance between telling him the truth (he feels empty) but clearly also struggling to find words that don’t inflict further pain on Simon. He’s trying to be honest but not manipulative.

At the party he doesn’t even approach Simon, even though he sees him. Simon has to go to him first, until Wille, clearly in pain, says yes to forgetting everything for the night. If Simon hasn’t gone up to him, I don’t think Wille would’ve approached him all night.

And then at the graduation, Wille only goes to Simon to say thank you for the song and let him go, repeating what he intended to do at the Valentines ball. He would’ve let Simon go, then and there, if he hadn’t realized that Simon doesn’t actually want to be let go off and that he doesn’t need to be the Crown Prince and can just… be Wille.

No one dare say Wille hasn’t grown or learned.

[raincitygirl76]

And we’re back up to 500 posts to reblog in the queue. You people talk too much! And say too much good stuff!

Okay but the scene where Wille sees Simon for the first time is cinematic excellence and in this essay I will discuss why

My cousin pointed this out to me that when Wilhelm arrives at the church, all our attention is taken up by the arrival of Felice, as she and Wilhelm greet each other.

We barely notice Simon entering the scene as it is Wilhelm's POV, and he doesn't notice Simon, so neither do we. Plus, they purposely placed him behing Felice so he never stands out.

Simon starts singing but he isn't giving his best. Wilhelm's attention is everywhere but not on Simon. In this scene, Simon is continuously going in and out of the camera's focus, sometimes even blurred. The lightening doesn't help either, Simon is clearly not the main subject.

But when the bloke interrupts the choir, that's when Simon starts giving his best and sings out loud in defiance. And that's when magic happens.

Wilhelm notices him properly for the very first time- he's the main subject of the camera and the lightening, he's the main lead now. Wilhelm actually ✨SEES✨ him, and so do we.

And for him Simon is the most beautiful thing he's ever seen at that moment, because just look at this- the angle, the light, his smile- everything just makes him look ethereal.

At that moment, he's the most beautiful thing we've seen too, all because Wille finds him to be. Combined with Omar's otherworldly singing, it's just *chef's kiss*

The cinematography of that whole montage is out of the world, it's so well thought out.

Stuck in my brain, it kept me sane ~

[bigalockwood]

What’s even better about Augusts fate is that Wille didn’t give him the title out of spite, as a final fuck you of some sorts. No. He’s forgiven August as much as he can. He thinks he’s doing him a favor.

[bigalockwood]

Would like to gently remind everyone that in less than a year Wille had to transfer schools against his will, got made fun of for the club fight on social media, got hazed in an incredibly traumatizing way, lost his brother, learned shit about his brother, been betrayed by someone he thought he could trust (because of his brother), fell in love, was outed very publicly, had a recording of him having sex leaked, was forced into the closet by his own mother, lost the boy he loved, came out to the entire world, had to take on a bigger role as the Crown Prince, never got time to grieve, continues to get manipulated by his mother and the court, is hounded by the press and just 17. And there’s probably more I could mention.

Yes, of fucking course he isn’t perfect. He also grew up in a super toxic environment where he didn’t learn shit about controlling his emotions or healthy communication. But he’s trying and willing to learn. I really don’t get why he’s being judged as harshly.

[omarcitoloves]

simon has lost everything that made wille fall in love with him and wille doesn't even notice.

it's a heartbreaking story to watch but in a brilliant way i'm fixated on it. and not in a simon deserves better than wille way but in a they both need to find themselves again in order to be happy.

simon is proud of his morals and who he is as a person, he's never been apologetic of it and wants people to know because it is deeply important to him to have a strong self identity in a world where he comes from a broken home, where he's gay, where he's lower socioeconomic class, where he's poc in a hugely white community, and where he has leftist ideals in a monarchist country. when wille tells him he can't post on socials because it reflects on something the crown can't have a position on, he feels he's losing his voice. and all wille can see is trying to minimize a headache.

singing has been simon's lifeline throughout the show, and something thats important to him because it is one of the good memories he has with his dad. when wille sees he posted himself singing all he can see is simon drawing more attention, it needs to be deleted. he doesn't even comment on simon's singing or let alone the lyrics which they make it seem he clocks what simon is saying this season as apposed to last but he's too focused on himself.

and then when simon admits to wille outside he feels he's losing his voice and confidence, everything has become too much. he can't enjoy singing, he's not pursuing a solo this season for the first time and he can hardly string together his song. but it goes over wille's head, he can't even notice the gravity of what simon is trying to say to him

at the sit in simon initially stands his ground and calls out all of their hypocrisy and rightfully points out wille only takes a stand when its low risk for him, but he caves lated because he doesn't want to disappoint wille and doesnt want wille to be mad at him. and despite wille saying he likes that they learn from the other's perspective, he doesn't make a move to understand any of simon's pov.

simon had to throw up a white flag in ep 5 becuase not only had simon shriveled into a shell of himself and wille not noticed, this change of simon was enabling the way the monarchy breaks wille. previously, and in glimpses this season we have seen simon show wille where the monarchy goes wrong and tries to pull wille into safety a bit but wille can not see past the status quo this season. he got simon so why should he worry right? but this is not the simon he loves, there is no point to this simon. if this is the guy you wanted to love you could've found anyone who was ok with a private relationship why go after the proud boy who is the antithesis to you?

this gives me hope for ep 6. i think wille needed a rude awakening desperately because he was depriving simon of the oxygen he needs to flourish and letting himself drown at the same time. wille needs to see why he fought so hard for simon, why simon was so important to them. they are so special, wille needs to get past the weight of the crown

[raincitygirl76]

The OP wrote this in between S2 and S3.

My most passionately-held controversial Young Royals take: Wille should absolutely abdicate the throne. (Season 2 spoilers ahead.)

"But Wille would make a good king!" There are no good cops, there are no good US presidents, there are no good kings. Monarchies are inherently unjust. The whole foundation of a monarchy is the idea that one family deserves exorbitant wealth and status at the expense of the majority just because they had the luck to be descended from some guys who probably killed and maneuvered their way into power and control. Monarchies are about the powerful dominating and exploiting the masses, and especially the already-oppressed. The writing of Young Royals isn't shy about showing how inhumane the monarchy is, and how holding power does not mean you deserve it. ALSO Wille doesn't want to be king!! He doesn't want that power, responsibility, or exposure, and he's likely becoming skeptical of the legitimacy of monarchy in general. Also "don't let Erik down" is just not a good reason, it doesn't make any sense. (Ok, the only scenario where he should be come king is if he plans to abolish the monarchy immediately afterward.)

"But then August would be king!" Well, ideally, Wille's abdication would result in a crisis that would lead to the end of the monarchy. But even if August did become king, maybe he and the monarchy deserve each other! They're both toxic. If the pressure of being prefect was tearing him up, just wait til he's king. It's not the ethical conundrum that it would be if the monarch of Sweden had any actual political power.

"But it would be cool/historical/good representation to have a queer king and prince consort." No, it wouldn't. It would be cool to have a queer couple cause the end of the monarchy. The systems of domination and exploitation that legitimize monarchies are the same ones that underlie sexism, racism, and yes, homophobia. Letting a queer person be in charge of the exploitation machine isn't justice. Ending the exploitation machine is justice. (This is also why discussions of whether Kristina is homophobic just run in circles-- her individual sympathies or lack thereof don't matter because her loyalty is to an institution that is inherently unjust and incompatible with queer liberation.) Also, Simon would never ever want to be a prince consort or involved in the monarchy in general! Lol! I think that's the clearest part of all this.

Again, I think the show is very clear about being anti-monarchy. It's critical of Sweden's class structure, and the monarchy is the pinnacle of that structure. The "welfare fraud vs. tax evasion" discussion shows the entitled and inhumane mindset of the wealthy students. The very creepy Society shows that the monarchy and the 1% are in a symbiotic relationship with the shared goal of keeping status and wealth in the hands of a few noble (i.e. been around for a long time i.e. white) families.

I do get the affinity for the Cinderella story happy ending idea! It's a compelling fairytale. And that's part of what fanfic is for. But as @communityradiointerndanielle put it: Young Royals and Red, White & Royal Blue have similarities and understandable fandom overlap, but the difference is: RWRB paints liberal aesthetics over the unjust institutions to let progressive-minded people enjoy the Cinderella fantasy without feeling guilty. Young Royals is a cautionary tale about why you don't actually want the Cinderella fantasy.

(This post brought to you by a recent poll where ~75% said Wille should not abdicate. Thankfully a few people including @tooindecisivetopickaurl, @antigorite, @emberc, eloquently disagreed or qualified this in the RBs!)

[othervee]

The birthday breakup

For some reason I have been musing over Wilmon's birthday breakup and what might have happened if Simon hadn't done it. I'm very interested in what possible futures might have played out and I'm convinced that if they hadn't split up then, they would never have ended up together.

When Wille excuses himself from dinner, Simon is trying to negotiate the situation as best he can. Wille is allowed to be upset, but he's also abandoned Simon to two people who barely know him, are talking without him about someone he never knew, and have nothing in common with him except Wille. Polite as the three of them are to each other, Simon and Wille's parents don't really know how to interact with them at the best of times, and this is not the best of times.

What Simon sees and hears when he goes to talk to Wille in the corridor is really important. He offers to leave. He can feel the air vibrating with tension and he knows that his presence is just standing in the way. Wille wants to hash things out through talk while his parents are in denial. Simon's presence provides a shield for them all to hide behind; we need to be polite and pretend everything's fine in our first real interaction with our son's boyfriend.

Simon's offer to remove himself is actually the most sensible thing he can do. He's fairly casual in the way he offers to go, and also in the way he says to Wille, "Please don't leave me alone with your parents like that." It's making his wishes clear and honest but keeping things as light as he can, not wanting to increase the tension in the air.

Wille, though, is incredulous that Simon even suggests this but his main response is "I… I need you here!"

In that moment and in the scene that follows, I think Simon sees what their future will be if he accepts the role he's being set up to play. He'll be Wilhelm's mascot, his buffer, his shelter from the storm.

I'm not suggesting that Wilhelm is the selfish one and Simon's the selfless one, because things are more complicated than that. Wilhelm loves Simon for himself. But Wilhelm at the palace inhabits a different world and is under different pressure, and as the cracks worsen he needs Simon there to comfort him and soothe his feelings and be on his side. Wilhelm hasn't had anyone on his side in the palace since Erik died. At the palace Simon is his buffer, his shelter from the storm.

But having Simon there will also mean Wille has a crutch to lean on, and an excuse to keep going in the same old patterns with his parents, because he thinks he can bear it as long as he has Simon. And that means he will stay in this role, he will keep trying to fit himself into the wrong shape, even as everything cracks and shatters around him. And eventually things with Simon will sour as well.

Simon can't fix the family relationships, and he can't stop the bad things from happening, and he can't give Wille the tools he needs to cope because - like Wille - he's a teenager. A teenager who has no idea how to operate in Wille's unfamiliar royal world. Wille needs Simon to ward off the bad atmosphere, but he'll only end up poisoning them both. So Simon needs to go. Going might not fix anything, but staying definitely won't. It will give Wille an excuse to maintain the status quo.

So Wille doesn't give up the crown for Simon. Absolutely not. But Simon's action in breaking up with him helps to create the conditions that make Wille able and willing to give up the crown for himself.

[dusty-daydreams]

A lot of the things that Wille found attractive in Simon in season 1 became obstacles in when they were finally allowed to be in a relationship.

Simon’s principles - attractive in season 1 but a reason to pull away for fear of judgement in season 3

Simon’s willingness to stand up to bullies - attractive when it’s against Vincent the first time Wille ever saw him but a problem when Simon should be ignoring the online and physical harassment in season 3

Simon’s singing - attractive in season 1 but a problem because Simon is drawing attention to himself in season 3

Wille wanted what he couldn’t have and then he got it and didn’t change anything about his circumstances so that he could have him

[omartinyosef]

JUST LOOK AT HIM

SIMON'S SWEETNESS IS EVERYTHING WE NEED. LOOK AT FUCKING HIM AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

HIS FUCKING VOICE AND THE LITTLE ''NEJ'' IS EVERYTHING AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

[raincitygirl76]

Am I a bad person if reading the above made me cackle with schadenfreude? The fact that Wilhelm handed over this poisoned chalice without malice is just astoundingly delightful.

What’s even better about Augusts fate is that Wille didn’t give him the title out of spite, as a final fuck you of some sorts. No. He’s forgiven August as much as he can. He thinks he’s doing him a favor.

[wrath-of-the-sea]

An analysis of Wille arriving at Hillerska with Erik‘s car vs. leaving in Sara‘s car

Lisa Ambjörn herself asked for this, and she shall receive.

The first time we see Wilhelm arrive at Hillerska it is with Erik. They arrive in an expensive sports car. Wille doesn‘t know what the future has to offer for him, but he knows he doesn‘t want to be at the school. The last time we see Wilhelm in a car, he is leaving Hillerska behind. He has just renounced the throne. He sits in an old Volvo with his chosen family. He has finally grown up.

Wilhelm started a revolution at Hillerska which led to the school shutting down. Erik‘s car is a symbol for the old system and they‘re leaving everything behind in Sara’s car. It‘s a fresh start.

The sports car represents not only Erik, but Wilhelm‘s position as a prince. It symbolises his privileges, his position in the upper class. His family has money and he benefits from it. And yet, while Erik seems to be enjoying himself in the wind, he isn‘t happy. This is one of our first glimpses at the fact that Wille feels trapped in the postion he is in.

The old Volvo can also be seen as a representation of Wilhelm‘s feelings. It being an old and not super expensive car is obviously a literal cosquence of it coming from Micke. But it can also mean more: Wilhelm has decided to leave the title of Crown Prince behind. It’s a common car - all Wille wants is to live a normal and common life. He has also decided to bridge over the class differences between Simon and himself. Wilhelm is now in a place where he‘s willing to unlearn his own classist views and privileges. They‘re willing to compromise, they‘ll make it work.

Apart from the cars‘ price classes it‘s also important to mention the type of car they‘re driving. Erik drives an open-roof Cabrio while Sara drives a car with a closed roof. The roof represents the public eye. Wille was uncomfortable at the beginning. He didn‘t want to be perceived by the public, but he had no choice and nowhere to hide or escape to.

Now, in the end, he has renounced his title and he chooses not to be in the public eye any longer. The car roof is closed, and he finally has a way to hide. But Wilhelm chooses to do the opposite. He leans out the window. He is ready to face the world and to finally be his true self. And he has not only Simon in his arms to help him, but Felice and Sara are with him as well. They have become family. Wille is finally free.