#wilmon

[love-byers]

the van scene is going to pay off. THE VAN SCENE IS GOING TO PAY OFF. the VAN SCENE. (where will basically stabs himself in the heart and accepts that he's going to be desperately and unrequitedly in love with mike for the rest of his life) is going to PAY OFF.

DO YOU GUYS REALIZE WHAT THIS MEANS?? ROMANTIC TROPES LIKE THIS CAN ONLY GO ONE WAY

okay okay for example, in young royals (spoilers ahead) season 1 ends with simon and wilhelm at odds because wilhelm denied their relationship to the public despite telling simon he would tell the truth. simon decides he can't be wilhelm's secret and basically breaks up with him.

then, in s2, wilhelm is constantly trying to weasel his way back into being with simon because he desperately misses him, but simon sticks to his word and doesn't cave in. simon gets a new boyfriend and wilhelm fucking SPIRALS and briefly becomes borderline psychotic, but then one night at a dance/party/ball where he properly meets simon's boyfriend, he gives up and accepts that simon is moving on, like simon has been asking him to do all season. he tells simon that he's sorry for bothering him and that he'll leave him alone from now on and his boyfriend seems nice. he does the thing that deeply hurts himself, but he believes will make simon happy. he chooses simon's happiness over his own. he does the right thing. he does the selfless thing.

and guess what happens next? simon follows wilhelm outside and kisses him and they make out in a garden. wilhelm got what he wanted, but only after putting simon's happiness before his own.

and this same thing happens at the end of the season. in s2 simon goes on a journey of learning to understand why wilhelm wants their relationship to be a secret, because at first in s1 he doesn't at all and it makes him very angry. but by the end of s2 he finally understands. he tells wilhelm that he wants to be with him and if that means they have to be a secret, then so be it. simon makes a sacrifice. he lets go of his integrity towards himself and decides to be wilhelm's secret, even though that's not the ideal scenario. he knows it's what wilhelm wants, and if that's the only way it'll work, then so be it.

and guess what happens next? wilhelm goes up in front of the whole country and admits that he is in a relationship with simon and that he won't be hiding any longer. simon got what he wanted all along, but only after putting their love before his own self-integrity.

are you getting what i'm saying?

in writing, sacrifice and making the difficult decision rewards characters with getting what they want. that's what makes it so satisfying, that's what makes it PAY OFF. that's what "pay off" means. hard work pays off. hard, uncomfortable, painful, sorrowful work pays off because something good comes from it. something so good that it makes all the pain worth it, because the pain is what directly lead to it. simon and wilhelm didn't get the happiness they wanted until they sacrificed something they wanted for the overall good or the good of someone else. they didn't get what they wanted until they were selfless.

literally the only way a scene like the van scene can pay off is with will getting what he wanted all along. there is literally no other way i can see this going. it's just unheard of for a plot point like this to end in any other way than in will's favor. will giving the painting to mike is symbolic of him letting go and accepting that he will always love mike and will never be loved back. the painting itself is symbolic of will's feelings. it's wills feelings in a physical form, because after the van scene will does not plan on ever bringing it up again. that's why the painting has to exist, so that will's feelings can come to light in s5, because will is not gonna be the one to bring it up. he thinks it's game over. mike gently confirming to will that it is indeed game over but being an ally to him is not a reward, that's the bare minimum. like i can't stress to you enough how an arc conclusion like that is the exact thing writers are taught not to do, the exact thing we are warned against in school. the exact thing that gets a bad response in a workshop. you just don't do it you don't, especially not with a character as tortured and marginalized as will byers

anyways my point is, the thing will used to accept that mike will never love him and push mike and el together (the painting) is going to be the very thing that pulls mike right back in. this painful and selfless thing that will did is actually going to bring him the biggest reward, the thing he's always wanted. that's just how writing works bro

edit: and i wanted to add one more in here real quick bc ive seen people say "oh so only happy endings make sense??" when bylers say will deserves a happy ending

no, that's not the case at all. "pay off" does not equate to "happy ending" payoff can mean all kinds of things. if a character repeatedly makes bad decisions and it lands them in the shitter, that's pay off. that's good writing. unless you're writing a story just created to make people sad and leave people unsatisfied as some sort of statement, there is absolutely no reason for that.

and another good example of pay off that isn't necessarily happy: the hunger games (spoilers ahead). the hunger games is a story about oppression and corruption and abusive government. it's a commentary on control and abuse of power and how it hurts people. the whole thing is kick started by katniss volunteering for the games in place of her sister, it's kick started by katniss trying to keep her sister alive. so prim (her sister) ultimately dying in the last book can be considered payoff. and though this isn't happy, it works because of the overall theme of the books. it's about abuse, tragedy, trauma, etc etc. and it goes even deeper when you consider the fact that prim was killed by a bomb made by "the good side", because mockingjay (the last book) delved into showing the beginnings of yet another abusive controlling government and how more war and killing only leads to more suffering for EVERYONE. prim dying is UNFAIR. and that's the point. that's why the whole thing, ALL the corruption, even on the "good side" must come down because it only leads to tragedy and unfairness. though this is quite depressing, it is "pay off". it's good writing

okay hunger games ted talk over

[piggyinparadise]

I've been coming across so many random pics that can be Wilmonified, sooooo I did what any sane person would do...... I made a whole Pinterest board. Let me show you some of them 🫢

[in-amor-veritas]

Oh hi so chapter 6 is actually real. Go thank @phneltwrites for all their help bc realistically I’d probably still be struggling with this one without them💕

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They dance and the ebb and flow of the crowd pushes them together until they are almost chest to chest until suddenly there’s a break that allows them a pocket of space where the heat from each other's bodies doesn’t quite reach.

He exists in a space where he’s both extremely conscious of every movement Wille makes and yet remains willfully ignorant. It’s of course, a blatant dichotomy, and a bit of hypocritical self-gaslighting, but he’s determined to enjoy this evening because realistically this is probably one of the last times it will be the two of them like this and it’s fun to remind himself of how exciting it is to be with Wilhelm, to remind himself of all the good days they had before things went wrong.

Every touch sits on the periphery of his attention where he’s extremely aware of the movement of air between them and the feeling when his fingertips accidentally brush against his side.

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read here

Also, I wanna add everyone who has left me comments and told me how much I love this story. It means so much to me. That’s what keeps me going.💕

[caramelpenguin]

"What does the poster say?" Simon grumbles. The lights will start flashing soon, a cacophony of colour, and he wants to know before their voices are swallowed by the crowd of hundreds. "You keep mentioning it but you won't tell me!"

He only knows Wille is nervous because he recognises the way his eyes keep flickering to the right and the small but measured breaths he's taking. There's nerves swimming in those auburn eyes, and Simon would put an arm around Wille or tell him everything will be okay....if he knew what was going on.

"Let's see if Marco spots it first, yeah?" Wille gulps. He's practically vibrating.

Simon huffs jokingly, but there's nothing more he can say as the drums kick in and the venue is flooded by deep blue lights. A chant begins, the roar of the crowd vibrating through his bones.

Most of it is a fever dream—his favorite singer on stage, the boy he dreams about at night next to him, both of them screaming the lyrics, their hearts syncing with the beat of the music. It’s everything Simon ever wanted.

It's when they reach a pause between the ballads that Wille starts . watches, confused, as Wille holds up the poster he’s been hiding all night.

Marco, his presence dominating the venue, laughs into the mic as he turns to stage left. There's a beautiful grin on his face when he spots Wille's poster, and his jaw drops. Rows of people in front of them turn around, faces alight with curiosity, and Simon really has no clue what’s going on. The lights have melted into a warm pink, and he can feel its heat stirring on his skin.

Marco's voice echoes as he speaks into the mic. "Are you one-thousand percent sure you want me to read that out loud? There'll be no turning back!"

"YES!" Wille screams. His voice cracks, and Simon’s heart does a weird flip.

Marco lets out a deep breath, leaning forward dramatically. "Are we ready, everyone?"The venue erupts—howls, screams, and shrieks echoing off the walls, a tidal wave of sound. Marco laughs, his eyes gleaming as he faces the crowd. "Alright, here we go. The poster says: 'my crush of two years is standing right next to me.'

Simon’s heart stops.

The crowd erupts into deafening cheers, a sea of faces turning to look at them. Simon feels his cheeks burn, the heat creeping up his neck. He’s rooted to the spot, eyes wide as he looks at Wille, who’s still holding the poster high, his face redder than Simon’s ever seen. Wille’s hands are shaking, but his smile is unwavering, nervous and radiant all at once.

It’s too loud, too bright. The lights are flashing, colours bursting across Wille’s face as he lowers the poster slowly, shoulders curling in just a little. His lips move, but Simon can’t hear a word. Everything is a blur, a dizzying whirlwind, and all Simon can focus on is that Wille just-he-Wille-

Simon kisses him right then and there.

[existential-queeer]

Listen, I'm not the type to look for homoeroticism in every single male duo in media. Not everyone swings that way.

But those two?

I smell the fruitiest of fruit, your honor.

[simon-eriksson]

1.06 | 2.06 | 3.06

[youngroyalscentral]

Omar Rudberg & Edvin Ryding YOUNG ROYALS FOREVER (2024)

[realhumangay]

reblogging for this excellent addition!! definitely interesting, and not something i really considered - it makes so much sense with the plot and characterisations though, i’m sure i’ll be noticing more of this going forward 👀

ep 6.

aaaaAAAAAAHHHH

✨hope you have a good christmas✨

AAAAh

although tbf what was the poor guy meant to say

sara has disappointed me ngl but then also fun to see her not be such an obvious character, it’s actually v interesting to watch someone you originally really liked make Terrible Choices. interesting and painful.

felice on the other hand hasn’t had a redemption arc so much as a straight line shooting directly for the sky, and i’m pleased to announce i have officially entered the I Love Felice club and i am obsessed with her actually.

i am not obsessed however, with the way that sara has completely and thoroughly Fucked It. felice is the person accepting her and letting her into the life she clearly desperately wants, and instead of being grateful she goes behind her back and gets it from the guy she literally just figured out uploaded child porn of her brother. can’t wait to see her get what she wants and have it ripped away the minute she looses her only friend. 🙃🙃 (reading that back sounds mean- i’m being sarcastic and frustrated, i Actually hope she sorts it out but unfortunately i have seen gifs that do not fill me with much confidence)

anyway, it really reflects in the conversation she had with simon just before too, how she’s ungrateful for everything their mother has done for them. it’s really frustrating watching someone who’s clearly so smart come to such questionable conclusions.

edvin and omar gave a goddamn masterclass in acting this episode - their thoughts are so clearly written all over their faces, they portray such nuanced emotion i was screaming basically the whole time. it’s also i think really apparent that so many women were involved in the production of this; i feel like the focus is so much more on the depth and complexity of the characters and what they’re going through instead of the fast-paced plot-driven type of productions that have dominated pop tv in the past decade at least. is it generalising too much to say that this feels like a “woman’s touch”…likely. perhaps that’s a wider conversation to be had?

anyway. beautiful. painful. wilmon are So Cute I Could Die and i honestly don’t think there’s anything else i can say. the scene where they talk in the locker room? with the leg hug? 😭😭😭😭 them both flopping their heads on each others shoulders in that same scene???

every intimate scene or even just hug being So Charged with meaning and intention i just 🤩

and willes look at the camera at the end? 💀

-

i have really quite a lot of thoughts about the season as a whole, i can so see why there’s so much fandom discourse about it cause there are just so many layers to this show and all the characters. i desperately wish i’d watched this as it came out so i could take part in it though because as it stands im scared to interact too much in case i spoil anything for myself 🥲

i’m so excited to start s2 though soon, im completely in love, i love them all more and more with every ep and i hope you all continue to indulge me in what are apparently becoming longer and longer reviews (in my defense though, it’s not my fault that the show is so good it makes me have So Many Thoughts 🤷‍♀️)

see you in s2 xx

[lazybug16]

The "Fuck the monarchy" bf

The "Please do" bf

[hergrandplan]

if anyone deserved a cheesy fairytale, romcom ending with a whole car chasing scene

it's them

[fairylwt]

the relief and absolute joy on their faces when they realise that they’re finally free

[purplewilmon]

[sjmonswjlle]

YOUNG ROYALS FAVES FEST 2024 | @youngroyals-events Favorite parallel: 1.05 | 3.02

[sapphicgaygremlin]

great year for the nerds, girls and gays

[causetheturtle]

Obsessed with the Young Royals finale.

Obsessed with Simon, Sara, Wilhelm and Felice driving away from a shutdown Hillerska, free from a system which was never going to accept them, happy and together.

Obsessed with how there’s still a chance Hillerska could reopen because that system is next to impossible to take down and the upper-class rarely face real consequences for their actions.

Obsessed with August’s face when he saw Wilhelm walking away, realising that he was trapped. Wilhelm said August was the heir they needed but he couldn’t have been more wrong - that man has bucket loads of trauma, an eating disorder he isn’t even close to ready to confront and no support system around him, he’s not gonna do much better with the role of Crown Prince than Wilhelm did.

Obsessed with Nils coming out to his friends and them easily accepting him, because their issue with Simon really was the fact that he was poor and a socialist, and Nils both still believes in the system he’s in and his queerness doesn’t destabilise the system the same way Wilhelm’s does.

Obsessed with Stella ending up with Fredrika, because although Rosh might have been fun to hang out with for a night Stella also still believes in and upholds the system she belongs to and Rosh was never going to fit in that system or uphold the traditional feminine values needed to survive in it.

Obsessed with how the monarchy is portrayed as unchangeable and impossible to modernise because it’s built on such outdated ideals.

Obsessed with the mix of both happy and open-ended endings.

I just adore it so much