#yr s3 speculations

[othervee]

So hear me out...

With regards to this s3 promo still:

I think this might be the filming of some material for 'The Year With the Royal Family'.

Since Wilhelm's speech has changed the narrative, the Royal Court has no choice now. They have to show the Queen and the family in general as being welcoming to Simon. How better to do this than an official scene of Simon being formally introduced to Kristina and Ludvig?

That would explain the suits, the welcoming smile on Kristina's face and the positive expression on Ludvig's, the presence of the maids and other staff, and even the blocking tape on the floor (although I know there's a version with tape and a version without).

They might even frame it as if this was shot before the Jubilee, to try and take back control of the narrative and make it seem as if the Royal Court and family were always in favour of Wilhelm coming out in his own way. Of course the candid footage taken by the students and the news cameras still exists, but let's face it, they're going to try to spin it no matter what.

[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

[piebingo]

So the trailers say different things according to what language you watch it in, which is something we’ve seen before in the other seasons. And there’s something really interesting about a part of the French translated trailer:

In the Swedish version with English dub, Wille tells Simon (I assume?) "Everything you do now represents me and the royal house"

But in the French version, Wille tells Simon "What you post [online] represents me and the royal family too." Which could mean that Simon posted something about them maybe, without asking Wille, but I don’t see that happening. But you know what can have a lot of impact on the royal house’s image?? The Crown Prince’s boyfriend going to a Workers’ Rights event (Bjärstad Workers Association). Assuming that this is a for workers rights, and perhaps a protest.

This could potentially tie in Simon’s own values being very out of sorts wit Wille’s position as a Prince, and would bring back the social media aspect that was super important in s1.

[waybeforeyourtime]

My thoughts on E6 and what is endgame

Lisa has always been writing an anti-fairy tale. Falling in love with a handsome prince isn't a happily-ever-after.

So, does that mean no happily-ever-after for Wilmon?

Happily-ever-after implies that the couple is together at the end of the story and forever after that.

Endgame means different things to different people. For some that means happily-ever-after, and some that means 'happy-for-right-now.'

Right now, tbh, storywise, it could go either way and make logical sense for me. However, I believe that Wilmon will be endgame in the happy-for-right-now category - We have problems, and we might not make it in the long run, but I feel you're worth trying to overcome them.

Because I don't think Lisa put these two beautiful queer boys and their love out into the world to crush them in the end. She knows how queers have been screwed over in what little representation the community received.

I think if YR was posted on Ao3 the tag would be 'angst with a happy ending'.

[scatteredpiecesofme]

@raincitygirl76 your 'treat Wilhelm like he’s radioactive' cracked me up, hahah!! but yes, that's a possibility!

Of course my little queer heart would love for Nils to feel comfortable enough with his sexualityt to come out publicly and live happily ever after. Let alone that Wilhelm will need someone in his corner (besides Simon and Felice) during the storm that will follow his speech.

On the other hand, though, I think this would be the easier route to go for the show. I liked how they developed Nils character in S2 and I also think Samuel is a quite a good actor, so I'd rather see him in some tense situation. Maybe another conversation with Wilhelm where he accuses him of having made a big mistake with his coming out, or treats him as a 'betrayer', or something. I'd love a confrontation when they are on opposite sides but this time Wille reacts, defending his stance.

I don't know, the show could go either way. We'll see, I guess.

nils: i don’t think coming out is a big deal but i also don’t wnna be the first CEO to come out as homosexual

wilhelm: heheheheheheheheheheheehehehehebenenenneenhehehehehehe ok *proceed to be the first royal to come out as queer*

[kruemel8]

What a clever way of directing and showing us where we are probably hopefully headed in season 3. Either they will remove the plaque or it will be completely obscured from view. It’s no longer about his legacy it’s about Simon and their future together.

Wilmon endgame.

[theaviatorthatcouldnotfly]

e6 predictions (they get more unhinged the further you go)

lake scene is NOT the final scene or a breakup scene

the wilmon car scene is the last scene

elias song!!

wille won’t abdicate (just because you can’t abdicate before you’re even on the throne)

BUT he does tell his mother that he’s leaning towards not wanting to be king

felice and sara will start to be friends again (during the neon party?)

hillerska closes down

fredrika and stella are temporarily pissed at felice for the closure

wilmon will get a “let’s stay together, we love each other and we can try to make it work” endgame

saraugust won’t be endgame

we get to actually see one of august and wille’s mediation therapy sessions and what they talk about

vincent and august are on not-so-great terms at the end of the show

the first year’s letters to their future selves come back into play

as per usual ludvig does nothing significant or useful to help wille or the plot

wille looks into a mirror and gives himself a tiny smile

music room redemption scene

simon writes/sings a song for wille for his real birthday present

wille learns the truth about where his orange sweater really went

by some miracle there is enough time in the episode for simon to go see boris himself

someone actually remembers that rousseau exists (even better, we actually SEE rousseau)

someone accidentally starts a fire during the neon party

august and vincent try to throw punches at each other during the table scene

marcus shows up at graduation for whatever reason and malin kicks him out

simon jumps vincent while everyone else politely applauds

felice gets to yell at the headmistress for her casual microaggressions

linda delivers a bitch slap to august’s stepdad

someone says “i’m proud of you” to wille

[othervee]

What are your thoughts on the solo still with Wille?

Thank you for the ask, anon! You mean this one, yes?

My hot take is that I think this is a protest. The students are doing a sit-in, demanding change or protesting against it. It's so rare to see Hillerska students sitting on the floor and they don't appear to be in any kind of formation so it's not a formal school event.

Now, as for Wille; I think Wille was the instigator of this protest, or was heavily involved in it in some way, possibly to further some purpose of his own. The look on his face is interesting. He doesn't look anxious or distressed; he looks as if he is waiting for something or someone to happen. His arms are crossed defensively, but he looks fairly relaxed. And he's not joining in with the others. He's sitting on the floor like the rest but he's turned away. With them but not really one of them.

I think whatever is going on here might be another example of Wille using his political and diplomatic savvy to get the students to act in a way that achieves something he wants. A little like the way he sowed the assorted seeds of discontent which led to August's ousting from the role of prefect.

[young-royals-confessions]

Just pitching in since I see so much discourse about will they or won’t they that I think we kind of lost the essence of the story: I mean yes, Netflix is promoting the whole are they going to be endgame or not, tune in to find out but I think that’s just a generic marketing tactic.I’ve honestly been ignoring it.

Also, Lisa doesn’t strike me as the type of writer that would push only her own personal agenda or politics to a tv show, especially one that has critical acclaim as yr. That’s not what true storytelling is about. Please bear with me (apologies in advance for the long response !) but here’s my v long winded reasoning:

The theme has always been love v. duty & the monarchy is the enemy. Wille is on a Hero’s Journey - he is ultimately the Main Character; the Young Royal. What’s great about The Hero’s Journey is that it’s easy to follow and makes for great storytelling despite its predictability. I think some people here may have touched upon this so I am simply expanding:

As a viewer, we follow Wille and get to know him. He’s a likable character and we easily root for him and feel for him when we learn about the power dynamics in play; specifically how he feels caged as a prince. Then we enter into a Call for Adventure: him falling for Simon and the high stakes he enters when his brother passes and he is now Crown Prince.

This, then, propels the story forward, given the stakes are stacked up and it’s not looking good for Wille, especially after he/we find out August was the offender for sex tape leak.

After that, we enter into The Refuse to Call for Adventure; i.e, the hero (Wille) realizes he must face the challenge. We also step into the Meeting the Mentor, which is Boris, who helps Wille learn how to stand up and ultimately fight for himself (and Simon). While I see others thinking that W might push everyone away, including skipping his appts with Boris, I do not think that’s the case. Boris was set up to be the Mentor that W needs to realize the challenge he’s been facing and we may continue seeing him open up to Boris.

This will then allow W to “Cross the Threshold” and reinforce the central theme and conflict of the story - if W continues to stay with the monarchy and his obligations as Crown Prince, he cannot choose Simon. Love or Duty? Which will prevail?

S3 crosses that threshold and produces tests and obstacles that would make the fight for his relationship w S so much more complicated (basically everything we saw in the trailer). This stage in the Hero’s Journey is meant for the audience to doubt the Hero - Wille. It’s already a testament as we are debating if W is going to denounce his title or not just from the 2 mins of what we saw from the trailer. It’s intentional. We need to doubt in order for the central theme to drive home and also portrays the monarchy to be the overarching enemy of this story, without Lisa forfeiting her own political statement.

We enter the next stage of the Journey - which is the Cave - meaning the Hero and protagonists need to regroup and prepare for a counter attack (generally speaking) because the tension is continuing to rise and there are outside forces that wish to disturb the Journey (in this case, public opinion? paparazzi? Hillerska shutting down?).

Next, we enter the Ordeal - which makes the Hero break down bc he enters a mental barrier and is pushed to a corner. However, the Hero, typically comes out stronger after this stage in storytelling.

Ultimately, we reach the end: The Reward. The Hero makes the “attack” or choice and defeats the enemy/antagonist.

Imo, with how everything is set up, I do think it’s set up for W and S to be together in the end at least the end of the show (everything else after is obviously left for the audience member to interpret).

I have no doubt that W & S are going to come up on top and still be together in the end bc like some people mentioned - what would be the point? It was never a question whether they would end up together. The question is if Wille, our Hero in this story, would make the final choice and choose between love or duty. I think Wille would choose love. What better way of making history, especially with everything that’s been happening in real events, then choosing love? That would make for a strong ending.

[hergrandplan]

“You’re decidedly not okay,” Simon said. “Talk to me, Wille.” He reached across the space between them, gingerly taking hold of his hand. Well, fingers actually. Simon was still holding the key to his locker. But it was enough. Simon’s fingers were soft around his, gently rubbing his knuckles, and it felt like a lifeline.

Wille let out a deep breath. Simon had made him realize that it was okay to be honest about his feelings, even if it made him feel vulnerable. Even if all his life, his family had told him to keep it to himself. “I don’t know if I can do it.”

Wille returns to Hillerska for the first time after his speech at the jubilee. He and Simon get ready to face the crowd (or their classmates) hand in hand. Or: a short story of two kisses. One for them, and one for the world to see. (aka my take on the library scene) (one-shot, rated T, 1,644 words)

Just in time for the new season: my take on the library scene! very excited to see how close I got lol. I wrote the majority of this around midnight on Friday night through that massive still storm, and the last scene a bit later when those clips dropped.  Thank you to the lovely @thehanwen for beta reading (and doing it so quickly) 💜

Please enjoy!

[omartinyosef]

FUN FACT THAT KILLED ME COMPLETELY: USE HEADPHONES

If you use headphones you can hear Simon sniffing Wilhelm's neck. I cried okay?

[youandmestill]

I've been thinking about s3 e5 and what's likely to happen when they leave us hanging for a week til the finale. It'll be a cliffhanger, right? They're not going to end e5 with a lovely moment of Wilmon intimacy. Or at least I don't think so.

That got me thinking about the asymmetry of the endings of e4 and e5 in s1 vs s2: in s1, both those episodes turned horrifying in the final moments, as we saw August taking the video and then the aftermath of him posting it.

In s2, by contrast, e4 ended with Wilmon making heart eyes at each other after the Valentine's Day kiss, and e5 ended with Simon eating Wille's face.

Lots of folks were disappointed by the lack of Wilmon fluff in s2, but I think it's interesting that they gave us two very happy endings at the end of e4 + 5. We got to dwell in that bliss until the drama returned at the start of the next episodes.

So what will they do this season? It'll likely be closer to s1, I suspect. So we can all go feral for a week while we wait for the finale.

[piebingo]

This is from the exam, but we have August standing behind with the brown sweater (look at the ring on the pinky finger) and (probably) Nils shaving some guy’s head, like one of the casting calls asked for. It’s interesting to note that so far, Nils and August are seen together a lot in the trailer. Does he take August’s side?

This is probably for their graduation. Is that why the school might close down? Things are taken too far during the prep for graduation??

Here is August’s hand from the trailer, with the same ring on his pinky:

[kruemel8]

What if August was talking shit about Simon again and Wille was losing it?!

I need Wille to be the boyfriend Simon deserves.

[yr-thisisnotfake]

What if these three images are related to each other?

What kind of scene will it be?

Happy? Sad? Devastating? Neutral? Friendly? Unpleasant?

[domtheforestgnome]

I love this perspective! Didn't think of it, but for me too this picture was very mysterious and felt different than the other ones. Protest? It's exciting!

What are your thoughts on the solo still with Wille?

Thank you for the ask, anon! You mean this one, yes?

My hot take is that I think this is a protest. The students are doing a sit-in, demanding change or protesting against it. It's so rare to see Hillerska students sitting on the floor and they don't appear to be in any kind of formation so it's not a formal school event.

Now, as for Wille; I think Wille was the instigator of this protest, or was heavily involved in it in some way, possibly to further some purpose of his own. The look on his face is interesting. He doesn't look anxious or distressed; he looks as if he is waiting for something or someone to happen. His arms are crossed defensively, but he looks fairly relaxed. And he's not joining in with the others. He's sitting on the floor like the rest but he's turned away. With them but not really one of them.

I think whatever is going on here might be another example of Wille using his political and diplomatic savvy to get the students to act in a way that achieves something he wants. A little like the way he sowed the assorted seeds of discontent which led to August's ousting from the role of prefect.