On July 1st, 2021, Netflix released a Swedish LGBTQ+ drama titled Young Royals. It follows the story of Prince Wilhelm, who is new to an elite boarding school after conflicts at his old school and with the crown.  There, he meets Simon, and discovers aspects of himself and the real-life difficulty of friendships and relationships because of his royalty.  

Young Royals is a compelling show that keeps you on the edge of your seat. You should watch it, and here’s why. (But you have to watch it in Swedish with English subtitles. Trust me, the English dub is AWFUL.) 

1. It has excellent representations of mental health. 

The main character, Wilhelm, goes through some pretty awful stuff during his time at the boarding school. Not to mention the fact that he had to maintain a good character for the sake of the crown. It shows accurate representations of him dealing with anxiety and panic attacks, such as his pacing and nail biting. 

2. It has the LGBTQ rep we all need.

If one thing is for certain, it’s that there aren’t enough GOOD representations of the LGBTQ community in the world of cinema. Young Royals is largely centered around the fact that Wilhelm is gay, and him trying to keep it on the downlow. If the public found out, the royal family’s reputation could be ruined. The producers portrayed that in a way that doesn’t make it stereotypical and relates it to real world problems. The show brings attention to all the young, closeted LGBTQ people out there and their struggles and show them they aren’t alone, even if they aren’t royalty.  

3. Each character is well-developed and compelling.

The show has many characters that you get to know and love throughout the course of the season. There aren’t really any characters that are there for no reason. Each of them has their own story and qualities that tie into the main plot. They aren’t hard to follow, either. August, the so-called villain of the story, has a backstory that may make you feel bad for him. That doesn’t excuse his actions, though.  

4. The characters seem real.

Along with Wilhelms anxiety, the show also does a great job showing normal human things that we rarely see in shows and movies. One of these things that should have more rep is acne. You rarely see a main character with acne in productions. It’s a normal human thing, and Young Royals does a great job at showing that. 

5. The chemistry between the characters.

One of the things that makes Young Royals stick out from other shows is that a large portion of the “big” scenes are improvised. Edvin Ryding (Wilhelm) and Omar Rudberg (Simon) spent hours in intimacy classes preparing for their roles. They’ve spent so much time together that they’ve become best friends in real life. The whole cast is very close, and you can seriously tell in the show.  

6. It’s addictive.

With the show only being 6 episode long and ~45 minutes per episode, it is very easy to watch it all in one sitting. Not to mention that every single episode leaves off on a cliffhanger, including the season finale. Each character has their own compelling story that you become invested in, it’s impossible to stop watching the show.  

Young Royals is an incredible show that you can fall in love with instantly. Grab a blanket and some popcorn, and get ready to binge! You won’t regret it.