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This is a sweet and endearing series that is very watchable but that honestly cannot hold a candle to Young Royals, which is now one of my favorite Netflix series of all time. Why? 1) The director’s choice to use cheesy on screen graphics (an in your face tactic meant to emphasize to viewers a sexy moment or intense chemistry) is disrespectful to the actors and viewers alike. This is generally a well acted show so this choice robbed me and the audience of the chance to revel in those special movie moments derived through acting and on screen chemistry. It detracted from my enjoyment of the sweet love stories depicted on screen. 2) it is such an unrealistic portrayal of teen love and sexual exploration as to lose credibility. You can keep the themes of sweet (waiting to have sex or going ‘too far’) without making it roll your eyes unrealistic. After months and months together with intense chemistry they’ve done nothing but kiss? Here is a film dead set to tackle relevant themes and yet it over the top portrays these 17 year old boys, chock full of adolescent hormones, frequently alone in bedrooms with closed doors, as not even having moved to second base nor had a discussion about touching (and the all important consent discussion that should surround that). 2) The chemistry between the two leads is sweet (if not played a little too over the top puppy dog ish by both leads but especially for the character Charlie) but the chemistry across the wider ensemble cast isn’t there, especially the Tau relationship. Tau and his best friend have zero on screen romantic chemistry. It was painful to watch their supposed crush. 3) the show is trying to tackle too many queer plot lines at once:, trans, asexual, bi, gay, with some sub plots coming before you even care about the character embroiled in that plot line. I adore the primary coming of age gay romance main plot line (which is why I loved young royals so much), as well as the lesbian plot line. I love the portrayal of the trans character and felt the gravity of the raw and realistic portrayal of assault . However the asexual plot line for a character we hardly knew nor cared about as his prior on screen presence was someone who took up space while reading a book was bizarre. this arc came out of left field, was written poorly, and did little justice to those who identify as asexual. 4) for a show trying to tackle so many sexual identity and sexual orientation themes, the lack of any discussion about pronouns was strangely missing. I’m still rooting for this series, and will tune in for season 3, but it if I want to watch a sweet teen gay romance that literally sweeps me off my feet, I’d choose Young Royals all day long.

What an incredibly satisfying 3 season series! I’ve recently been plowing my way through myriad romance, rom coms and YA films, (most of which as you can imagine are just OK at best). Without hyperbole, Young Royals blew me away with its authenticity and sweet and sexy love story. Yes, the major trope was ‘against all odds’ but boy did they slay the execution of that trope. You can’t help falling in love with the two leads and their adolescent love story. However, the compelling story lines for the entire ensemble cast is equally engaging. Kudos to the cast, directors, writers and producers. I adored this series and am hopeful that you lightening can strike twice from this Swedish creative team!