Parvathy S
“All the people are fake. They’re made out of metal. But I like you….and that is not fake”. So went the heartfelt confession of a young drunk prince to the boy he likes. Young Royals, the Swedish series on Netflix, did more than just present yet another teen drama and went above and beyond as an example for positive queer representation in media. Netflix, Disney, and Prime may have their queerbaiting tropes, but to judge them solely on that would be ignoring the good queer representation. So today, I would like you to look at how beautifully Netflix has presented this 6 episode series and how it does justice to gay representation.
The series revolves around Wilhelm, the prince of Sweden, and Simon, a local of Bjärstad, a city in Sweden. Wilhelm is forcefully transferred to an elite boarding school Hillerska after getting into a nightclub fight one day. Even though his elder brother is the crown prince, the royal family expects Wilhelm to learn some manners and behaviours fit for a prince, rather than being a disgrace to the family. As for Simon, he’s the kind boy living with his sister and their immigrant mother. Unlike the other elite and high-class kids staying at the boarding school, they come to school via bus. The two boys meet on Wilhelm’s first school day when he sees Simon in the choir, singing beautifully as the soloist. Something sparks between the boys right then and there, and the scene is so beautifully shot with details on their facial expressions.
The story progresses in the same way any teen drama would, but only this time, it doesn’t have to explicitly point out the two boys like each other. Unlike other shows which hoodwink the audience with vagueness regarding queer characters, we are given precise details on their relationship blooming into something romantic. Starting from their first encounter to the party where they realize they like each other’s company, or when Simon invites Wilhelm over to watch their friend play football and when they kiss at night while everyone is busy watching movies; the show does not shy away from putting their growing romance in the spotlight.
The show also shows how conflicting the teen years can be, especially for a queer kid, and gives the audience the viewpoint of both sides of the equation. Simon is openly gay, whereas Wilhelm only recently came to terms with his identity and is in the closet. But regardless of being out or closeted, the world is harsh to them anyway. Simon is the son of a working-class single mom, and Wilhelm is the crown prince after his brother dies in a tragic car accident. Despite the different conditions they grew up in, they still face the same number of problems over their identities being out in the open. Wilhelm is forced to keep who he is from the world, whereas Simon is invaded by the world for who he is and his relationship with Wilhelm. The contrast between the two protagonists defines a spectrum of incidents and emotions faced by queer folks everywhere.
One thing to really applaud about the show is the lack of an unavoidable coming out scene. Coming out is an emotional process, and it can mean many things to a lot of queer folks. It should also be noted that coming out need not be something out of the ordinary just because society has fixed an assumed default as being straight. This wrong but widespread assumption leads to queer folks doing countless research and long explanations to present themselves before people like they are straying from the social norms. But the media representing queer characters almost always add a coming out scene as a must-have in their journey. As heartening as it is, it would give the viewers a false sensation that ultimately, they would have to come out or that their identities would not be validated unless they come out. Having gone through the same viewpoints personally, it felt much more relieving to see a show say that it is okay even if you don’t include coming out as something you are expected to do in your life as a queer person. You might be living in a toxic environment where coming out may put you in danger, or you might feel uncomfortable letting people know of your identity, or you simply feel like keeping it to yourself. Wilhelm’s behaviour says that whatever the reason may be for not telling people your identity, it is okay, and you don’t have to explain yourself to anyone.
Even though Wilhelm’s reluctance to come out puts Simon in a tough spot where he has to deal with the homophobia alone, it also shows a struggling Wilhelm trying to be free of his family’s responsibilities so that he doesn’t have to hide anymore. The show ends with Wilhelm openly hugging Simon and telling him he loves him. Throughout the show, the focus has been distributed evenly among each elite kid in the school. Still, Wilhelm and Simon stand out with their unbeatable chemistry and character development.
The media we consume play a significant role in shaping our thoughts and educating us on many things we are unaware of. Children grow up drinking in the different types of media they consume. If they are educated on different identities and orientations from a young age, perhaps they would not have to go through such a hard time like we did when we were figuring it all out. Teenage years can be challenging when figuring out who you are and where you fit. Suppose there are more inclusive positive representations like Young Royals. In that case, it might help a young struggling queer kid somewhere in the world.
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