A letter to Simon Eriksson (and Omar Rudberg),
I knew I was going to write this at some point after Young Royals ended, but I've been putting it off because a) it'd make me emotional and b) I wouldn't be able to do justice to how I feel with words...but after the cast's goodbye video, here goes.
I am so, so, so grateful Simon Eriksson exists. Few characters have taken such a deep spot in my heart, but Simon is on that top tier of characters that I will always love so deeply. He is very important, not just to me, but I honestly believe his character existing is important for the media/world in general.
While I only recently started being more active in the fandom, I watched Young Royals just around when it first aired in 2021. What inspired me to watch the show was a clip online. It was Simon's iconic scene in the first episode where he says the monarchy is the country's biggest welfare receiver. And I was instantly hooked! Not just because I was absolutely shook at how beautiful Simon was, but also because of his personality that shined through. Brave, strong, defiant, and independent in the face of all the bullies. Simon is a phenomenal character period, but for him to also be a queer POC makes him even more special because we don't see it often on screen.
When I started actually watching the show, I got even more attached to Simon than I thought possible. The audience witnessed how loving, compassionate, and driven Simon was. I loved how we saw Simon's bravery in different ways throughout Young Royals. He was brave as he kept forgiving people and giving them second chances. He was brave because he kept his heart open to love even after being hurt. He was brave to put himself first when he needed to, even in the face of the royal family. He was brave to stick to his values in the face of all the exhausting bullying and archaic traditions of Hillerska. He was a snarky teenager but also mature beyond his years. He learned how to love others without losing himself. Seeing Simon be such a complex character and good human being made me fall in love with him.
Omar, I'm in awe at this being your first acting job. You are a natural, talented, and hardworking artist in every sense of the word. You have not only excelled and singing and performing, but acting too. Simon is Simon is because of you. You brought such heart and lovability to the character, as well as your beautiful voice. It is also clear that your compassion and empathy, which you were able to use to understand/play Simon as artfully and earnestly as you did, comes from your own experiences and your own identity. You're brave too, for daring to be yourself unapologetically. You've helped so many people.
Thank you to all the cast and crew as well, who played a primary role in making all the characters and this show into what it was. Your role doesn't get highlighted all the time, but you deserve much more credit for the acting, the characters, the ambience, and all the creative choices in Young Royals than audiences realize.
I'll love Simon Eriksson always. We'll keep making fan content and loving this show, thank you for trusting us with Simon now.
ellievsbear
jbbartram-illu
blakekathryn
dededos
