i have a show again

Simon in Young Royals | 1.04

OMG.

EDVIN.

YES.

PLEASE.

Simon and Wilhelm’s Love Story / The Prince and the School Boy / Young Royals / Netflix

Simon in Young Royals | 1.03

The school Hillerska is a so called “Riksinternat”. These aren’t common at all and to most swedes they are a thing of the past. Only the old-money upper class send their children to this type of institution. However, they more or less work just like any Swedish gymnasium (highschool, ages 15/16-18/19) just with the school providing housing.  You chose your “Gymnasium” yourself after year nine in the Swedish school system and although a vast majority of teenagers do keep studying it is not obligatory. Grades gives you a certain amount of points and with these points you can “apply” to as many gymnasiums as you want but have to rank them. If you get in to gymnasium at the top of your list you are not eligible for any other gymnasiums ranked below that one in your list. You either apply to a vocational and specialised gymnasium or a preparatory gymnasium. Preparatory gymnasiums always makes always you eligible to attend university righter after you graduate. Hillerska is the latter. The maximum score you can have is 340 (Straight A’s= 20 points*17 subjects). Those with high scores always get a place in their preferred gymnasium first and then it moves down until all set number of places at the school is filled. Here is where the line for those with the lowest score accepted is drawn. So at a high achieving school this line might be between 290-320; at a normal level anywhere between 180-250. This is why Simon and Sara can go to Hillerska even though they have a tough economic situation. They had high enough academic scores after year nine and since it’s an elitist school the number of applicants probably isn’t very high. Still, housing (including breakfast and supper) is most likely super expensive – thus Sara wanting a scholarship. 

The language I am the same ages as the characters and I’m from Stockholm too, so I can vouch for the dialogue. It’s very realistic and fits well with the environment of the show. Among young people in Sweden, swearing is not seen as something shocking. Words such as “skit” (shit) and “jävla” (derivative of Swedish word for devil) are commonly used to strengthen adjectives or sentences both positive and negative.  “Du är så jävla bra!” – “You are so fucking great” “Det är skitjobbigt!” – “It is so damn annoying!” Of course some words are seen as much stronger and not appropriate. Words for genitalia and sexuality/sexual expression are seen as offensive aren’t used to the same extent. This is in line with the setting. These are teenagers who grew up in a certain way and it makes sense for them to not use vulgar language. The same applies to the use of slang. Slang is used to a larger extent in suburbs and much of modern slang comes from immigrant population in these aforementioned suburbs of large Swedish cities. It makes more sense for these upper-class rich kids to stick to older and normalised “slang”. These characters speak exactly like they should if we make the assumption most of them are from Stockholm since no one really has any regional accents.

Holidays and traditions Many depictions of Swedish holidays and traditions are exaggerated and only look like they do because Hillerska is built on upholding old traditions and being a generally conservative institution.  It’s not common to call teachers or persons of authority by their title. In fact, the only schools I can think of where people don’t call teachers by their first name are international schools. This also applies to standing when the teacher or other staff enters.   Although most of swedes are culturally christians (celebrating christmas and easter etc.) very few say amen before dinner – “bordsbön”. You can even see how peculiar Wilhelm finds this in episode 1. Sweden is probably one of the most secular christians countries. But as stated we celebrate christian holidays and Lucia is one of them. Many schools have a Luciatåg as seen in episode 5, just not as pretty or with such high engagement from the student body. All students actually wearing white nightgowns with ribbons was the most unrealistic thing in the series (/j)!!

Cultural influences A big Swedish newspaper wrote about young royals: “Netflix’s answer to Fucking Åmål” and this sentence makes no sense to you if you are still reading this. Fucking Åmål (English title: Show Me Love) is a 1998 teenage drama about a lesbian girl falling in love with a seemingly straight and popular girl with the added drama of it being set in a small town. It’s an unabashedly LGBTQ+ (Swedish: HBTQ+) film about how it was to be gay during this period. It’s a Swedish classic, probably one of the most famous Swedish movies to Swedes. The dynamic between Wilhelm and Simon doesn’t match the one of the girls in Fucking Åmål but the comparison is unavoidable.  Another teenage drama that I personally would say makes for a better comparison is Ondskan (English title: The Evil). Ondskan is 1981 novel by Swedish author Jan Guillou. In 2003 a movie adaptation was made. What it lacks any sort of LGBTQ+ angst it makes up for in pure unadulterated misery. It’s set at a fictional “riksinternat” during the 1950′s where the main character is subjected to violent and abusive “peer education”. At this school older students and those of a higher social standing help keep order and punish other students. The most direct connections, almost a references, are the scene in episode one where Wilhelm is initiated by the student body – nollning – ans August calling Simon sosse. Sosse is a often derogatory term for those with social democratic views, including higher taxes and a stronger welfare. Actually, August would fit right in in the book as the snobby traditionalist. This work is also very controversial in Sweden. Allegations of abuse as a form of “peer education” has surfaced time and time again at the the handful of remaining “riksinternat”.  As for my last point on this topic I would like to mention how this series feel distinctly Scandinavian/Swedish. It’s realistic and tries not to shy away from showing how it really is within the issue it’s tackling. And no, I don’t mean the obvious disconnect of Wilhelm being a prince. I mean how they all talk to each other; how they all have flaws and no one is black and white. I have a hard time describing it but a good example would be if you compare it to an American show like Euphoria (2019) and then to another Scandinavian show like SKAM (2015). Other Swedish productions I think illustrates my point are: Torka aldrig tårar utan handskar (Don’t Ever Wipe Tears Without Gloves, book/series about AIDS), Min lilla syster (My skinny sister, movie about ED), and Goliat (movie dealing with drugs).

i’ve seen a post (@lesbianpetekao) this morning about Beri Gerwise (Rosh in Young Royals) and her girlfriend Nicole having a child a few months ago.

it deeply moved me when i saw those pictures earlier in july. as for many lgbtq+ people, becoming a parent has always seemed to me to be something f*cking difficult if not impossible. Beri is 24 and seeing a lesbian woman my age having a baby just like any random straight couple gave me hope. and maybe it will give some to you too✨

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