Episode 1 is the first episode of the third season of Young Royals, and the thirteenth episode of the series overall.
Synopsis[]
Wilhelm's speech has consequences not only in the court but also throughout the school. The Prince and Simon are determined to enjoy their relationship.
Plot[]
The episode and season opens with a meeting at the Palace between Wilhelm, his parents, Simon, Linda, August, Rickard, and other assorted Palace staff. Rickard and August offer a settlement to avoid the courts. The lawyer makes it clear he would win a court case, even going so far as to claim the video isn't that bad. Linda gets angry, and her counsellor calls a break. In a separate room, Linda talks to her counsellor, telling him she didn't move to Sweden to teach her kids it was okay to accept bribes. Simon is adamant that the punishment of having to sell Årnäs will be harsh enough. He excuses himself. In another room, August talks to Rickard. He is frustrated that everyone is looking at him like he's a terrible person and Rickard assures him that maybe he is a terrible person and maybe he needs to accept it. He says it's ironic that August is in this situation when he loves the monarchy so much, asking whether the monarchy loves him back. Wille goes to find Simon. The two kiss and hide away in his bedroom until Farima comes to get them to start the proceedings again. Linda gets angry again, but then Rickard threatens to tell the police that Simon sold his father's drugs and that Wilhelm threatened August with a rifle. Wilhelm and August shout at each other, with Wille telling August that he's a terrible person and August reminding Wille that his problems started before he was involved. The Queen shouts at them to "Stop it!" and the discussion ends with them agreeing to the settlement.
In her office, the Queen talks to Wilhelm and August. August assures her that they will behave. As the cousins bicker, the Queen suddenly clutches her head and begins to cry out. Wilhelm goes to help her and shouts at August to fetch help. The Queen can only call out for Erik.
Establishing shots of Hillerska are shown. August arrives to his room and sits sadly on his bed. Felice is lying in bed and has clearly been there for a while. She spots Sara's necklace, forgotten on the floor. Felice goes to breakfast with Madison, Stella and Fredrika. Talking amongst themselves, they express how worried they are about her. Stella says she needs to get over it but Madison says a friend breakup is harder than a romantic relationship breakup. Felice returns to the table from grabbing some food and the girls switch topics. They are complaining about the third years who are competing to win points for their houses by completing various tasks. Felice gets a text from Wilhelm saying he'll be back at Hillerska that day. She relates this to the girls and they speculate about his return.
Wilhelm is in the car on the way to Hillerska. Farima tells him she needs to talk to him about his relationship and he immediately jumps to the defence. She explains that she wants him to help be the face of a more progressive monarchy, and suggests plans for a foundation to be set up in his name and to be announced on his upcoming 17th birthday. She also tells him he will spend the summer learning how to be a good Crown Prince.
At Simon's house, Simon is eating breakfast and his mother comes in and slams a plastic pot on the table, demanding he take a drug test. He is upset and defensive, and she is angry. She grounds him and says he's lucky she hasn't made him leave Hillerska as it is bad enough having one child moping about the house. Sara takes this moment to leave her room. Linda leaves and Sara asks Simon what is going on. He is angry and shouts that it is all her fault, telling her to leave.
At breakfast in Forest Ridge, Vincent and Nils greet August. He tells them he had to sort something out with his family. Vincent complains about repeated emails from a reporter who is asking not just about Wilhelm's relationship, but also about rumoured initiations that take place in the school. It is clear that many students have received similar messages.
Wilhelm arrives back at Hillerska and greets Simon in the locker room with a kiss. They go to talk in the library and Simon tells him he's a bit uncomfortable with everything. He is worried about backlash from the Royal Family but Wilhelm tells him not to worry. Wilhelm invites him to stay the weekend at Hillerska but Simon tells him he's grounded. They make plans for either Wille to stay in Bjärstad or for Simon to sneak out.
The third years hand out leaflets for their 50-day party and undertake some point-getting tasks.
In the changing room, August is looking at his body in the mirror. Vincent and Nils come in, talking about the tasks they need to win the points competition. One of the tasks is to sleep with a first year and Vincent jokes that August will be good at that. When Vincent talks bad about Sara, August defends her.
Sara is in bed, looking at her Hillerska uniform.
In class, Simon draws a heart on Wille's hand. He says he should get it tattooed but Wilhelm explains that his mother would never allow it, just as she'd never allow him to cut his hair short. Felice enters and greets Wille. She gives Sara's necklace to Simon to give back. Felice then talks about how weird it feels to miss Sara even though she did such a bad thing. She feels she can't talk to her friends about it.
After school, Simon is accosted by reporters at the school gate. They tell him Marcus spoke to them about how toxic his relationship with Wille is. Ayub and Rosh are at his later and they discuss the articles. Simon is upset at the things people on the internet are saying about him and wonders if he should just respond and defend himself. They play video games and Simon tells a commenter they don't know him.
In his bedroom at Hillerska, Wilhelm sticks a quote by Karin Boye on his wall, alongside photos with Simon and with Erik. He tries to call Simon, who doesn't answer, and then sees that his boyfriend has responded to comments. He texts him, telling him not to. He goes to the common room, where Nils is shaving another third year's head for points. Vincent is laughing along. August spots his cousin and looks uncomfortable. Wille leaves again and Nils catches up to him, talking to him in the corridor. Nils tells him he wouldn't have made the same choice to reveal his secret but that it was brave. Wilhelm asks Nils about his brother, about how he handled dating as a Crown Prince. Nils tells him he should ask August, but that Erik did date a few people during his time at Hillerska. Nils says maybe he should date within his circle and Wille angrily tells him no.
At the Erikssons', Simon knocks on Sara's bedroom door with the necklace but she is not in. At Micke's apartment, Sara asks to come in and stay. Micke lets her in, asking her what is wrong. She declines to tell him, reminding him that nothing has changed between them. She tells him not to set up a room because she won't be there for long.
In Felice's dorm, she is lying on her bed. Madison, Stella and Fredrika burst in with pom poms and noise makers. They tell her it is an intervention and explain that they will start with cleaning the room. They tell her they are all going to New York after the school term ends.
In the morning, Wille wakes up. He looks down at the small heart drawn on his hand happily, redrawing it with a pen. He gets a text from Farima forwarding an article. Headlines flash, exposing the hazing and elitist culture at Hillerska.
In the Forest Ridge dining room, Vincent reads out one of these articles. It details an initiation where first year boys were forced to drink spit and watch gay porn. If any got an erection, they would be laughed at mercilessly. Simon is reading the same article on the bus and Wille walks into the dining room to hear it too. Housemaster Göran sends them to the assembly room.
In the assembly room, all the students are gathered. A new headteacher enters, explaining that Anette Lilja has stepped down temporarily after the news has come out. Vanessa Hamilton explains that the school will now be cracking down. The students will only be allowed one hour on their mobiles a day, will have a curfew of 7pm, and all extracurriculars will be cancelled. Simon and Wille are upset as this means they won't be able to see one another, whilst the third years realise this will mean they won't be able to partake in their normal graduation activities. Vincent double checks if this applies to third years, and Vanessa confirms it. She explains that the measures are so severe because the school must appear to be a safe place, otherwise it will shut down.
Cast[]
Main[] |
Recurring[]
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Music[]
Soundtrack[]
- "DUST" by Elliphant - Opening credits, August and Simon arrive at the Palace.
- "C'est La Vie" by Graham Lake, Olympe Chabert - Establishing shots of Hillerska, August arrives back, Felice mopes and finds Sara's necklace.
- "Get Mine" by Slinger & Jae - The third years hand out leaflets for the 50-day party and do some tasks to get points.
- "Scream" by WTRGIRL, Zhone - Wilhelm hangs photos on his wall.
- "Say Less" by Graham Lake - Nils, Vincent and August shave another third year's head for points. Wilhelm watches.
- "Sweating" by Alweya - End credits. Plays after Vanessa announces the school may have to close.
Trivia[]
Gallery[]
See also[]
| Season 1 |
|---|
|
"Episode 1" • "Episode 2" • "Episode 3" • "Episode 4" • "Episode 5" • "Episode 6" |
| Season 2 |
|
"Episode 1" • "Episode 2" • "Episode 3" • "Episode 4" • "Episode 5" • "Episode 6" |
| Season 3 |
|
"Episode 1" • "Episode 2" • "Episode 3" • "Episode 4" • "Episode 5" • "Episode 6" |