She Woke Up And Choose Ranting - Tumblr Posts

Okay, this post actually made me think even more about all of this 

I'd like to stop on the “is the show meant to be realistic drama or a fairytale”. Because it feels like no one knows. When you ask why nothing around MC really changed at the end of the story, it's “not realistic for those people/institutions to change”, so it's a realistic drama. But when you try to use the real world as an example, it's “the show creates its own world with its own rules”. Okay. But it still makes a commentary on real life problems. But you can't use real life as an example why some writing decisions were bad. Okay…

The “telling not showing” thing is there in s3 not only with Wilhelm. It's also Felice. In previous seasons, we knew she was facing racism, but it was made really subtle. In s3, Felice chooses to speak out. You might think it's gonna change something. Like, maybe her friends (well, Stella and Fredrika in particular) will realize how fucked up the situation is. Maybe they choose to support Felice? Maybe they even use it to save their beloved school? Like, make a statement - “yes, we all know there is a lot of problematic shit, but we want to change that”. Maybe they even address Wilhelm's speech? Wouldn't that be a strong move, since this very speech inspired those anonymous to share his story? Just like Wille said, “how can we evolve if we will just follow old traditions”. 

But, no. Firstly, s3 never explores public reaction to that speech (tho it was powerful and revolutionary in many ways). The only thing we get is Vincent blaming Wille for it, since it made someone speak out. The same happens to Felice, when her friends choose to blame her for the school closing. 

So I believe The Message here is “they will never change”. But honestly… why? Why have flawed main characters when you state what people around them are rather good or bad, no middle ground? They are teenagers. They do have opinions. They also do know how to use things to their own advantage (I mean, protest and petition was something, right?). They also perfectly realize how support from their Crown Prince is stronger than any other students (once again, it happens both with petition and the protest). You mean those spoiled kids would be that chill? They won't think about the possibility of using their phone-hour to make sure the Internet will know about their protest? Why exactly? Because they represent the “bad” side, so they can't do anything decent, really? 

You know where characters are rather good or bad? In the fairytales. Not in the realistic dramas. 

So, what was it, after all? 

I was asked to respond to: Young Royals is anti-monarchist propaganda (always has been). It crafts its argument by asserting that critics of Wille renouncing have "a fundamental misunderstanding of what [Young Royals] was trying to communicate," and using scenes from the show to prove that conclusion. For those who loved the ending, it's a great approach. But it completely misses the point of much of the criticism (or at least my criticism), which is that it's the show's burden to earn its ending and it failed to do that, and taking at face value the very story beats that I see as flawed isn't going to change my calculus. So while I agree wholeheartedly with the OP that "it’s a worthwhile exercise to question the validity of these institutions," Young Royals S3 didn't do a good job at that questioning.

This show is about abolishing the monarchy. And yet no institution is depicted as being fundamentally changed, let alone abolished. Hillerska's closing is likely temporary and even if it isn't, no one at that school displayed any growth, understanding, or willingness to change the status quo. The institution will live on. Of course it can't be abolished in 6 episodes, but its foundation could be placed in doubt. Instead the Monarchy represented by Queen Kristina, that had been shown to be an antagonist and on the decline, suddenly is restored, reconciled, and ends with a new (absolutely terrible) heir, one that's hetero too, so no need to have difficult conversations about future succession.

Also, revolution can take place from within and internal reform can produce more lasting benefits, so it's not unreasonable for people to be upset because Wilhelm seemed to be growing into his position at the end of S2. And those folks are in good company given someone very close to the show also felt Wille should remain Crown Prince:

The short conversation Wille and Simon have in [S3 e4] is succinct, but still effective at presenting both arguments in this debate. Hard Disagree. Wille states the pro position as though reciting lines he was forced to memorize, without any real belief in, or even understanding of, what he's saying. He doesn't even attempt to respond to Simon's counter (which wouldn't be hard to do and wouldn't require debating skills - isn't the standard response that an elected official by definition can't be neutral?). It can't be taken as a serious consideration of both sides due to its content (or lack thereof) and also its context, spurred as it is by a comment from Vincent (nothing that comes from Vincent is ever good). Instead, it came across as a talking point in a political discussion no one had been having. Had that conversation just been about Wille's happiness, then perhaps it would not have felt like a checklist item on an authorial agenda: Give lip service to pro-monarchy argument ✅

Wille always being famous is not a reason for him to remain in the monarchy. Yes, but that means being free from public scrutiny can't be cited as a justification for him to leave either. To think that Wilmon will at least have control over their narrative or can disappear from public seems naïve. They are and will be figures of public interest even if they try to stop being public figures and, as such, they will continue to have narratives imposed upon them by outside entities, be it the press, social media, political parties, activist groups, etc. And disappearing – how is being forced into hiding any less of a cage? I don’t know that Simon is incompatible with royal life because nothing believably depicted that. But if Simon is that political, then "[n]othing about who [Simon] is or what he believes is compatible with” him not using every tool at his disposal to fight for social justice and instead to disappear into obscurity and silence. If Simon wants to continue being political, create music for public consumption, or have Wille use his privilege for good, then Wilmon will remain public figures with all that come with that. Hope Linda will be able to pay for private security.

The entire forced-into-a-narrative argument forgets one very key point, which I get, because S3 forgot it too: When Wille fought back against the narrative being imposed upon him, he won! After The Monarchy forced him back into the closet in S1, and tried to manipulate him into conforming in S2, Wille literally changed the narrative, reclaimed his truth, and publicly took control, figuratively slapping down The Monarchy’s pawn (August), and choosing what he wanted. And then in S3, he just . . .decides to instead begin “acquiescing to [the Palace’s] performance.” Why this happens, especially when he held all the cards at the end of S2 and the one ace The Monarchy could have used to manipulate him (the pill bottle) turned out to be completely irrelevant, the narrative never bothers to explain. Because Necessary for The Message I guess.

Which leads to the part about social media. The entire social media storyline was contrived, from the Simon still having a public account, to laptops apparently not existing, to Wille being solely responsible for shepherding the Eriksson's. The only thing the social media plot demonstrates is how S3 sacrificed storytelling for beating me over the head with The Message. For example, it really wasn’t unreasonable that PR asked for those particular posts to be removed. Imagine you work at a business and your partner posts to his public social media account that has a large following that the two of you would like to overthrow/burn down that business. And your boss sees it. That’s not a good thing, btw. If the point was supposed to be that The Monarchy is TERRIBLE, make the song about queer love or just their relationship so it shows PR is unsupportive and homophobic when they want it taken down; make the problem with the photo be that it was taken at a May Day event or because the kid was wearing a rainbow pin, so everyone sees PR are a**holes. But no, not when there was The Message to convey.

How much of a symbol of a queer and progressive country can Wilhelm be when the whole idea is predicated on absolutely no one having a choice in the matter. I honestly don’t understand what is being expressed here. Because it seems to be saying that no one can be a role model if it’s based on an immutable characteristic, and that’s just ridiculous. I couldn’t be delighted at the idea of someone Black joining the British Royal family because she had no choice in being Black and I had no choice in who Harry married? I think, instead, what OP may be saying is that Wille being a queer royal is meaningless because he is actually a Royal who just happens to have been born queer; in other words, he didn’t do anything to earn respect.

If that is the argument, then I still think it’s ridiculous, rather shortsighted, and dismisses out of hand how symbols work to inspire. Also, f**k that little kid and his mom in episode 3 who were “shallow” enough to think Wilmon were brave, I guess. Someone can inspire someone else merely by existing because representation matters. If fictional characters can inspire people, then of course the first modern openly queer royal with anxiety and his biracial, “socialist,” commoner boyfriend raised by an immigrant Spanish-speaking single mom would spark so much joy in so many people around the world. But that is all completely ignored because, well because The Message.

Why should Wilhelm give himself up, his happiness, the love of his life, and his mental well-being? Those are all great questions! Too bad we don’t see Wille take any steps to address his mental health. Or resolve through communication instead of papering over the many conflicts he had with Simon. Or try to explore what a "normal" life could be like rather than enjoying his privilege without question. Or either work to repair his relationship with his parents or reject them, rather than a miracle cure and single hug making everything magically better. That's the "weight" that is actually on Wille and it all still remains at the end. Or, you know, just have him actually say that mental health, Simon, his future dreams, etc., are the reasons he wants to renounce instead of spouting political rhetoric.

It is so frustrating how S3 tells me I should believe/accept something but never bothers to depict or explain why. OP states “Wilhelm isn’t serving the LGBTQ community by being a queer Prince, but the monarchy is using Wilhelm (and his queerness) to appear progressive,” which is built on so many assumptions. Why can’t Wille be queer, support the LGTBQ+ community, allow the monarchy to appear progressive, and help it to actually become more progressive? The show doesn’t bother to answer any of those questions and instead just has Wille dismissively say no to everything:

And that’s just bullshit. A quick Google search shows me Crown Princess Victoria has been recognized for her support of LGBT+ causes and gave a speech at the 2020 Pride Parade. William and Harry started a charity to tackle mental health stigma. The first official engagement for one of Norway’s princesses was about climate change. All “political” topics. So no, “anything that is slightly connected with politics is NOT a challenge to the neutrality of the monarchy.”

Maybe the millions contributed to charities because of royal patronages are empty, performative, and meaningless for some. Well then, show that. Have Wille try to make a difference and be shot down, have his 1st engagement be a polo match with rich jerks instead of with adorable disabled children. Have him leave the purple nail polish on and be ordered to remove it because it’s too radical. Hell, keep Jan-Olaf as the face of The Monarchy! But much like Wille, the show couldn’t be arsed to make the effort. And so Wille came out looking like the problem rather than The Monarchy.

The thing is, I am not pro-monarchy. But I am pro-cohesive storytelling that has a narrative through-line and consistent plot. I'm not sure if Young Royals is meant to a realistic drama or a fairytale, a love story or a social commentary, universally themed or very personal and specific, happy and joyful or darkly cynical. S3 uses klaxons to shout the conclusion the author wants to viewer to reach rather than constructing a narrative that guides the viewer to a conclusion that can be believed in. In my opinion.