Dangerous enticement, confrontations with affluent power brokers and wistful teenage longings are all part of the syllabus for Maxton Hall: The World Between Us, a fantastic new private school show on Prime Video based on Mona Kasten’s bestselling book Save Me. Add to that a Europop soundtrack featuring Ariana Grande and Billie Eilish among other top performers and a sizzling adolescent romance story, and you have what can be termed as an A+ rated series that will satisfy the taste of the audience.
Maxton Hall: The World Between Us is up there somewhere, being an above average series due to its lively cast and brilliant performances by Harriet Herbig-Matten (Bibi & Tina: Einfach Anders) and Damian Hardung (How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast). This German-language show has been dubbed in English; it narrates modern love story between Ruby Bell (Herbig-Matten) and James (Hardung). While intelligent Ruby hails from a poor background, spoiled sporty James belongs to an influential family whose business controls international markets. Like Romeo plus Juliet meets Riverdale’s Archie and Veronica — star-crossed lovers who battle destiny only momentarily before forming an unexpected bond.
Sonja Weißer, Ben Felipe (Pagan Peak), Fedja van Huêt (Speak No Evil), Runa Greiner (Suck Me Shakespeer), Justus Riesner (Loving Her), Clelia Sarto (Herzstolpern), Andrea Guo(The Swarm)and Eidin Jalali(The Swarm) round out the cast of characters.Executive producers Markus Brunnemann, Ceylan Yildirim together with directors Tarek Roehlinger and Martin Schreier do wonders with Daphne Ferraro’s adaptation of head writer giving this outing great characterisation but most importantly purpose.
At the centre of this series is Maxton Hall: The World Between Us, an exclusive, private school. Several characters take turns narrating the episodes. Ruby becomes a central figure early on. “We all have the power to shape our own destiny.” she advises us in the very first episode, suggesting that it is a lot of work to actually do so.
Ruby is likeable; her family is even more so when vying for a recommendation letter from Maxton Hall to Oxford University. Runa Greiner plays Ruby’s younger sister Ember who wants to become a seamstress and has always been one of Ruby’s closest allies while Julia-Maria Köhler and Martin Neuhaus play her parents who have also moved their lives around so that Ruby can attend Maxton Hall. The past in which Ruby’s father was confined to a wheelchair lingers over her, but suddenly an unfortunate situation at Maxton Hall takes precedence.
Lydia Beaufort (Sonja Weißer),an upper crust heir whom they had fallen into by accident, goes berserk when she realizes that Ruby has stumbled upon her. Her brother James appears and offers money after he makes up his mind to come to rescue her first. Disgustedly she rejects his play of rich man power, leaving James’ dumbfounded reaction. Handsome famed lacrosse player always gets what he wants without any arguments; however there is already something about how they first interacted that suggests these two might ignite sparks differently from others in their path.
This possibility is not explicitly discussed at the beginning of the series. Ruby, for example, wants to get that letter of recommendation so that she has a chance to enter Oxford University. However every step taken by Ruby comes with new hurdles she must overcome. Even as Ruby’s encounters with pompous James persist and result in devastations they provoke, one school official becomes concerned when this mistake lands them into a situation where they are serving as head of planning committee for a major event in punishment. Now being paired with James means there is no escaping him for Ruby anymore. Take pleasure in the fiery banter between these two; it would seem that they have become each other nemeses.
Moreover, this show also does an effective job at rounding out its supporting cast. Lin (Andrea Guo), one of James’ typical bros is rather like a trusty sidekick from whom we can expect no surprises as events unfold. Additionally, Graham Sutton (Eidin Jalali) who teaches figures highly in important scenes throughout the story. Every episode shows you something familiar happening over and over again; Ruby is successful only to lose everything before going back on things again—if you’ve ever watched Riverdale, Gossip Girl or read Bridgerton series then you know how hot lovers can be.
Actually, if you are one of those people that love being teased and dragged through romantic muck with two likable characters you just know will end up sleeping together then this series offers some of the best Bridgerton-like erotica — from Hardung’s naked well-muscled chest and abs to Herbig-Matten’s indecisive look on his face which leave us feeling frustrated and confused at once.
The eyes meet across crowded rooms while music swells inside their heads. Another one off the list.
Ruby herself represents the heart of the show since she had to earn everything she has got so far while growing up but despite this, when it comes to James, there is a certain emotional obstacle she simply cannot overcome with ease. She has a brain on her head. But not enough self-awareness.
On the other hand, this series does not rely solely on one thing as far as its plot is concerned. Daphne’s concentration is mainly on the pressures faced by James and Lydia and how they were instructed by their father to make decisions in life –and every now and then disobey them also-. While parental relations are examined in different ways here, Maxton Hall stands out from the rest because it captures what teachers and parents think about their students’ lives. This gives it an overall quality of drama that you don’t expect at first sight. (Dear God we love European shows).
Packed with mind-bending plot twists, sharp editing and roomy character studies which lead up to sixth episode from where more story can continue developing. Now what if Ruby, etc., did get into Oxford? So this can be a moment to see these characters in the next chapter of their lives. Bring it on! Freshly brewed and sizzling hot, Maxton Hall might just be one of the smartest written shows since Sex Education came into the scene.
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