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othervee · 3 days

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Dearest Hanna! @sadhappylady, I sure hope so! And thank you for the question, I've been thinking about writing a post about it so yay motivation! 💜💜💜

And guess what, it's a new interpretation of the Holy scene, and perhaps of all the intimacy in every season. I can't do that without talking about season 1 and 3 scenes too so here you go, a dive into YR intimacy.

[In fact I wrote this longass post as an answer to your ask and tumblr wouldn't have it, so I had to make it into a regular post to fit all the gifs.]

Season 3 took great care showing us that Simon and Wille are vers - video of the s3 scene here. (You're welcome.) They are making love in an upright position, and we're explicitely shown them doing each other.

They even show us one more time that Wille is a selfless lover who enjoys going down on Simon - behaviour that subverts our ideas of masculinity and hierarchy. Who's the girl in the relationship? No one.

[Simon and Wille hadn't had an opportunity to make love since late March, and here it's more than a month later. Ofc horny teens can get off thrice in a short time if it's a long time since last time and they're desperate. I'm from a tiny island, and the number of times either I or my bf ran to catch the ferry home as a teenager probably reached triple digits lol. I promise our boys spent their time well!]

I'll also add that the scene in Wille's bed in the palace also shows them switching positions while kissing and roughhousing. Imagine what we would have thought if Wille was lying on top of Simon when he said "Nej. Det här är bättre." / "No. This is better"? Instead Simon is lying on top of him after kissing in every position.

"I would kiss...your birthmark On your collarbone."

Young Royals even gave us the tenderest, softest phone sex scene, revealing it's not the first time they do this, and showing us how well they know each other's bodies both from a month of phone sex but also from the many times they made love that day and night before Wille's speech.

The scenes in season 3 should make us rethink what Simon and Wille did in season 2, because what do we see? The same vertical position as in season 3. Even in Wille's dream, no one lying on top of the other, and from a cinematographic pov that's definitely intentional.

The difference in what we see may be a result of the interpretations of the fandoms each season - it looks to me like Lisa, the directors, intimacy coordinators, and Omar and Edvin took great care showing us that Wilmon are vers, even being more clear season by season.

After season 1, many interpreted Simon as passive and girl-coded, and Wille as dominant and masculine, despite Wille going down on Simon - behaviour that by heteronormative standards are girl-coded. But Wille was drunk and high, and Simon wouldn't want to initiate anything aside from signaling that he wants him, which he does when he tosses his head back and bucks his hips up, as you can see in my shitty gif above.

And then Wille even moves and lies next to Simon, side by side, because top and bottom doesn't apply to them - before he goes down on him. This is the only time one of them lies on top of the other when they make love in the entire show.

Their second time, they're both standing upright, pun intended. It makes sense that Wille removes Simon's shirt this time - last time he had no t-shirt on, and this time, Simon's arms are covered while his aren't. Simon got to stroke his arms first, and he wants to touch skin too.

And what did season 2 give us? First a dream where they're both in a upright position. And then they make holy love, all while remaining in a vertical position. Simon takes the initiative, but it immediately becomes mutual, turning into their dance of passing on the initiative, of their give and take that we saw in season one, where they learn by copying each other's behaviour. The fact that Simon and Wille learn from each other from the very beginning shows us that yes, these boys have the same sexual preferences.

Young Royals continues to show us in various ways in every season that there are no one who is above the other, that they don't have any hierarchies inside their relationship, that they like the same things, that heteronormative ideas like top/bottom and that one person has to be the woman in the relationship doesn't apply to them at all. They're vers and that's that.

#best intimacy post ever #young royals #young royals analysis

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othervee · 4 days

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Next post will be YR related, I promise

In the six and a half weeks since episodes 1-5 of s3 dropped, I have found out I have cancer; had surgery to remove the cancer; found out the cancer has not metastasized, thank all that is holy; and generally felt as if I was in a washing machine tumbling around and trying to stay afloat. I thought I'd have heaps of time to read and rewatch and analyse and write, but it turns out having surgery and all the cancer palaver is actually a bit exhausting, and makes you start questioning your relationship with your body and the world, etc etc. Who would have thought it?

Anyway. Back on board somewhat now, at least until the next phase (radiotherapy) begins.

#not yr #real life rears its head

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othervee · 14 days

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according to wikipedia there are 44-50 countries in europe so i just went with 50. have fun!

#england and wales and Scotland and France

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othervee · 16 days

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Young Royals is anti-monarchist propaganda (always has been)

I think it’s fair to say that most of the fandom was quite happy with the finale. However, I’ve seen a handful of posts of people that were unhappy, specifically those who were unhappy with Wille giving up his place in the line of succession. These criticisms range in everything from dismissing Wille’s choice (Wilhelm has made a harsh decision without thinking of the consequences, this won’t actually make the media circus around him go away), to those disappointed in how the monarchy in general was represented (Wille could have modernized the institution, no one in the show attempted to consider how the monarchy could be good actually). I don’t want to invalidate anyone’s feelings about the finale. If you didn't like it, that’s more than ok and I don’t want to argue with anyone about their taste.

But when it comes to criticism about Wilhelm giving up the throne, I do find myself frustrated at what I see as a fundamental misunderstanding of what this show was trying to communicate. Young Royals, plain and simple, is a story that denounces the incompatibility of antiquated and hierarchical institutions (Hillerska, the monarchy) with equality and justice.

If you’ve had the displeasure of being my fandom friend you’ll know that I’ve spent the last 3 years yelling about how this show is about abolishing the monarchy. I even wrote a lengthy fanfic with the sole excuse of having Wilhelm arrive at this conclusion. Still, I knew that whatever statement the show wanted to arrive at, we’d only really be getting to it at the end of the show.

Seasons one and two were setting up all the characters on the chessboard for the end: Wilhelm is the Crown Prince, although he does not want to be. He and Simon are in love, but Wilhelm’s role draws an edge between them. Erik’s legacy and August's spot next in line are keeping Wilhelm in his place.

From episode one, I think the show was telling us of the many things that are wrong with the monarchy, but I don’t think it’s until season three that these discussions become more explicit. Is this why some people were disappointed by the ending? Maybe so. Still, I wanted to look at how season three in particular answers some of the questions or issues people are bringing up regarding both the monarchy and the role.

What do you like about the monarchy?

Season 3 Episode 4 is the first time we hear an explicit discussion about why the monarchy could potentially be a good institution. I’ve seen some people complain that the show didn’t give this idea enough thought.

I completely disagree with this take: the short conversation Wille and Simon have in this episode is succinct, but still effective at creating this conversation. A longer and more drawn out conversation would have been a bit unrealistic and probably boring to watch. These are not academics having a debate, but two teenagers who are talking about what for them is an emotionally charged topic.

There’s also no need for a longer, more detailed discussion: Wilhelm does provide a very good answer to the question: The monarchy is there to unite the people. To be a neutral party in situations when the government cannot or will not interfere.

A quick civics lesson: In parliamentary democracies, the monarch serves as the head of state.

This role is predominantly representative , although in many places the government is formed in the name of the monarch. This could, theoretically, grant them some political power-- since they could technically reject the winning party from forming a government. However, in most parliamentary monarchies, the King or Queen simply has to accept whatever decision is made based on election results.

However, the value of the head of state is precisely in its apolitical nature. Regardless of who’s in power, the head of state is a neutral ambassador of the nation, both in and outside of their country. Their job is diplomatic and representative, and one that is thoroughly divorced from politics. This is what Wilhelm meant when he said that the monarchy was there to ‘unite the people’. Whenever I’ve spoken to pro-monarchy folks about their beliefs, they cite this as the reason why they like it.

It’s easy to see why Wilhlem would latch on this as his main argument to defend the institution. I don’t think there is anything inherently bad about having a separate head of state that represents the country. I don’t think the major grip with this issue is the having a head of state, but the fact that the head of state is an hereditary position. Simon says this himself twice in this episode: the issue is not that the head of state exists, but that the head of state is not an elected position. Furthemore, the head of state is a role that is imposed on a person not by their talent as a public speaker or negotiator, but by a simple accident of birth.

The job’s legitimacy or importance should not be above any individual’s right to autonomy and self-determination. Furthermore, considering that taxpayers are the ones who finance this position, shouldn’t they be able to elect who it is?

Let’s imagine a scenario where a friend tells you they’ve gone into a career because everyone in their family works in that industry, and they simply had no choice in the matter. It wouldn’t even matter if they were good or bad, they had a job in this career guaranteed from birth.

Would you not be concerned that maybe your friend is unhappy for a rather unnecessary reason? Would you not think that perhaps someone who actually wanted the job would be better suited for it? Would you think it right for a company to hire someone simply because of their family history? Would you consider any of this fair? And what is so special about monarchy that makes us have a different answer for it than we would if the question was about law or medicine?

You’ll always be famous.

Another common criticism I’ve seen is that Wilhelm will inevitably regret his decision, especially once he realizes that public scrutiny will not be going away. This is true, Wilhelm will likely always be a figure of public interest. But to me, this has always been a negative consequence of the monarchy, and I have a hard time seeing this is a valid reason why he should stay in it.

From the second we meet him, we know Wilhelm is uncomfortable with both the public attention and the scrutiny placed on him. However, this goes a bit further than that. I’d argue than more than the scrutiny itself, Wilhelm is weighed down by having to keep a public image. Because, remember folks, Wilhelm is not merely an awkward teenage boy with acne and a crush. No, no, Wilhelm is the State. Wilhelm is going to be a publicly-funded representative of the nation . This means, of course, that there’s a narrative, as he mentions himsef, that needs to be put forward. One that’s generic, serious, and unproblematic:

From the get go, Wilhelm is uncomfortable with the inauthentic and performative aspect of his role.This is a constant we see with Wilhelm in seasons one and two: every ‘performance’ he has to do fills him with nausea, anxiety, or some sort of discomfort.

In season three, Wilhelm begins acquiescing to this performance. Uncomfortable as he may be, for most of season 3 he’s accepted that this is his role. However, the attention this season shifts from Wilhelm to Simon, who’s now the one facing public scrutiny. The difference is that, unlike Wille, there’s no role for Simon to play. Nothing about who he is or what he believes is compatible with the public image. The only thing he can do in this situation is disappear, and Wilhelm is tasked with having to ask that of him.

I know a lot of people were exasperated at Simon’s very bad and clumsy social media presence. I’m not gonna argue that my boy wasn’t being a bit cringey, because he absolutely was. But I think the larger commentary here has more to do with the expectation that these two teenagers have to censor and edit themselves to comply with this particular image.

Ultimately, the criticism that Wilhelm will always be famous leads us straight back to the institution. Why does an underage boy have the same PR expectations of a politician? Why is a teenager dating his classmate + being cringe online justification for doxxing him? Unfortunately, no abdication is really going to undo any of this, and things are certainly going to be crazy once Wilhelm announces he’s stepping down

However, this time around both he and Simon will at least have the agency to decide what they want to do with their public image, including the decision to disappear from the public completely if that’s what they want.

Queer representation

This sentiment has been in the fandom for some time now. This was the main argument why some people wanted Wille to stay in the monarchy. Sure, the institution has always been about bloodlines and tradition. But wouldn’t it be so nice to have Wilhelm as a symbol for the queer community? I’ve always found this idea a bit shallow. I’m not sure how much of a symbol of a queer and progressive country Wilhelm could be, when the whole idea is predicated on absolutely no one having a choice in the matter. Is it really impressive to accept the queerness of the guy you already had no choice in accepting?

There’s three scenes in season 3 where the potential Wilhelm -and by extension Simon- could have for the queer community. Farima brings it up in the first episode. However, the framing is reversed. Wilhelm isn’t serving the LGBTQ community by being a queer Prince, but the monarchy is using Wilhelm to appear progressive.

The show does humor this idea of the impact they could have with the May 1st photo. We see what Simon and Wilhelm could potentially do for the community, how by simply existing as who they are they can be inspirational. It gives Simon, briefly, hope that maybe something good could come out of this.

But this moment is quite literally framed by politics. It doesn't matter that Simon is not participating in that manifestation, anything that is slightly connected with politics is a challenge to neutrality of the monarchy. This same idea is stated more explicitly int the next episode, when Wilhelm is reviewing the options for his charity.

Ultimately, anything action significant enough to be truly impactful, would be bordering the limits of what could be considered political. He's got to stick it out with these quite frankly boring and limited themes, all for the sake of staying on the very narrow lane of things that are not political.

The weight of the crown.

Stories about Kings and Queens usually carry the same fundamental tension of duty vs self.

In order to rule, our protagonist has to sacrifice themselves, usually for the sake of their country and people. The Crown is an excellent example of this type of story. Sacrifice in that series is framed as something noble and selfless.

Young Royals started out with this same fundamental tension, but the main difference is that Young Royals has framed this debate as a question:

Why should Wilhelm give himself up, his happiness, the love of his life, and his mental well-being? What’s so important and valuable about this institution that requires this sacrifice?

Wilhelm’s journey is about accepting and voicing his answer. He doesn’t want to be Crown Prince, he doesn’t want to be King.

But by virtue of taking part of this journey with him, we’re able to examine this question from a different perspective: Is this institution valuable enough to justify all of this? I think the show is inviting all of us to evaluate this situation and arrive at the conclusion that it isn’t.

Even someone like August who wanted this, is weighed down by the realization of just how much the crown weighs. Of course, a big part of the fandom probably doesn’t live in countries with parliamentary monarchies. Still, considering the worldwide popularity of the British Royals, for example, I still think it’s a worthwhile exercise to question the validity of these institutions. Are they really worth sustaining? And if they’re not, why should we continue to drag them on into the present, citing tradition?

#a monarchy is not a healthy place #especially not a healthy place to bring up children #yr s3 #yr s3 spoilers #young royals #monarchy young royals #succession young royals

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othervee · 16 days

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BILL NYE can’t stress the importance of Climate Change enough

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othervee · 16 days

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Hello! I've been away in hospital and then snoozing and resting for the past four days. I have been reading fic but apart from that have barely touched the fandom, so I have lots to catch up on in the next few days before I go back to work. Any recommendations?

Personal interlude under the cut, warnings for surgery and injections.

I had a "wide local excision" and oncoplastic surgery which included removal of two lymph nodes. The injection to find the correct lymph nodes was the most painful part of the entire process, including a very nice young man kneading my breast as if it were dough to make the injection move along, while cheerfully telling me needle reaction stories to take my mind off it. Apparently the worst place to have a melanoma that needs injecting is in the scalp. Make sure the balding people in your life wear hats in the sun!

I count myself insanely lucky as the surgeon did a wonderful job, everyone in the hospital was kind and caring, and my friends have stepped up with much love. The Breast Cancer Network nurses ordered me a free post-surgery bra and u-shaped cushion to protect the stitches. And it didn't even cost very much, at least not compared to how it would be in some other places.

So that's the first hurdle jumped! Now I have some time to heal up before the next step happens.

#real life rears its head

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othervee · 23 days

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More examples of the WORST mansplaining here.

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othervee · 24 days

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Another personal interlude under the cut.

It turns out that I have breast cancer. Fortunately it’s been caught early and hasn’t spread, and it is of a treatable kind. I am going in for surgery next week. It’s all moving very fast, thank you Australian health care system. My specialist is optimistic that I will have a good outcome. I’m probably in as good a place as a newly diagnosed person can be, physically and emotionally.

I’m loading up my kindle with YR fic to entertain me while I’m recovering. Fic writers, you are now part of my support net! Thank you for your service 🤣

#real life rears its head

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othervee · 25 days

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I've seen some people say that August becoming the Crown Prince isn't really a punishment for a person like him and he basically got everything he wanted.

And it IS true on some fronts. He will be holding the title of King, his name will go down the history, he will be wealthy and will be the pinnacle of class and privilege and everything he believes in AND he will be good at his duties.

But he won't be happy.

Throughout the seasons, we see his shell break, little by little. He is not a changed person by the end, but we get to see more of where he comes from and how he feels about everything that happens around him. He does not become a selfless, remorseful and redeemed person- he still sees the world from his self-obsessed lens. But that lens shifts from almost-evil narcissism to a sort of awareness- that he is a person who can love, and can be loved, a person who can be truly happy. But then Sara leaves him for good- and he has no reason to hold onto this hope. What is he supposed to do with this awareness, when he has no one to reinforce it back to him?

And now he will be the Crown Prince. The eventual King. His circle will be extremely restricted, his life will be controlled by a whole institution. Unlike Wilhelm, August is more of a pleaser when it comes to authority figures- how can he ever find a way to find happiness for himself when he will be too busy people-pleasing?

He will be living the ultimate Cishet Man-Alpha Male Life- a life full of power, status and he will enjoy aspects of it, there's no denying- after all, he is a believer in class and heirarchies. But he will also shrivel in his shell- he will be giving himself away to an institution which leeches onto anyone who is willing to step into its shoes, the Individual Person behind that title be damned.

Whenever I think about what his life will be like as a Royal, I remember that scene from S3 E5- a drunk August gulping down wine after wine, the life of the party, the "crowned" Bad Boy of his class, seemingly having the time of his life. But then he steps out of the room for some air, and he throws away the title of "Bad Boy"- a title based on how people perceive him, but he no longer identifies with it. He is relieved only when he sees Sara- a person who showed him a part of himself he does identify with. But now, he no longer has access to that part of himself.

In my mind, August will be a true successor to Kristina- carrying the legacy of an institution forward even if it costs them their relationships and their mental peace, with an unfortunate romance locked somewhere in their hearts. But his journey to accept this role would be harder than it was for Wilhelm- after all, August was the spare of a spare. How could he ever know what was coming for him?

I think that is why an open ending works for his character- we can imagine him extremely smug to win the lottery ticket, but we can also imagine him realizing that he willingly stepped into a trap he can never free himself from.

#yes yes yes all of this!#young royals #young royals analysis #august horn #yr s3 spoilers #august young royals #young royals season 3 spoilers #be careful what you wish for

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othervee · 26 days

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Wilhelm's nose scrunch. Reblog if you agree.

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othervee · 27 days

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Wilhelm scrunch nose is so cute🥰

#awww so cute!#wille had a few new facial expressions in s3 #young royals #prince wilhelm #edvin ryding #yr s3 #young royals season 3 spoilers #yr s3 spoilers

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othervee · 28 days

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“The prince kisses a boy, and he doesn’t turn into a frog. He turns into a real boy.”

#yr s3 spoilers #young royals season 3 spoilers

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othervee · 30 days

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I just know that when Romeo and Juliet premiered two ye olde girlies in the pit at intermission were like didst thou see the sparks betwixt Tybalt and mercutio… aye and not from their swords alone!

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othervee · 30 days

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my personal little headcanon is that Simon becomes one of the best pro-bono lawyers in Sweden.

A not insignificant part of the motivation would be something that Wilhelm (ironically) said in S2E5: "You don't understand. August would have the best lawyers in Sweden protecting him…you wouldn't stand a chance." I feel like those words would've lodged themselves in the back of Simon's mind, but that they'd begin to come back to him more and more as time went on, particularly after S3E1 when he comes face to face with August's stepfather - who is considered one of the best lawyers in Sweden.

Admittedly, the main reason why August's stepfather could force an agreement was the fact that a) The Royal Court didn't want to pursue charges against August, and b) August had the very real blackmail material which was Simon's own drug-dealing in S1. However, I also think that even if August didn't have that leverage, Simon would've been in for a very painful time trying to win against August's stepfather and his considerable resources. Without the Royal Court backing Simon, I genuinely don't know if Simon could've made much ground in the legal system - then again, I don't know much about how the Swedish legal system works.

At any rate, with what did play out, I've always felt Simon's character is the kind to have taken that loss and then thought to himself - I never want anyone else to feel so powerless. I never want anyone else to have to simply back down because they don't have access to a lawyer who has the compassion to want to help and the ability to do so. I think this would've galvanised Simon, made him think - hang on, I could be that person.

The question is, of course, whether being a lawyer suits Simon's character. My own feeling is that it would, regardless of whether he goes down the solicitor or barrister route (or any of the many other routes that are available). I think he would actually excel at being a barrister (the lawyer who specialises in presenting arguments in court), because we know he's got the confidence to speak his mind. We also know that he's great at formulating and delivering take-downs that are backed up with logic (Why is it called tax "evasion" but welfare "scam"? It's all right that rich people cheat, but when poor people do it, it's messed up.) Granted, this is when he's sixteen and in a classroom - but I'd argue that it takes guts to speak up like that when you're surrounded by people who actively, vociferously disagree with you. Imagine what he'd be like in about ten years' time, after finishing a university degree and doing a few internships.

Anyway, this got super long, but it's a thought that's been percolating in my mind for the past year or so. Simon Eriksson has what it takes to make an amazing lawyer - but he can just as well go pursue something else. With what we've seen of his character, I don't think anyone can deny that he'd excel at whatever he puts his mind to.

#love this idea!#young royals #yr s3 spoilers

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