#30 - ‘Let’s Be A Revolution’ - Queer Love and Class War on ‘Young Royals’

Maria is joined by Kelly Diaz and Taylor Garland to discuss the inherently political Swedish teen drama YOUNG ROYALS (2021-2024). We trace the star-crossed romance between Crown Prince Wilhelm and the working-class, socialist student Simon Eriksson as their relationship brings out class tensions and questions about the legitimacy of the monarchy. We also analyze our strangest sit-in plotline yet when, inspired by the very people they mock, the privileged students of Hillerska stage a “sit-in strike” to protest repressive new school rules brought on by legitimate student misconduct. Finally, we make sure to touch on the racial politics explored through Felice’s character and the comparatively non-threatening queerness of rich kids like Nils, Stella, and Frederika.

TW: eating disorder discussion from ~1:39:44 - ~1:41:37

For this episode, we recommend you first watch YOUNG ROYALS Seasons 1-3, streaming on Netflix.

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ABOUT US:

MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions. 

KELLY DIAZ (she/her; recurring guest) is a postdoctoral research fellow with the Lang Center for Civic and Social Responsibility at Swarthmore College and an adjunct instructor of media studies at City College New York. She has a Ph.D. from the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania where she wrote her dissertation on depictions of youth activism on television. She loves to analyze and discuss the intersection of pop culture and politics and is passionate about the role entertainment plays in social justice movements. She has a dog, Matilda "Tillie," who is named after the magical, brilliant, and justice-serving character!  

TAYLOR GARLAND (she/her; guest) is a DC-based union communicator who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between flying obscene amounts for work and play, binging procedural TV dramas, and attempting and failing to reach her yearly reading challenge. Follow Taylor on Twitter @atgarland. 

JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV.

CHARLES S. O’LEARY (they/them; art) is a “writer,” “designer,” and “content strategist” based in Brooklyn, NY. A survivor of the 2010s Tumblr wars, leftist media criticism is all they know. To learn about them professionally, visit charles-oleary.biz. To learn about them personally, visit their Instagram at @c.s.0.l.

Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned. 

intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats

All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with.

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SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Kungahuset.se: The monarchy of Sweden
• Visit Sweden: Walpurgis Night (Valborg)
• Teen Vogue, March 19, 2024, Young Royals Creator Lisa Ambjörn Tells All About Netflix Show’s Final Season by K-ci Williams
• Los Angeles Times, March 19, 2024, Creator of ‘Young Royals’ explains the finale and why it’s ‘beautiful for things to end’ by Max Gao
• May Day Protest Signs Translated
• Tumblr analyses I enjoyed and referenced:
  • preciouspatriots: On August’s fate
  • omar-rudeberg:On some cool color theory and the monarchy
  • causetheturtle: Overall analysis of the anti-monarchy of it all!