Young Royals vs. Heartstopper – Which One is Better?

There’s a great debate on the Internet: Young Royals vs. Heartstopper. Fans are discussing which of the two Netflix series is better. That’s why we’ll take a closer look at Young Royals and Heartstopper in this article.

Young Royals

Young Royals is a Swedish teen drama released on Netflix on July 1, 2021. It’s about two teenagers who enter into a romantic relationship. As the name suggests, one of the main characters is Prince Wilhelm of Sweden, who’s part of the royal family. The story is set at the fictional elite Hilerska boarding school, where Wilhelm meets his love interest, Simon, while trying to adjust to his new life.

Heartstopper

Heartstopper, on the other hand, is a British coming-of-age drama based on the graphic novel series of the same name by Alice Oseman. It revolves around two gay characters, Charlie and Nick, who fall in love with each other. The series also features other queer characters and their relationships are also central.

So, let’s take a closer look at the similarities and differences between Young Royals and Heartstopper.

Similarities Between Young Royals and Heartstopper

Young Royals Netflix

When it comes to the similarities between Young Royals and Heartstopper, we must first talk about the stories of the two series. Both series are about a gay couple, one of whom is openly gay while the other is unsure about his sexuality. In Heartstopper, Charlie is the one who’s openly gay, while Nick never questioned his sexual orientation until he met Charlie. In Young Royals, Simon is also openly gay, while Wilhelm isn’t, as he comes from a royal family.

Heartstopper Netflix

Second, in both Heartstopper and Young Royals, the couples had to somehow keep their relationship a secret. Nick was the one who asked Charlie to keep their relationship a secret since he wasn’t sure of his identity yet. Fortunately, he was able to admit his identity at the end of Heartstopper Season 1. Although it’s more difficult for Wilhelm in Young Royals to accept and reveal his true identity than for Nick in Heartstopper, he’s gradually come to accept himself for who he really is.

Also read: 6 Netflix Shows Similar to Young Royals – What to Watch Until Young Royals Season 2?

Differences Between Young Royals and Heartstopper

Young Royals is a Swedish teen drama.

When we talk about the differences between Young Royals and Heartstopper, the first thing we’ve to mention is the difference in the plot structure of the two Netflix series. Although both series are about a queer relationship, Heartstopper offers its viewers a broader perspective on LGBTI+ relationships, while Young Royals focuses only on the relationship between Simon and Prince William of Sweden and presents the responsibilities of a royal member. The second difference between Young Royals and Heartstopper is related to the first difference, namely the different social status of the characters and its impact on their sexual identity.

Heartstopper is a British coming-of-age drama.

In Heartstopper, because Charlie is openly gay, he was bullied by his classmates, but in Young Royals, Wilhelm has more to do when it comes to going public, since he’s from the royal family. For example, an international scandal breaks out when a sex tape featuring the two young lovers is leaked, which means that Wilhelm has a lot to do with being who he really is.

The third difference between Young Royals and Heartstopper concerns the ending. In the season finale of Heartstopper, Nick finally accepted his sexual orientation and was ready to make their relationship public. He kissed Charlie in public and opened up to her mother by telling her that he’s bisexual and loves Charlie.

Young Royals, on the other hand, ends a bit differently than Heartstopper. Although Simon and Wilhelm didn’t break up in the season finale, we can’t say that they solved all their problems and became happy. Wilhelm has finally accepted his sexuality, but he was still hesitant when they were together in public. However, against all odds, he managed to hug Simon in front of everyone during the Christmas break. So we can say that Heartstopper showed Nick and Charlie’s happy ending in the season finale, while Young Royals preferred to delay the happy ending a bit, which is a hint for Season 2.

Is Heartstopper Better than Young Royals?

It’s so hard to answer the question of whether Heartstopper is better than Young Royals, because we binge-watched both shows and loved them. We’ve to say that they both show love between queer teens quite openly – which is revolutionary for the media industry. Also, both shows appeal to young viewers and can shed light on those who’re unsure of their sexual identity. Therefore, we think that both Young Royals and Heartstopper are worth watching.

Also read: All Young Royals Characters Ranked From Best to Worst