This summer, viewers were enthralled by *The Summer I Turned Pretty*. The concluding season of the beloved teen drama sparked conversations, “Are you Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah?”
After Belly (Lola Tung) made her ultimate decision between the Fisher brothers (Christopher Briney and Gavin Casalegno), fans found themselves pondering, “What should be our next binge?” (Aside from the forthcoming movie, of course.)
The solution appears to be another teen drama on Prime Video: the German-language series *Maxton Hall — The World Between Us*. The initial trio of episodes for *Maxton Hall* Season 2 debuted on Nov. 7. Since that release, the series has ascended to the top of Prime Video’s streaming rankings, eclipsing *The Summer I Turned Pretty* as the platform’s leading teen romance. Presently, it holds the #2 spot on Prime Video, trailing only Tyler Perry’s new film *Finding Joy*, and is the top TV series.
Adapted from Mona Kasten’s book series, *Maxton Hall* transports viewers to its namesake boarding school, a magnificent castle home to affluent students. Ruby Bell (Harriet Herbig-Matten), a student on scholarship, aspires to leverage her time at Maxton Hall as a path to Oxford University, while her peers delight in their family’s riches.
Upon discovering a scandal at Maxton Hall, Ruby becomes deeply intertwined with James Beaufort (Damian Hardung), the affluent heir to the Beaufort lineage. Although he comes from wealth, Ruby reveals hidden complexities within James. As is typical in a teen romance, the pair eventually fall for each other, even as outside forces attempt to drive them apart.
*Maxton Hall* lacks the sibling love triangle central to *The Summer I Turned Pretty*. Nonetheless, the parallels suggest that *Maxton Hall* is poised to bridge the gap left by *The Summer I Turned Pretty*’s conclusion.
Ruby and James’ enemies-to-lovers arc resonates with Belly and Conrad’s dynamic from *The Summer I Turned Pretty*’s first season. In Season 2, James’ battles with mental health and loss reflect Conrad’s journey, particularly as both protagonists confront profound family tragedies.
However, as James deteriorates, he makes a choice reminiscent of Jeremiah’s notorious Cabo trip, where he betrayed Belly. James bypasses a spring break getaway to betray Ruby, doing so right in front of her during the Season 2 premiere. Since then, he’s attempted to seek forgiveness, yet the tension persists.
The intrigue compels viewers to return to *Maxton Hall* weekly, eager to discover what unfolds for Ruby and James. Beyond their love story, *Maxton Hall* delves into the aspirations and struggles of its characters, covering Ruby’s educational dreams, James’ grief, and the class disparities within their school. This offers ample material for teen drama enthusiasts to connect with, ensuring that while *The Summer I Turned Pretty*’s summer chapter has concluded, *Maxton Hall*’s fall is thriving.
*Maxton Hall — The World Between Us* Season 2 is currently available for streaming on Prime Video, with fresh episodes released every Friday.