I Think I Realized My Main Problem With Season Three.

I think I realized my main problem with season three. 

Wilmon as a couple didn't need it. 

Yeah, yeah, I know: we've been teased for months with the whole "will they be together", "endgame or not" thing, but really... why? In season two, it was made clear that they love each other more than anything and were willing to fight for it. Simon was willing to keep everything a secret if it meant being together, and Wilhelm was willing to face the consequences of his public confession if it meant they would be together. They had made their choice. They had already chosen each other. And so they did again, but as they hadn't before?..

And all this conflict around their relationship in season three seems unnecessary. They still, without a doubt, had to face all the problems that publicity has brought them and how different they are. But instead, for the sake of building tension, we got their bickering and almost complete inability to communicate, which left many people with the feeling that their relationship was toxic. 

And, yes, all of this was just to bring Wilhelm to the point of finally giving up the title of Crown Prince, but... he kind of didn't do it at the end of the season? In the moment Kristina let him go, yes, she admitted she was wrong, yes, but that's not the end of it. Stripping Wille of his heir status will have many consequences, and I want to remind you that Kristina is not the only one to make a decision. 

Wilhelm will likely remain a prince, and given that the show has limited the royal family to, literally, four people, he will be a working member of the royal family. Even if he's gonna renounce his title entirely, it won't make him less of a public figure. And just think of the shitwave that Simon would receive after all those statements...

So, it's as if we've been tried to be told: the main problem with Wilmon was the royal family, and now Wilhelm is no longer crown prince, so there's no problem! But that's not really true, this season has made their main problem a communication problem, and it's not going to go away, and neither is Wille's connection to the royal family.

That's why the ending, while happy, doesn't feel satisfying. It is indeed an open ending, but not in a good way for me. The play with feelings, the breakup, the TWO scenes of the main couple saying goodbye make me wonder: is Wilhelm's renounce of the title really going to help them to be together? Add to that the suspense with the school closing, the possible move of Simon and his family, and that means a long-distance relationship.... I don't know. Instead of closing all the storylines, this season added a few new ones, and almost none of them were given a proper conclusion. It's just not the kind of ending that answers all the questions.

I was entering my depressed and anxious-about-the-ending era, thinking how the ending will change the YR fandom...

And then TikTok started to recommend me videos about that series what was actually a remake of other, even less popular (now) show, and it was streaming in 2016 and didn't get a season two-

Which made me think: nah, YR fandom will be fine. I actually think it become one of those fandoms that lasts for many years earning new fans every now and then.

I'm still sad tho...

Now that I know how it ended, I'm going to pretend the series ended on season two. 

Am I glad for the Wilmon endgame? Of course I am. Am I happy with the whole season three? Uh-uh. 

For the entire first five episodes, I felt like the writers were trying to create a lot of drama that was unnecessary while dumping really important stuff. After having video and dr*gs thing looming over the characters for two seasons, we got a resolution to those problems in what, ten minutes in the first episode? And after that, we're supposed to worry about the school closing? Ah, okay.

Once again, I'll agree with everyone who's already said it before me: this season has really messed up Wille and Simon's relationship. And while it's written logically, I still have a strong feeling that it was just for the sake of drama, just to keep us in suspense, to keep us wondering if they'll get over it. And that's just too damn bad. 

And the last episode in particular cranked that problem to the max (for me). Most of the episode was devoted to how they're trying to come to terms with the breakup. Thanks, I had a whole season two to know they weren't going to make it, they're in love and will never be fully over each other, can we move on?

Wille's reconciliation with his parents is wonderful, but it felt so strained, like, wow, one fight was enough for them to realize their mistakes. One conversation after that was enough for him to be allowed to leave? No, I believe he can leave his role (he shouldn't have been so active in it until after high school anyway) and live a relatively non-public life, but it seems so quick and easy.

The only thing that really felt like something earned after the long journey was Wilhelm's "reconciliation" with August. I didn't think I needed it, but this season made me look forward to something like that.

No, I believe that Wille and Simon will get through whatever it is, I believe they will be together, get married, have their three tiny dogs and be happy. I knew that before season three came out. My problem with this season is that all the drama for the sake of drama feels like it stole a lot of priceless time from the plot. Oh no, Erik might not have been the nicest person! Ah, bygones, he's a great brother after all. (Yes, this storyline was important to Wille, but I'm sure it could have been shown much better). School might close and our heroes won't be able to be around each other! Oh, you know, that hasn't been decided definitely yet. Anyways, they were willing to date long distance. Simon getting physically threatened by fanatics? Surely it won't get any worse when Wilhelm's abdication is announced and these nutjobs connect the dots and blame Simon. Our heroes have obvious communication problems and their difference in backgrounds does become an issue sometimes? Oopsie, we'll turn a blind eye to that now. And it feels like that from almost every storyline this season. A lot of new problems going unresolved.

Honestly, I've read fanfics that continued their story way better than season three did. And this is just sad. Still, happy Wilmon endgame everyone! 

This!! There's also this moment in the first episode when Wille texts his mother that he wants to come back, like a normal kid would do. I don't think he would do that if he didn't trust her or if he didn't think she would even care. She is also quick to respond to his message and all of his calls we see through the series, like, she's not ignoring him even when she's obviously busy. I also genuinely believe she was hurt to hear "I was always compared to Erik". She probably did so, but maybe she didn’t realize it until he said that. Like, she's no villain in this story, she's just another victim. Imagine knowing for a fact that your child is going to face a lifetime of being in the public eye, every move he makes, every interaction will be discussed, there will be a more rumors and speculations about him?? Because she faces that her whole life, and Wilhelm also will because, let's be honest, even if he abdicates, he can hardly escape the spotlight entirely. There's no way out, for any of them.

that one anon’s ask about kristina reminded me of how hopeful i am that we see even more of wille’s relationship with his mom is s3. fanon, imo, tends to over dramatize the negative aspects of their relationship in fanfics and there’s nothing wrong with that. it makes for very interesting storylines.

but in canon their relationship doesn’t seem that…. cold? if that makes sense. obviously there’s tension and kristina isn’t the most affectionate or receptive to his feelings, especially in the ways he needs, but i do feel as tho she cares.

the fact that wille even went to her to complain about simon being on a date with someone else just signals to me that he feels that on some level, his mom isn’t as emotionally closed off to him. i like to think that when he was younger (probably before she took the throne), she was a lot more attentive to him and erik. so wille has received love from her before and probably still does; just to a much lesser amount and not in the ways that he needs (e.g. physical affection).

kristina is a victim to the royal life just like wilhelm is. and even though she’s clearly subjected to it for so long, i don’t think that’s completely erased her humanity. i don’t think it’s erased her ability to love wilhelm. she just loves him in the way the crown has ordered she love him. which is hurtful and damaging to him as a person, but she does love him

Remember your life // Wilmon In The Flesh AU

Following Linda's instructions, Wille found himself in the living room, lit by the bluish light of the TV screen. Someone was sitting in front of the screen, at first with his back to the door, so Wilhelm could see only a mop of dark curls and an orange T-shirt. But then the person turned around, and the box nearly slipped out of Wilhelm's hands. Right at him were white eyes with blurred irises. And those eyes belonged to the most beautiful person Wilhelm had ever seen in his life. “Didn't your parents teach you that staring is rude?” said the boy, clearly unimpressed by the attention paid to his appearance.

Yeah, so a month or two ago I was thinking "hey, what if… what if Wilmon, but in the In the Flesh universe? A while later, I'm ready to present my vision for such a story.