Maxton Hall is the newly trending show on Amazon Prime. The series follows the familiar storyline of high school romance, featuring the classic enemies-to-lovers trope and the rich boy vs. poor girl dynamic. Here is our review of the series:
Is it like Elite?
Although there are early comparisons of the show to the Spanish drama series, the similarities are less compared to the dissimilarities. It is not a murder mystery like Elite.
It’s more similar to the Swedish drama series, Young Royals – The perils of being born into a rich family that carries the weight of heritage; dreams, love and desire; everything is more or less a replica of that show.
What Works for Maxton Hall?
Even though the show follows the age-old tropes and has nothing new to offer; it’s engaging from the get-go.
The chemistry between the leads is off the charts. Damian Hardung is charming as James Beaufort.
Harriet Herbig-Matten who plays Ruby Bell has a magical screen presence. It is impossible to look at anyone else when she is on screen.
I would love to see more of Runa Greiner who plays Ruby’s interesting and funny older sister Ember and Hyun Wanner (Charité) who plays the unforgettable Percy – James’s chauffeur.
Maxton Hall has an ambiguous setting, which adds to its intrigue. The story takes place either in Germany or the UK.
What Doesn’t Work?
Almost all the supporting characters are criminally underwritten. The mother’s character that leads to a crucial event in the final episode does not have the deserving emotional impact.
Ruby’s best friend, her sister, and her relationship with her father are not explored entirely. Even an important character like Lydia Beaufort (James’ twin) is shallow. All the other characters are mere caricatures.
Final Verdict
Maxton Hall is not a perfect series but it has what it takes to entertain a romance lover. If you love high school romances, you will love this one too.
Our Rating:
Arya is a curious soul and nerd who loves books and cinema. You can read her articles on Medium. You can also follow her on Instagram where she talks about her favourite books and movies.