Maxton Hall: The World Between Us Review| A predictable premise with its heart in the right place

If a typical high school teen drama is your cup of tea, then this is your show, where adolescent angst and feelings take center stage. The series captivates with a heartfelt portrayal of love that is guaranteed to tug at your heartstrings. What sets the series apart is its piercing lines that resonate with us deeply. The wonderfully crafted dialogues serve as a window into the character's thoughts, fears, and aspirations. Maxton Hall explores the timeless tale of love blooming between two individuals who are from different worlds. The drama unfolds not only in the romantic world but also in the clashes between social classes. In this series, love knows no bounds but societal barriers do. Despite its predictable setting, the series weaves a poignant tale of romance. 

Director: Martin Schreier, Tarek Roehlinger

Cast: Harriet-Herbig Matten, Damian Hardung, Fedja van Huêt

The series revolves around two people, Ruby Bell ( Harriet Herbig-Matten) and James Beaufort (Damian Hardung), who live in the same world but are still worlds apart. Ruby, a scholarship student at Maxton Hall, comes from an underprivileged background. On the other hand, James, the lacrosse team captain of Maxton Hall, has everything including the weight of his family's legacy to carry on. Their lives intertwine when Ruby uncovers James' sister, Lydia Beaufort's (Sonja Weiber) illicit affair with a teacher. James tries to buy her silence to which Ruby refuses to compromise, sparking a vendetta that destroys Ruby's college dreams.

Things change when they are forced to work together for the school's charity gala. As they start spending more time together, an unexpected spark is ignited between them. Despite their deep feelings for each other, societal barriers, and James' father, Mortimer Beaufort's disapproval threatens to tear them apart. 

James Beaufort and Lydia Beaufort are complex characters. Their constant need for their father's approval and encouragement in everything they do is what drives the plot. The scene where Lydia breaks down to James when Ruby stumbles onto her secret shows how scared Lydia is to disappoint her father. This theme of how fear drives the character's motivation is also elucidated in how James throws Ruby out of his Beaufort Collection house just because his father asked him to. Throughout the series, the twins are yearning for nothing more than their father's love. This justifies why it is very hard for them to choose as they are torn between duty and desire.

The character of Ruby Bell is an embodiment of resilience, determination, and simplicity. She blames herself for her father's inability to walk, which adds a personal layer to her character. The introduction scene of Ruby Bell starts with her saying how she is invisible in her school and she prefers it that way. Being noticed and being a part of any social group is a common mindset among teenagers, but Ruby argues that it only makes her missteps go unnoticed. The fact that Ruby accepts being in the shadows, and then later evolves into someone who is not intimidated by socialising, is one of the highlights of the series.

The casting choices could have been better as the actors appeared older and more mature, lacking the youthful authenticity that high school roles needed. The storyline was almost predictable. The memorable dialogues are what fascinated me the most. When Cordelia Beaufort (Clelia Sarto) says, "You can handle more than you think if you believe you're doing what's right." And when James says, "The moment when the noise around us dies we are left with what we've done and a deafening silence." These are some of the lines that leave a lasting impact on you, long after the credits roll. While some may think that the ending was anticlimactic, I feel the ending was justified. It highlights that money, a big house, and having everything one could ever possibly want are not what happiness is all about. Whether in a humble abode or a grand mansion, home is where love resides, echoes the series' message.