Are you a fan of the classic enemies-to-lovers trope? Do you crave heart-stopping moments when two seemingly opposite characters collide? If so, Maxton Hall is the show for you. Maxton Hall–The World’s Between Us is a German show that incorporates every element of the conventional enemies to lovers cliche.
Maxton Hall is a high school that prepares students to attend Oxford University, a dream institution for our main character, Ruby Bell, who comes from a low-income household. On the other hand, James Beaufort (Damian Hardung), the popular lacrosse captain and heir to the Beaufort family business, exists in a realm beyond Ruby Bell’s (Harriet Herbig-Matten) reach. The show is based on the hit book series, Save Me by Mona Kasten, with the first season adapting the first book of the series.
Ruby Bell’s only objective in life is to attend Oxford University. She was able to attend Maxton Hall, a school full of elites and wealthy students, thanks to a scholarship, despite her low-income background.
Ruby doesn’t mind being the “invisible” student because it keeps her out of trouble and unwanted attention. But her “invisibility” was shattered when she discovered James’ sister, Lydia Beaufort’s(Sonja Weiber), secret scandal.
In order to protect his sister’s reputation, James attempts to bribe, threaten, and destroy Ruby’s peaceful life at Maxton Hall. The two loathe each other, and their animosity only deepened when the Headmaster forced them to work together on an important school event.
Ruby and James begin to spend more time together and learn about each other’s hardships. The two have diverse backgrounds and family beliefs. Ruby grew up in a lovely environment where everyone got along, whereas James’ family was cold and disconnected from one another.
When I initially heard about this show, I envisioned a boring and cliche storyline. It turned out to be exactly what I expected: a show in which I knew what would happen and what obstacles the two would confront. But there was something about this show that piqued my interest, even though I knew what was going to happen. It was just the right pace for the story, and the rollercoaster of emotions were perfectly aligned with the story line. The two went from enemies to lovers, then back to enemies and lovers.
The character development for Ruby and James was particularly strong, thanks to the two actors’ outstanding performance. Damian Hardung’s ability to bring James’ cold and arrogant aspect to life while simultaneously displaying his soft-boy and loving side was admirable. We can’t forget how Harriet Herbig-Matten developed Ruby’s character, smart, strong, and independent while still revealing her vulnerability and sorrow.
Aside from the main couple’s narrative, Maxton Hall kept me interested in the love stories of all of the other characters. My favorites are James’ gay friend Alistair (Justus Riesner) and his classmate, who is afraid that their relationship will be revealed, and Lydia and her secret romance, which could wreck her life.
Unfortunately, the end of Season 1 left many lingering questions about the characters’ relationships, families, and futures at Maxton Hall. But there’s no need to be down because Season 2 has been announced and will be released this summer! Watch season 1 on Amazon Prime to be ready for a feisty summer and possibly the end of the couple’s adventure.
