BOTTOM LINE
This Royal Romance Is a Mixed Bag
PLATFORM
RUNTIME
6 hours (8 episodes)
What Is the Film About?
Sophia, a CEO, clashes with a reluctant prince Aviraaj while trying to turn their struggling palace into a BnB, sparking an attraction despite their differences. Amidst a sabotaged pitch, a palace photo shoot, and a royal ball where Aviraaj avoids his ex and Jinnie finds romance, their connection deepens. Turning a king, he learns a shocking secret, only for a fundraiser to reveal more family truths.
Performances
It’s surprising how Ishan Khatter goes about his choices – from the big-scale fantasises to earthy indie films – making him unpredictable as a performer. While Aviraaj as a character may be one-dimensional, he tries to make something out of it, without interfering with the creator’s approach. Bhumi Pednekar is impressive, but appears in autopilot mode with her performance, which works on a surface level, though it doesn’t strike a chord.
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Analysis
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Netflix’s one-line premise of The Royals — ‘Bridgerton meets Anyone But You’ — aptly captures the tone of the series. While the comparison fits, there are flashes of Downton Abbey too, set in a Rajasthan royal family in a transition phase after a king’s death. A widowed wife, a pragmatic, chilled-out mom, and three siblings rediscover themselves while trying to keep their family legacy alive.
Aviraaj, the soon-to-be crowned king, is a classic spoilt brat in the family, a hunk who unabashedly uses his flamboyance to woo women, while discreetly craving a genuine romantic connection. Digvijay’s passion lies in food, as he strives to establish his identity beyond his family name. Their sister Divyaranjani is trying to find her place in the world, coming to terms with her identity.
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The mother of the trio, Padmaja, is desperate to break free from the conventions of a royal household and live life on her own terms, despite frequent insistence from the cool mother-in-law (Zeenat Aman). The will reveals a certain Maurice in the father’s life – a mystery that the family is yet to decode. In an attempt to reimagine the palace as a BnB, a young CEO, Sophia, enters their lives.
The Royals positions itself as a slice-of-life saga with hints of romance, humour, and drama, all wrapped in an air of mystery surrounding a ‘dysfunctional’ royal family that keeps its secrets close to its chest. Through Sophia, the outsider in the story, viewers discover the true colours of the key characters, where initial friction gives way to deeper layers in their world.
While the show sets itself up as a classic royal romance, focusing on propriety, tradition, and elegance, its main draw seems to be the stunning visuals rather than the depth of its characters. Moreover, the highs and lows in the Aviraaj-Sophia romance are too drastic and predictable, where the stereotypical third wheel – an ex – creates tension and pulls them apart.
Over time, only flashes of the characters’ true personalities emerge and struggle to shine through, making it hard to resonate with them on a deeper level. Surprisingly, Sophia’s professional conflict seems more intriguing than her love life. The plot points may all be there on paper, but on screen, they don’t translate, lacking the heart and authenticity needed to truly bring the story together. Though the story keeps chugging along neatly, it is emotionally inert.
Yet, The Royals isn’t without its silver linings. It doesn’t shy away from portraying the messiness and complexity of its characters, especially the elder generation. The women, while succumbing to social norms and striving to carve out their own niches within a male-dominated environment, are portrayed as deliciously flawed and multi-dimensional, standing up for themselves, their desires when it matters most. Their vulnerabilities make them more human and relatable.
Similarly, the men aren’t portrayed as stereotypical power-hungry figures; instead, they come across as refreshingly vulnerable. Aviraaj’s tender love for horses reveals a softer side of his character, while Digvijay’s face lights up with genuine joy whenever he’s cooking, highlighting his passion and authenticity. In addition, a handful of timely twists help it regain its mojo once in a while.
Though The Royals is a mixed bag at every level, it generally remains watchable because of the breezy, easily digestible storytelling. If all you’re looking for is gloss, hot bods, gorgeous costumes, lavish palaces (over emotional impact), the show does its job and is a sight for sore eyes. With the nearly 6-hour runtime, though, it is a royal indulgence that leaves you a little… diabetic.
Performances by Others Actors
Sakshi Tanwar is particularly refreshing, thanks to the character that grows on the viewer with time despite its initial shallowness. Zeenat Aman visually fits the part well, though the same cannot be said about the substance in the role. The lesser-known faces – like Vihaan Samat, Kavya Trehan – make their presence felt. The likes of Nora Fatehi, Sumukhi Suresh, Luke Kenny, and Chunky Panday are strictly okay.
Music and Other Departments?
The songs by a wide range of talents – from RUUH and JOH to Harsh Upadhyay to Kanish Seth – are elegant and refreshing, lending the ambience just the right mix of peppiness and class. The background score by Aditya N and Nayantara Bhatkal gels with the proceedings seamlessly. The lifelines of any royal drama ought to be the cinematography, production design and the costumes, and their technical finesse brings authenticity and regality to the setup.
Highlights?
Decent performances
Timepass story
Visually pleasing
Drawbacks?
Shallow writing at times
Emotionally inert
Not all ideas translate well on screen
Did I Enjoy It?
In parts
Will You Recommend It?
If you have a liking for royal dramas, give it a chance
The Royals Netflix Review by M9
