Saying Goodbye to Young Royals: A Fan Tribute to Sara and August

Sara (Frida Argento) and August (Malte Myrenberg Gårdinger)…where do we start these two? Whether they were together or doing their own thing, there’s no doubt that this pair has kept us on the edge of our seats on every season of Young Royals.

But looking back on their journeys, it’s clear that their presence, though polarizing, has left a deep impact on us all. We’ve always been open about our mixed feelings toward these characters, but despite not always agreeing with their actions and motives, in the end, we’ve always known that they’re just two 18-year-olds trying to figure life out, each carrying their own baggage. 

Did that make us yell at the TV less every time they popped up? No, but it helped us better understand their roles within the Young Royals universe, which, as one of our readers suggested, was to bring out the hidden and ugly in all of us.

Right off the bat, Sara and August were destined to stir up strong and complex emotions. The dynamic between them, but especially with Wille (Edvin Ryding) and Simon (Omar Rudberg), was written to showcase the messy and complex sides of human relationships.

Truly, there’s so much we could delve into about these two, but let’s keep it light, shall we?

Sara

Sara, a character who’s made us feel love, hate, and everything in between, has been a central figure in Young Royals — especially to her brother Simon and best friend Felice (Nikita Uggla). Her presence has shed light on the struggles faced by individuals living with Asperger’s syndrome and ADHD diagnoses, giving depth to her character and representing a group that’s too often overlooked.

And while sure, some of Sara’s actions can be chalked up to her diagnoses, like her brutally honest moments that sometimes landed her in hot water. There’s more to her story — her age, her blind trust in people, and her deep-seated need for validation and acceptance, all made her flawed…just like the rest of us.

Even something as simple as the language she uses at home reflects her desire to fit in. Despite being exposed to multiple languages all her life, she completely gravitates towards the one that helps her blend in seamlessly. This behavior, as one of you astutely observed, only highlights Sara’s desire to find her place in a world that sees her as less deserving.

Throughout the series, we’ve seen Sara grow and evolve. This final season has given us a better understanding of her actions and even made us forgive some of her past missteps. And that brings us joy, because despite her complexities, deep down Sara is a good sister, friend, and daughter.

August

August, a character we all loved to hate, but who played a significant role in the main narrative of Young Royals. While his actions made us see red 99.9% of the time, we can’t deny that delving into his backstory has helped us understand the complexities that drove some of his questionable choices.

It’s sad, but the losses and challenges he faced from a very young age turned him into nothing but a lost boy who sought solace in a place and a position within the highest of societies. 

However, let’s make something crystal clear—none of the hardships August faced (yes, not even that initiation) justify his hurtful actions. For example, recording, keeping, and then leaking Wille and Simon’s video out of spite was a choice, perhaps one stemming from untreated trauma, but a choice nonetheless.

So, yes, among the set of Young Royals characters, it looks like August might not be the one we all will miss the most, but we’ll undoubtedly miss seeing Malte’s captivating portrayal on screen. His character’s journey, though tumultuous, added that extra oomph the show needed to keep us hooked.

Together, Sara and August brought out the harsh realities of human nature — the good, the bad, and the messy. They taught us that empathy starts with understanding our own vulnerabilities. Their journeys evoking a range of emotions, from frustration to compassion all the way to anger and understanding.

So as we say goodbye to these characters, we want to give Malte Myrenberg Gårdinger and Frida Argento a big round of applause for their stellar performances. Their commitment to portraying these multifaceted characters added depth and authenticity to the series and, most importantly, sparked meaningful conversations among us fans.

Sara and August may have divided opinions, but they definitely spiced up our viewing experience. So here’s to Sara and August — may their paths be one of continuous growth and evolution.

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Our goodbye tributes are almost over. Keep an eye on our website for more tributes to the characters who’ve captured all our hearts. You can read our tribute to the guiding figures of Young Royals — the adults and teachers — here.

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The first 5 episodes of Young Royals Season 3 are available to stream on Netflix. The final episode will drop worldwide on March 18. Follow us on X and Instagram for all queer stuff!

Feature image: Image Courtesy of Netflix