The Royals (2025) offers a hollow glimpse into high-stakes glamour
The Royals (2025) tries to combine elements of classy aristocracy with the frenetic culture of Silicon Valley startups. Unfortunately, the series finds itself ill-suited to the modern day and so offers a veneer with no substance. The series attempts a collision of ideologies but resolves itself to a tedious, aesthetically pleasing, and ultimately plot driven series, putting a pretty wall oexhibition over shallow characterization.
Style over narrative substance
– Neha Parti Matiyani’s production design presents a striking use of high fashion costumes and decorated interiors. It captures stunning visuals that engulf the viewers, but it can have the effect of blinding the audience to the plot. The sets and costumes are so extravagant that they make the script feel thin. It seems like the sets and costumes justifies the script’s existence.
– It’s no wonder that critics have pointed out that the show’s protagonists are evaluated almost entirely based on their looks. All the thousands of dollars that went into the sets and costumes have left the show without some precious building blocks of drama that get the audience to care when the hotel’s financial problems begin to show.
A wasted ensemble of talent
Bhumi Pednekar and Ishaan Khatter don’t have great chemistry and the writing struggles to add depth to amp up the chemistry when they go from being at odds to working together. Because of this, their relationship feels unnatural and is the main contributor to the film feeling like a bad formulaic rom com.
Sakshi Tanwar is a great actress and the series could have let her and the rest of the cast shine and show what they could do with a focus on the conflict in what modern society has on the royal family, who, in return, must adapt with them, however, the series is missing these opportunities. Using the tired old tropes to bring out new ideas was an easy way for the series to give its audience something different than what they would usually expect.
Who should tune in or skip
Viewers who appreciate high-end production and escape in their television may find brief entertainment in the series’ presentation. If you’re looking for a show to put on in the background with flashy colors and polished performances, you’ll find those in this show. They work well for a casual viewing experience.
Those looking for substance in a drama, or cleverly subverting class hierarchy, will find this shallow. The lack of writing to support the visuals leaves this show the most shallow of pretty pictures in this ‘collection’. This is a show that fails to be anything more than a pretty picture based on a surface level interpretation. This show does not support and engage the audience in a way that feels worthwhile.
