User Reviews

So the basic storyline is : rich boy meets poor but ambitious girl whose biggest goal in life is to get in OXFORD, they hate each other at first but when the girl gives the guy a reality check, he falls for her but rich parents no like his association with poor ppl so threatens him with consequences if he kept it up and then boy girl back to square one.

A few days ago i was questioning myself about what is the feeling of everything after watching Prime's latest obsession because ppl of that project kept talking about feeling everything and bla bla bla which I didn't feel anywhere near to their description. And seeing Maxton Hall's promo, one might think it's another of those rich ppl high school drama. Yes it is. But it is more than just that.

The script is very generic but how do u keep ur audience enthralled with to keep watching for 6 episodes in a row? Very easy. Amazing acting and the making. Unrealistic age aside (where no one looks 18 yrs old), every actor was so good! Because I felt every emotion they were feeling! I felt for every situation they were going through. The show portrayed two sides of the social dynamics in such a gripping way. U get to see how rich parents put pressure on their kids and the said rich kids keep a nonchalant attitude to keep themselves safe from the world but inside, all they want is someone to understand them.

On the other side, u see a girl with a loving family who despite being poor gives her the freedom to choose her path and love her for no matter what.

But the best part, how the actors acted out each and every scene. It was like watching ppl showing real emotion and not "ACTING". The lead actress stole my heart. Especially whenever she was on screen with her father, those were such wholesome scenes because that's how parents should be, showering u with unconditional love. The lead actor was also not just a pretty face. He was equally matching her pros to pros.

Coming to direction and screenplay and cinematography, loved them. (The main duty in the school being arranging parties aside). The seamless transition of scenes are a plus point from me.

And now i feel how underrated Non- English contents are, also the actors. But thanks to the online streaming platforms the world is getting to see how there are wonderful actors aside from "Hollywood" ppl. I bet if this show was made with "Americans", they would have brought over the top out of place emotions and called it their best artistic display from the raw place of their hearts.

Anyhow, i am glad to watch this show, i laughed, i cried and i am waiting to see more of their journey.

And whoever chose to put the song "Run Like a River" in the show deserves a raise.

Okay binge watched this in ONE SITTING - exam days truly do bring out the best in me lol

I liked the trailer but I was half expecting another trashy guilty pleasure thing BUT NOPE THIS WAS ACTUALLY UNEXPECTEDLY GOOD??

The CHEMISTRY was off the charts and the leads are hawt together!

The chemistry was oozing since their first scene together lol I loved this but wtf is that cliffhanger GIVE ME S2 ASAP.

I wished for a longer enemies arc than 2 eps - like y'all could've made it 8 eps - but it's okay cause the love part hit all the right tropes too!

It's been a while since a teen drama has given me everything I wanted as a romance girlie AND I LOVE THIS.

#rubyjamesforever.

I'm a man. At first, I thought this was just another typical teen romance series - the formulaic Cinderella plot of a girl meeting a boring prince charming. But the actual content is shockingly heavy on the personal struggles and issues of every character. The show deftly alternates between romantic scenes and intense dramatic plotlines in a seamless way. It tells the stories of these characters' personal issues alongside the awkward, slowly developing romance. The actors deliver very natural and charismatic performances. And the tight 6-episode structure allows for an intense, focused narrative throughout. I highly recommend not missing this one - don't judge it just by its outward appearances.

I am so happy to have seen an advertisement for this show on Facebook. I haven't watched a romantic series this good in such a long time! For starters, the acting is amazing among these actors. The emotional trauma behind the rich families along side the kindness of the families who have less. The romantic chemistry of the two main characters. Truly a very good storyline and the soundtrack chosen makes the scenes even better! I am obsessed with this series and wish there were more episodes. Please please give us a season two! I hope this show becomes popular because it was truly a pleasure to watch.

I have a hard time loving shows but this right here was really good and I 100% recommend. I'm already waiting for them to announce season 2. Amazon prime better get started filming season 2, literally binged watched season 1 and might go watch it again. Saw the trailer on tik tok and I knew from the moment I saw the trailer I had to watch it and I did and it was the best couple of hours of my life. I was so invested from just watching the trailer. Wattpad people need to go and watch this show right now. I loved the chemistry between the James and ruby. I can't wait for season 2. I need to find out what happens next.

Ruby and James characters! Wow! So much passion, controversy, debates, conversations, I couldn't get enough of their chemistry. Loved cinematography, plot was moving fast enough, nothing boring or cheesy. Plus a twist at the end I didn't expect. I'll rewatch season 1 again and can't wait for season 2. Hope all the actors get the spotlight and recognition they deserve. Fantastic choice of cast. Binged the series in German with English subtitles, rather hear the authentic voices than dubbed translation. Highly recommend if you are into young adult love story, drama or relatable difficult life choices.

Before I write a review of the series itself, I must first address and clarify some mistakes or misunderstandings in the bronwynmdavis review.

First of all, the characters in the series are already 18 years old or are turning 18 during the development of the story (Ruby's Birthday).

The legal drinking age in the UK where the story takes place, as well as in the rest of Europe, is 18. So despite what bronwynmdavis wrote, they can legally consume alcohol. I also have to disagree with the assessment that the cast is too old. In my opinion, most of the characters look 18 years old compared to the 18-year-olds I know.

As for the series itself, I have to agree with the opinions that it is one of the better productions based on wattpad stories.

I was disappointed with movies like After and Through My Window, although I really liked the books. But maybe the problem was that these were films with very limited time to properly build the plots and characters. As a result, the main characters' portrayals were often very flat and their motivations seemed unclear, sometimes even over-dramatized and therefore not serious.

The series allows for a deeper insight into the characters' stories, which makes them more real. And this series manages to do just that, maybe not 100%, but enough not to treat the whole story as unrealistic.

The acting is good, emotions are well conveyed. In my opinion, the actor cast as James deserves special praise - he is perfect for this role.

I agree with bronwynmdavis that the character of Ruby Bell is a bit wooden, especially at the beginning, but I think it's more a matter of the character herself than the actress's performance.

Of course, I also agree with the opinions that the character of James' father is greatly exaggerated and over-dramatized, but I understand that it has its purpose in the entire story and this type of conflict is quite characteristic of this genre.

After all, this is a typical teen drama and not a deep study of the realities of young people's lives.

A well-chosen soundtrack also makes watching more enjoyable.

Overall, I think the series is nicely produced and fun to watch, so I recommend it.

I love this tv serie the actors was so good to deliver a good acting and I definitely need a season 2 so good best wattpad serie every it is definitely worth your time I just love I want to say to anyone the definitely need to see this serie it is so good because it is not like the other wattpad TV series and I love that is a Germany book so and it is so good I love the acting and it feel like a high budget TV series and not the cheap wattpad TV series and the styling and the background and the set is so good 😊 this is a top note it is so more better then other u feel like prime hit a top performances with this TV series and I need the second TV series now.

Of course the story is cringe and the drama is over the top but that's what you expect (and want?) from a teen show.

What is really bothering me (apart from the main character's name Ruby Bell, but that's blamed on the books) is the music. It should have been used way more subtly. Like the background music is always at full volume, decreases maybe at voiceovers but gets at full blast without any transition.

Oh and the voiceovers .... If they just consist of generic calendar mottos, then maybe there should not be any at all.

The director focuses a bit too much on facial expressions. But the acting is mostly really enjoyable and the cast in general is very well picked.

Best character is doubtlessly Alistair!

I don't think anyone who liked this should expect anything different. Poor but very smart girl vs rich boy. That's the main precise and we have seen dozens if not hundreds of iterations of this in the past, and this one is not really one of the better ones.

IMO, this has few problems: subtitles and dubbing is often different and sometimes dubbing is better and other times subtitles are better, so it creates a problem where you are forced to think about that vs enjoying the story.

Story itself is simple, there is no new hook, just a poor but smart story gets scholarship into prestigious prep academy, where she meets mostly entitled rich kids.

The bad guys are the parents of the rich, because they just perpetuate the myth that if you don't marry someone just as a rich and entitled, then somehow you will be disappointing everyone.

So, yes, if you want to see beautiful young people with very repeatable story, then you will like this. If you're a teenager, then you'll like this. But, if you're an adult, with a thinking mind, who expects a bit of depth, character development, and some sort of resolution, or even an attempt at one, then season 1 does not check any of those boxes. At least not for me.

I read all three books by Mona Kasten in just a month, totally hooked on the story. So when I heard they were making a TV show out of it, I was thrilled!

And wow, I'm loving the first season! Can't wait for more!!! I usually prefer watching English-speaking movies/TV shows, so I was a bit nervous about this German adaptation. But it's actually amazing!

Turning a book into a movie can be tricky, right? You've got to get all the important stuff right. But with Maxton Hall, they nailed it! Sure, it is impossible to adapt EVERYTHING in the same way as in the book. But they did such a great job! I felt all the same emotions, and they didn't miss a beat from the book. The locations and every little detail connected to the book, it was exactly how I was imagining it while reading it a while ago! Shoutout to the producers and cast - thank you for this awesome adaptation! Bring on seasons 2 and 3!!

Though the basic plot is generic, the cinematography, acting, cast, locations, and story telling set it apart. It really felt like a well made k drama and the few episodes made it more intense.

The story kind of just sucks you in and i ended up finishing this show in 2 days...

Went in with very few expectations and i was impressed. Eagerly awaiting season 2 and I hope the plot deals with the characters problems in a unique way. I would also love to see James becoming more and more himself and healing through his traumas.

Im tired of the old trope of the girl "fixing" the guy or healing him.... Kind of like in after by anna todd 😭😭

I didn't have many expectations about this because the posters were awful. But I read the books last year so I gave it a try nonetheless. It was amazing. It's so loyal to the books and the actors did such a wonderful performances, all of them. I finished it just a minute ago and I already need more, this show it's the best adaptation of the year for me. I cried my soul out. It was perfect. And really, so romantic. The little details about James and Ruby's relationship were everything. How the actors have so much chemistry it's still the biggest question for me. I totally believed that they were in love. The music was amazing too. Every single song was perfect for every single scene. I'm just speechless. This is the example of hard work and love, the people behind this series did everything to make it a beautiful and painful experience while they respected the material they already have. Thanks. Just thanks. Please give us another season.

I'll be brief..this series had me wanting to watch it again immediately after finishing. The script and writing were great. Although it's a classic enemies to lovers, it felt different. It was so well paced that you didn't want to stop watching. When I tell you you'll be hooked, you WILL. One of the best things, IMO, is how they are on a roller coaster with one another just when you get a tease of something, boom, back down to the bottom. The leads' chemistry is insane and makes the draw so good. Definitely one of the best romance series in a long time!! I don't know of anything I would compare it to, because it's leaps and bounds better.

You may say that it is another cliché series, but this is the best series that I have seen in this genre.

Turning two enemies into two lovers. To be honest, I saw this series three days ago, and until today, it will be the fifth time that I have watched it again, and I never get tired of it.

The great acting and harmony between Damian and Harriet was the main part of this series.

The way those two look at each other... Oh God, I can't get them out of my mind.

And the playlist of this series... I have to say that ever since I watched Ruby and James' dance scene in episode 3, I can't stop listening to Moth To A Flame By The Weekend.

In general, I must say that I am going to watch these six episodes again and again and never get tired of them.

And we really need a second season.

Thank you for making such a great series.

This is an odd show. Although I'm a big fan of the enemies to lovers romance genre, its success depends on the likability of the female character, the potential for the main male character's transformation and relatability of the plot. Sadly, this stinker lacks all three, Well, I'm being a bit harsh on Ruby Bell. She's not completely unlikable, just a bit wooden.

None of the student characters look young enough to be high school. Then there's a party to attract potential new students serving champagne. None of them would be legally allowed to drink for another three years. And they're dressed in evening wear. Open campuses never have champagne and sequins.

There's a lacrosse game where the players are wearing American gridiron shoulder pads. Bewildering.

There are multiple scenes of the two main characters, who supposable hate each, standing super close and speaking to each other with just 10cm between their faces. Enemies don't do that.

The main male character spends a lot of time sneering, pouting and trying to look threatening. He takes his shirt off a few times in just the first episode. He's grumpy crumpet.

I doubt I'll watch anymore.

Thought this would be another cheesy soapy show but definitely better than my expectations. Classic enemies turn lovers but super sweet and emotional. Both the leads were fantastic, especially during the emotional scenes. Amazing display of emotions and love that the show takes it slow and doesn't rush it. Amazing chemistry between the two leads as well. Love that every character has their own story line and issues and challenges, and they are real, and not just there to complement the leads's story line. I feel for them and their problems as much as the leads. Love this show / can't wait for season 2!

So far... I LOVED S1! Compared to other films/series like "Culpa Mia" and "My Life with the Walter Boys", there weren't any parts I wanted to skip (from either boredom or cheesiness). I watched this with my sister and we were both immediately hooked. We came for the ATTRACTIVE cast (NEED to see Damian Hardung more), but stayed for the emotional rollercoaster. I didn't think I'd get emotional, too, but there were certain scenes that had me surprised at how great the actors -especially the mains- expressed their emotions. The plot seemed more genuine than others and THIS DREAMY CHEMISTRY between Damian and Harriet's too much. Favorite James and Ruby moment by far's the party dance scene (iykyk). I appreciate that, although it's in German, the drama, romance, and character depth (more complex than usual) wasn't lost in translation. Ruby and James' relationship was innocent and the way they fell in love (him falling first) -despite him coming from "old money" and her not so much- was gold. This isn't completely original, but I enjoyed it and didn't feel that it was a waste of time at all. I'm also a sucker for good soundtracks and this one was on point. I really loved Kieran, Lin, Alistair, and Lydia's personalities and thought they added a lot in terms of not "flattening" the quality. The enemies-to-lovers romance's done really well and I didn't want their story to end. Overall, I love how this series was filmed and will be rewatching because it's one of the best teen romances out right now. If only we had shows like this in the US. For now, I'd rate this a 9/10 🖤 and will be -not so patiently- waiting for the next season(s)!

Quite frankly, like any romance movie there's some cringy parts. But the writers have a way of making these characters connect that's groundbreaking. I cried atleast twice every episode. I NEED a season 2 ASAP!!! The audience for this is i would say 18 & up, especially ppl who love romance/smutty books. There is nude scene, all you see is her bare breasts just to be aware. I feel like since the main girl lead, Harriet/Ruby looks so realistic and natural, she doesn't have a face full of fillers or botox or veneers she's natural with some acne of her forehead and spaced teeth is so monumental, especially from someone who has spaced teeth also it's heart warming.

It's been a long time since I've felt literal butterflies watching a show. The chemistry, the enemies to lovers, the storyline, the character's, the music and soundtrack, ect... I wouldn't change one thing about this show. I just finished it and I wish there was more because wow I'm not going to find another movie or show that can give me the feels like this one did. James was just everything. If you are looking for a romance that is a slow burn in the best possible way and will give you straight up butterflies and feels this is 100% for you. I can't even describe how perfectly this show was executed. Everything was SO GOOD. I teared up so many times. Romance girlies you need this show just watch it.

"This type of series has to end." I will never get tired of explaining to critics **old people** that just because you've been watching these types of movies and series for over 30 years doesn't mean it "has to end." You see, there's constantly new **young** people who are going through their teenage years and want to watch a series like Maxton Hall. It's not their fault critics are too old and have been watching the same categories over and over again, while they are literally watching a series like this for the first time in their lives. We need young critics to criticize a teenage series, just saying 💀

I'm not typically drawn to romance, but this show is really good and worth the time. Great characters, character development and not rushed.

Lately, I've been exploring romance films, and this one stands out as a favorite. The performances are incredibly authentic; you feel every moment of awkwardness and sadness alongside the characters.

The chemistry between Ruby and James was damn near tangible! Their dynamic keeps you hooked.

James' emotions and feelings showed so well on his face (especially in his eyes), that you could just tell how he was feeling in a certain situation.

Ruby was a goddess! She SPOKE her mind when she needed to even though she pretty much didn't like the attention.

Hoping we'll get a second season because they left us a cliffhanger :(