We’re diving back into the captivating world of James Beaufort and Ruby Bell with Season 2 of Prime Video’s drama, “Maxton Hall: The World Between Us,” inspired by the beloved novel “Save Me.” Whether we’re in Germany or the UK, the location takes a backseat to the unfolding saga of love and turmoil. Season 1 left audiences yearning for more of the classic enemies-to-lovers romance, and now, Season 2 ramps up the emotional stakes, promising viewers a whirlwind of feelings as James and Ruby’s relationship faces new challenges.

Opening Scene: The season kicks off with a breathtaking view of Oxford University, setting the stage for Ruby Bell (played by Harriet Herbig-Matten) to muse about dreams and the famed “city of the dreaming spires.” This introspection is swiftly followed by an intimate moment between Ruby and James Beaufort (Damian Hardung) as they share a passionate kiss and capture the memory with a selfie, symbolizing the fragile yet beautiful connection they share.

The Story So Far: The conclusion of the first season left the couple at a crossroads. Ruby was elated by her budding romance with James, while he grappled with the tragic loss of his mother, a blow that filled him with anger and sorrow. As Season 2 unfolds, we find Ruby returning to Maxton Hall boarding school after a summer spent in London with James. Reuniting with her friends Lin Wang (Andrea Guo) and Kieran Rutherford (Frederic Balonier), Ruby is thrust back into the school life she temporarily left behind.

Upon arrival, Ruby is summoned by Headmaster Lexington (Thomas Douglas) who offers her an exciting opportunity. The head of the Campbell Foundation (Proshat Madani) invites Ruby to apply for a position on the event planning committee for an upcoming gala, an offer she eagerly considers.

Meanwhile, James is conspicuously absent from the school scene, choosing instead to indulge in the party circuit. Ruby and James’ sister, Lydia, decide to crash one of these parties, only to discover James in a compromising scenario with another girl, Elaine. Witnessing James’ betrayal sends shockwaves through Ruby, setting the stage for the season’s unfolding drama.

What Shows Will It Remind You Of? Adapted by Daphne Ferraro from Mona Kasten’s famous romance trilogy, this second season reminds us of Elite and Gossip Girl, but, now with the Euphoria-kind of mess.

Our Take: Second seasons of shows usually start light, slowly putting to focus on what the main characters will be going through during the episodes. Instead, this season jumps right into things and the plot starts unfolding all at once; if you like non-stop drama, you’ll have a blast.

There are many outstanding performances in this show, but Damian Hardung deserves his flowers first and foremost for his heartbreaking performance as James Beaufort. He is able to show how truly distressing his scenes are in this season, pouring everything he has into this role of this grieving and unstable teen.

Sex and Skin: The first scene of Ruby and Damian making out in Oxford showcases some brief nudity that only lasts for a few seconds. That’s pretty much it.

Parting Shot: James and Ruby’s emotional moment at the Beaufort mansion pulled our heartstrings. In this beautiful scene, James cries into Ruby’s arms, as he tells her he feels lost. That is because his mother’s death was too sudden for him, and he doesn’t know what to do. 

Sleeper Star: We definitely want to see more scenes of James’ sister Lydia, played by Sonja Weißer, because her performance was truly well done.

Our Call: STREAM IT.  Maxton Hall: The World Between Us enters its second season with a bang, having its main characters immediately go off the rails in the first episode. We can’t wait to see where the action takes us from here..