Maxton Hall : Save Me, You, Us ~ Mona Kasten (42 to 44 of 2024)

Maxton Hall – The World Between Us is a German-language romantic drama set in England, which is setting viewing records for Prime Video. 

Season One of the German-language show, which was adapted from "Save Me," the first book in Mona Kasten's "Maxton Hall" series of young adult novels, follows an intelligent young student named Ruby Bell, played by Harriet Herbig-Matten who has just two goals in the beginning  has two goals: to work hard to get into Oxford and to go unnoticed by all her elitist classmates at Maxton Hall College, where she attends as a scholarship student.

'Save Me', 'Save You', 'Save Us'  are part of a Trilogy by Mona Kasten

From the world of Ruby Bell (Harriet Herbig-Matten), and an arrogant heir, James Beaufort (Damian Hardung).

This show consisted of six episodes on Amazon Prime Video, with a second season renewed. Ruby Bell is a student at Maxton Hall on a scholarship. This private school will help her achieve her goal of attending the University of Oxford. While at school, she witnesses a secret between her professor and a student.

When Ruby unwillingly witnesses an explosive secret at Maxton Hall Private School, arrogant millionaire heir James Beaufort is forced to confront the quick-witted scholarship student, much to his chagrin: He is determined to silence Ruby. Their passionate exchange of blows surprisingly ignites a spark 

Episodes

E01 · Under the Radar

When reserved scholarship student Ruby Bell witnesses an explosive secret, she finds herself in the crosshairs of privileged and arrogant millionaire heir James Beaufort.

E02 · Noblesse Oblige

After the ruined party, Ruby does everything possible to make sure the upcoming fundraiser runs perfectly; James doesn't even think about taking his suspension from the lacrosse team seriously and shows up at practise as usual.

E03 · Exposed

Ruby and James get closer in London's Beaufort Store, but a surprise encounter with James' parents brings Ruby back down to earth.

E04 · The Moment of Truth

Nothing remains the same after the party at Cyril's; the rumour starts to circulate and Ruby's feelings for James go haywire; Mortimer puts James under pressure.

E05 · In the Eye of the Storm

Mortimer Beaufort catches Ruby and James at an unfortunate moment and escorts James and Lydia home, where things escalate. The confrontation ends not only with a black eye for James but also with a dangerous threat from Mortimer about Ruby's future.

E06 · A Piece of Happiness

The interviews in Oxford are about to start and Ruby's dream is within reach; she's in her element if it weren't for her roommate, James.

Upon arrival back home, James and Lydia are informed that their mother had passed away. James becomes angry at his father for his demeanour and tackles him, getting James kicked out of the house. James finds himself infront of Ruby's house, but after seeing her happy with her family, he walks away,  Ruby looks out the window just as he's leaving, and our hearts collectively broke for them both.

It was renewed for a second series in May 2024 after achieving the largest ever first week global viewership for an international original on Amazon Prime Video. Filming on season two is scheduled for Berlin and London for the summer of 2024 with Tarek Roehlinger and Martin Schreier returning as directors.

The titular world between Ruby and James is less about money than it is family, and much of the charm of Maxton Hall comes from time spent with the Bell clan at their humble home. Ruby actually enjoys hanging out with her parents, Helen (Julia-Maria Köhler) and Angus (Martin Neuhaus), and she’s best friends with her younger sister, Ember (the immensely charismatic Runa Greiner), a bubbly and confident aspiring fashion designer. Though Angus suffered an accident that left him in a wheelchair and the family’s bank account is all but bare, the Bells are rich in love. The scenes between Ruby and her family, especially those with Neuhaus’ Angus, radiate a genuine warmth.

The atmosphere at the Beaufort mansion, by contrast, is chilly and harsh. James and Lydia live under the steely glare of their father, Mortimer (Fedja van Huêt), a ruthlessly ambitious and demanding power broker who expects his son to take over the company after attending Oxford. Mortimer all but ignores Lydia, and the twins’ mother, Claudia (Clelia Sarto), never challenges her husband’s severe parenting style. The closest James has to a real father figure is his chauffeur, Percy (Hyun Wanner), a fact that is as tragic as it is ridiculous. Though it’s not as self-aware as the original Gossip Girl, Maxton Hall treats the rarefied world of its wealthy characters as equal parts aspirational and absurd.

As the central couple navigates their class-crossing love story, no romantic trope is left behind: The charged and awkward moment on the dance floor when the music switches from a peppy pop song to a ballad; the constantly interrupted first kiss; the snooty mean girl (Eli Riccardi) who thinks James is hers for the taking. Naturally, Ruby and James teach each other important life lessons: She encourages him to find his true passion; he reminds her that the future isn’t as important as now.

James’ gay friend Alistair (Justus Riesner) nurses a crush on his classmate, and Lydia frets over a secret romance that could upend her life. Perhaps showrunner Daphne Ferraro is just seeding the ground for a potential second season, as there are two more installments in Kasten’s series: Save You and Save Us.

Ruby a "real fighter and kind of a nerd" drawn to an unlikely romance with moneyed aristocrat James Beaufort and she said the "special part of this love story is that she is falling in love with his emotional and broken side and not with his narcissistic and arrogant part, and so that's why it's not a toxic relationship".

While fans can't enrol to study at Maxton Hall for real, you can visit the castle where it's set. Many of the impressive school scenes in the show are filmed at Marienburg Castle, a Gothic castle near Hanover that was built between 1858 and 1867. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marienburg_Castle_%28Hanover%29

Many of Ruby's hometown scenes were filmed in Oxford too. The place where Ruby works is a real Greek restaurant in Oxford called Manos Café & Deli and it's on Walton Street. In the show, you can see a British parking sign next to the restaurant.