Prime Video‘s Maxton Hall is sweeping the streaming platform by storm. With the sun setting down for the last time with The Summer I Turned Pretty, its European counterpart is just getting started with all the drama. Based on the book “Save You” by Mona Kasten, Maxton Hall follows fashion empire heir James Beaufort (Damian Hardung) and scholarship recipient Ruby Bell (Harriet Herbig-Matten) — both of whom are students at the elite Maxton Hall. When Ruby accidentally runs into a secret affair between student and teacher, James is pulled into the mess, igniting the spark to their would-be fiery relationship.
But Maxton Hall isn’t just about teen romance. Outside the school halls, the series talks about the class divide between James and Ruby’s worlds. For James, being in a world of affluence comes with a cost — a price that James has to pay to his cutthroat, businessman father. Meanwhile, Ruby is determined to be the first in the family to enroll in college, and she’s saving herself for the best: Oxford University. In the young adult genre, many stories similar to Ruby and James have been shared on the screen before. Without further ado, here are the shows to watch if you love Maxton Hall.
1
‘Gossip Girl’ (2007–2012)
“XOXO, Gossip Girl.” Television was never the same when Gossip Girl came to the screens. A show infamously referred to as “every parent’s nightmare,” the salacious series introduces the elite Upper East Siders, centering on ultimate IT girl Serena van der Woodsen (Blake Lively). Having vanished from the scene for a year, Serena returns to Manhattan, much to the chagrin of her on-and-off best friend Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester).
Much of the show is viewed through the overarching eye of the elusive Gossip Girl, a blogger who shares the overly personal woes of these wealthy kids. With the cream de la crème of New York City constantly stabbing each other in the back, there’s always a scandal waiting to be revealed to the world. From trivial high school affairs to money embezzlement, nobody’s safe from Gossip Girl.
2
‘Elite’ (2018–2024)
Considered the modern, Spanish take on Gossip Girl, the equally wild and provocative Elite doesn’t hold back on its shock factor. After their old school collapses, three working-class teens — Samuel (Itzan Escamilla), Nadia (Mina El Hammani), and Christian (Miguel Herrán) — receive scholarships to Spain’s most exclusive school, Las Encinas. As they quickly learn, being book smart isn’t enough to survive the cutthroat social hierarchy of their new school.
What makes Elite different from Gossip Girl is its murder-driven mystery. Viewers have seen what having excessive money could do to someone’s moral compass. But it’s even more shocking when a teenager would actually kill a fellow student just to protect their reputation. As the privileged students are forced to face the consequences of their own actions, Elite is literally a crash course on class hypocrisy and corruption within school walls.
3
‘Cruel Intentions’ (2024)
An ode to the 1999 film, the reimagined Cruel Intentions follows step-siblings Caroline Merteuil (Sarah Catherine Hook) and Lucien Valmont (Zac Burgess), who dominate the Greek system at Manchester College, an elite university near Washington, D.C. When a hazing scandal threatens their power, they scheme to manipulate Annie Grover (Savannah Lee Smith), the U.S. Vice President’s daughter, into joining their sorority. In this world of privilege, the art of seduction is just as powerful as monetary capital.
Outside the show, it’s a “hush-hush” secret that Greek life can be controversial. Cruel Intentions may have taken some creative liberties, but the reality isn’t far from the truth. When a hazing incident leaves the son of a U.S. Congressman injured, Carolien and Lucien have no qualms about taking advantage of an innocent person just to keep their precious sorority running. These two peas in a pod will do anything to pay the price of power.
4
‘Young Royals’ (2021–2024)
There’s only so much the future king can bear, especially since he’s just a teenager. Young Royals follows Prince Wilhelm of Sweden (Edvin Ryding), sent to an elite boarding school, Hillerska, after a public scandal. Struggling with royal expectations, he meets Simon (Omar Rudberg), a humble choirboy, and the two form a secret romance that challenges class boundaries and duty to the crown. When their relationship is exposed, Wilhelm must choose between love and obligation.
Young Royals proves that being at the top can be an excruciatingly isolating experience. Wilhelm has everything lined up for him — the throne, status, and connections at the tip of his fingers. Yet, nothing emotionally fulfills him more than a genuine romance with somebody who couldn’t care less about his reputation. But like most relationships between the rich and the poor, there will always be a deep class divide wedged between them.
5
‘The Buccaneers’ (2023–)
The Buccaneers follows a group of wealthy American women who travel to England to marry into the aristocracy. Amidst lavish parties and strict class divisions, Nan St. George (Kristine Froseth) faces a love triangle between the Duke of Tintagel (Guy Remmers) and his friend Guy (Matthew Broome) while uncovering secrets about her birth. Meanwhile, Conchita (Alisha Boe), Jinny (Imogen Waterhouse), and Honoria (Mia Threapleton) each battle scandal, abuse, and forbidden love in their pursuit of freedom, happiness, and self-worth.
The Buccaneers show that happiness comes with a heavy price if you intend to be in the upper class. While it may not be the most representative of feminist takes (especially with the whole privileged nature of it all), it does show how women of the time disrupt, and sometimes fall victim to, the rigid expectations of aristocratic society. Their methods of survival may not be perfect given the circumstances, but their hearts are in the right places.
6
‘Gilmore Girls’ (2000–2007)
Just like Ruby, everyone dreams of going to an elite college after graduation. Gilmore Girls follows single mother Lorelai Gilmore (Lauren Graham) and her daughter in the charming town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut. A former runaway teen mom, Lorelai has grown to become a successful innkeeper. Her daughter Rory (Alexis Bledel), is a different story. With a penchant for academics, she’s got her university options laid out for her, but her heart’s set on Yale.
Family is an important element in Maxton Hall, and so is in Gilmore Girls. Lorelai and Rory share a deep emotional bond as mother and daughter, but sometimes family members fight with each other, especially as Rory grows from a teenager to a young adult. Parallel to Ruby being obsessed with Oxford, Rory is just as determined to enter the best schools, setting her sights on one of America’s top Ivy League colleges.
7
‘The O.C.’ (2003–2007)
Life completely changes for Ryan Atwood (Ben McKenzie) in The O.C. a former troubled teen from Chino, his life turns 180 degrees after being taken in by public defender Sandy Cohen (Peter Gallagher) and his wealthy family in Newport Beach. Ryan befriends Sandy’s son Seth (Adam Brody), forming a brotherly bond, and falls for Marissa Cooper (Mischa Barton), the girl next door with a messy family life. As Ryan adjusts to his new life and the privilege surrounding it, his past collides with the drama of Orange County.
Fitting into a new school is an ordeal in itself. But when you’re a transplant from the underprivileged to the upper class. Ryan may be gifted, but the moment he’s put into the elite, he’s torn between his rough upbringing and new opportunities. As he deals with a new environment, one that belittles him because of his former background, Ryan has to work twice as hard to prove he deserves a seat in Newport Beach.
8
‘Privileged’ (2008–2009)
Babysitting a bunch of grown rich girls can be hard work — that’s the life of Megan Smith (JoAnna Garcia) in Privileged. The 23-year-old Yale graduate has big dreams in journalism. Unfortunately, they’re put on hold after she’s fired. Thanks to wealthy cosmetics mogul Laurel Limoges (Anne Archer), Megan is saved from unemployment. The only catch is that she has to tutor Laurel’s spoiled twin granddaughters, Rose (Lucy Hale) and Sage (Ashley Newbrough).
A forgotten CW gem, Privileged is a more bubbly and comedic take on the luxurious lifestyle. Despite being the older one, Megan is constantly the butt of the joke to the cheeky Baker twins. As a result, Megan literally treats them like children, starting with confiscating their cellphones (leading to a dramatic meltdown), to banning junk food. Viewers can’t help but root for this struggling writer-turned-Palm Beach insider.
9
‘Bridgerton’ (2020–)
The search for the next diamond of the season continues in Bridgerton. From the delicate art of courtships to the intimate moments in bed, Netflix’s hottest London Regency era show follows the wealthy and influential Bridgerton family as each sibling tends to their respective romantic pursuits. Whether it’s enemies-to-lovers Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) and the Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page), or former friends Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) and Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan), the wedding bells ring almost every year.
There are plenty more enemies-to-lovers tropes in Bridgerton where that came from. Throughout three seasons, the couples share one common thread: nobody expected these singles to end up married to each other. But that happy ending required some effort, including a fake courtship to pretend to be the town’s salacious gossip columnist. Against all odds, opposites do truly attract.
10
‘One Tree Hill’ (2003–2012)
One Tree Hill follows half-brothers Lucas (Chad Michael Murray) and Nathan Scott (James Lafferty), who share a passion for basketball and the same father but come from very different worlds. When Lucas joins Nathan’s high school basketball team, they share an intense rivalry. Not only do they battle each other on the court, but also in their love lives. As these two high school boys grow up to become men, they’ll learn to cope with adulthood, friendship, and forgiveness in the small town of Tree Hill.
On top of the high school drama, One Tree Hill explores social hierarchy through Lucas’ clash with his wealthy half-brother Nathan after joining the elite basketball team. Much like James’ father in Maxton Hall, Lucas and Nathan’s father, the manipulative businessman Dan Scott (Paul Johansson), isn’t afraid of using his influence and power to shape his sons’ futures. Meanwhile, Karen (Moira Kelly), the single mother to Lucas and modest café owner, is the opposite of what Dan stands for, serving as a pillar of integrity in One Tree Hill.
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