Maxton Hall – The World Between Us is a German drama series on Amazon Prime Video that gained popularity quickly. The teen romance spotlights the irresistible tension between Ruby Bell and James Beaufort. The atmospheric elite school setting and high-stakes premise were adapted from Mona Kasten’s beloved Save Me trilogy. Within just days of its release, TikTok feeds were filled with fan edits, cast interviews and major speculation about future seasons.
The undeniable chemistry between the leads and the show’s glossy production style has helped it to break into international streaming charts. As one of Prime Video’s most talked about European series, a second season was released, leaving fans wondering if there will be a third installment. Here’s what to know about the show so far and what fans can expect.
Where did they film ‘Maxton Hall’?
Although the story of Maxton Hall is set in England, the show’s production actually took place in Germany, per Prime Timer. The striking Maxton Hall Academy, which is one of the most breathtaking structures, was actually captured at the Marienburg Castle. This impressive 19th century estate is located south of Hanover, Germany. It’s well known for its Gothic architecture and sprawling grounds. These elements created the perfect backdrop for the fictional elite institution because it blended modern wealth with old world tradition.
Other standout filming locations in Germany helped to create the luxurious world of the Beaufort family. For example, the Potsdam and Berlin areas were also utilized for filming. The Museum Barberini in Potsdam was the site that doubled as a high-end London boutique in the series. On top of that, there were some residential exteriors that brought the fictional location to life.
Production did travel to England for portions of filming. Some scenes set in Oxford, like when Ruby dreams of studying at a top tier university, were actually filmed at some very real colleges, courtyards and city locations in Oxfordshire, England. Then, some backdrop filming was done in London, which is about 50 miles from Oxford.
A look back at season one
According to Pop Rant, season one introduced viewers to Ruby Bell (Harriet Herbig-Matten). Ruby is a scholarship student at an elite university. The charming James Beaufort (Damian Hardung) quickly becomes her adversary. On top of his arrogant demeanor as an heir to a wealthy family, Ruby is placed in an awkward situation that is unexpectedly relevant to him and his high brow family. She makes the unexpected discovery of his sister Lydia’s relationship with their English teacher. This puts their family’s reputation at risk.
When James tries to use money to keep Ruby quiet about the inappropriate affair, things get really complicated. Soon, their relationship blossoms into a complicated yet romantic connection. As the season progresses, some pretty intense events go down. Starting with Ruby discovering that James’s father is responsible for the financial ruin of her own family, their complex relationship gets more challenging to navigate. In the final episode, Lydia reveals she is pregnant. Then, the siblings discover that their mother died from a stroke. The season concludes quite tragically, with Ruby and James’s relationship hanging in the balance.
What happens in ‘Maxton Hall’ season two?
After an emotionally intense season finale, fans are reminded of how Ruby has worked tirelessly to pursue her academic dreams. The show picks up from where season one left off with Ruby caught between newfound affection for James and the intimidating realities of the Beaufort family world. With James consumed by grief following his mother’s death, he resorts to some unhealthy coping mechanisms and pushes Ruby away. When Lydia reaches out to Ruby because he has gone missing, things spiral further. They find him at a wild party kissing another girl, which devastates Ruby. However, despite her attempts to comfort him in his hard time of grief, she realizes that she can’t save him. She turns her focus to her responsibilities at Maxton Hall and avoids James as much as she can.
When Ruby is accepted to Oxford, James tries to be vulnerable and get her back, but it’s too late. Ruby chooses her own peace over all the chaos. Then, James decides to pursue his own healing, so audiences are left with some hope for his character development.
Meanwhile, Lydia is still struggling to tell Graham about her pregnancy. After his promotion to vice headmaster, things get more and more complicated.
The season ends with the mental health charity benefit, organized by Ruby, going awry, per Time. When the event’s speaker doesn’t turn up, James steps in. He bravely steps on stage and shares his own mental health struggles in an emotionally vulnerable speech. This brings him closer to Ruby, but only further agitates his controlling father who is solely concerned about the family’s image.
Do Ruby and James end up together?
One of the biggest questions for viewers throughout the show has been about the wavering relationship between the central characters. Near the season two finale, Ruby and James are back together. However, their slowly recovering relationship is targeted by James’ father Mortimer Beaufort (Fedja van Huêt). Unfortunately for their blossoming connection, he is determined to keep them apart. He goes as far as to revoke Ruby’s scholarship to Oxford and get her mother fired from her bakery job.
The season concludes with the future of their relationship quite unclear. Ruby gets suspended from Maxton Hall on suspicion of having an affair with a professor, which is an ironic twist given how she and James met. Despite the confusion and false claims, the two stick together and are determined to figure everything out.
Will there be a season three of ‘Maxton Hall’?
As Time reports, Prime Video has greenlit a third season of the drama series. In fact, after season one of the show being released and becoming so successful, season two and three were confirmed. The new season will be based on the third book in the series. While the third season has already finished filming, the details are not exactly outlined. There may be surprises in store even for readers who turned into fans of the series.
Shows that are similar to ‘Maxton Hall’
‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ (2022-2025)
This teen romance follows Belly Conklin as she navigates first love and a complicated love triangle. In a similar fashion to Maxton Hall, the series blends youthful romance with heavy emotional twists and turns. The show’s dreamy atmosphere and heartfelt relationships make it a great match for viewers with a preference for character-driven, young adult dramas.
Where to watch: Prime Video
‘Gossip Girl’ (2007-2012; 2021-2023)
Gossip Girl is a beloved show that centers on the lives of privileged teens in Manhattan whose secrets, scandals and relationships are all exposed online. The iconic mystery at the heart of the show fueled many successful seasons and kept fans on the edge of their seats. Its focus on wealth, social status and plenty of relationship complications mirrors many of the dramatic dynamics that fans see in Maxton Hall. Viewers who are interested in a glamorous, but chaotic peek into elite youth culture can binge the original series or its sequel series.
Where to watch: Netflix, Apple TV, Prime Video
‘Elite’ (2018-2024)
This series is set in an exclusive Spanish private school and explores class tensions, some intense friendships and dangerous secrets. It follows three working class students who arrive on scholarship. The clash between the privileged and outsiders reflects Ruby’s own experience in Maxton Hall, but overall the show has a unique mix of romance and drama. It creates a great bingeable experience for viewers.
Where to Watch: Netflix
‘One of Us Is Lying’ (2021-2022)
One of Us Is Lying is a teen drama with heavy themes of mystery. It follows four students who become suspects in the death of a classmate. Although this release leans more into suspense, there are similar elements and emotional stakes, much like Maxton Hall. The show offers a sharper, twist-driven take on high school dynamics, so viewers can enjoy a nicely paced binge.
Where to watch: Peacock
‘Reign’ (2013-2017)
Reign follows Mary, Queen of Scots as she navigates court politics, forbidden romance and elite power struggles. While this series is historical and may feel like a far reach from Maxton Hall, it shares similar themes of status, expectation and very emotionally charged relationships. Its unique blend of romance and palace intrigue appeals to viewers who love a good period piece but want to dig into heightened drama.
Where to watch: Prime Video
Frequently Asked Questions
What language is Maxton Hall in?
Despite the series being set in England, its original language is not English. As reported, the original book it is based on is written in German and the series follows suit. It has a German-speaking cast, too, so viewers can enjoy subtitles or opt for the dubbed version.
How many episodes will be in Maxton Hall season two?
As with the first season, season two has six episodes, per Prime Video. Each episode is about 45 minutes long, so the series is relatively short to get through.