7 TV Shows Like ‘Maxton Hall’ to Watch While You Wait for Season 3
Let’s be real: Is there anything out there quite like Maxton Hall — The World Between Us? Between its never-ending angst, gorgeous private school setting, enemies-to-lovers dynamic, and — above all else — believable chemistry between the leads, there really isn’t any other TV show that also checks every single one of those boxes. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few that check some of them.
If you’re looking to at least partially scratch that Maxton Hall itch now that Ruby (Harriet Herbig-Matten) and James’ (Damian Hardung) love story is about to be on pause — the Season 2 finale drops on November 27 — you’ve come to the right place. Whether you’re looking for enemies-to-lovers or forbidden love, Swooon has seven shows you should add to your watchlist. After all, you need something to occupy your time until Maxton Hall returns for Season 3. Binge watching awaits!
Maxton Hall — The World Between Us, Season 2 Finale, November 27, Prime Video
My Lady Jane
At first glance, My Lady Jane looks like it has nothing in common with Maxton Hall, aside from being on the same streaming service. The former finds Jane (Emily Bader) unexpectedly crowned queen of England in the 16th century, but it’s not your typical 16th century England. The population is divided between animal shapeshifters and humans.
However, if you miss James and Ruby’s enemies dynamic from Season 1, then look no further than Jane and Guildford (Edward Bluemel). Similarly, they fall for each other over the course of a season, but their first interactions are about as far from romantic as you could get at first. Plus, like Ruby and James, they also share a scorching hot chemistry. Fair warning: My Lady Jane only has one season (RIP), but we still think it’s worth the watch.
XO, Kitty
Netflix’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before spinoff shares quite a few qualities with Maxton Hall. Beyond the obvious school setting — though Kitty (Anna Cathcart) attends a Korean boarding school instead of an English private school — XO, Kitty seems to be giving its main characters an enemies-to-lovers arc. Kitty and Minho (Sang Heon Lee) haven’t yet crossed into lovers territory, but their mutual disdain for each other is long gone by the end of Season 2. The show is significantly more lighthearted than Maxton Hall, but it is one of the most similar offerings out there. If you need a break from the angst, this is a solid choice.
Young Royals
With its opposites-attract and forbidden romance, Young Royals is probably the closest thing you’ll find to Maxon Hall. Wille (Edvin Ryding) is the heir to the Swedish throne, anxious and stifled by duty and his family’s expectations. (Sound like anyone we know?) Simon (Omar Rudberg), on the other hand, is his more self-assured counterpart with a more grounded life. They fall for each other at their elite boarding school, but of course, the big question is if they can overcome their different circumstances, like Ruby and James. If you already assumed it’s angsty based on the description, you’re totally right, so Young Royals is like Maxton Hall in that way, too.
Élite
Admittedly, we’ve only watched a few seasons of Netflix’s Élite, but that’s all we need to know that it bears similarities to Maxton Hall. The premise puts three working-class students next to the wealthy, privileged ones in an exclusive Spanish private school. Enough said, right? It does lean less toward romance and more toward murder mystery, but the eight-season show isn’t without its love stories. Nadia (Mina El Hammani) and Guzman’s (Miguel Bernardeau) relationship in Season 1 is totally Ruby and James-coded.
Normal People
You want maximum angst, we give you Normal People and the on-again-off-again relationship of Marianne (Daisy Edgar Jones) and Connell (Paul Mescal). The early episodes in particular, when Marianne and Connell are in secondary school, give major Maxton Hall vibes. Marianne totally gives Ruby energy as an independent social outcast. The popular Connell has James energy, though his anxiety is more extreme. (Though, maybe James does get to Connell’s level after his mom dies.) Marianne and Connell also may have Ruby and James beat in having less happy moments together, which is saying something. If you’re looking for something with a happier tone after Maxton Hall Season 2, then you might need to take a break before turning on Normal People. Trust us, though, the angst is worth it.
Gossip Girl
The original Gossip Girl series was the blueprint for post-2000 teen TV dramas. We’d like to say Gossip Girl is Maxton Hall’s cool cousin. Blair (Leighton Meester) and Chuck’s (Ed Westwick) enemies-to-lovers-to-enemies-lovers arc over the season was a sight to behold, and the chemistry between them was unmatched. If you haven’t watched Gossip Girl yet, post-Maxton Hall Season 2 is the time. The prep school drama in the early seasons is delicious, and you’ll get whiplash from all the twists and turns the show takes.
Cruel Intentions
Saying Maxton Hall is similar to Prime Video’s Cruel Intentions reboot is a bit of a stretch, but there are definitely some elements that cross over. It doesn’t quite qualify as a love story like Maxton Hall, but it does offer romance. We aren’t talking about the strange dynamic between manipulative step siblings Caroline (Sarah Catherine Hook) and Lucien (Zac Burgess); Lucien forms a budding connection with Annie (Savannah Lee Smith), who unknowingly is a pawn in their game. Though Cruel Intentions takes place on a Greek life-obsessed college campus, it also has an academic setting in common with Maxton Hall.
