The Royals on Netflix: Glamour, Palaces, and Missed Potential

Netflix’s The Royals probably landed on your “must-watch” list the moment it dropped. With a star-studded cast, picturesque palaces, and a storyline promising old-school royalty meets modern-day hustle, it seemed like the perfect mix of glitz and substance.

The Premise: Palaces, Power, and a Plan

The Royals takes us to Morpur, a fictional town with a once-glorious royal family now grappling with a cash crunch. The patriarch of the family passes away, and the responsibility falls on Aviraaj Singh (played by Ishaan Khatter) to step into the royal shoes—figuratively and literally.

In a desperate attempt to save the family estate from ruin, Aviraaj partners with Sophia Kanmani Shekhar (Bhumi Pednekar), a savvy, no-nonsense businesswoman, to transform their ancestral palace into a luxury bed-and-breakfast.

That setup alone is juicy enough to promise bingeable content. Royalty meets start-up culture? Yes, please! Unfortunately, the series doesn't explore this culture clash as deeply as it could have.

The Cast: Charm Is Not the Problem

• Ishaan Khatter brings his usual charisma to Aviraaj. He’s likable, earnest, and does a decent job portraying a royal figure torn between duty and desire.

• Bhumi Pednekar is magnetic as Sophia. She owns the screen with a commanding presence, balancing sharp wit with emotional vulnerability. Her character is clearly written to be the anchor of the show, and Bhumi runs with it.

• Zeenat Aman, as the regal matriarch, is elegance personified. Her mere presence lends gravitas, even when the script doesn’t quite give her enough to do.

• Sakshi Tanwar also shines as Maharani Padmaja, adding emotional depth and subtle tension to the family dynamics.

One thing you cannot fault The Royals for is its visual appeal. The series is nothing short of a visual spectacle.

From sprawling palaces and intricate lehengas to decadent royal feasts and perfectly manicured gardens, the show is dripping in opulence. Every scene feels like a spread from Vogue India, and honestly, I’d watch a second season just for the interior design and fashion alone.

The cinematography is lush, and the production design team deserves a standing ovation. The show looks expensive, and that’s because it probably is.

But What About the Story?

The central premise—restoring a royal family’s fortune through a modern business model, has so much potential. But instead of digging into the tension between heritage and hustle, tradition and transformation, the show plays it safe.

The plot meanders through various subplots that never quite connect. There’s a sibling rivalry that goes nowhere, romantic tension that fizzles out, and moments of personal crisis that are resolved too quickly to have any real impact. For a show with such a glamorous setup, The Royals lacks the emotional highs and lows that make a drama truly compelling.

Critics have been especially harsh on the writing, calling it shallow and inconsistent. And honestly, they’re not wrong. While the dialogue is snappy at times, it often leans on clichés and avoids complexity. It feels like the writers were more interested in showcasing luxury than developing a believable, emotionally rich narrative.

But instead of cooking up a spicy, layered dish, we got a pretty—but somewhat bland—serving.

Had the show leaned deeper into the politics of royalty in a modern world, or explored the psychological weight of legacy, it could have been much more impactful. Think Succession meets Made in Heaven. Unfortunately, it settles for surface-level drama and aesthetic appeal.

Should You Watch It?

If you’re in the mood for something light, visually stunning, and easy to follow, then yes—The Royals makes for a decent weekend binge. Think of it like a glossy magazine: nice to flip through, but you won’t remember much afterward.

However, if you’re looking for substance, emotional depth, or complex character arcs, you might find yourself disappointed.