Season 2 of &34;Maxton Hall—The World Between Us&34; will find Ruby &34;going through her first heartbreak,&34; says star Harriet HerbigMatten. Maxton Hall seas

Season 2 of "Maxton Hall—The World Between Us" will find Ruby "going through her first heartbreak," says star Harriet Herbig-Matten.

*Maxton Hall *season 2 photos reveal James spiraling, Ruby taking charge (exclusive)

Season 2 of "Maxton Hall—The World Between Us" will find Ruby "going through her first heartbreak," says star Harriet Herbig-Matten.

By Kristen Baldwin

Kristen Baldwin

Kristen Baldwin is the TV critic for EW

EW's editorial guidelines

September 2, 2025 9:00 a.m. ET

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James (Damian Hardung) reverts to his old ways in 'Maxton Hall' season 2. Credit:

Courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios

Sure, William Shakespeare wrote the words "the course of true love never did run smooth" more than 400 years ago, but he may as well have been talking about the unlikely soulmates at the center of *Maxton Hall—The World Between Us*.

After a tumultuous and tearful enemies-to-lovers journey, brilliant scholarship student Ruby Hall (Harriet Herbig-Matten) and troubled but sensitive rich kid James Beaufort (Damian Hardung) finally gave in to their emotions (and passion) in the season 1 finale. But just when it seemed that these two gorgeous, opposites-attract lovebirds were headed for a bright future together at Oxford University, tragedy struck: James and his twin sister, Lydia (Sonja Weißer), learned that their beloved mother, Cordelia, died from a stroke while they were out of town — and their father, Mortimer (Fredja van Huêt), a cold and aloof businessman, didn't even bother to call them.

Season 2 of the hit Prime Video drama picks up with James still reeling from his devastating loss, which sends him into a self-destructive spiral of drinking and partying. (See photo above.) "He's losing himself and he's kind of acting like the old James," Herbig-Matten tells **. "In the beginning of season 2, something has happened that I can't [reveal], but that's why they've broken up. Ruby is going through her first heartbreak, and James is losing himself and who he is."**

Ruby (Harriet Herbig-Matten) and James (Damian Hardung) build a decoration for the gala in 'Maxton Hall' season 2.

Courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios

Though Ruby feels "out of control" for the first time in her life — which is her "biggest fear," says Herbig-Matten — she falls back on her own tried-and-true coping mechanism: Throwing herself into work. When Headmaster Lexington (Thomas Douglas) tasks Ruby with organizing a charity gala for famous human rights activist and philanthropist Alice Campbell (Proschat Madani), Ruby sees the challenge as way to distract herself. James, meanwhile, sees it as an opportunity. "They need money [to throw the event], and they're trying to collect money," says Herbig-Matten. "The first step for James trying to fix the problems [with Ruby] is to help her collect the money."

Of course, before James and Ruby can find their way back to each other, they must confront their issues as individuals — like setting boundaries and putting their own needs first. "Both characters act out of very different motivations," says *Maxton Hall* producer and head writer Ceylan Yildirim. "While Ruby, as a scholarship recipient, believes she must perform at the highest level and stand out from the crowd in order to achieve her goals, James grew up in a toxic family where he was forced to conform. Their relationship challenges them to question their learned behavior patterns for the first time."

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Even as Ruby and James have their relationship "put to the test," Yildirim says James' twin sister will grow closer to Ruby in season 2. With her pregnancy progressing, Lydia finds herself turning to Ruby — the only other person who knows her secret — for support. "Unlike the first season, in which the two young women were adversaries, this season sees a trusting bond develop between them," explains Yildirim. "We will see how their two worlds and the emotional challenges Ruby faces with James influence their friendship."

Herbig-Matten adds that Lydia will also get some much-needed girl time with Ruby's sister, Ember (Runa Greiner), and Ruby's best friend, Lin (Andrea Guo). "We have really, really beautiful scenes together which I enjoy," says the actress, who shares a tight bond with her on-screen sister. "Runa, she's my best friend. It's easy to play sisters because she's kind of like my big sister. We have the same relationship and connection like Ember and Ruby. It's really special."

Don't worry — James will also have some additional emotional support this season, in the form of his Aunt Ophelia (Dagny Dewath), who reconnects with her nephew and niece after Cordelia's funeral. "James and Lydia only know their aunt from their mother's stories," says Yildirim. "They never had any contact with her themselves. Ophelia gives them a new perspective on their mother and the family history that had previously been hidden from them." We'll also meet Frederic Ellington (Basil Eidenbenz), the older brother of James' best friend Alistair (Justus Riesner), who "gives us a glimpse behind the façade of the elite structures of the Ellington family," adds Yildirim.

Ruby (Harriet Herbig-Matten) in 'Maxton Hall' season 2.

Courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios

Based on the bestselling books by Mona Kasten, season 1 of *Maxton Hall* was a massive hit for Prime Video, landing at number one on the streamer's charts in more than 120 countries. Becoming an international star overnight "was really overwhelming the first few months," admits Herbig-Matten. "What I didn't expect is when you get recognized not only in Germany but also in Italy and Spain. We never expected that to happen."

YA fans are loyal but also very, very vocal — and Yildirim wants *Maxton Hall* viewers to know that she and her fellow writers and producers are listening. "We take the fan community's discussions about the novel series and their feedback on our adaptation very seriously. Even during the development phase for season 1, it was extremely important to us to listen to the Booktok community," she says. "The research we did was a huge help in casting and world-building."

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When Herbig-Matten hears from fans, many of them are young women looking to break into acting — and all of them want Ruby and James to get their happily ever after. "Everyone wants them to fix their problems and to overcome all obstacles," says the actress. While the duo clearly has a long (and bumpy) road to relationship success, Herbig-Matten assures us that Ruby and James are on their way: "Season 2 is about growth. It's about changing, finding each other again, and healing."

Season 2 of *Maxton Hall—The World Between Us* premieres Friday, Nov. 7 on Prime Video.

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