Prime Video’s Maxton Hall – The World Between Us is riding a global wave of success with season 2, and its leads are opening up about how they’ve balanced fidelity to Mona Kasten’s beloved novels with the realities of TV storytelling.
Speaking to Life & Style, Damian Hardung (27) and Harriet Herbig-Matten (22) broke down how closely they hewed to the source material in season 1 and why season 2 takes some carefully chosen detours to deepen the show’s emotional stakes.
The Stars On Staying True To Mona Kasten
Hardung, who plays James Beaufort, says he felt a strong responsibility to capture the essence of Kasten’s work when the series began. “I think in the first season … I was really concerned about what the author, Mona Kasten, thinks about it,” he said. After wrapping season 1, he reached out directly. “I instantly messaged her. And I was like, ‘Did I do justice to your character?’”
Kasten’s response put his mind at ease. According to Hardung, the author “instantly responded” to say “she loved” his portrayal of James. “That really meant the world to me because obviously it’s her writing,” he added.
Herbig-Matten, who stars as Ruby Bell, approaches the book-to-screen question a little differently. For her, tuning out the pressure is key to delivering an honest performance. “I think maybe you have to let it go,” she said of trying to stay perfectly aligned with the novels. “Because you feel the pressure from the fans, and I think it’s healthy just to let it go and to do your best for your character. And, yeah, that’s what I did.”
That balance—respecting the text while trusting the actors’ instincts—helped the series find its footing in season 1, which adapts Kasten’s Save Me and introduces Ruby’s life-changing scholarship to the elite Maxton Hall, her Oxford ambitions, and the secret that entangles her with James. The show’s core romance grew out of that dynamic, and it remains the heartbeat of the series in season 2.
Why Season 2 Moves Beyond The Book
While season 2 is rooted in Save You, the second book in Kasten’s trilogy, Hardung notes that the show “kind of moved a bit away from the original book” to “enrich the plot.” It’s an evolution he embraced after living with James for an entire season. “Having portrayed that character for a whole season already, I kind of felt confident enough in my own decisions of knowing that character that I kind of liberated myself, I think, more and more from the original source,” he explained.
One example he cited is a car crash storyline that was not part of the novel. These additions are designed to heighten the stakes while preserving the emotional truth of Ruby and James’ journey, which in season 2 sees them attempting to sustain their relationship amid pressure from family legacies, personal setbacks, and the expectations that come with Maxton Hall’s privileged world.
That approach—staying faithful to character while adjusting plot—has become a hallmark of successful literary adaptations, especially in young adult dramas. Maxton Hall keeps its central tension intact: Ruby’s grounded determination colliding with James’ complicated privilege, all while the couple tests how far their bond can stretch without breaking.
A Global Prime Video Hit With Local Roots
Maxton Hall is produced in Germany and set in England, and it’s quickly become one of Prime Video’s most successful non-American series. Herbig-Matten says the global response has been “overwhelming” in the best way. “It’s a huge gift that this series got so global, and that the people like it and love it,” she said. “I think that’s a huge, huge gift as an actor and actress.”
Hardung echoed that sentiment, recalling advice from a producer that reframed the show’s reach. “A producer once told me film is too expensive of a medium to only fulfill your own dreams, like to go off [and] tell your own story without having it resonate with people,” he said. “So I feel like having that joyful experience of actually doing work that resonates with people is a true gift.”
The show’s international traction underscores how universal its themes are. Ruby’s ambition, James’ struggle with expectation, and the collision of class, friendship, and first love transcend language barriers—helped by Prime Video’s wide distribution and localizations. The result is a glossy, bingeable romance that still feels grounded in real-world anxieties about identity and future paths.
Season 2 Finale Release Date On Prime Video
Season 2 continues to chart the Save You arc while exploring original beats that amplify Ruby and James’ challenges. As the couple navigates setbacks and tests their resolve, the season builds toward a capstone that promises closure for some threads while leaving room for growth.
Prime Video will premiere the Maxton Hall – The World Between Us season 2 finale on Friday, November 28. For new viewers, both seasons offer an accessible on-ramp: start with Ruby’s scholarship win, the secret that changes everything, and James’ gradual unmasking, then dive into season 2’s deeper emotional pool as the pair tries to build something lasting at Maxton Hall.
Whether you come to the series for the romance, the posh school setting, or the push-and-pull between destiny and agency, Maxton Hall’s adaptation playbook is clear. Honor the spirit of Mona Kasten’s characters, give the actors room to inhabit them, and make smart, resonant choices that fit television’s episodic rhythm. Judging by the response—and by the pride of its two leads—that formula is working.
