‘Maxton Hall’ Star Damian Hardung Discusses James’ Journey to Rock Bottom
If you tuned into the first season of Prime Video’s massive global hit, you likely stayed for the enemies-to-lovers tension and the high-society gloss. But as anyone who has binged the latest episodes knows, “Maxton Hall” Season 2 trades the slow-burn romance for a heavy dose of reality. The fairy tale is over, at least for a little while, and the leading man is spiraling.
Damian Hardung, the actor behind the troubled heir James Beaufort, knew exactly what he was getting into when he first cracked open the scripts for the second season. It wasn’t a comment on the production quality, which remains stellar, but rather an acknowledgment of the emotional wringer he was about to put himself through. After the devastating “Maxton Hall” Season 1 finale, where James and his sister Lydia return home to find their mother has passed away, the story doesn’t give the characters time to breathe. Instead, it plunges them straight into the ugly, messy depths of grief.
A Season of Grief and Trauma for “Maxton Hall”
For James, the loss of his mother isn’t just a tragedy; it’s the loss of his moral compass. With his mother gone, he is left alone with his abusive, demanding father, Mortimer. “Maxton Hall” star Damian Hardung explains that this loss stripped James of the one person who allowed him to be his true self, rather than just the Beaufort heir.
Consequently, we see James hit absolute rock bottom. We aren’t talking about a bit of brooding; we are talking about a full-blown descent into drugs, alcohol, and partying to numb the pain. Hardung describes this as a “numbing process.” He references a poignant idea from “Call Me by Your Name” to explain James’s mindset: the tragedy of feeling nothing just to avoid the bad stuff. James chose emptiness because the alternative was facing the reality that his last interaction with his mother was unloving, and it was simply too much to bear.
Why Damian Hardung Had to Justify James’ Actions
This emotional shutdown in “Maxton Hall” leads James to make some infuriating decisions, most notably hurting Ruby Bell (played by Harriet Herbig-Matten) to push her away. The scene where he kisses Elaine at a party, knowing Ruby is watching, is a gut punch for fans.
However, Damian Hardung approaches this betrayal with a protective actor’s instinct. He notes that, as the person portraying James, he couldn’t judge the character. He had to understand him. In James’s twisted, grief-stricken logic, he wasn’t just cheating; he was saving Ruby from himself. He believed he was toxic, dragging her down into his misery, so he blew up the relationship to set her free. It’s a classic case of cognitive dissonance, where James tries to rationalize a terrible act as a noble sacrifice.
The Heartbreaking Rift Between James and Ruby
The dynamic between the two leads shifts drastically this season of “Maxton Hall”. The “will-they-won’t-they” energy is replaced by the cold reality of broken trust. What is refreshing about “Maxton Hall” Season 2 is that it doesn’t rely on the trope of the woman “fixing” the broken bad boy. Ruby refuses to forgive him immediately, and frankly, she shouldn’t. Interviewed by The Hollywood Reporter, Hardung told them, “Good for her,” after being asked his feelings on her not giving in to James’ lies and treachery.
He emphasizes how important it was that Ruby stood her ground. It forced James to stop relying on others to stabilize him and instead look inward. This leads to one of the season’s most pivotal arcs: James going to therapy. Seeing a male lead in a teen drama actively seeking professional help for his mental health is a massive step forward for the genre. It paves the way for the emotional gala speech, where James publicly reclaims his identity, no longer hiding behind the Beaufort facade.
Lighthearted Moments Behind the Scenes
Despite the heavy on-screen drama, the chemistry between Damian Hardung and Harriet Herbig-Matten remained a bright spot during production. Hardung shared a funny behind-the-scenes moment about the incredibly awkward but funny car ride scene in Episode 4.
He says to The Hollywood Reporter, “I just remember that we were in that scene, and [director] Martin [Schreier] just had a speaker on, and he would just continue to play one love song after another, and we just weren’t allowed to laugh.” This scene shows the amount of talent that these two actors have for being able to keep a straight face through all of that. If that’s not good acting, then I don’t know what is.
There was also the much-discussed date scene where Ruby licks burger sauce off her finger. While it played out with intense romantic tension on screen, Hardung admits they were cracking up during filming. He even joked about an edit he saw online that made it look like his brain short-circuited during the moment, a testament to how well the show balances intense drama with genuine chemistry.
What Lies Ahead for “Maxton Hall” Season 3
The season finale leaves us on yet another cliffhanger. Just as James and Ruby decide to fight the world together, Mortimer strikes back, resulting in Ruby’s expulsion. It’s a painful ending, but Damian Hardung insists there is hope.
Unlike the isolation of the first season, James and Ruby are now a united front. They have stopped fighting each other and have started fighting the external forces trying to tear them apart. With “Maxton Hall” officially renewed for a third season, adapting the final book in the trilogy, “Save Us”, fans can rest assured that while James Beaufort hit rock bottom this “Maxton Hall” season, the only way left to go is up.
Prime Video’s global success of the “Maxton Hall” series proves that audiences are willing to embrace the darkness alongside the romance. As we wait for the next chapter, one thing is clear: Hardung’s portrayal of grief has elevated the show from a guilty pleasure to a genuinely compelling character drama.
