Secret Society of Second-Born Royals Parent Guide

Princess Samantha (Peyton Elizabeth Lee) is frustrated. The “spare to the heir” of the throne of Illyria, Europe’s smallest country, is tired of cutting ribbons and smiling graciously. As her dutiful older sister, Princess Eleanor (Ashley Liao), prepares for her upcoming coronation, Sam and her best friend, Mike (Noah Lomax), sing protest songs on street corners in hope of democratizing Illyria. But when Sam winds up at summer school with some other young royal spares, she is shocked to learn that all second born royal children are genetically endowed with superpowers so they can safeguard their kingdoms. Now they need to identify their powers, hone their abilities, and save the world.

This discovery comes none too soon because trouble is brewing deep in the castle’s dungeon prison. (No cliché is overlooked in this story.) Locked deep underground is Inmate 34 (Greg Bryk), a nameless prisoner whose powerful telekinetic abilities are suppressed with a high tech metal collar. But when he finally escapes, his dastardly plan will destroy Sam, Eleanor and every other royal attending the coronation, unless Sam and her fellow trainees can stop him.

I must warn adults that this show might cause muscle strain injuries related to constant eye rolling, but, frankly, this film isn’t made for you. Secret Society of Second Born Royals is geared at kids and tweens, neatly bridging the gap between Barbie princess movies and The Avengers. It lets its young viewers celebrate princess-y dresses and a girl power message simultaneously.

Thankfully, this princess/superhero movie manages to provide plenty of action without a lot of negative content. The only potential issue is some plot driven violence as the teens battle the bad guy. Frankly, minor negative content is less of an issue for me than the movie’s flat acting, terrible music, appalling CGI, and unsettling politics. Throughout the film, I had trouble wrapping my head around the fictional country of Illyria. On the surface, it looks like a pleasantly multicultural, peaceful little kingdom. Then we learn that the country has no parliament and is apparently ruled by royal fiat. (No wonder Sam wants to get rid of the monarchy.) Apparently, Inmate 34 was put in solitary confinement without a trial, which is also disturbing. In conjunction with his goals for political reform, this manages to make his motivations much more sympathetic, despite his murderous methods.

If you can overlook Illyria’s weird politics, there are plenty of positive messages here for young viewers. Standing up for what you believe, accepting yourself for who you are, and not judging on appearances are some of the film’s themes. It also shows the benefits of being inclusive, working together, and trying to make change from within. As Sam learns to her sorrow, rebellion has its costs, and they aren’t always paid by the rebel. And the story clearly encourages self-discipline, honesty, and honor. As Queen Catherine (Elodie Yung) says to Sam, “The key to mastering your power is mastering yourself.” Royal or not, that’s a message worth remembering.