Élite
TV-MA | 1h | Crime , Drama , Thriller | TV Series (2018– )
When three working-class teens enroll in an exclusive private school in Spain, the clash between them and the wealthy students leads to murder.
Stars: Omar Ayuso, Miguel Bernardeau, Mina El Hammani | See full cast & crew »
ELITE SEASON 1 REVIEW: NETFLIX’S HIGH SCHOOL DRAMA IS A MURDER MYSTERY WORTH SOLVING
High school dramas have come a long way since the relatively tame days of the early ’90s when Saved By the Bell and the original version of 90210 were still kicking around. Nowadays, teen shows are exploring the darker side of societal norms, with shows like Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why addressing issues like sexual assault and mass shootings in graphic detail. Even the Archie comic book-inspired Riverdale and the upcoming Chilling Adventures of Sabrina are tackling drug use, gang violence and bullying in educational institutions, even when juxtaposed with more fantastical elements like musical interludes or a dash of the occult.
Of all the recent additions to the genre, Elite, a Netflix Spanish import, may be the best of the bunch. The series succeeds by creating relatable characters that actually act like kids, not sassy 20-somethings. Sure, the actors are definitely older than their teenage on-screen personas, but the writing is so damn good that it’s easy to overlook.
What really makes Elite stand out from its counterparts is the strong character development, expertly handled by co-creators Darío Madrona and Carlos Montero. Take Guzman, for instance, played by the dapper and talented Miguel Bernardeau. At first glance, he’s your typical privileged high school bully, hell-bent on making the three new transplants’ lives a living nightmare. But the writers smartly provide Guzman with his own unique narrative that hints at redemption as the season progresses.
Bullies usually don’t get second chances, and the mysterious outsider is the one who gets the girl at the end of the story – not here. Even the disenfranchised newcomers, like Samuel and Christian, have their darker sides. No one stays the villain or the hero for very long. Much like HBO’s popular fantasy series Game of Thrones, Elite loves to explore moral ambiguity while outside forces, like drug dealers and controlling parents, start to prey on the troubled teens.
So, about that murder mystery. Without spoiling anything, let’s just say the crime is a focal point of the overall story, but not necessarily a vital one. Several of the episodes begin and end with an interrogation scene between one of the students and the presiding detective, recounting the events leading up to the homicide. The scenes do have moments of suspense, but overall, lack the narrative punch offered by the textured lives of the students before the crime takes place.
As good as Elite is, it’s not wholly original, borrowing themes from other popular titles that have come before it, such as Gossip Girl, Mean Girls, and The OC, among others. Guzman’s significant other, Lu, is the epitome of the classic Queen Bee. Mexican-born actress Danna Paola portrays her perfectly as a sultry, ambitious young woman whom all of her classmates despise, but also revere. Her arc takes the longest to develop, but by the end of the season, you may have a different opinion of her character.
But that’s what Elite does best – taking what has come before and improving on it. All the hallmarks of a teen drama are here: sex (lots of it), murder, drugs, social climbing, and betrayal, but with a distinct and compelling voice. For lack of a better descriptor, Elite is the high school equivalent of Game of Thrones. Las Encinas may not be as a vast as Westeros, but the multi-layered characters and strong writing are on par with TV’s very best shows.
By the time the credits roll, Elite does a solid job of wrapping up its first season, while leaving the door open for many more stories to come. Thankfully, Elite has already been picked up for a second season, coming to Netflix in 2019.
The Verdict
Netflix’s Elite doesn’t go for style over substance. Unlike most high school dramas, the series tempers its over-the-top plot twists with real human emotion by focusing on the kids and how growing up too fast can have devastating consequences. Elite may be the best high school drama on TV.
Erotismo al desnudo y chicas sexys
Son las protagonistas de Élite y encargadas de llevar el erotismo en la parte femenina de la serie. ¿Chicos? los hay también, que nadie se preocupe por eso.