Written by contributor Kajree Gautom
Netflix has been constantly blessing us with stellar originals and Elite is definitely one of their hidden gems! Elite is a teen thriller filled to the brim with entertainment, mystery, and drama that will leave you craving for more.
Elite is a Spanish thriller series that had garnered quite the hype with its initial release in 2018, pushing it out to three whole seasons, and getting renewed for a fourth and fifth season too. Created by Carlos Montero and Dario Madrona, Elite focuses largely on the elitist and teenage culture, featuring a whole glamorous yet dark side of the luxurious worlds.
“When three working class teens enrol in an exclusive private school in Spain, Las Encinas, through a scholarship, the clash between them and the wealthy students leads to a murder” is how Netflix describes the show but it’s so much more than that. So, if you’ve not watched this series, here are ten reasons why Elite is the perfect binge-worthy series!
1. The Gorgeous and Ridiculously Hot Cast
This definitely sounds like a very obnoxious reason to watch a series, although the cast plays such an important part in the viewership. But Elite’s cast is simply so beautiful, you definitely would want to continue watching the show because of them. Some of your favourites from Money Heist do show up too, and this cast definitely does not disappoint!
2. An Interesting Storyline With Murder and Twists That Is Going To Hook You In Immediately
Right from the beginning, the show starts on with its mystery, keeping the watcher on their toes. One of the best parts is that the writers do not leave any characters aside and instead explore them all deeply, giving them all their own unique voice and arc. There are so many questions that the show throws at us with each episode, and you cannot help but feel like binging on it just to find the answers. It is very much like the mystery that follows in Big Little Lies, where the story begins with a murder investigation and then follows on.
And at no point does the show leave you hanging or with answered questions. There will be times when you will feel like you’ve figured out the truth, but Elite will pull out a whole new twist. There are also massive cliffhangers that will make you click on the ‘next episode’ button for sure. No stones are left unturned and it will keep you guessing!
3. It Has An Excellent Soundtrack
Shows with a good music score is definitely for the keeps. Naturally so, Elite’s OST is amazing with songs spanning from upbeat party songs to the groovy and moody numbers. Whichever scene it is, there is a perfect song to go with it. Ranging from English to Spanish songs, these will continue playing in your head long after you’ve finished watching the series!
4. One of Those Few Shows That Has A Muslim In The Lead Role
While the show is exclusively Spanish with Spanish and Latin American actors and actresses, it portrays a Muslim in the lead cast – Nadia played by Mina El Hammani, who is of Moroccan descent. The writers handled Nadia’s inner conflicts in the elite school very well, like the times that she had to make sacrifices that made her go against her religion, such as the inability to wear her hijab at school.
Nadia and her brother, Omar’s relationship will steal your hearts as they continuously have to decide between their faith, their parents, and the society. While it may not be the perfect representation, the creators of the show tried to remain true to the religion as much as they could, giving us lovable and strong Muslim characters.
5. Queer Representation
There are a lot of shows with queer representation, but Elite definitely takes it up a notch. With lesbian mothers and kids figuring out and coming to terms with their sexuality, Elite is full of the queer representation that we need on screen today. These positive relationships of acceptance amongst friends will warm your heart and give you hope, no matter how dark the show gets.
6. The Show Is Not Afraid of Exploring Uncomfortable Topics
Elite might seem like any ordinary teen show with immense drama and recurring cliches, but it is so much more than that. The show manages to throw light on those progressive social issues in a very subtle and fantastic way.
It also shines light on the complexities that arise among the students, the bridge that gets created between the rich and the not so rich, and the constant fight to fit in with the popular kids. At the outset, it also deals exclusively with HIV positivity, a topic not usually explored in many shows. Diverse sexual themes like polyamory and incest too play a considerable role in the later episodes, shown in a positive light that really makes this show worthwhile. With forbidden romances and enough love triangles, Elite definitely makes a relatable teen show.
7. Strong Female Leads
Another great thing about Elite is the incredibly female leads that stand their ground. Carla, Lu, and Nadia were total badass ladies. Nadia did not throw her religious ideals away, even in the grasp of peer pressure and social tension. Lu breaks apart at one point, for sure, but at the end, she learns to be strong on her own and not depend on any guy for her happiness. Carla and Rebecca both were the epitome of boss ladies from the beginning, who only stood up stronger on their own. These ladies, their friendship growth and support, and their character arc totally killed it!
8. The Portrayal of Lifestyles
There are loads of shows out there that deal with teenage lives and the mishaps that they tend to end up in. So, what is so different about Elite then? The materialistic culture was well portrayed; mixed with excessive partying, a bunch of horny teens, alcohol, and drugs. The show managed to display and give us an insight on the damage that drugs, drug dealing, and alcohol could do to lives – teenagers and adults alike.
9. Amazing Character Development Throughout The Show
One thing that often lacks in most shows with multiple seasons is that the writers tend to focus more on plot development while neglecting the character developments. In Elite though, the character development was marvellous. When you binge the show, you will see how all the characters grow throughout the years of highschool. The anger subsides, the romance grows, the pride recedes – there is a development in each of them, be it negative or positive. Lu had the best growth, I’d say, but really they all do. So naturally, it makes you feel good and hopeful and to see how relationships grow and mend.
10. DRAMA!!
Besides all the mystery and the seriousness of this, there is also so much drama and humour that is bound to keep you entertained throughout the the seasons. Perfectly balanced with heartwarming scenes and all the messiness of growing up – the love triangles, sketchy drug deals, the parties, and everything, really. If Gossip Girl and How to Get Away with Murder had a baby, that would be Elite. It may seem over the top at times but honestly, who doesn’t love a little teenage drama. Right?
Elite is an exciting coming-of-age show, full of drama, mistakes, and a whole lot of parties. Las Encinas will definitely have you in its grasp and keep you hooked throughout. And the best part? It gets better with each episode!
