7.5 / 10. Elite is an addictive, fresh show, tackling serious issues, but doesn’t itself too seriously

Elite is a Spanish Netflix show set at the exclusive and prestigious Las Encinas private school . It begins when some working-class teenagers are given rare admission to Las Encinas, after their school is destroyed by an earthquake. This show is addictive, mixing elements of shows like Riverdale and Gossip Girl but feels fresh. It tackles serious themes and graphic scenes, yet still manages to have balance and not take itself too seriously. Most students are extremely wealthy and some elements are a little ridiculous (which high school students go to night clubs on a Tuesday night, drinking magnums of champagne and can still get to school in the morning for exams – never me, that’s for sure).

The show focuses on many issues facing young people; class, wealth, s*xual orientation, drugs, illness, bereavement, HIV and religion, tackled in a modern and sensitive way, yet spliced with school days and wild parties. The dialogue is snappy and fun and the cast is strong with well-defined characters, they have a good energy and interact well together. There are parents and teachers here, but they are mainly secondary characters. My favourites overall are Lu (Danna Paola), Rebeca (Claudia Salas), Valerio (Jorge Lopez) and Nano (Jaime Lorente).

The seasons each begins with the same format - a murder mystery / disappearance and then the story is told through current police interviews and flashbacks gradually leading up to revelations about what actually happened at season’s end. This adds some addictive intrigue and the outcomes aren’t too predictable. New characters each season add new dynamics and consequences to shake up the storylines.

Season 4 is coming 😊