Spanish Show ‘Elite’ Takes on New Topics
Season 3 premiered on March 13. (Photo Credit: IMD)
By Mayte Peña
Spanish teen drama and thriller, “Elite” explores sexuality, religion, drugs and murder-related topics in new, nuanced ways, making it a gripping viewing experience.
Created for Netflix by Carlos Montero and Dario Madrona, “Elite” follows the adventures of a group of students who attend the prestigious school Las Encinas. The Spanish show has been breaking boundaries from the very first season by addressing serious issues teens deal with today, allowing fans to contemplate these issues in their own lives. Polyamorous relationships are rarely, if ever, shown on-screen in popular culture, but “Elite” is respectful in its portrayal of the relationship between the main characters Polo, Carla and Christian.
Season one introduces three new working-class students given scholarships to attend Las Encinas High: outgoing Christian, (Miguel Herrán), who gets involved in a polyamorous relationship with two wealthy students, along with Nadia (Mina El Harmmani), the ambitious daughter of Palestinian immigrants, and Samuel (Itsan Escamilla),who becomes close to Marina, a student whose father has funded their scholarship. What begins as a teen drama about how they try to fit in at their new school quickly transforms into a classic whodunit.
Elite broke Netflix during its premiere day. (Photo Credit Variety)
When it’s revealed that Marina has been murdered, Nadia, Samuel and Christian find themselves pulled into a web of mysteries and deceit. Flash-forwards to Marina’s death drive the action of the plot within seasons one and two, dropping hints about the killer’s identity.
Elite’s third season premiered on March 13, adding to a compelling new twist of these high Scholler’s stories. Just as things seems to be winding down after the mystery of Marina’s murder was solved, another death leaves the students desperate for answers.
As the season progresses, conflict between characters are revealed while new and old romances come into play. The clues fed to the viewers keep them guessing until the very last moments of the season, a thrilling adventure full of drama and suspense.
In season three we have polyamorous love between Polo and his new girlfriend Cayetana and Valerio who becomes their sexual game, as in season one with Carla and Christian.
In exploring the polyamorous, “Elite” reassures its audience that it is acceptable to have or experiment with open relationships, a testament to the many forms love can take.
“Elite” is a breath of fresh air to teen audiences: its hyper focus on the glamorous lives of the wealthy and privileged is an addictive escape, reminiscent of “Gossip Girl,” but unlike that show from the early 2000s, it features a diverse cast of characters with different backgrounds, religions and places of origin.
It is a must-see for anyone who loves drama, mysteries and fast-paced thrillers; viewers can see themselves in the characters, providing representation that is desperately needed in the teen drama genre today.
