Elite (Spanish: Élite; stylized as ÉLITƎ) is a Spanish teen drama thriller web television series created and written by Carlos Montero and Darío Madrona and directed by Ramón Salazar and Dani de la Orden for Netflix. The series presents a large ensemble cast portraying students at an elite secondary school and their friends and features actors Miguel Herrán, Aron Piper, Mina El Hammani, Omar Ayuso, María Pedraza, Itzan Escamilla, and more.[1][2] The first season was released on Netflix on 5 October 2018. On 17 October 2018, Netflix renewed the series for a second season, which was released on 6 September 2019. The series was also renewed for a third season before the premiere of the second season
Plot
After their school collapses, three working class friends—Samuel (Itzan Escamilla), Nadia (Mina El Hammani) and Christian (Miguel Herrán)—are given scholarships to Las Encinas, the most exclusive private school in Spain, where the elite send their kids to study. The scholarships are sponsored by the construction company at fault for the collapse.
At Las Encinas, the three are initially ostracized by the wealthy students. However, Samuel soon befriends the rebellious Marina (María Pedraza), whose corrupt father controls the construction company. At the same time, Nadia becomes close to Marina's charismatic but arrogant brother, Guzmán (Miguel Bernardeau). Guzman's girlfriend, Lu (Danna Paola), dares him to take Nadia's virginity. Meanwhile, Christian becomes involved in a polyamorous relationship with aristocratic couple Polo (Álvaro Rico) and Carla (Esther Expósito).
Outside Las Encinas, Nadia's closeted brother Omar (Omar Ayuso) secretly sells drugs to make enough money to get away from his conservative parents. He soon befriends the son of Las Encinas' principal, Ander (Arón Piper), who is also Guzmán and Polo's best friend. Omar and Ander begin a secret relationship. Marina and Samuel begin to date but she also begins an affair with Nano (Jaime Lorente), Samuel's elder brother who is fresh out of prison and has debts to pay.
As the school year progresses, their lives intertwine in a clash of lifestyles, resentments, envy, and sexual attraction.
Through a series of flash-forward scenes of police interrogations, the audience is shown stories of the character's relationships that somehow lead to a murder.
Cast and characters
Main
María Pedraza as Marina Nunier Osuna, Guzman's sister and love interest of Nano and Samuel[4] (season 1)
Itzan Escamilla as Samuel “Samu” García Domínguez, one of three transfer students who falls for Marina[4]
Miguel Bernardeau as Guzmán Nunier Osuna, adopted brother of Marina[4]
Miguel Herrán as Christian Varela Expósito, one of three transfer students who is attracted to Carla.[4] (season 1-2)
Jaime Lorente as Fernando “Nano” García Domínguez, Samuel's older brother who just got out of prison[4]
Álvaro Rico as Polo, Carla's long-time boyfriend[4]
Arón Piper as Ander Muñoz, son of the Principal and tennis player who discovers his sexuality[4]
Mina El Hammani as Nadia Shana, one of three transfer students, a daughter of Palestinian immigrants, who garners the attention of Guzman[4]
Ester Expósito as Carla Rosón Caleruega, Polo's longtime girlfriend[4]
Omar Ayuso as Omar Shana, Nadia's brother and a drug dealer who falls for Ander against his father's wishes[4]
Danna Paola as Lucrecia “Lu” Montesinos Hendrich, Guzman's current girlfriend who strives to be at the top by manipulating Nadia and her teacher[4]
Claudia Salas as Rebeca P. (season 2–present)
Georgina Amorós as Cayetana G. (season 2–present)
Jorge Lopez as Valerio Montesinos Hendrich, Lu's half-brother (season 2–present)
Recurring
Ramón Esquinas as Ventura Nunier, Guzmán and Marina's father
Jorge Susquet as Martín, a school teacher
Ainhoa Santamaría as the police interrogator
Irene Arcos as Pilar Domínguez, Nano and Samuel's mother
Abdelatif Hwidar as Yusef Shana, Nadia and Omar's father
Elisabet Gelabert as Azucena de Muñoz, the school principal and Ander's mother
Rocío Muñoz-Cobo as Laura Osuna, Marina and Guzmán's mother
Alfredo Villa as Antonio Muñoz, Ander's father and tennis coach
Farah Hamed as Imán Shana, Nadia and Omar's mother
Lola Marceli as Beatriz Caleruega, a marchioness and Carla's mother
Rubén Martínez as Teodoro Rosón, Carla's father and Ventura's business partner
Liz Lobato as Andrea, one of Polo's mothers and CEO of an important magazine
Alberto Vargas as Pablo, Marina's ex-boyfriend
Development
On 17 July 2017, it was announced that Netflix had given the production a series order for a first season.[6] The series is created by Carlos Montero and Darío Madrona who are both credited as executive producers of the series.[6] In September 2018, it was announced that the series would premiere on 5 October 2018.[7] On 17 October 2018, Netflix renewed the series for a second season, which was released on 6 September, 2019.[8] On 29 August 2019, it was reported that the series was renewed for a third season.[3]
Reception
Audience viewership
On 17 January 2019, Netflix announced that the series had been streamed by over 20 million viewers within its first month of release.[9]
Critical response
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the series has an 100% certified fresh rating with 10 reviews, with an average rating of 8.4/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Elite is highly digestible, technically strong trash TV for anyone with a guilty pleasure palate."[10]
Kathryn VanArendonk of Vulture stated in a positive review of the series that though "Elite is not pushing new boundaries in television, it’s not a self-serious reboot of an old property" and that in "spite of that — or more likely because of it! — its commitment to breakneck melodrama is undeniably enjoyable."[11] David Griffin of IGN gave the first season, a 8.8/10, highlighting that the series sets a "new standard for how a high school drama series should be done" and that "Elite may be the best high school drama on TV."[12] Natalie Winkelman from The Daily Beast mentioned in a positive review of the first season, that "with Euro-cool style and compelling characters, Elite is trashy, diverting fun."[13] John Doyle from The Globe and Mail complimented the first season in his review by adding that "Elite is no masterpiece but is one of those oddly satisfying, binge-worthy curiosities."[1] Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya from Thrillist recommended the first season in their review of the series by stating that "Elite might be the only show that could give Riverdale a run for its money when it comes to excessive slow-motion shots
Plot
After their school collapses, three working class friends—Samuel (Itzan Escamilla), Nadia (Mina El Hammani) and Christian (Miguel Herrán)—are given scholarships to Las Encinas, the most exclusive private school in Spain, where the elite send their kids to study. The scholarships are sponsored by the construction company at fault for the collapse.
At Las Encinas, the three are initially ostracized by the wealthy students. However, Samuel soon befriends the rebellious Marina (María Pedraza), whose corrupt father controls the construction company. At the same time, Nadia becomes close to Marina's charismatic but arrogant brother, Guzmán (Miguel Bernardeau). Guzman's girlfriend, Lu (Danna Paola), dares him to take Nadia's virginity. Meanwhile, Christian becomes involved in a polyamorous relationship with aristocratic couple Polo (Álvaro Rico) and Carla (Esther Expósito).
Outside Las Encinas, Nadia's closeted brother Omar (Omar Ayuso) secretly sells drugs to make enough money to get away from his conservative parents. He soon befriends the son of Las Encinas' principal, Ander (Arón Piper), who is also Guzmán and Polo's best friend. Omar and Ander begin a secret relationship. Marina and Samuel begin to date but she also begins an affair with Nano (Jaime Lorente), Samuel's elder brother who is fresh out of prison and has debts to pay.
As the school year progresses, their lives intertwine in a clash of lifestyles, resentments, envy, and sexual attraction.
Through a series of flash-forward scenes of police interrogations, the audience is shown stories of the character's relationships that somehow lead to a murder.
Cast and characters
Main
María Pedraza as Marina Nunier Osuna, Guzman's sister and love interest of Nano and Samuel[4] (season 1)
Itzan Escamilla as Samuel “Samu” García Domínguez, one of three transfer students who falls for Marina[4]
Miguel Bernardeau as Guzmán Nunier Osuna, adopted brother of Marina[4]
Miguel Herrán as Christian Varela Expósito, one of three transfer students who is attracted to Carla.[4] (season 1-2)
Jaime Lorente as Fernando “Nano” García Domínguez, Samuel's older brother who just got out of prison[4]
Álvaro Rico as Polo, Carla's long-time boyfriend[4]
Arón Piper as Ander Muñoz, son of the Principal and tennis player who discovers his sexuality[4]
Mina El Hammani as Nadia Shana, one of three transfer students, a daughter of Palestinian immigrants, who garners the attention of Guzman[4]
Ester Expósito as Carla Rosón Caleruega, Polo's longtime girlfriend[4]
Omar Ayuso as Omar Shana, Nadia's brother and a drug dealer who falls for Ander against his father's wishes[4]
Danna Paola as Lucrecia “Lu” Montesinos Hendrich, Guzman's current girlfriend who strives to be at the top by manipulating Nadia and her teacher[4]
Claudia Salas as Rebeca P. (season 2–present)
Georgina Amorós as Cayetana G. (season 2–present)
Jorge Lopez as Valerio Montesinos Hendrich, Lu's half-brother (season 2–present)
Recurring
Ramón Esquinas as Ventura Nunier, Guzmán and Marina's father
Jorge Susquet as Martín, a school teacher
Ainhoa Santamaría as the police interrogator
Irene Arcos as Pilar Domínguez, Nano and Samuel's mother
Abdelatif Hwidar as Yusef Shana, Nadia and Omar's father
Elisabet Gelabert as Azucena de Muñoz, the school principal and Ander's mother
Rocío Muñoz-Cobo as Laura Osuna, Marina and Guzmán's mother
Alfredo Villa as Antonio Muñoz, Ander's father and tennis coach
Farah Hamed as Imán Shana, Nadia and Omar's mother
Lola Marceli as Beatriz Caleruega, a marchioness and Carla's mother
Rubén Martínez as Teodoro Rosón, Carla's father and Ventura's business partner
Liz Lobato as Andrea, one of Polo's mothers and CEO of an important magazine
Alberto Vargas as Pablo, Marina's ex-boyfriend
Development
On 17 July 2017, it was announced that Netflix had given the production a series order for a first season.[6] The series is created by Carlos Montero and Darío Madrona who are both credited as executive producers of the series.[6] In September 2018, it was announced that the series would premiere on 5 October 2018.[7] On 17 October 2018, Netflix renewed the series for a second season, which was released on 6 September, 2019.[8] On 29 August 2019, it was reported that the series was renewed for a third season.[3]
Reception
Audience viewership
On 17 January 2019, Netflix announced that the series had been streamed by over 20 million viewers within its first month of release.[9]
Critical response
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the series has an 100% certified fresh rating with 10 reviews, with an average rating of 8.4/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Elite is highly digestible, technically strong trash TV for anyone with a guilty pleasure palate."[10]
Kathryn VanArendonk of Vulture stated in a positive review of the series that though "Elite is not pushing new boundaries in television, it’s not a self-serious reboot of an old property" and that in "spite of that — or more likely because of it! — its commitment to breakneck melodrama is undeniably enjoyable."[11] David Griffin of IGN gave the first season, a 8.8/10, highlighting that the series sets a "new standard for how a high school drama series should be done" and that "Elite may be the best high school drama on TV."[12] Natalie Winkelman from The Daily Beast mentioned in a positive review of the first season, that "with Euro-cool style and compelling characters, Elite is trashy, diverting fun."[13] John Doyle from The Globe and Mail complimented the first season in his review by adding that "Elite is no masterpiece but is one of those oddly satisfying, binge-worthy curiosities."[1] Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya from Thrillist recommended the first season in their review of the series by stating that "Elite might be the only show that could give Riverdale a run for its money when it comes to excessive slow-motion shots