Hey, everyone! How’s it going? Today I’m here to review the drama Elite, which premiered on Netflix in 2018 and became one of the platform’s most addictive Spanish teen series, combining class warfare with shocking murder mysteries.
Running from October 5, 2018, to July 26, 2024, Elite concluded its eight-season run with a total of 64 episodes, each approximately 50-60 minutes long. Created by Carlos Montero and Darío Madrona, this Spanish thriller is set in Las Encinas, a fictional elite private school that becomes the backdrop for scandal, romance, and deadly secrets. The series follows three working-class students who receive scholarships to attend this prestigious institution, only to find themselves caught in a web of privilege, prejudice, and ultimately, murder.
The show masterfully blends teen drama tropes with sophisticated storytelling, creating a series that appeals to both young adults and mature audiences. What sets Elite apart from typical high school dramas is its willingness to tackle complex social issues while maintaining the suspenseful murder mystery format that keeps viewers guessing season after season.
Samuel García Domínguez: Itzan Escamilla’s Journey from Outsider to Insider
Itzan Escamilla delivers a compelling performance as Samuel, one of the three scholarship students whose arrival at Las Encinas sets the entire series in motion. Samuel’s character arc spans multiple seasons, showcasing his transformation from a naive working-class teenager to someone who learns to navigate the dangerous waters of elite society. Escamilla captures Samuel’s internal conflict between maintaining his moral compass and succumbing to the seductive power of wealth and status.
Throughout the series, Samuel becomes increasingly entangled in the school’s dark secrets, with his relationships becoming more complex as he tries to balance love, loyalty, and survival. His evolution reflects the broader theme of how privilege corrupts and how the pursuit of acceptance can lead to devastating consequences.
Guzmán Nunier Osuna: Miguel Bernardeau’s Fall from Grace
Miguel Bernardeau’s portrayal of Guzmán represents the other side of the class divide, showing how even those born into privilege can become victims of the system they inhabit. As one of Las Encinas’ wealthy elite, Guzmán begins the series as the typical entitled rich kid but evolves into one of the show’s most complex characters through personal tragedy and moral awakening.
The chemistry between Bernardeau and the rest of the ensemble cast creates some of the series’ most emotionally charged moments, particularly as Guzmán grapples with loss, betrayal, and his own complicity in the toxic culture of his school. His character serves as a bridge between the two worlds, showing that money and status don’t shield anyone from pain or consequence.
When Secrets Become Deadly Weapons
The series reaches its most intense moments when long-buried secrets begin to surface, threatening to destroy everyone at Las Encinas. Each season introduces new mysteries while resolving others, creating a complex web of interconnected storylines that span years. The show’s ability to reinvent itself with each season while maintaining continuity in character development is particularly impressive, as new students arrive and graduation claims others.
These climactic episodes showcase Elite‘s strength in balancing multiple character arcs while building toward shocking revelations that recontextualize everything viewers thought they knew about the characters and their motivations.
Success on Netflix Worldwide
Elite has become one of Netflix’s most successful international series, breaking viewership records and earning critical acclaim for its bold storytelling and exceptional ensemble cast. The Spanish-language series has been praised for its authentic portrayal of contemporary Spanish youth culture while addressing universal themes of class conflict, identity, and belonging. Elite has spawned multiple spin-offs and has been credited with elevating Spanish television to international prominence, proving that compelling storytelling transcends language barriers. The series concluded its run as one of Netflix’s longest-running international originals, cementing its place as a cultural phenomenon.
A Binge-Worthy Masterpiece of Teen Drama
If you love murder mysteries with complex characters, steamy romance, and sharp social commentary, Elite is the perfect series to binge on Netflix. This isn’t just another teen drama; it’s a sophisticated exploration of power, privilege, and the deadly consequences of secrets in a world where image is everything.
Why This Series Earned Its Elite Status
Elite stands as a testament to the power of international storytelling, combining the addictive elements of teen drama with mature themes and exceptional production values, creating a series that redefined what Spanish television could achieve on the global stage.
Series Details
Number of Episodes: 64 (across 8 seasons)
Platform: Netflix
Release/End Year: 2018-2024
Current IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
Genre: Teen Drama, Crime, Thriller
Production Type: Spanish series
Status: Completed series (final season aired July 2024)
Protagonists: Itzan Escamilla (Samuel), Miguel Bernardeau (Guzmán), Ester Expósito (Carla)
Antagonist: Various (rotating cast with different antagonists per season)