Elite (; stylized as E L I T Ǝ) is a Spanish teen drama series created by Carlos Montero and Darío Madrona for Netflix. The show is set in Las Encinas, a fictional elite high school which caters to privileged and wealthy teenagers. Elite initially focuses on three working-class students who win their enrollment at Las Encinas through a scholarship program, and on the social and romantic interactions that they have with several students there. The series ran for eight seasons from 5 October 2018 to 26 July 2024.
Though the series does have its share of light-hearted moments, Elite mainly centres around the trials and tribulations of its protagonists, exploring "hot-button", progressive issues such as homosexuality, classism, parental neglect, and illicit activities including drug use, crime and murder.
The debut season, comprising eight episodes, premiered on Netflix on 5 October 2018, earning positive reviews from critics and viewers who described the series as a "guilty pleasure". The writing, acting, and portrayal of mature themes were particularly praised. Over the next six years, seven more eight-episode seasons have premiered on Netflix. The eighth and final season was released on 26 July 2024.
Plot Season 1 Three young friends – Samuel, Nádia, and Christian – receive scholarships from a construction company after a collapse suffered at their previous school due to poorly executed works. Their new school is Las Encinas, a prestigious institute in Spain where the country's elite send their children to study. In Las Encinas, the popular kids rule. Meet wealthy siblings Marina and Guzmán, whose father controls the construction company blamed for the collapse of the roof of their old school. Then, there's Guzmán's casual girlfriend, Lu, the director's son, Ander, and the couple Pólo and Carla. With Samuel's brother, recently released from prison, Nano throwing himself in the mix and Nádia's brother, Omar also becoming involved in the clash of lifestyles, resentment, envy and sexual attraction ensue. Through a series of flash-forward scenes, beginning with the opening of the first episode, it is shown that the unfolding stories of a clash of lifestyles somehow led to down in Marina's mysterious murder. The plot has two timelines, one showing of police interrogations and the other showing the stories of the characters' relationships that led to Marina's murder.
Season 2 Slogan: Lies bring us together and lies tear us apart. After the revelation of classmate Marina's death, and the subsequent disappearance of Samuel, the second season revolves around the students returning to school for their senior year, focusing primarily on their first semester. They are accompanied by three new classmates – Rebeka, Cayetana and Valerio who all harbour dark secrets of their own. The new characters befriend their classmates, as Samuel persists in his mission to vindicate his brother, Nano, who was falsely accused of Marina's murder. Polo contemplates suicide, in an effort to alleviate his guilt, but ultimately finds solace and happiness with the support of Cayetana. Anders' mental health declines under the weight of Polo's secret. Carla, misled into thinking Samuel is deceased, confesses knowledge of Polo's crime.
Season 3 Slogan: Together until death. The students enter their last semester at Las Encinas. In a scene from the future, the students are being interrogated by police regarding Polo's death during a graduation party. Polo and Cayetana are shunned by their peers, with the exception of Valerio. Samuel and Guzman continue their plot to avenge Polo's crimes. Lu and Nadia compete for a scholarship to Columbia University, leading the two to form a mutual friendship. Ander is diagnosed with leukaemia and begins chemotherapy, causing friction between him and his loved ones. On the night of their graduation, in a drunken stupor, Lu accidentally stabs Polo, who stumbles and falls to his death. The group collectively agrees to cover-up the murder. Unable to find a suspect, Polo's death is ultimately ruled as a suicide, with his parents eventually telling police that he had confessed to Marina's murder.
Season 4 Slogan: They have everything but they want more. As a new year begins at Las Encinas, a fresh mystery unfolds with the arrival of the new principal, Benjamin and his children – Ari, Mencía, and Patrick. The narrative takes a turn when Ari is found on the brink of death, and each plot thread, revealed through flash-forwards, sheds light on the circumstances leading to this incident. Benjamin's kids, along with the French prince Philippe who got caught up in a scandal, join the same class as Samuel, Guzmán, Rebeka and Ander, who have to repeat their final year, and Omar, who becomes a new student of Las Encinas. Cayetana becomes the new maid of the school and she forms a bond with Phillipe, a wealthy student with a dark past. The dynamics between the new and veteran students start to develop. Simultaneously, Mencía becomes involved in prostitution under the influence of Armando, a businessman associated with Benjamin. Eventually, it is unveiled that the attempted murder of Ari and Armando's death are intricately linked.
Season 5 Slogan: Desire, excess, redemption, rebellion. Following Armando's demise at the hands of Guzmán, both he and Ander decide to leave school and embark on a journey around the world. Samuel and Rebeka choose to keep the truth concealed from everyone, including Omar, Cayetana, Ari, Mencía, and Patrick. However, when Armando's body is discovered, it triggers a sequence of events that unravels their relationships, altering their lives irrevocably. Additionally, two new students – Isadora and Iván – enroll at Las Encinas, forming connections with current upperclassmen, particularly Phillipe and Patrick. Yet, some of these relationships prove to be perilous. In a flash-forward, Samuel's lifeless body is found floating in a pool, and each plot thread leads to the revelation of how he ended up there, uncovering the truth behind the events.
Season 6 Three months after the death of Samuel and Benjamin's arrest for his murder, a new year of school begins. Omar, Rebeka and Phillipe have since graduated and moved out of Madrid. Meanwhile Ari, Patrick and Mencía are forced to repeat their final year after dropping out the previous spring due to their father's arrest. Meanwhile, Iván and Isadora are entering their final year. They are greeted by some new students: Nico, Rocío, Dídac, Sonia and Sara along with Sara's abusive boyfriend, Raúl. Many situations occurred during the season, and the flash-forward event that characterises this season is Iván's accident after he has been hit by a car, and his subsequent coma.
Season 7 Two weeks following the events of the previous season, Omar, now at the university, seizes the opportunity to participate in an internship at Las Encinas. Concurrently, he grapples with depression that began a year earlier with Samuel's death. Omar is in a relationship with Joel who also starts attending Las Encinas. Meanwhile, Patrick, Ari, and Mencía have relocated from Madrid, and Iván is recuperating from an accident. Isadora navigates the challenges in her relationship with Didàc, while Sara contends with her toxic connection to Raúl. Nico, Sonia, and Rocío face their own set of problems. A peculiar new student, Chloe and her enigmatic mother, Carmen make an entrance. Additionally, Nico's cousin, Eric enrolls at Las Encinas. This season marks the first to solely feature a flash-forward event in the final episode, centering around the eventual murder of Raúl.
Season 8 Slogan: Goodbye forever, forever. A few weeks after the events of the previous season, the students are going to finish their last year and an association of old students of Las Encinas, the Alumni Club, led by the controversial Héctor and Emilia Krawietz is searching new recruits. Meanwhile Dídac and Rocío moved away from Madrid. Eric and Chloe start a turbulent relationship. Sara is trying to overcome Raúl's death, creating a new bond with Nico. Sonia and Dalmar start a relationship too. Isadora faces problems with her family and the police, while Iván, who has returned from South Africa, tries to recreate a bond with Joel. The Alumni Club is becoming more and more treacherous and Omar, who knows Las Encinas very well, tries to fight it, with the help of his sister Nadia. Much happens during this season, but the flash-forward event that characterises it is Joel's murder, the key event that will lead to the final closure of Las Encinas at the end of the season. In fact all the murders and events of past year related to Las Encinas (Marina's murder, Polo's death, Samuel's accidental murder, Iván's accident, Raúl's death and Joel's murder) were hidden to the public. Omar and Nadia with the help of Principal Virginia give all the information to the press, making Las Encinas close forever.
Cast and characters
Introduced in season 1 María Pedraza as Marina Nunier Osuna (season 1), Guzmán's sister and love interest of Nano and Samuel. She comes from a wealthy family and has a streak of falling for the 'bad boy'. She rebels against her family's hypocritical ways while maintaining a youthful, joyful spirit. She is murdered in season 1. Itzan Escamilla as Samuel García Domínguez (seasons 1–5), one of three transfer students, who is the love interest of Marina and later falls for Carla in season 2. A hardworking, shy and tricky guy. He always looks out for the people around him. He is justice-driven and will go to extreme lengths to ensure that everyone gets what they deserve. Right before the graduation at the end of season 3, he is expelled from school with Guzmán for bullying Polo, so he has to repeat the last year. He is accidentally seriously injured by Benjamin at the end of season 5, with his death announced at the beginning of season 6. Miguel Bernardeau as Guzmán Nunier Osuna (seasons 1–4), adopted brother of Marina, and Lu's ex-boyfriend, who falls for Nadia. A hot-headed, popular guy at school. He believes his way is always the right way. He is extremely protective of his sister and does not bond well with the transfer students. He would do anything for his friends. After Marina's death, he becomes very close to Samuel, with whom he is expelled from school at the end of season 3 for bullying Polo, so he has to repeat the last year of school. At the end of season 4, he and Ander decide to leave the school to travel around the world, after he accidentally killed Armando to defend Ari. Miguel Herrán as Christian Varela Expósito (seasons 1–2), one of three transfer students, who gets into a relationship with Polo and Carla. A comical and carefree transfer student who tries to stay connected with his past while trying to assimilate with the richer students. In season 2, he is deliberately run over by Carla's father, leaving him seriously injured, and is transferred to another hospital in Switzerland to prevent the truth about Marina's murder from being revealed. Jaime Lorente as Fernando "Nano" García Domínguez (seasons 1–2), Samuel's older brother, who just got out of prison, and is also a love interest of Marina. His handsome and dangerous aura draws Marina in. He struggles to pay a debt from prison and will do anything to get his hands on money. He is caring and sensitive to the people close to him. He often finds himself in trouble.