The cliffhanger in the season one finale of “Elite” left fans with many questions. Namely, how will a show that spent the whole season building up to a murder retain the same level of intrigue now that the murder has been solved? On Sept. 6, that question was answered.
The show chronicles the lives of students at the fictional Las Encinas High School, a prestigious prep school that its town’s wealthiest residents attend. Season two picks up at the beginning of a new school year — the previous year ended in tragedy when one of the students, Marina (María Pedraza), was murdered at the end-of-year dance. All of the students have varying connections or involvement to the murder. Nano (Jaime Lorente), Samuel’s (Itzan Escamilla) brother and Marina’s boyfriend, is in jail for her murder at the beginning of the new season, but the audience knows that Polo (Álvaro Rico) is actually the murderer. The ruse persists throughout season two.
During the first season, “Elite” set up expectations before reversing them with plot twists. Marina’s murder is the best example of this. The show cuts back and forth between the events leading up to the murder and the post-murder police interviews. The audience doesn’t know who has been murdered or why. Season two continues with this format. However, this season focuses on a disappearance. The hints about the disappearance are perfectly spaced to keep the audience intrigued, and at the end of the season, “Elite” manages to pull off another shocking plot twist — evidently one of the things it does best.
Season two has the same brooding and dramatic tone as the first season. Even though some of the plot points are melodramatic at times, the acting never feels over-the-top or out of place. There are times when events feel a bit unrealistic, but the plot is so engaging that you hardly notice.
The show also deals with the effects of social class on the students. A few of the characters are attending the school on a scholarship and are bullied by the richer kids when they arrive at the school in season one. This bullying continues into season two but is less prominent. However, season two introduces a new girl who pretends to be wealthy, believing that this is the gateway to popularity and acceptance at the school.
Each character on the show is hiding something. They are all putting on a persona in order to survive in the cutthroat world of the prep school. Towards the end of season two, the web of lies begins to unravel. The show seems to suggest that in the world of elite prep schools, appearance is the only thing that matters.
“Elite’s” use of plot twists, subverting expectations and dramatic tone all make the show unique. It has been described as being similar to Gossip Girl, but I think it is much more engaging, and I can’t wait to return to Las Encinas for season three next year.
Email Alyssa Craig at [email protected].