Warning: This article contains mentions of sexual assault and domestic violence.
Netflix Elite It has won over audiences around the world with its mix of high-stakes drama, high school scandals and forbidden romances. Set in Las Encinas, an exclusive school for the elite, the series follows wealthy students and their working-class peers, whose arrival on scholarships causes high drama. Starting with a bang, Elite solidified itself as one of Netflix's most successful teen series, earning early praise for its compelling mysteries and complex characters that kept audiences glued to the screen. However, throughout its eight seasons, the show started to lose its shinerelying too much on recycled plots and predictable twists.
It's not uncommon for a show that runs this long to have ups and downs, especially at a time when streaming originals tend to have relatively short runs. When the time comes Elite ended with season 8, it became clear that Elite was a once addictive teen drama that now offered very few thrills and surprises. Despite ending up a shadow of its former self and leaving fans yearning for the tension and innovation of its early years, Elite proved to be an important milestone in the Netflix catalog that we won't soon forget.
8
Season 8
A disappointing ending
The eighth and final season of Elite is arguably the worst in the series, receiving a dismal 35% rating from fans on Rotten Tomatoes. Unfortunately, the beloved show ended on a disappointing note, leaving a lot to be desired. The final part lacked the intensity, character development, and engaging narrative that made Elite so popular. Instead of, Season 8 offered repetitive character arcs, a weak central plot, and a lackluster finale.
|
Season |
Rotten Tomatoes Popcorn Meter |
|---|---|
|
8 |
35% |
|
7 |
53% |
|
4 |
53% |
|
6 |
58% |
|
5 |
68% |
|
3 |
82% |
|
1 |
83% |
|
2 |
88% |
One of the final chapter's most notable shortcomings was the missed opportunity to develop important storylines. Although Elite The last season brought back an original character not seen since the fourth chapter, the return of Nadia Shanaa (played by Mina El Hammani) did not have the significant impact we expected. Instead, it felt more like an attempt to fill in gaps than a purposeful narrative choice. In the end, the final part failed to deliver the powerful conclusion Elite deserved.
7
Season 7
New faces, similar fights
Elite the fourth and seventh seasons are usually tied for second to last place in terms of audience reception. One of the most boring chapters of the hit Netflix series, the seventh season of Elite was marked by weak plots, lack of chemistry between the cast and repetitive themes. Despite sharing the same score as the fourth installment, it was ranked lower due to its hyper-reliance on new characters who failed to add much (if any) emotion to the existing narrative.
At this point, some of the Elite characters we liked became increasingly frustrating to watch (Omar, we're talking about you). Their stories not only became painfully monotonous, but also predictable, making the seventh season difficult to digest for fans who were hoping for something closer to the intensity of the first three chapters. After season 7, it became obvious that Elite it needed to end soon. Unfortunately, season 8 wasn't much better, with many considering the final chapter to be even worse than its predecessor.
6
Season 4
Overcrowded cast and superficial drama
With lots of things that don't make sense in Elite Season 4, it's no surprise that the episode didn't offer as much quality and suspense as some of the previous installments. It obtained an average rating of 53% from the audience on Rotten Tomatoes, ensuring its place among the three worst seasons of the series. Elite Season 4 focused a lot on some of the not-so-interesting aspects of the series, valuing generic drama over character arcs.
The introduction of a new set of characters did not, in this case, mean a more engaging narrative; instead, it created a feeling of a crowded cast.
While Elite has always thrived on being the perfect blend of mystery, scandal and teen drama, its fourth chapter notably moved away from character-driven storytelling to a superficial, exaggerated drama. The introduction of a new set of characters did not, in this case, mean a more engaging narrative; instead, it created a feeling of a crowded cast. Still, some familiar faces from previous seasons, like Cayetana Grajera (played by Georgina Amorós), got some much-needed arc development, making the season somewhat watchable and, at times, even entertaining.
5
Season 6
A disappointing turn of events
Elite Season 6 was the first chapter of the series in which a drop in viewer enthusiasm was palpable. Earning a score 10 points lower than the previous season from Rotten Tomatoes users, the installment failed to resonate with die-hard fans due to the lack of much-anticipated drama. Considering that Season 5 indicated that the show was starting to lose its magic, Elite Season 6 confirmed that the series would never be the same.
Although Season 5 ended on a cliffhanger, its resolution wasn't what we expected. Samuel García, played by Itzan Escamilla, is officially dead (this was definitely one of the times we felt bad for Samuel), and it honestly felt like he didn't get the big send-off he deserved. However, the writers were able to tackle heavier themes throughout the rest of the seasonincluding gender identity, domestic violence and sexual assault. This grounded the plot in a more realistic setting, which ended up helping this chapter be more meaningful than it would have been otherwise.
4
Season 5
Embracing serious themes for deeper drama
Despite receiving mixed reviews, the fifth season of the Netflix series Elite he had enough qualities to compensate for his low point. The edit added new characters and delved into more mature topics, but that didn't resonate with everyone, as can be seen in Season 5's Rotten Tomatoes audience score. Elite it started to become too complex for its own good, not to mention how replacing established characters with new ones is always risky.
Although it introduced some new takes, Elite season 5 fell a little flat in terms of remaining realistic. Instead of treating the characters like high school students, the show turned its focus to pleasure-driven stories full of sex and drugs. At this point, the rollercoaster of emotions, drama, and mystery still had us hooked, but at the same time, it was starting to feel excessive and overly dramatic. However, Elite remained fun and intriguing, even if it didn't live up to the high standards set by the first three seasons.
3
Season 3
Emotions, growth and new faces
Although some have criticized it as one of the weaker chapters, Elite Season 3 closely follows its predecessors in terms of quality and pacing. Just like the first two seasons, the third focuses on yet another deadly mystery – this time, the death of Polo Benavent (played by Álvaro Rico). This storyline successfully revived the series' intrigue without feeling repetitive, as the characters were forced to confront their pasts while uncovering the truth.
Overall, even though season three might not be the pinnacle of Elitestill delivered emotion and quality.
In addition to exploring familiar faces on a journey of growth and self-reflection, Elite third installment introduced new people perfectly. While Yeray Engoga and Malick Diallo, played by Sergio Momo and Leïti Sène respectively, may not have been everyone's favorite characters, the duo added significant emotional intensity to the plot (in the form of some great drama). Overall, even though season three might not be the pinnacle of Elitestill delivered emotion and quality.
2
Season 1
Intrigue, tension and characters that hooked us
Elite The first season set the stage for everything that followed, introducing us to the world of Las Encinas and its intriguing characters. Although many consider it the best season of the series, Elite There was still room for improvement. The show clearly had interesting ideas and a fun premise, although it was full of teen drama that viewers had already seen on similar shows. Yet, The opening chapter was filled with intrigue and high-stakes drama that had us hooked from the first episode.
In addition to the central mystery of Marina's death, Elite Complex, multidimensional characters were the real highlight of the first season. From the beginning, each of them felt authentic, with their own struggles, desires, and flaws. Ultimately, what made this chapter so compelling is the depth with which it explored the characters' motivations and the tension between them. Additionally, the high quality of production created an immersive experience that ensured viewers came back for more.
1
Season 2
A perfect mix of drama and mystery
Despite being an emotional rollercoaster — or perhaps precisely because of that — Elite season 2 stands out as a fan favorite. With an audience score of 88% on Rotten Tomatoes the second installment of the hit Netflix series brought tension, drama and mystery. Building on the themes and ideas that worked in Season 1, Elite season two is arguably when the show peaked. Firstly, there was enough of everything that made the series so interesting, with every aspect of the series having time to shine, unlike in later seasons.
The season begins after the shocking death of Marina Nunier, played by María Pedraza, leaving her friends and students at Las Encinas to deal with the aftermath. This storyline added emotional depth and intense tension to the plot, making it one of the most, if not the most, suspenseful seasons of the bunch. Additionally, the chemistry between some of the characters was extraordinary, with Omar Shana (Omar Ayuso) and Ander Muñoz (Arón Piper) taking the crown in Elite best couples department. Combined with more developed character arcs and a cohesive narrative, season two has firmly secured its place as the series' highest-rated installment.