Episode Guide
20 Hours Missing – | Review Score – 3.5/5 34 Hours Missing – | Review Score – 3/5 36 Hours Missing – | Review Score – 3.5/5 59 Hours Missing – | Review Score – 3.5/5 63 Hours Missing – | Review Score – 3.5/5 66 Hours Missing – | Review Score – 3.5/5 84 Hours Missing – | Review Score – 4/5 0 Hours Missing – | Review Score – 3/5 Picking up where it left off from before, Elite Season 2 unashamedly doubles down on its melodramatic elements, as Marina’s death sends shock-waves rippling through the school. With a split focus between the present and future where one of the students has gone missing, Elite delivers another layer of mystery to the fold whilst continuing to showcase drugs, sex and lies for our Spanish students to tackle. After a handy 3 minute recap, the story picks up after Marina’s death, with Nano in prison and his brother Samuel desperate to find answers and get him out. Those answers, as it happens, may well lie with Carla who hasn’t been wholly truthful and may know more than she’s letting on. Meanwhile, Guzman’s rage and anger sees him turn to alcohol and drugs, while Ander and Omar struggle to keep their relationship going in the wake of parental pressure. Lu finds herself caught in a love triangle with Nadia while Valerio’s influence over both of these ladies leads them down a dark path later on in the series as a scandal gets out that threatens Nadia’s entire livelihood. Adding to the drama is new girl Cayetana who does well to slot into the group whilst an early incident with Christian sends the school reeling. As the episodes progress, so too do the various character-driven narratives which ultimately forms the crux of the series. The investigation into the missing student does gain some traction and steam toward the end but for large stretches of the series it does feel like a plot device to push our characters forward. This is especially true during the finale where the truth is revealed in a somewhat illogical manner, ending with a contrived, almost rushed, final scene designed to set things up for the third season. When it comes to teen dramas, Elite offered up a lot of parties, drugs and alcohol-related content last time out and this season is no exception. Most of the episodes see the character drama bubble over at these various events and whether it be a Halloween party playing games or a rooftop charity event, these moments ultimately see all the drama built up in that episode come to a head. Out of all the characters this year, it’s Samuel that gets the most amount of attention. Given he’s Nano’s brother, he comes under scrutiny from Guzman early on and ultimately acts as the protagonist for much of the series as he tries to uncover the truth. It’s this mystery that keeps things ticking over, although there’s some nice twists and turns along the way for each of the characters to keep you coming back for more. Those turned away from the first season will inevitably find themselves disappointed with season 2 as well. Although the mystery pushes the narrative forward, there’s an awful lot of melodrama here that makes Elite border on the edge of unrealistic. Much like the first season, its best to go into this one with an open mind as some of the character actions and plot beats defy logic. When the big reveal around the missing student is unveiled in the finale, I found myself with more questions than solid answers. For spoiler purposes, I’ll disclose these in the separate finale recap but for now, it’s suffice to say the wait is worth it, but the final scene in the series betrays the entire season. Just like before, Elite’s aesthetic relies heavily on slow-motion party shots and rapid edits during some of the more intense moments. There’s a good blend of EDM and house music used throughout the series too and this coincides with the consistent colours used throughout the series. For the most part, Elite puts the characters first and foremost but visually, the series does enough to keep things interesting. Early on, one particular camera shot involving a motorcycle accident is incredibly stylish and for that alone, Elite deserves some credit. It’s not perfect, and at times the series does veer a little too hard into melodramatic waters, but the mystery itself should be enough to keep you watching through to the end. Netflix’s season 1 recap is pretty good too and although there’s a lot of characters here to remember, Elite does enough to get you back into the series without causing too much confusion following its year-long hiatus from screens. If you were a fan of the first season, Elite is sure to offer hours of entertainment and the various exhausting teen issues offer enough of that same style of melodrama that did so well the first time around. It’s not perfect, and the ending is a little disappointing (especially given the way it sets things up for an unnecessary third season) but there’s enough here to make for an enjoyable watch nonetheless.
