Hello again, unicorns! A few years ago, I found myself entangled in a high school drama that felt like it was straight out of a TV show. My best friend and I were caught in the middle of a love triangle, and the rumor mill was working overtime. We felt like every move we made was being scrutinized. One night, while we were venting about the latest gossip, my friend suggested we watch Elite (2018-2024). She said, "If you think our lives are dramatic, wait until you see this show."
Watching Elite was like holding up a mirror to our own experiences but with higher stakes and way more glam. The series dives deep into complex relationships, secrets, and the intense pressure of elite high school life. Seeing characters navigagte bisexuality amidst all the drama resonated with me, making Elite not just a show I watched but a show I loved.
But before continuing, a few disclaimers are in order. First, this review will contain some SPOILERS, so you might want to watch at least the first season, as I will be talking about it a lot and covering up to season five. Second, there will be reference to sensitive topics such as violence and sex. Also, if you're not familiar with the Unicorn Scale, you can check out our metrics here or read our Media Entry on the series here.
Now, class is in session, unicorns!
Elite is a Spanish-language series that revolves around three working-class boys who receive scholarships to Las Encinas, an elite private school where only the children of the economic elite attend. The arrival of these new students not only exposes the stark differences between social classes but also uncovers deep-seated issues within the school's social hierarchy.
As the new students navigate their way through this world of wealth and influence, they find themselves entangled in a web of secrets, lies, and deceit. Personal relationships are put to the test as alliances shift and hidden motives come to light. The tension between the students escalates into dramatic confrontations and, eventually, a shocking crime that leaves everyone questioning each other's loyalty.
The series is not afraid to go there, particularly with its explicit and recurring sexual scenes. For instance, in the first episodes, there is a notable scene in the showers featuring Guzmán (Miguel Bernardeau) and Lucrecia (Danna Paola), one of the main couples in the first season. At first glance, it seemed like a series aimed at teenagers that used sexual content to attract more viewers. However, I realized that it served a deeper purpose by addressing themes of personal self-discovery, including questioning one's sexual orientation.
What I Liked:
If you are looking for current representations of the LGBT community, Elite is a must-see. Not only does it portray the complexities of adolescent relationships and excesses, but it also delves into deeper themes with which many can relate: the discovery of one's sexual orientation and the types of relationships we prefer to establish.
Bisexuality is probably one of the most difficult orientations to assume for many reasons. An example from the series is Polo (Álvaro Rico), who initially has a relationship with Carla “La Marquesita” (Ester Expósito). He asks her to have encounters with Christian (Miguel Herrán) so he can watch them. Eventually, they establish a polyamorous relationship. However, Polo soon realizes he doesn’t want to remain a spectator and begins actively participating in threesomes with Carla and Christian. At that time, he did not consider himself bi, but through these experiences — and later an encounter with Ander (Arón Piper) — he starts to question and eventually accept his bisexuality.
With his acceptance came a more uninhibited relationship, now involving Cayetana (Georgina Amorós) and Valerio (Jorge López). However, some might wonder why, despite having a close example of sexual diversity at home with his two mothers, it was difficult for him to recognize his orientation. This difficulty can be attributed to bi erasure. Often, we see clear examples of people identifying as gay or lesbian in personal experiences, family stories, or media, but there are few examples of bisexual recognition. Even though Polo had a supportive and diverse environment, he struggled to find any guides or role models to relate to, leading him to dismiss his feelings as just another phase or experience.
In contrast, we have Valerio, my favorite character, who attracts attention with his irreverent personality. Like Polo, he is initially shown as straight, but when he embarks on a polyamorous relationship with Cayetana and Polo, his true orientation is revealed. Valerio's acceptance of his sexuality appears to occur more naturally, likely due to his carefree personality — he doesn't concern himself with others' opinions. While I don't consider myself to be like Valerio, I see him as an ideal representation of how we should approach the acceptance process as part of the bi community.
I appreciated that the show handled the acceptance of bisexuality for both characters without resorting to a dramatic coming-out scene. Those who genuinely care about us and want to connect with us don't need elaborate explanations.
I understand that some may be conflicted about Polo and Valerio's casual encounters. However, the series didn't present this behavior as exclusive to bi people. Both were in consensual polyamorous relationships, so were not cheating.
Another aspect I enjoyed was the integration of a mystery thriller, with characters trying to uncover the season's murderer. Understanding their motivations was intriguing, though the series eventually overused this formula.
Additionally, the plot's realism was enhanced by characters coming and going throughout the series. Normalizing that relationships end and that it's okay, even if painful, is a huge plus.
What I Didn’t Like:
The representation of female bisexuality in Elite is almost non-existent. We see some of this with Mencía (Martina Cariddi), but her relationships with men are primarily transactional, while her relationship with Rebeka (Claudia Salas) is depicted as a genuine romance. Many fans celebrated this, but I think it perpetuates harmful stereotypes, such as bisexuality being a phase. Additionally, lesbian relationships are portrayed as a last resort when things don't work out with men. Rebeka is shown as a strong, brave woman, which is wrongly linked to her being a lesbian, ignoring that personality traits have nothing to do with sexual orientation. Despite these flaws, it was a good attempt to represent women's sexual diversity, though not my favorite.
Polo's character also risks reinforcing negative stereotypes about bisexuality, such as promiscuity, which is unrelated to sexual orientation. Furthermore, the fact that most bi characters are in polyamorous relationships could be misinterpreted, reinforcing the prejudice that bi people are promiscuous and cannot commit to monogamous relationships. This aspect could have been improved, although it didn't particularly conflict with me.
The Rating:
For being a small window of representation of diversity, Elite deserves three out of four unicorns. The issues with female bisexuality representation and the portrayal of most bi characters in polyamorous relationships prevent it from earning the full four unicorns. Watching Elite reminded me of my own high school drama and the complexity of teenage life, which I’m sure resonates with others as well. Despite its flaws, I still consider Elite worth watching if you're looking for some fresh bi representation. I hope more directors and writers are encouraged to create diverse content with a broader perspective, especially when it comes to bi women. Normalizing diverse relationships and orientations, like those depicted in Elite, can provide much-needed visibility.