Parents' Guide to

Elite

TV Netflix Drama 2018
Elite Poster Image

Common Sense Media Review

Joyce Slaton By Joyce Slaton , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 16+

Sex, drugs, and murder in racy, compelling Spanish import.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 16+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 16+

Based on 18 parent reviews

age 17+

Fantastic for young adults.

It's a great show with character growth but there is also a lot of scenes of an adult nature.
age 14+

Great show!

Overall the show has a good plot and great characters ! There is some amazing character development in the show and it really proves to make good role models! There are mature themes (murder, drug misuse) But as long as you feel your child can handle those mature themes I think it’s suitable for teens from 13+

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (18 ):
Kids say (35 ):

Racy and irresistible, this Spanish import dazzles and intrigues -- but think twice before showing it to teens, though it's supposed to be about high schoolers. The students at Las Encinas indulge freely in illicit sex, drugs and alcohol, Cruel Intentions-style sexual mind games, and, of course, murder. But it's not all seamy appeal. The setup also drags in a layer of rich vs. poor class struggle which, interestingly, has different angles than the same conflict in America. In the show's first episode, a rich boy explains to a scholarship student that his 16-year-old sister's elaborate coming-out party would have once been about finding a husband quickly. But now it's more about "networking, although the husband thing is not ruled out."

Largely through the character of Nadia, Elite also has compelling things to say about race and ethnicity. Consistently greeted with contempt for her "turban" and "attitude," Nadia's set up for a downfall by a classmate clearly threatened by her smarts and bravery, and given a complicated home and inner life that makes her actions hard to predict. Sexuality is treated in a similarly layered way, with a gay student looking for hookups online, an HIV-positive teen, and a couple who gets kicks from voyeurism all in the mix. It adds up to a show that's glossy, sometimes shocking, compulsively watchable, and only for the most mature teens.

TV Details

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