#Élite boys

[samsdei]

Gleb Abrosimov

[paganivoir]

♥︎ ⴰ 䨻䨻 ˤˤ𖣦 ꧘ᦸlᥴ✹𑄚ᦸ swᦸᦸɬ 𔓘⃤ꉂ🫐ᘒ͓꣣۫

kᥲᥐᬞᥲ ꪱํꨂ ᥖy ୶۪۪ᜒ♡⃕ ϐ᥆yᥬ᳢ᥐ᰻ᦸᥒძ ݊ꕤᩚ⃗ʾ۪

▭ ✮  ⌑ ⁑  𝗰ꪮᩚ᥍𝗺𝗶𝗰ꜜ 𖢯 🤍𖠣*ꊞ 𖥾☆ ⋄ ๋鼓 ۰ᘏ 𝟭𝟵𝟵𝟵 ⇁ 🦷 [a]ᦸ꯲ꪻჩǝ⫮᭣᭫ᥴ ˀ 𔓕 ᭣᭫ᥴꪫn᥍︽ 🍓𓏹 䪎^ ҂𔔢 (*ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈)ꩰ⭏ 𓊕 ꒰ ꢸᥲ᥌ᥲꦢ᰻ᥳ᥆᰻ᥐ❔ 🌞★⇣🪬 𑄹。*:☆ヽ舞◌⃘

[sinatraaloof]

[silentangell95]

Филми и сериали: Ноември

[elitetvboy]

My character: élite tv boy

[thealmightea]

🔁 reblog if you ship this couples like me...

[ come back for more to check for the newest because believe me when I said this will continue til the end of time ^^ because apparently I like collecting ships like collecting stamps or coins or cards. ]

[ there's canon and non-canon here, so if you don't like them as a couple/don't ship them/your ship is not here, don't come at me pls T.T ]

[ if there is good movies or series that you want to recommend to me and you think I should watch them, reply on my post down below at the end of this post or send me a message ;) ]

in alphabetical order

9-1-1 - Eddie and Buck (Buddie)

9-1-1 Lone Star - Carlos and T.K (Tarlos)

Addicted - Gu Hai and Bai Luoyin (Haioyin/Heroin)

Addicted - You Qi and Yang Meng

Alles was zählt - Deniz and Roman (Dero)

All of Us Strangers - Adam and Harry

Arrêstes avec tes mensonges - Thomas and Stéphane

Animal Kingdom - Deran and Adrian (Derdrian)

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe - Aristotle and Dante (Aridante)

As The World Turn - Noah and Luke (Nuke)

Brothers & Sisters - Kevin and Scotty

Call Me By Your Name - Oliver and Elio (Olio)

Casualty - Jez and Mickey

Class - Matteusz and Charlie

Cuffs - Simon and Jake

Days Of Our Own - Sonny and Will (Wilson)

Dead Boy Detective - Charles and Edwin (Charwin)

Degrassi - Dylan and Marco

Degrassi - Miles and Tristan

Degrassi - Riley and Zane (Ziley)

Demain Nous Appartient - Rayane and Jack (Jayane)

EastEnders - Christian and Syed (Chryed)

El Cor De La Ciutat - Iago and Max (Maxiago)

El juego de las llaves - Valentin and Daniel

Emmerdale - Robert and Aaron (Robron)

Eu Não Quero Voltar Sozinho and Hoje Eu Quero Voltar Sozinho - Gabriel and Leonardo

Élite - Omar and Ander (Omander)

Eyewitness - Lukas and Phillip (Philkas)

Fellow Travelers - Hawk and Tim

Firebird - Roman and Sergey

Fisica O Quimica - Fernando and David

Free! - Makoto and Haru (Makoharu)

Free! - Rei and Nagisa (Nagirei)

Free! - Sōsuke and Rin

Freier Fall - Kay and Marc

Glee - Blaine and Kurt (Klaine)

Goede tijden, slechte tijden - Lucas and Edwin (Ludwin)

Grey's Anatomy - Nico and Levi (Schmico)

Hannibal - Hannibal and Will (Hannigram)

Hawaii Five O - Steve and Danno (McDanno)

Heartstopper - Nick and Charlie (Narlie)

Hit The Floor - Zero and Jude (Zude)

How To Get Away With Murder - Connor and Oliver (Coliver)

Hunter X Hunter - Leorio and Kurapika (Leopika)

In The Flesh - Simon and Kieren (Siren)

Interview with The Vampire - Lestat and Louis (Loustat)

Julie and The Phantoms - Alex and Willie

Kuroko no Basket - Aomine and Kise (Aokise)

Kuroko no Basket - Kagami and Kuroko (Kagakuro)

Kuroko no Basket - Kiyoshi and Hyūga (Kiyouga)

Kuroko no Basket - Midorima and Takao (Midokao)

Kuroko no Basket - Murasakibara and Himuro (Murahimu)

Legacies - Ben and Jed (Benjed)

Les Misérables - Enjolras and Grantaire (Enjoltaire)

Looking - Eddie and Agustín

Looking - Kevin and Patrick

Looking - Richie and Patrick

Love and Deepspace - Sylus and Xavier (Crowstar)

Love and Deepspace - Zayne and Rafayel (Snowfish)

Love Simon - Simon and Bram

Love Victor - Victor and Benji (Venji)

Man In An Orange Shirt - Steve and Adam

Man In An Orange Shirt - Michael and Thomas (Berrymarch)

Mario - Mario and Leon

Matthias & Maxime - Matthias and Maxime

MCU - Steve and Bucky (Stucky)

MCU - Spiderman and Deadpool (Spideypool)

MCU - Wolverine and Deadpool (Poolverine)

Merlí - Pol and Bruno (Brunol)

Merlin - Arthur and Merlin (Merthur)

Merlin - Percival and Gwaine (Perwaine)

Mo Dao Zu Shi / The Untamed - Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian (Wangxian)

Nadie Nos Va A Extrañar - Alex and Rafa

O Beijo do Escorpião - Paulo and Miguel

One Live To Life - Oliver and Kyle

Oz - Chris and Tobias

Please Like Me - Arnold and Josh

Please Like Me - Geoffrey and Josh

Prisma - Daniele and Andrea (Dandrea

Queer As Folk - Ben and Michael

Queer As Folk - Brian and Justin (Britin)

Queer As Folk - Drew and Emmett

Queer As Folk - Ted and Blake

Raw - Geoff and Pavel

Rebelde -Luka and Okane

Red White And Royal Blue - Alex and Henry (Firstprince)

Roswell New Mexico - Michael and Alex (Malex)

Rykter - Mathias and Erik

Salatut Elämät - Lari and Elias (Larias)

Sala Samobójców - Aleksander and Dominik

Schloss Einstein - Noah and Colin (Nolin)

School 2013 - Heungsoo and Namsoon (Heungsoon)

Sense8 - Lito and Hernando

Sex Education - Adam and Eric

Shadowhunters - Magnus and Alec (Malec)

Shadowhunters - Raphael and Simon

Shameless - Ian and Mickey (Gallavich)

Skam - Even and Isak (Evak)

Skam Belgium (Wtfock) - Sander and Robbe (Sobbe)

Skam France - Eliott and Lucas (Elu)

Skam Germany (Druck) - David and Matteo (Datteo)

Skam Italia - Niccolo and Martino (Martinico)

Solo - Oskar and Milo

Spartacus - Agron and Nasir (Nagron)

Spartacus - Barca and Pietros (Bietros)

Station 19 - Travis and Emmett

Suits - Harvey and Mike

Supernatural - Dean and Castiel (Destiel)

Tatort Saarbrücken - Adam Schürk and Leo Hölzer (Hörk)

Teen Wolf - Danny and Ethan

Teen Wolf - Derek and Stiles (Sterek)

The Eagle - Marcus and Esca (Mesca)

The Halcyon - Toby and Adil

The Magicians - Quentin and Eliot (Queliot)

The Maze Runner - Newt and Thomas (Newtmas)

The Night Shift - Drew and Rick

The Old Guard - Joe and Nicky (Joenicky)

The Originals - Aiden and Josh (Jaiden)

The Silmarillion - Melkor and Mairon (Angbang)

The Society - Sam and Grizz

The Walking Dead - Aaron and Eric

Torchwood - Jack and Ianto (Janto)

Verbotene Liebe - Oliver and Christian (Chrolli)

Voltron Legendary Defender - Keith and Lance (Klance)

Waterloo Road - Preston and Kai

Young Royal - Wilhelm and Simon (Wilmon)

Yuri! On Ice - Victor and Yuuri (Victuuri)

... to be continued ...

❣ Give me some recs pls ❣

[mariacallous]

You cannot understand the failure of Conservative rule unless you accept that we are living with the failure of honestly held Conservative beliefs. The UK is in crisis, not because Tories are criminals or charlatans or fools, although they can be all of these things, but because they tried to govern according to their sincerely held beliefs and sent us into a deep crisis.

I accept that this is a hard concession for the government’s opponents to make. They like to think of Conservatives as crooks. And they are right in part. The Tory administration from 2010 to the present, which offers peerages for £3 million to passing bidders, has been the most corrupt government of the modern era.

Why, then, pay these crooks the courtesy of taking them seriously?

Meanwhile, those of us brought up in the British class system have a second reason for refusing to offer Conservatives the smallest mercy.

David Cameron, George Osborne, Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak, and, for a while, their Liberal sidekick Nick Clegg, fit our resentful image of dilettantish public-school boys: foppish wreckers, who do not care about the damage they inflict as long as they can stay at the top of the heap.

I have lost count of the number of times anti-Tory columnists have reached for F. Scott Fitzgerald’s lines from the Great Gatsby to describe our rulers.

“They were careless people, Tom and Daisy – they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made.”

There is a terrific piece in the current edition of the New Yorker  on fin de regime UK by Sam Knight. Without endorsing the notion that we have been ruined by dilettantes, his interviewees provide plenty of evidence to support it. 

“It’s all about constantly drawing dividing lines,” a former Conservative party strategist told him. “That’s all you need. It’s not about big ideological debates or policies or anything.” 

“He is not a Brexiteer,” George Osborne said of Boris Johnson. “I really would go to my grave saying, deep down, Boris Johnson did not want to leave the E.U”.

Knight himself, while never losing sight of the suffering austerity brought, says that the best way to think about the ruling politics of the past 14 years is to see it as a “psychodrama enacted, for the most part, by a small group of middle-aged men who went to élite private schools, studied at the University of Oxford, and have been climbing and chucking one another off the ladder of British public life” ever since.

Clearly, there is truth in this. But we will not save the country merely by replacing upper-class chancers with middle-class moralists.

However satisfying a rhetorical tactic, dismissing you opponents as liars and crooks misses that they can be far more dangerous when they are wholly in earnest. As the Conservatives were when they were at their most destructive.

The damage austerity caused to schools, local authorities, the criminal justice system and national defence (a subject, incidentally, we should worry more about given Russia’s aggression) flowed from the authentic Conservative belief that lower rates of taxation produced economic growth.

There is a strong link between Liz Truss and George Osborne.  

The 2010 Cameron government cold-bloodedly refused to take advantage of a once-in-300-years opportunity to borrow to invest in infrastructure at next-to-zero interest rates.

Instead, it paid off the debt accrued in the finance crisis by cutting public expenditure rather than raising taxes. 

Do not underestimate the extremism that followed.

The Office for Budget Responsibility said of the period up to 2018

“In the 12 years from the outbreak of the global financial crisis in 2007-08 the UK public finances will have suffered their largest peacetime shock in living memory, followed – on current policy – by one of the biggest deficit reduction programmes seen in any advanced economy since World War II.”

From Osborne to Truss, Conservatives genuinely believed that low taxes would produce economic growth, and they have never had a programme to turn to when their strategy failed.

As we can now see.

Knight cites some horrendous figures.

Between 2010 and 2018, funding for police forces in England fell by up to a quarter. Officers stopped investigating burglaries. Only four per cent now end in prosecution. In 2021, the median time between a rape offense and the completion of a trial reached more than two and a half years. In 2023, hundreds of school buildings had to be closed for emergency repairs, because the country’s school-construction budget had been cut by forty-six per cent between 2009 and 2022.

I could go on.  But the point worth noticing is that at all times between 2010 and 2016 Osborne’s austerity programme had the full support of the Tory press, Tory donors and Tory MPs, and many of them went on to support Liz Truss in 2022.

There is an effort underway to rewrite the Conservatives' time in power. The period from 2010 to 2016 is presented as an era of moderate conservatism ruined by the aberrations of Johnson and Truss. In truth, the continuity is more striking than the change.

The result of 14-years of Conservative rule is the wrecking of the public sector combined with the highest taxes the UK has experienced since 1945.

 As policy wonks now joke in their rip-roaring way, the British used to want American levels of taxes and European levels of public service.  Now they have American levels of public service with European levels of tax.

The fiscal room for manoeuvre of the next Labour government has already been curtailed. It will not have pots of money to bail out local authorities, universities and the court system, to pick just three of the many deserving cases.

It will have to encourage growth

Economically, the quickest way to do it is to rejoin the EU.  But politically it is a nightmare, I agree with George Osborne that Boris Johnson didn’t believe in Brexit. I wrote in 2016 that going with the Brexit campaign was the smart move for a charlatan on the make.

But fascinating though the speculations about the court politics of the 2010s are, they have no relevance to the urgent need to halt the UK’s decline by rejoining the EU.

We can’t because of the tyranny of the anti-European minority, which unlike Boris Johnson, has an authentic belief in Brexit.

Indeed, so great is the minority’s power, British politics does not even talk about Brexit. It is as if, as George Osborne says, we are in the old Soviet Union and essential questions cannot be debated for fear of offending the ruling ideology.

Most people now regard Brexit as a mistake.  But then there are the Brexit diehards, who so resemble 20th century communists when they insist that Brexit has not failed, but simply has not been properly tried yet.  Beyond them, are those who think that Brexit went fine, or who don’t want to reopen the question, or don’t care about our economic fortunes.

Under our electoral system, a dedicated minority can have real power. The majority of Labour voters support rejoining the EU, but they will vote Labour whatever European policy the party puts forward. A minority of pro-Brexit voters may even now turn away from Labour if it supports Europe, however, and lose them seats in the north of England. (Or at least that is what the party believes.)

 Labour politicians feel they must wait until an overwhelming majority of the population realise that Brexit was a monumental blunder.

If only the Tories had just been a bunch of crooks. They would have stolen some money but that would have been the end of it.

As it is, it will take us years to recover from their sincerely held beliefs. Assuming, that is, we recover at all.

[stealingpotatoes]

in the "DinLuke adopts Rey AU", if Finn ends up with Poe and Rey with Rose (such an élite pair) who does my boy Ben end up with? Hux? 👀

i honestly hadn't thought about it but yk what? yes. hux. ben can have his enemies to lovers arc w Hux while every one of his friends and family members scream "GET BETTER TASTE IN MEN STOP GOING FOR THAT GUY HE THINKS THE EMPEROR WASN'T A CRINGE RAISIN" but ben doesnt listen

[sofoulandfairaday]

Headcanons about James Potter? Thanks!

Hi! This is quite hard since I'm a recent James Potter stan. I was originally (and still am) a Severus Snape connoisseur. I don't know if you've noticed, but the nastier a character is, the more I like them. Of course, I personally believe Snape to be ultimately good, but that's a whole other post. Back to James!

The mom friend of the group.

Refused to use his dad's hair products. He loved his messy hair.

Jokes: either the best, sassiest, hard-hitting ones or the corniest, absolute worst ones ever.

Infectious laughter.

Also, the Marauders were very much James' friend group, as I've said before. Someone reblogged my Sirius HCs post saying that The marauders are essentially about three boys trying to become james bf and only one succeeding. I tend to agree.

One of those extremely charismatic people, those magnets that attract. He was tall, and “cute” but he wasn't as devastatingly handsome as Sirius was. He was extremely good at Quidditch and in school. He was an all-rounder, as you might say. Transfiguration prodigy, heart of a lion, funny prankster, approachable, jock. He was the kind of person you wouldn't resent when they teased you (as a Gryffindor), because he was just like that, our boy James.

People tripped over themselves to be his friend, which is why Remus and Peter especially were so grateful that he had picked them. Why did he hang out with them when the rest of Hogwarts wanted him? It made them feel like the élite.

Everything written in this meta is exactly his dynamic with Sirius.

Also had very dark sides. He could be very cruel, and very self-centred, he and Sirius actively made each other worse on more than one occasion.

He was a bully, and quite classist too. He came from a wealthy background, even though he wasn't “noble” in the way Sirius was, and therefore had some of those biases. Albeit kind people, I can see his parents as being a bit old-fashioned, and more than a bit classist. Those beliefs are intrinsic in him when he meets Snape. He sees a boy who is rough around the edges, ugly, and dirt poor and picks on him immediately. The dislike is automatic.

He's a person with a very black-and-white way of seeing the world. His personal cruelty is just boys being boys, even though taking someone's underwear off forcibly in public is very traumatizing sexual assault, and asking a girl out repeatedly after she's already told you no a million times is a major dick move. But you can bet your ass that someone using a Darker curse in a duel would have had his whole-hearted contempt. James hated Dark Magic.

He was loyal to a fault to his friends. The literal definition of ride or die and I imagine he might have taken more than a detention off of Peter's or Remus' shoulders - the former because his grades were already low, and the latter because of his health reasons.

For some reason, I headcanon him as eating a lot.

Growth spurt at the end of fifth year, like Harry. Lily very clearly did a double-take when he saw him back at school.

In constant search of a personal style. He always has brand new robes, but when he tries to dress more like a Muggle to impress Lily, it's a mix of Sirius' grunge aesthetic and Remus' smartest preppy clothes. I like James with a preppy-but-cool style, very different from Remus' worn-in, comfortable sweaters and vests (vests, Moony, who the fuck wears vests in 1976?)

Very personal headcanon: Voldemort tried to recruit him through other people first and then personally, at a social event one of the summers before he had even finished school, and he said no both times. The same happened with Lily (but I won't tell ya where ihihi)

He didn't hesitate when asked by Dumbledore to join the Order of the Phoenix.

If he hadn't gone into hiding, I could see him becoming an Auror. He had the grades and the bravery. Not my boy Sirius, though. Babygirl didn't work a day in his life (I have no dream job, I do not dream of labour).

Was more distrusting than Lily. It's funny because I see him as an idealist and her as a pragmatist, but I do think of her as someone who wanted to see the good in people, while James as someone who categorized you pretty quickly, and once he formed an idea, he wouldn't easily change his mind.

He had tunnel vision when it concerned the people he loved (see: Wormtail).

Was the only Marauder Peter couldn't turn against the others during the First War. I think Peter successfully played Sirius and Remus against each other, but James would have regarded it the height of dishonour to mistrust his friends.

I think he might have had a girlfriend or two, and definitely snogged girls before Lily, but I can't imagine how hard it must have been for them to be with someone that was a) drooling over another girl and b) very much his best friend's boyfriend.

Kendall Roy/Stewy Hosseini dynamic BUT HEALTHY

this post. (just kidding, just kidding)

[bucksboobs]

The way that people aren’t ripping apart young royals for depicting teens having sex but are calling gay men pedos for pointing out it’s weird for heartstopper to be completely sanitized is staggering.

I think shows like Young Royals and Love Victor are probably the happy middle ground between the uncomfortably exploitative (Élite) and the insultingly sanitized (Heartstopper) but if you ask the average Tumblr user and apparently if you even mention that there's a spectrum of how to portray teen sexuality respectfully then you're "weirdly obsessed with teen boys having sex"

[bethaven]

#25 Summation, reflections and plans for 2024

Now that the calendar is over I want to wrap things up with some thoughts and facts about of what have been and what is coming.

The calendar

In this calendar I've written about 24 series that have meant something to me through my life. There are other series I might actually like more than some of them today, but they've all changed how I see things or how I feel about a certain subject. I started of with M*A*S*H, which will always be my all time favourite and which came into my life early. I ended with Julie and the Phantoms, which just recently came into my life and about which I still have a lot to learn. Some posts almost wrote themselves, while others needed some rewatches and reminiscing.

Here are all the posts:

#1 M*A*SH

#2 The Big Bang Theory

#3 Gilmore Girls

#4 Sex and the city

#5 Oc

#6 How I met your mother

#7 New Girl

#8 Please like me

#9 Modern family

#10 Glee

#11 Gossip Girl (2007)

#12 Miss Fisher's murder mysteries

#13 Tales of the city (2019)

#14 Hollywood

#15 Grace and Frankie

#16 Bridgerton

#17 Young Royals

#18 Emily in Paris

#19 Find me in Paris

#20 Sex Education

#21 Ginny and Georgia

#22 Heartstopper

#23 Xo Kitty

#24 Julie and the Phantoms

Other series/movies that were recommended in posts

Never have Iever, Angus, thongs and perfect snogging, Anne with an E, Queen Charlotte - a Bridgerton story, Younger, Girls, Skam, Élite, Skins, Atypical, Pose, A secret love, Boys in the band, Minx, Tales of the City (1993), More Tales of the City, Further Tales of the City, Looking, Queer as folk, Glamorous, Orange is the new black, Everything's gonna be ok, Nanette/Something special/Douglas, The Good Place, Friends, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, How I met your father, Scrubs, Beverly Hills 90210, 90210, One tree hill, Dawso n's creek, Hart of Dixie, Young Sheldon, Gilmore Girls - a year in the life, Grown-ish, M*A*S*H (1970) and After MASH.

The list for 2024

I stream A LOT of media, and mostly series, some weeks up to 40 hours. This because I usually have something on in the background, it makes me focus even better. I work from home about half the time and the TV is always on, on these days. But it's normaly rewatches and comfort series and I have a hard time starting new ones. So, to help with this, my goal for 2024 is to complete a list of series I want to watch, but haven't dealt with yet. I might not complete them all if I don't like them, but the goal is to start them all.

The unlisted

The irregulars

Raising Dion

Cloak and Dagger

Never have I ever

Everything sucks

Heartbreak high

Elite

Derry Girls

Umbrella academy

Bodies

White Lotus

My life with the Walter boys

The Crown

Minx, season 2

Smiley

BONDING

Everything Now

Todas las veces que enamoramos

Dead to me, season 3

Love and anarchy, season 2

Cunk on earth

Survival of the thickest

Kitz

Julia

Parks and Recreation

The Flight Attendant

It's a Sin

Gentleman Jack

The Sex Lives of College Girls

The Comeback

This is us

Griselda

I'd love to get other tips you think I might like to add to the list! it's mostly Netflix, HBO Max and Disney+ that works, but feel free to tip on anything.

New seasons in 2024

Apart from new discoveries I'll surely get back to some old favourites from time to time. And some of them have some very interesting updates coming up.

Young Royals, season 3 (March)

Bridgerton, season 3 (May 16th and June 13th)

Emily in Paris, season 4

Heartstopper, season 3

Ginny and Georgia, season 3

Confirmed seasons but not confirmed year

Bridgerton, season 4

XO Kitty, season 2

That 90's show, season 2

Ginny and Georgia, season 4 (2025)

Thank you.

Thanks to all of you who've hade the patience to read at least one of these posts. I made them mostly for myself, to be honest, but I'm always glad if someone else enjoys it too! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of you!

[cantsayidont]

ÉLITE (2018–2024): Trashy, high-gloss Spanish soap opera about students at posh private high school Las Encinas, initially a mix of rich brats and social-climbing scholarship students, whose conflicts result in murders, near-fatalities, and mysterious disappearances: Each of the first five seasons is framed by a police investigation of the latest casualty, a gimmick that really only works in the first season (where it provides a degree of narrative structure and gravitas that would otherwise be lacking).

Even in its best moments, the show's relationship to reality is never strong, and it's sometimes rather witlessly hypocritical (for instance, the narrative is capable of recognizing the injustice of the school forcing Palestinian scholarship student Nadia (Mina El Hammani) to remove her hijab in class, but not enough to not indulge in its own array of islamophobic cliches in its depiction of Nadia's conservative working-class family). Nonetheless, the show gets by for a surprisingly long time on the strength of its cast and direction, buoyed by a welcome refusal to descend into self-mockery even when the plot leaves the rails. None of the male characters is especially endearing, with Itzan Escamilla (as scholarship student Samuel) becoming particularly insufferable and Miguel Bernardeau (more recently the lead on the disappointing 2024 ZORRO show) a little too convincing as rich dickhead Guzmán, but the girls are consistently more interesting, with Mina El Hammani (as Nadia), Ester Expósito (as morally compromised aristocratic rich bitch Carla), and Claudia Salas (as the salty Rebeka, whose mother is a drug dealer, and who ends up one of the show's most genuinely sympathetic characters) making the strongest impressions.

It's not until the sixth season, with all the original cast gone (several of them feet-first), that ÉLITE starts to feel like it's overstayed its welcome, with some flailing attempts to examine serious themes like abusive relationships tripping over the increasingly orgiastic celebration of wealth and privilege (any interest in characters who aren't filthy rich having departed with the last stragglers from the original cast). Although more visually stylish, it feels like it's become a different, much weaker show, and the writers seem to no longer grasp the distinction between "entertainingly messy bitches" and "grating assholes who are no fun to watch"; by the seventh season, there isn't a single character interesting or sympathetic enough to sustain the plot's frequent lurid detours into cloud cuckoo land. (It does at least have the decency to throw one of its most hateful recurring characters off a roof at the end, which I appreciated.)

The forthcoming eighth season will be the last, but Season 7 was already at least two too many, IME. CONTAINS LESBIANS? One of the boys from the early seasons has two moms, but while there are a surprising number of acknowledged mmf and mmm triads, it's not until the fourth season that there are really any wlw relationships among the principal characters, and they always remain distinctly secondary to the boys. VERDICT: More enjoyable than it has any right to be, at least for a while, but its watchability begins a marked decline after the fourth season, and the sixth and seventh seasons are no longer much fun even as trash TV.

[ondessiderales]

Le Roi et l'Oiseau

« Le Roi et l'Oiseau est un film d'animation français créé par Paul Grimault sur des textes de Jacques Prévert, d'après La Bergère et le Ramoneur de Hans Christian Andersen. Sorti en 1980, sa préparation a commencé dès 1946.

Au sortir de la Seconde Guerre mondiale, les ambitions sont grandes pour le studio d'animation des Gémeaux : il se veut le premier du genre en Europe grâce au projet confié à Grimault qui doit aboutir au premier long métrage d'animation français. À la fin de la décennie, des désaccords financiers vont cependant mener l'équipe d'animation à sa perte : une partie est congédiée par les producteurs tandis que les membres restants se pressent d'achever ce qui est déjà accompli : Le Roi et l'Oiseau sort ainsi une première fois en mai 1953 dans une version intitulée La Bergère et le Ramoneur mais désavouée par Grimault et Prévert. Les « restes » de celle-ci sont néanmoins jugés impressionnants et le film remporte un prix au Festival de Venise ainsi que l'admiration de nombreux techniciens du monde de l'animation, dont les futurs fondateurs du Studio Ghibli.

Des années plus tard, les droits du producteur du film sont rachetés par Grimault, qui se remet au travail malgré la dissolution entre-temps de l'équipe originale et la mort en 1977 de Prévert survenue lors des derniers préparatifs pour la mise en chantier de la nouvelle version. Définitive et intitulée Le Roi et l'Oiseau, celle-ci sort finalement au cinéma en mars 1980 où elle reçoit un accueil critique très favorable et de nombreuses récompenses — c'est notamment la première fois que le prix Louis-Delluc récompense un film d'animation. Le film est également ressorti en version remasterisée en 2003.

Le Roi et l'Oiseau constitue un jalon dans l'histoire du dessin animé : premier long-métrage d'animation mis en chantier en France, il s'éloigne des canons du style de Walt Disney et veut proposer au-delà du public d'enfants et d'adolescents traditionnel des réflexions philosophiques grâce à une fable politique et sociale. Il est d'autre part une aventure humaine, le fruit de la collaboration étroite de très nombreux techniciens du monde de l'animation, formés en même temps que chaque version progresse. Le Roi et l'Oiseau est enfin le symbole d'une profonde complicité créative entre Grimault et Prévert, qui ne cesse qu'au décès du poète, alors que tous deux travaillent encore sur le film. »

Analyse

Sur les thèmes de la modernité, du fascisme, de l'opposition entre élite-raison et peuple-passion, voir aussi : Metropolis (1927)

[sinatraaloof]

[problematicseries]

NEW FANFIC SERIE - PROBLEMATIC SEASON 1

18+ content, minors dni

NOTE : this is all for fun, please keep in mind that no hate is sent to any of the people mentioned, THIS IS A FANFIC FOR FUN 🩷

All of the people mentioned in the fanfic are adults

synopsis : incoming

FR FANFIC

Mentions de Jang Wonyoung (IVE), Woonggi (Boys Planet), Jay (Enhypen), Ningning (Aespa), Rosé (Blackpink), Intak (P1H), Mark (NCT), Yeji (Itzy), Jake (Enhypen), Zhang Hao (ZB1), Natty (Kiss of life), Chaewon (Le Sserafim)

ÉPISODE 1 - THE BEGINNING - PROM NIGHT

Le jour se lève sur la ville de Los Angeles, les rayons de soleil effleurent ton visage et te réveille doucement, tu attrapes ton portable sur la table de chevet et regarde l’heure affichant 06:25, tu en profites pour jeter un coup d’oeil aux notifications que tu a pu recevoir cette nuit, dont une trentaine venant de Jang te disant à quel point elle est excitée que vous vous retrouviez au « camp de vacances » lundi.

Évidemment, camp de vacances entre guillemets puisqu’il s’agit plutôt d’un hôtel luxueux sur la côte de Los Angeles réservé tout l’été pour la jeune élite de L.A fraichement diplômée. Ces vacances n’étant réservée qu’aux héritiers les plus riches de Los Angeles, tu as payé le séjour pour ton meilleur ami avec qui tu es INSÉPARABLE: CHA Woonggi. Une petite boule pleine d’énergie positive et toujours présent, ses parents étant ouvriers il ne pouvait se payer le séjour dans cet hôtel luxueux. Ne pouvant imaginer passer cet été sans lui, c’est donc toi qui a réglé les frais; quelque chose que Jang ne comprends toujours pas car selon elle, l’élite ne se mélange pas aux autres classes sociales.

Jang est ta meilleure amie depuis maintenant 12 ans, vous vous êtes toujours bien entendues. Jang est la fille de Monsieur Yuanying, président des Etats-Unis, d’ou son surnom ‘’Presidential Princess’’. Elle a un côté très élitiste mais elle est adorable. Elle a toujours été là pour toi, Jang est vraiment la parfaite meilleure amie; à vrai dire on ne peut rêver mieux.

Tu files te préparer sans même penser au fait que tu n’as toujours pas de cavalier pour t’accompagner au bal ce soir et que pour cette fois, tu n’as ni Jang, ni Ning pour te tenir compagnie car Jang passe la soirée avec Jay et a donc fait une croix sur la couronne pour la seule journée de sa vie, et Ning à été rejoindre Rosé en Corée pour l’obtention de son diplôme là bas, elles devraient cependant être la pour la journée d’ouverture du camp.

Enfilant pour la dernière fois ton uniforme modifié par Jang, tu montes dans la voiture où ton chauffeur t’attends en direction du lycée. Woonggi t’informe qu’il n’a pas eu le temps de passer a Starbucks pour aller chercher vos cafés donc tu demandes à ton chauffeur de s’y arrêter pour chercher vos boissons matinales.

Arrivant sur le parking du lycée, tu sors de la voiture et te dirige en direction de ton casier - toujours aucune trace de Woonggi- tu lui envoies un message auquel il répond « je serais en retard, gardes moi une place », tu soupires et ouvre ton casier.

Tu y retrouves 3 enveloppes avec ton nom sur chacune, tu accroches ton sac de créateur à l’intérieur du casier et commence à ouvrir les enveloppes.

La première vient de Mark, ton voisin de table en cours de chimie :

‘’ Je me permets de t’écrire pour t’exprimer ma profonde admiration pour ta personne et ta présence qui dégage une aura enchanteresse. J’ai longuement réfléchi a la manière dont je pourrais t’exprimer mon désir de partager avec toi une soirée qui, je crois, pourrait être empreinte d’une alchimie particulière. C’est pourquoi je prends la liberté de t’inviter a être ma cavalière au bal ce soir.’’

Etonnée que Mark soit aussi doué avec les mots qu’avec des tubes à essais et des éprouvettes, tu décides de continuer en ouvrant la deuxième enveloppe.

La deuxième enveloppe, parfumée de vanille, vient de Yeji :

‘’ Coucou ma belle, je trouverais ça sympa que pour cette année, on ait 2 reines pour le bal : toi et moi.’’

Yeji est la fille à la pointe de la mode du lycée, facile quand tes parents dirigent la maison FENDI, cependant, Yeji a un charme hors du commun et personne ne lui résiste, un pilier de marbre pourrait fondre avec un simple clin d’oeil de sa part.

Même si l’idée était tentante, tu décides d’ouvrir la dernière lettre mais tu te fais interrompre par Jake se présentant derrière ton casier.

Jake est ton voisin depuis toujours, vous avez grandi ensemble, vos parents étant de très bons amis, tu le vois plus que régulièrement. Les parents de Jake détiennent des puits pétroliers partout dans le monde mais Jake refuse d’être vu comme ‘’un fils à papa bourré de fric’’ selon ses dires; ceci explique son style relativement chill et casual. Jake est plutôt du genre à lire des livres et étudier à la bibliothèque plutôt que de faire la fête et aller au golf le dimanche; ce qui fait partie de son charme.

« Oh désolé je t’ai fais peur ? Je n’avais pas vu que tu étais si occupée avec tes invitations au bal de promo… je me trompes ? » dit-il en froissant un morceau de papier dans sa poche.

Tu réponds avec un grand sourire « Non Jake ne t’en fais pas, je lisais juste les 3 pauvres invitations que j’ai reçu pour le bal de ce soir, Jang n’étant pas la, je dois prendre la relève pour la couronne cette fois ci »

Jake décroche un sourire en disant « ouf, sauvé de la reine des abeilles pour une fois ».

Vous rigolez ensemble puis il indique qu’il doit encore rendre quelques livres à la bibliothèque avant ce soir donc il te laisse en s’inclinant et disant « à ce soir notre nouvelle reine de la ruche »

Tu le tapes gentiment et il s’éclipse en direction de la bibliothèque.

Tu ouvres donc la troisième lettre fermée par un sceau de cire rose avec les initiales ‘’I.H’’

‘’ J’espère que cette lettre trouve son chemin jusqu’a toi avec tout l’éclat qui t’entoure. Il est rare de rencontrer quelqu’un qui incarne l’élégance et la grâce avec autant de naturel, je suis honoré de pouvoir t’écrire ces mots. En contemplant la perspective du bal de promo qui approche à grands pas, il m’est venu à l’esprit qu’une soirée partagée avec toi serait une expérience inoubliable. L’idée d’une danse en ta compagnie et de partager des moments empreints de complicité me semble d’une attirance magnétique. J’espère sincèrement que tu accepteras cette invitation et que nous pourrons créer ensemble une énergie qui transcendera cette soirée.’’ signé par Hwang Intak.

HWANG INTAK ????? Intak est le fils de Monsieur Hwang, premier héritier de l’empire LVMH, Intak est la définition de l’homme élégant, toujours bien habillé et bien présenté (le minimum pour un héritier du monde du luxe vous me direz) cependant, Intak est le type de garçon qui aime avoir plusieurs filles a ses pieds… Raison pour laquelle tu n’as jamais trop eu d’intérêt pour lui, et de toutes façons, ta relation avec Sumin t’as suffit.

Tu emmènes les 3 enveloppes avec toi dans l’auditorium pour parler de l’organisation du bal de ce soir, bien décidée à demander de l’aide a Woonggi pour choisir qui t’accompagnera ce soir.

45 minutes après le début de la réunion, tu aperçois Woonggi se glisser derrière les tables jusqu’a arriver a ta hauteur.

Il te dit en chuchotant « Merci pour le macchiatto mais j’ai une super bonne excuse pour ce retard ! »

Tu le regardes en faisant la moue « Je t’écoutes wookie »

Il rétorque « Bon tu vois Hao ? je lui ai demandé si l’on pouvait aller ensemble au bal ce soir pour apprendre à se connaitre vu qu’on va passer plusieurs jours ensemble cet été… et il a dit oui ! »

Tu interromps Woonggi tout de suite « Attends… Hao le frère de Jang ? T’es au courant qu’elle va péter un cable pour ça ? t’as déjà oublié tout le discours sur l’élite bla-bla-bla »

Woonggi réponds « La princesse présidentielle n’est pas là ce soir, si personne ne lui dit elle n’en saura rien » dit-il en ricanant.

Tu en profites pour sortir les enveloppes de ton sac a main et les tend a Woonggi en lui demandant de les lire.

Après la première lecture des 3 lettres, il en exclue une : Mark.

« L’alchimie, la chimie, tous les jeux de mots c’est bien sympa mais j’aimerai éviter que ça explose, c’est un mec qui pourrais t’ennuyer et ce soir je veux te voir t’amuser. »

Il continue « Bon ensuite Yeji… l’idée est top mais Yeji risque de te voler la lumière sur scène.. je suis sûr qu’elle va débarquer avec une robe dessinée par son père, pas encore en vente et on en parlera que d’elle, pas sûr que ça plaise à Jang. »

Il ne reste donc que la dernière enveloppe, celle d’Intak qu’il te tend en disant « on à trouve ton cavalier ! »

17:30 : fin de la journée.

Woonggi te fait signe avec un petit clin d’oeil, sûrement par rapport à ce soir.

Tu te diriges vers ton chauffeur qui t’attend mais Jake arrive devant toi avec son vélo « on fait le chemin du retour ensemble ? » te proposes t’il avec un grand sourire.

« J’adorerais Jake mais je suis assez pressée je dois aller me préparer pour ce soir, ça va me prendre pas mal de temps.. »

Il répond « ah donc tu as choisi ton cavalier pour ce soir ? Si toutefois tu me cherches, je serais dans un coin de la salle avec mon livre ! » et s’en va avec un petit geste de la main pour te saluer.

Tu montes dans la voiture et commence à écrire à Jang

« Je vais au bal avec Intak, tu verrais sa lettre tu larguerais Jay »

« INTAK HWANG ??? tu fais fort ma fille, bois pas trop je veux absolument te voir avec la couronne sur la tête ce soir ! et pour Jay … ne raconte pas de bêtises tu sais très bien que princesse présidentielle ne fait que de bons choix ! J’ai hâte de te voir demain tu me manques.»

Tu arrives devant chez toi et monte te préparer.

Tu en profites pour sortir la robe que tu as acheté avec Jang pour l’occasion : une robe longue noire reflétant chaque rayon de lumière, fendue sur le côté avec un grand décolleté laissant la place à un collier, ne sachant pas encore lequel mettre avec cette sublime robe.

Ton téléphone vibre ‘’1 NOUVEAU MESSAGE : INTAK’’

« ne mets rien autour de ton cou, mon chauffeur viendra te chercher ce soir, j’ai une petite surprise pour toi »

Étant intriguée et lui faisant confiance, tu termines de te préparer et ne mets pas de collier.

20:00, le chauffeur d’Intak sonne à la porte.

Tu descends les escaliers et découvre Intak t’attendant à côté de la limousine, t’ouvrant la portière.

Il ressemblait à un prince dans les contes Disney, un costume bleu nuit, s’accordant parfaitement avec ta robe, son parfum envahissait tes sens, il avait ce côté très mystérieux mais dévoué, ce qui était relativement bizarre vu que vous n’étiez jamais sorti ensemble auparavant. Ses yeux écarquillés lorsque son regard se posa sur toi.

« Bonsoir princesse, tu es sublime »

« Tu n’es pas mal non plus » tu répondis.

Il sourit et monte après que tu sois montée.

Tu tentes de sortir ton téléphone de ton petit sac à main avant qu’Intak ne te tende une boîte en te demandant de l’ouvrir.

Tu ouvres la boite et découvre un collier en diamants, à vrai dire, tu n’as jamais vu un collier aussi beau.

« il te plait ? » demanda t’il.

« Il est parfait » tu répondis.

Intak s’approche de toi pour te mettre le collier et te disant que tu es sublime; il avait raison.

Le collier étant comme une pièce manquante de la tenue, Intak te regarde et te dis « Déjà prête à recevoir la couronne princesse ? »

A chaque fois que ce mot sortait de sa bouche, c’était comme une mélodie, tu était déjà accroc à ce nouveau surnom qu’il te donnait.

Arrivé au salon de réception pour le bal, Intak descend et t’ouvres la portière puis passe son bras dans le tiens pour se rendre dans la salle de bal.

Tous les yeux sont rivés sur vous, on peut même déceler de la jalousie dans certains regards; c’était à prévoir.

Vous vous faites arrêter par des paparazzis, demandant à Intak si tu es sa nouvelle petite amie, chose à laquelle il acquiesce.

Ton coeur bat la chamade, même si tu n’as pas eu ton mot a dire sur cette affirmation tu reste flattée du comportement d’Intak qui fait en sorte que ta soirée se passe comme un véritable conte de fées.

Après ta rupture avec Sumin, tu croyais qu’aucun homme ne te ferait battre le coeur aussi fort et Intak semble beaucoup trop parfait pour être vrai.

Une fois rentrés dans la salle de bal, Intak s’excuse car il doit s’éclipser quelques instants pour saluer ses amis, tu lui dis qu’il n’y a absolument aucun problème et te dirige vers le bar.

Tu regardes ton téléphone : aucun nouveau message.

Tu flânes entre les tables et t’assoies à la table de Natty.

Natty, autrement appelée ‘’Night Queen’’ fait partie de ton groupe d’amies, son père est un producteur musical; elle baigne donc dans la musique, la vie nocturne et la Jet Set depuis petite. Persuadée d’être la fashionista edgy de l’école elle est venue au bal avec une combinaison noire moulante ouverte sur la poitrine, coiffée d’une longue queue de cheval lisse.

« Alors cette soirée Disney, t’en penses quoi ? » dit-elle après avoir pris un shot de tequila.

« Je veux juste faire les photos avec la couronne et partir me coucher, les vacances me tarde… » tu réponds avant de reprendre ton verre de martini.

« J’ai réussi à avoir un poste en tant que réceptionniste, je vais pouvoir épier tout le monde et alimenter le twitter de Ning avec des infos croustillantes sans qu’elle n’ai trop d’efforts a faire » dit elle en gloussant.

Votre conversation fut interrompue par l’annonce du couronnement de la reine et du roi du bal, comme si le ciel t’avais entendu.

Sans grande surprise, Jang n’étant pas présente, tu fut couronnée reine du bal (comme Jang l’avait prévue).

Vient l’annonce du roi avant que la voix de la fille annonçant le nom ne tremble.

« Cette année nous n’avons donc pas de roi mais bien DEUX REINES ! Chaewon monte sur scène et accepte ton titre s’il te plait ! »

Ton regard se dirigea sur Intak, il avait l’air tendu et tenait son verre à la main, on pouvait voir sa mâchoire se serrer depuis la scène, même éblouie par les spots.

Cependant, cette nouvelle allait être plus compliquée à annoncer a Jang, Chaewon étant sa pire ennemie.

La relation entre Chaewon et Jang n’a pas toujours été mauvaise, étant petites elles étaient amies, cependant Chae voulait tout ce que Jang avait, si Jang organisait une soirée d’anniversaire pour ses 16 ans, vous pouviez être sûrs que Chae allait organiser la même chose mais en beaucoup plus extravagant.

Les choses sont devenues plus tendues lorsque le père de Jang se présenta aux élections présidentielles et que le père de Chae était son concurrent principal (assez ironique non ?). Depuis que le père de Jang est devenu le président des États Unis, la relation entre les deux jeunes filles s’est dégradée et elles sont passées d’amies de la première heure à pire ennemies. Je vous laisse imaginer la réaction de Jang quand elle saura que Chaewon a été couronnée reine.

Chae monte sur scène, prends la couronne et t’attrapes par le bras « Faisons une photo ensemble, veux tu ? » dit-elle d’un ton un peu insistant.

Tu cherches Woonggi du regard et le vois bouche bée.

Après les photos tu décides de sortir prendre l’air sur un des balcons de la salle avec ton verre, une silhouette masculine arrive derrière toi avant que tu ne retournes.

« Un vrai fiasco, ça m’étonnerait que ça plaise à Jang tout ça »

C’était Jake, il s’approche de toi avec une bouteille d’eau et te la tends « bois de l’eau, je ne t’ai vu qu’avec des martinis ce soir »

Tu prends la bouteille d’eau avant de répondre « Tu m’as donc observée toute la soirée ? Tu sais que ça pourrait presque faire peur Jake »

Il répondit avec un sourire « Non, je veillais juste sur toi»

Tu t’approches de lui pour lui faire un câlin, tu aperçois Intak par dessus son épaule, il vous voit et fait demi tour en lançant son verre contre le mur.

« Excuse moi Jake je dois aller voir si tout va bien pour Woonggi » tu lui dis avant de partir a la recherche d’Intak.

Jake te regarde partir en se reposant contre la rambarde du balcon.

Tu te faufiles entre les corps dansants sur le dancefloor de la salle de bal mais tu n’arrives pas à retrouver Intak, tu aperçois Woonggi et Hao assis à une table et décide donc d’aller les voir.

Woonggi te voit, se lève et s’incline en disant « Bonsoir reine, votre soirée se passe comme vous le voulez ? voulez vous que j’aille éliminer l’imposteur Chae ? »

Tu réponds en riant « Je suis sûre que Jang en serait plus que reconnaissante, tu as vu Intak ? »

Il t’indique l’avoir vu partir en direction de la salle de commande des lumières, peut être pour être au calme.

Tu pars en direction de la salle des lumières sans te rendre compte que Natty te suivait car elle pressentait quelque chose de mauvais.

Tu ouvres la porte et quelle fut ta surprise (et celle de Natty, téléphone à la main en plein live instagram visionné par plus de 500k personnes).

Intak étant occupé à apprendre a connaitre Chaewon en profondeur, dans tous les sens du terme, tout ça en live sur l’instagram de votre jet-setteuse favorite au millions d’abonnés.

Tu ne sais pas si le pire de la situation est la situation en elle même ou le sourire que Chaewon te fait en te voyant dans l’encadrement de la porte.

Se faire tromper par son cavalier le soir même du bal est un concept qui ne t’étais pas encore venu à l’esprit, cependant, tout Los Angeles était au courant, même Ningning qui était à plus de 5000Km et qui avait déjà repostée la vidéo sur son compte.

Ton téléphone ne fait que vibrer, notifications sur notifications, appels manqués de Jang et Ning, ta tête commence à tourner.

Tu demandes à Natty d’appeler ton chauffeur, tu veux rentrer IMMÉDIATEMENT.

Woonggi te retrouve et décide de t’accompagner chez toi pour ce soir.

Une fois rentrée, tu files à la salle de bain avant de sangloter sous la douche. Ta précédente relation avec Sumin à déjà été difficile, et maintenant un nouveau traumatisme ?

L’eau coule le long de ton corps, on ne distingue pas les larmes de l’eau.

Tu sors de la salle de bain et retrouves Woonggi dans ta chambre.

« Jake est passé pour savoir si tout allait bien pendant que tu étais sous la douche, je lui ai dit que c’était pas le moment, il est reparti »

Tu t’affales sur ton lit en lui disant « Je veux aller au camp et oublier tout ça, Jang aurait su quoi faire dans une situation pareille, elle me manque »

Woonggi s’approche et te fais un câlin.

Tu lui chuchotes en pleurant « Merci d’être là wookie »

Il répond instantanément « je serais toujours là».

Il réfléchit et te dis « Pourquoi on irait pas au camp tout de suite ? »

Tu te retournes, réfléchit et envoies un message à Natty lui demandant si elle peut faire quelque chose (vu qu’elle y travaille en tant que réceptionniste)

Elle te répond ‘’ Préparez vous, je vous récupère dans 1h ‘’.

FIN DE L’ÉPISODE 1.

[100hearteyes]

I watched Élite seasons 1 through 5 (I'm sooo late, I know) and boy do I have thoughts. Be warned: this is a really really long post.

First off: I loved the first three seasons. They're quite good for what they set out to do and they wrap up the overarching story in an overall satisfying manner. I was surprised by how invested I got in the two main straight couples and really liked the main queer one. The show itself and the mysteries were always gripping (it made me want to watch 'just one more' over and over again), and the storytelling and plot were honestly pretty neatly constructed, especially considering the kind of show we're talking about. Loved the additions in seasons 2 and 3, and who they decided to get rid of after 1. Lu (so problematic during her worst times but it was aldo so so pleasant to watch her grow up and become a better person), Nadia, Carla, Guzmán, Rebeka, and Omar are clear standouts for me (Danna, Mina, Claudia are quite possibly the three best actors of the first story).

Which brings me to seasons 4 and 5 (haven't watched 6 and don't know if I want to, which is telling when just a few seconds ago I was telling you I couldn't put down the first three seasons), where the exact fucking opposite happened.

-- brief intermission: Lu and Nadia's friendship is the very best thing about seasons 1 to 3; Danna Paola acted the hell out of every single line and scene she was given; Mina, Georgina, Ester, and Claudia were outstanding too --

Most characters had a clear pathway of development and their stories closed out on a firm note of either growth or regression (or something a bit more complex than that), instead of flip-flopping back and forth between points A, B, and C for three seasons.

-- brief intermission 2: it's important to keep in mind that season 4 had some positives (one very big one); season 5 is the really bad one --

Let me preface this by stating the obvious. High school/college shows that are directly bound to their HS/C setting have an evident handicap: they can't really ever leave that setting (which with enough skill you can turn into a strength imho). This gives you three options.

A - Keep your characters at the eternal age of 15/16/17/18, which ruins the characters and storytelling, because 1) it becomes absolutely nonsensical, and 2) it forces you to do that same flip-flopping where characters keep growing and regressing and growing and regressing ad eternum (see: Marvel's Iron Man);

B - Renew the cast every so often, which gives you the chance to tell new stories and refresh your show with each new cycle, therefore lending it a longevity that won't tire your viewers out, because it's basically like you're making a whole new show every three or for years. You have to do it well, though, so viewers don't feel like they're watching the same story over and over just with different faces.

C - A mix of options A and B. You renew the cast but keep some characters to give it a sense of continuity. This is what Élite does: some characters spill over from seasons 3 to 4, and then (I googled) some introduced in the second three-season arc stay for the handoff to season 7. And, sure, it makes sense continuity and familiarity wise, but it also demands careful writing so that the storylines of the characters that are going to stay over for the next overall arc don't feel closed and so that those characters have clear room to grow. So do you know who definitely should NOT be the ones you choose to keep, *most especially* in a high school setting? Your main characters aka the ones whose full story you just told. They're ready to graduate, my buddies. Let them!

And this is where the issues start (but definitely do not end) for Élite. The characters that stay over for season 4 - SPOILER - are (iirc) Samuel and Guzmán, the ~main characters~, plus Ander, Omar, Cayetana, and last but not least my baby Rebeka. The show comes up with mildly logical ploys and explanations for those six to remain, but right off the bat, it's way too many. Six characters??? That's OVER HALF of the main cast of seasons 2 and 3.

While it made sense to have Rebeka and Caye – additions in season 2 and whose stories you could feel hadn't reached their conclusion –, Samu, Guzmán, Ander, and Omar's character arcs were done. They had grown all they had to grow. What does that mean for the story? It means that we had to watch the slow and steady (not literal) assassination of all four characters. It was so painful to watch as the showrunners undid all the growth SGOA had done over the past three seasons and destroyed their characters for the sake of keeping them on the show. The way Guzmán and Samu went back to being assholes to each other made absolutely no fucking sense. And it was honestly fucking annoying seeing that after they became friends so organically in the first arc. That was a friendship you rooted for ffs. As for Omar and Ander, while it made sense on paper for them to still be in high school due to what happened in season 3, the writers could have easily written them off, because their arc WAS over. We'd done the closet. We'd done the back and forth. We'd done the cheating. We'd done the breaking up and making up and all 72 lines of Katy Perry's Hot N Cold. We'd done Omar's story with Nadia, the parents, and Lu (BEST friendship btw), and Ander's with Polo, Guzmán, and his mom. And then the writers decided to put them in a narrative vacuum with a third, endlessly annoying dude and redo all the gay drama parts but ten times worse 🙃

And that's just season 4, because Guzmán and Ander leave at the end of that and then in season 5 the writers decide to fuck up Omar and Samu's friendship too. Fuck you for putting my son Omar through the ringer tbh.

This is coming out way longer than I anticipated (as usual). ANYWAY, quality goes way down in seasons 4 and especially 5. The mysteries are boring and predictable, and – this is important – sex takes on that GOT quality of mattering for nothing other than to goad people to watch. With each season, sex becomes more and more graphic and less and less meaningful for plot and characterization. It's just softcore porn. There's a beautiful sex scene in S4 (I'm biased tho ngl lol) but everything in S5 is Not It.

Rebeka and Caye are two of the best three/four things of seasons 4 and 5. Nevertheless, they ruined Omar, Ander, Samu, and Guzmán, like I said, and the additions to the cast are no better.

Patrick, Ari, and Benjamín (introduced in S4) are frankly bad characters; Philippe (S4) is a missed opportunity; Isadora (S5) is just there to suffer (1 - I say this despite Isa being a good character with lots of potential and Valentina Zenere doing excellent work with her; 2 - I suspect she will have a bigger role in S6, which would be good); and Cruz (1 - I've never met Portuguese person called Cruz (mas também nunca tinha visto ninguém chamado Carloto, por isso o que sei eu lol), 2 - Carloto Cotta's acting is Not Good At All) and Iván (both S5) serve possibly the worst plotline of all five seasons. The only super welcome addition is... Mencía ❤️ even so, her turnaround in season 5 is soooo poorly done and with it the show ruined the best thing about season 4, because if one thing's for sure with Élite is that no one can ever have a happy ending. The writers made that crystal clear when they brought Guzmán, Omar, and Ander back for the second overall arc of the show.

That brings me to the two good things about season 4, all of which season 5 destroyed. Caye is given room to grow into her better self after her fuck-ups in the first arc and she shines in season 4. Then in 5 they decide she should actually be in love with her abuser 👍

Rebe and Menci *whimsical sigh*. I fell in love with them. Their push and pull was the heart of s4, which firmly paved the way for reconciliation in 5. It happened. And then it didn't. Then it happened again. And then it didn't. Again. It's so fucking frustrating, because they built one of the best love stories in the show – by far the best of the second arc – and poofed it away like it meant nothing. Fuck it hurt. Honestly for me Rebe/Menci is up there with Nadia/Guzmán, Samu/Carla, and Omar/Ander seasons 1-3. The epic love story the show had been unable to repeat with anyone else. It also gave Rebe her due spotlight and agency and the sensational Claudia Salas a chance to shine. Her chemistry with Mencía/Martina Cariddi was off the fucking charts. I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say they had the most explosive chemistry of all of Élite along with Carla/Samuel. And if they were going to destroy it, I'd rather they would have done it in season 4 when Rebeka made a choice that she herself said meant losing Mencía forever than what they did in 5. Because FUUUUCCKKK they really made me believe that reconciliation was possible in s5.

Rebeka was wonderful throughout all five seasons and my only criticism is that I would have given her even more screen time while she was on the show. I miss her already 🥲

This takes me to *drumroll* Mencía. Gosh I love my baby Menci, who has the nicest, most radiant smile. They had her make some stupid choices in season 4 but I guess they had to feed the Armando storyline for all eight episodes. Also, it allowed for some badass Rebe scenes as well as some great hurt/comfort. Season 5 is a garbage fire and she gets dragged along. Mencía is a /wonderful/ character throughout though, it's just a shame that the writers continually chose to cause her pain and to put her between a rock and a hard place.

Which brings me to my last but not least talking point: women and queer people get the short end of the stick over and over and over again.

Just to be clear, racial diversity is worse than bad – we have three (?) black people in five seasons, all with minor roles – but this is Spain we're talking about, so unfortunately my expectations on that front were below zero (the same goes for Portuguese content btw). We have Nadia and Omar in the first three seasons. I'm hesitant to include Lu, Iván, Valerio, Isa as Latinos, because I don't know exactly how it works in Spain, but we don't make that distinction in Portugal. First time I heard of Latinos was in a US media context. I don't want to be ignorant/dismissive though so I'm at least making a reference to the four of them.

-- TW sexual assault --

Four women who are victims of sexual violence in the first five seasons (I'm choosing to include Carla's dad pimping her out to Yeray in this too – Yeray was all too happy to go with it until Carla made it clear that she hated it so much she needed drugs to withstand pretending to be in love with him), three of them in seasons 4 and 5. You see what I'm talking about when I mention how bad those two seasons are? As for the queer characters (some overlap): cancer, prostitution, constant cheating, two instances of borderline p*dophilia (as in, a fully grown adult and a teenager), homophobia, family abandonment, transphobia (in season 6, according to a review I read), racism, religious intolerance, sexual assault, drug dealing – seriously, all the kids who dabble in it one time or another for whatever reason (Omar, Rebe, Valerio, Patrick) are queer – etc etc etc.

And while mistakes were learning opportunities in the first overall arc – e.g. Rebe and Valerio's drug dealing in season 3, however brief, and the damage it caused – in seasons 4 and especially 5 they're just something that happens for drama and pain and to push characters back on their growth, not that they will ever learn from them. Remember when we talked about how seasons 1-3 mostly managed to avoid the Tony Stark Syndrome? Well 4 and 5 revel in it. Character development is but a mirage.

I think this is it. Anyway, Rebe x Menci forever, and Lu, Nadia, and Carla are my babies ❤️