What the heck went flawed?
After spending the primary 4 episodes digging away at an thrilling new thriller, introducing numerous new characters and conflicts, Elite Season Four imploded, culminating in a finale that didn’t stay as much as the hype.
Once I wrote my review for Elite Season 4, I had watched the primary 4 episodes, however after watching the remainder, it is arduous to be enthusiastic about the way forward for the collection.
We’ll begin with the thriller. It had all of the substances to succeed, nevertheless it was an enormous catastrophe when all was stated and completed.
Ari’s survival made this a compelling hook due to the probabilities surrounding who may very well be answerable for the assault.
Armando was the protected and simple possibility, and it will have labored a lot better had it been just a little extra thrilling. We did not see Armando interrogated by the police as a result of Guzman had killed him.
A part of the fantastic thing about Elite is once we see the characters interviewed about what they have been as much as on the night time of the crime, permitting us to place the items collectively to provide you with theories.
How have been we supposed to place collectively a personality being accountable that had little or no to do with the general arc of the season?
With Guzman and Ander leaving, I am positive the writers might have constructed a way more plausible conclusion.
I consider the larger story about New Yr’s Eve occasions shall be how the characters take care of what occurred when the college returns after winter break.
Ari was among the best new additions to the present as a result of she was a sophisticated younger lady that genuinely did not know what she needed in life.
She preferred the thought of being with Guzman, however she was extra drawn to Samuel. Hey, these items occur, however her telling each boys she needed to be with them would have landed a lot better had there been extra exposition within the episodes main as much as the reveal.
This love triangle solely served to drive a wedge between Samuel and Guzman when all was stated and completed. Guzman, specifically, had three seasons of character improvement flushed down the drain for a lackluster storyline.
The way in which Guzman instructed Nadia he would anticipate her till they might reunite, just for him to relentlessly pursue the brand new lady, was a downright character assassination.
Are we to consider he was utilizing Ari to take his thoughts off of Nadia? There was one thing so pure about Guzman and Nadia, however the finish of their relationship appeared thrown in as a option to transfer on from them.
There is a excessive probability Guzman and Nadia will reunite, and we are going to be taught of it in passing as the opposite characters talk about it. That is about the one option to make sense of this.
Guzman and Samuel labored on being associates for therefore lengthy, particularly after all of the demise and destruction surrounding them, so it was bizarre to have them duke it out over a lady.
They’re bonded perpetually after hiding Armando’s corpse, however did we actually want a love triangle to get to the following reveal?
We’ll converse extra about Armando in just a little, however will this physique ever be discovered with Guzman leaving? Our bodies do not stay away on a present like Elite for lengthy.
I would not be stunned if somebody began messaging the trio to inform them they know what they did on New Yr’s Eve.
It looks like a plot that can return sooner or later to chunk them down the road, however with out Guzman on the present, will it even be worthwhile?
Let’s transfer on to Ander, one other character who exited the collection within the season finale. His relationship with Omar was unhealthy.
They honestly labored as a pair through the present’s first season, however their relationship was examined one too many instances to consider they might finish on good phrases.
We have to keep in mind that these characters are youngsters, and it is uncommon for a relationship that begun in class to face the check of time.
There was a lot forwards and backwards with Ander and Omar that I needed them to convey their relationship to a particular finish so they might cease terrorizing each other.
His most cancers prognosis understandably modified Ander’s outlook on life. He and Omar in the end needed very various things, however Patrick should not have been used to make them notice it.
Patrick’s angle sucked. He needed to attach with individuals along with his personal guidelines, not giving a crap about what was proper and flawed.
He and Ander related as a result of their mutual brush with demise, however Patrick was extra of a misplaced soul than anything.
His actions have been problematic, however there was a change in him when Omar seemed out for him when he collapsed within the membership. It made me suppose the season would finish with Omar and Patrick in a relationship, and to be sincere, it will have been comical to see the smug look wiped off Ander’s face.
Looking forward to Elite Season 5, we have to get some significant character improvement for Patrick as a substitute of him simply doing what he desires.
As for his sister, Mencia, the escort arc began comparatively nicely, nevertheless it grew to become so convoluted that I needed it to be over by the season’s halfway level.
Nothing good was ever going to come back from accepting a lodge room from Armando. He was at all times going to need extra.
Mencia had deeply rooted points as a result of she felt like she was accountable for her mom’s demise and nearly her brother’s demise.
It might have been extra satisfying to see her confront these points as a substitute of masking them with such a controversial plot twist.
Her relationship with Rebe began sturdy, nevertheless it flamed out by the tip of the season as a result of numerous hurdles thrown their approach.
Elite has by no means been one of the best present on TV, however the fourth season zeroed in an excessive amount of on the connection drama of the characters.
It was arduous to select the positives with numerous love triangles, poor plot development, and a thriller that ended terribly.
Cayetana remained the primary attraction, however she was so far-off from the opposite characters that it felt like no person even talked to her.
Regardless of being the janitor, Cayetana had a bond with most of the different characters, and that ought to have been nurtured to point out that they’re all nonetheless associates.
If the Quick Tales proved something, it was that Cayetana nonetheless has associates at Las Encinas.
Philippe was a Prince, so it was inevitable she would discover a option to make her approach into his orbit, and it is seemingly she genuinely thought being a Prince could be individuals dwelling the excessive life.
It was heartbreaking to have her bubble burst after realizing simply how a lot of a bit of labor he truly was, however at the least she instructed him the place to go in the long run.
Philippe’s mom clearly preferred the thought of him relationship Cayetana, a lady who comes from nothing, due to what it will do for Phillippe’s picture.
He was an abuser, and he ought to have been uncovered as a lot. He was the worst character this season as a result of he was so poorly developed.
It was a delicate topic for the present to sort out, and I am unable to shake the sensation that it felt extra exploitative than informative.
My concern is that Phillippe will get a redemption arc on Elite Season 5 that places him near Cayetana once more, and her character deserves higher.
Hopefully, the publicity surrounding Ari’s assault will consequence within the likes hovering on the article as a result of that ought to give Caye a payout to maneuver onto one thing else.
As flawed a personality as Ari was, at the least she went out of her approach to ensure Caye knew what kind of particular person Phillippe was.
And in the long run, it appeared like there was a bond brewing between the 2 youngsters.
We already know Elite Season 5 introduces two new characters to fill the void left by Ander and Guzman, however the present actually must develop the longer-serving characters first.
Rebe grew to become a glorified aspect character with just one emotion all through Elite Season 4. That is not the precise option to deal with one of many higher characters.
Ari, Mencia, and Patrick bought numerous respectable materials to work with within the earlier episodes of the season, nevertheless it all fell aside shortly.
They should be reintroduced in a approach that enables them to attach with the viewers, and perhaps just a little bit much less of them wouldn’t be a foul factor.
This season, Samuel was given a character, so hopefully, his storyline reaches a satisfying conclusion on Elite Season 5.
As for the following huge thriller, it must be scaled again dramatically. It could’t be one other homicide or kidnapping.
It needs to be cleverly plotted and extra plausible.
What are your ideas on Elite Season 4? What do you suppose did not work? What did you want?
Hit the feedback under.
Stream the primary 4 seasons on Netflix.
Paul Dailly is the Affiliate Editor for TV Fanatic. Comply with him on Twitter.