TRICKY SUBJECT MANNER

In addition to the aforementioned class conflict — which seems to be a key ingredient in every quality teen drama — Élite touches on racism, sexuality and sexually transmitted infections. Nadia faces expulsion if she doesn’t take her hijab off at school; Omar fears his parents’ reaction to him being gay; and one character is publicly revealed to be HIV-positive (although the reaction is more respectful and informed than it might have been years ago). Élite avoids coming off as an after-school special by carefully folding all the subjects into its well-paced plot. If you wind up binge-watching the series — it’s hard not to! — be sure to watch with Spanish audio and English subtitles so you can witness the witty banter as it is meant to be witnessed.