'Elite' Season 8: One character deserved much better, and it's not Omar Shanaa
Contains spoilers for 'Elite' Season 8
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Netflix's Spanish teen thriller series, 'Elite', concluded its run with the eighth season, released on July 26, 2024. Continuing the events and character arcs from Season 7, the finale introduced the mystery surrounding Joel’s murder.
Characters like Iván Carvalho (André Lamoglia), Chloe Silva (Mirela Balić), Omar Shanaa (Omar Ayuso), Dalmar (Iván Mendes), Isadora Goldstein (Valentina Zenere) and Eric de Velasco Viveros (Gleb Abrosimov) gained spotlight amid the murder investigation.
Each of these characters has a twisted past and the makers have attempted to give a satisfying conclusion to their individual stories.
Omar unexpectedly becomes a hero in 'Elite' Season 8
Omar has been no different than other flawed characters on the show. Over the seasons, his character arc lacked depth, revolving only around love triangles and threesomes. He was repeatedly portrayed as the victim and we, as viewers, were tired of seeing it.
Not to forget, he wasn't always faithful himself as he cheated on Ander during his cancer treatment with his sister's boyfriend and yet he constantly sought sympathy.
In Season 7, his behavior came out as predatory when he hooked up with homeless 16-year-old Joel (Fernando Líndez) and made him think that he owed it to him for giving him food and shelter.
He came out as a really clingy toxic boyfriend when being a grown adult, he manipulated the teenager into thinking that Omar would attempt to take his life again if he left.
Omar got to be the victim again in Season 8 after being bullied by Héctor (Nuno Gallego) and Emilia Krawietz (Ane Rot), which landed him in the hospital.
Later, he received unnecessary attention by going to the police station to reveal the identity of the real killer, a task that should have fallen to Ivan, Chloe, or Sara, who actually found the recording of Joel's murder.
He even gets to preach about how Las Encinas is a shallow place and people shouldn't be drawn to the glitters of it.
Ivan's transformation was the best thing in 'Elite' Season 8
The finale season misses the opportunity to fully utilize Ivan's character arc. While Ivan, too, was a flawed character and had his unlikeable moments—especially with how things unfolded between him and Patrick (Manu Ríos) in Season 5—his character truly shines in Season 8.
Ivan and Joel shared the most beautiful love story. Despite their flaws, they accepted each other and dreamed of a beautiful future together.
When Ivan was arrested on suspicion of Joel's murder, he wasn't just crying over being in jail; his heart was breaking because he couldn't fathom the fact that he would never see Joel again.
Despite his personal traumas and past experiences, Ivan loved Joel wholeheartedly and deserved a happy ending. It was disappointing to see his role diminish in the finale episode while Omar took all the limelight.
It would have been great if the creators had added more weight to his character and allowed his transformation to fully shine.
'Elite' Season 1 to 8 are now streaming on Netflix
