Netflix’s Rebelde Continues The Musical Legacy Of Its Predecessor — But Does It Succeed?
Netflix debuted their brand new series Rebelde earlier this week, which is a continuation of the Mexican telenovela from 2004. The series follows students attending EWS, formerly known as Elite Way School, with hopes of getting into their prestigious music program and fast tracking it to music stardom.
At the center of Rebelde are young people of different experiences and socioeconomic backgrounds coming together to create an awesome rock band. Jana (Azul Guaita) has had a taste of stardom but wants to be taken more seriously as an artist. Luka (Franco Masini) is part of the wealthy and powerful Colucci family with an ego to prove it. Estebán (Sergio Mayer Mori) is a scholarship student who is trying to uncover a family mystery. Dixon (Jeronimo Cantillo) is an aspiring rapper from a seemingly tough background. MJ (Andrea Chaparro) lied to her religious parents to get into the school and pursue her musical dreams. Andi (Lizeth Selene) is a badass lesbian drummer who isn’t supported by her parents. Together they form a band to compete in EWS’s Battle of the Bands, but a secret society called The Lodge threatens to take them down.
One of the strongest aspects of Rebelde is how it pays tribute to the original show while also forging a new way for this group. Original cast members Karla Cossio and Estefania Villarreal return as Pilar Gandia, Jana’s mother, and Celina Ferrer, the principal at EWS, respectively. There’s a shrine to the original Rebelde band at the school, the new cast performs Rebelde songs, and we even see MJ channel Mia Colucci and her iconic star look.
When it comes to the cast, you really believe their bond and the ups and downs that the young actors of Rebelde deal with. Everyone is super talented, charismatic, and work well together to get through any obstacles they face. While the show wants you to focus on the relationship drama between Jana, Estebán, and Sebas (Alejandro Puente), the true stars are Andi and Emilia (Giovanna Grigio), who have magnetic chemistry on screen. The multitalented MJ is another stand out. Tough guy with a heart of gold Dixon, unfortunately, doesn’t get enough screen time. Both the music that scores the show and the musical performances from the band add to the hip and trendy atmosphere. The costume design is very unique and full of statement pieces that continue Rebelde’s legacy as being fashion forward.
Where Rebelde falters is when it comes to the big bad of the series — The Lodge — and the way the season ends. Full of people who are very wealthy and powerful, it feels silly that The Lodge is so focused on a high school Battle of the Bands. There seems to be a lack of real stakes around why they’re trying to take down this group of freshmen, especially when freshmen have never won the competition before. Why are they really so threatened by them? And will there be any real repercussions? Everything ends so abruptly and the show doesn’t set up an exciting new direction for a follow up season.
While the Lodge could’ve been fleshed out better and the finale could have set up a new mystery, Rebelde is still a must-watch. The teen drama has great musical numbers, unparalleled style, and a cast with tons of chemistry. Lizeth Selene, who plays Andi, is a superstar in the making. Rebelde is high energy, addicting to watch, and does a great job paying tribute to its predecessor.
Rebelde is currently streaming on Netflix.
