Rebelde: A new generation

On January 5, 2022, Netflix released a reboot of the beloved Mexican telenovela “Rebelde” (Rebel) with a whole new generation of talented and rebellious teenagers. The first season of Rebelde was only eight episodes and premiered despite the negativity campaign that followed the show since its announcement. 

Scores of fans around the world that watched the Mexican version of Rebelde and became enamored with its characters and pop band RBD, didn’t hesitate to let Netflix know that they didn’t want a reboot. However, despite their wishes, and the fandom’s efforts to trash the show before it even premiered, the halls of the Elite Way School (now EWS for short) got crowded again, and Rebelde was brought back to our screen once more. 

If you watched the Mexican version of Rebelde or even the original Argentinian telenovela Rebelde Way, then chances are you’re not going to be into this version. Why? Because things are very different in this reboot. Although Netflix’s Rebelde is a continuation of the Mexican version, and fans do get some references to the original version, Netflix has tailored this version to appeal to the new generations. 

So if you’re someone who still goes around chanting “Yo digo R, tu dices B-D, RBD, RBD!” (I say R, you say B-D, RBD, RBD) then you’re definitely not the target audience for this show. As beloved as the show was, this simple fact is now a hard pill to swallow. Should you still give it a shot? That’s entirely up to you. Are you going to love it? We can’t promise you that. However, if you’re young, you love musicals and are into high school drama, then this show is definitely for you.

Let’s talk about the new Rebelde 

Rebelde follows a new group of students attending the Elite Way School who want to pursue their dreams of making it big in the music industry, just like RBD’s alumni once did. Jana (Azul Guaita) is a former child star who aims to be taken seriously and show the world that she’s more than a one-hit-wonder. Luka (Franco Masini) is an ego-centric influencer and musician. He chases the spotlight relentlessly, cockily thinking he deserves it because of his familial heritage. 

Esteban (Sergio Mayer Mori) is the shy heartthrob who won a scholarship to attend the prestigious school but has hidden ulterior motives that don’t have anything to do with music. Dixon (Jeronimo Cantillo), a Colombian native who has always wanted to be a rapper, hopes that this school will help make his dreams come true. Andi (Lizeth Selene) is a talented drummer who often gets ridiculed by her stepfather and doesn’t get much support from her mother. 

MJ (Andrea Chaparro) is the innocent one in the group. In order to attend EWS she lies to her religious parents in an attempt to pursue her dreams of becoming a pop star. These 6 students come together to form a group to participate in the Battle of the Bands and win the prize of recording one original song. 

However, a secret society known as The Lodge threatens their plans to win the event in order to maintain the purity and reputation that EWS is known for. Sounds like high school drama at its finest, and it is. So, what makes this reboot worth the binge-watch? 

1. The nostalgia factor

If you’re here only for the nostalgia factor, then you’re probably going to love the little aspects of the original telenovela that Netflix included on the show. It was a clear attempt to keep the OG fans (yes, here at Q+ we have some fans of RBD) interested – RBD songs, The Lodge secret society, the original uniforms that the members of RBD once wore, and even appearances from original cast members. 

However, that’s it, folks! Don’t expect to find more than that because you certainly won’t get it. This show does an incredible job at departing from its original source, while at the same time giving its older audience some subtle nods. So even though this Rebelde is technically in the same universe as the old Rebelde, they are not the same show.

2. The cast

We think that the key factor to make any teen show watchable falls on its cast, and this one does not disappoint. The chemistry between all these new characters is, in our humble opinion, the heart of the show. Whether they’re bonding, plotting, singing, fighting, or falling for each other, all their interactions feel genuine and natural. 

It is clear that the writers of this show (Ilse Apellaniz, José Miguel Núñez, Talia Rothenberg, Pericles Sánchez) took their time to really understand and study the intended demographic, and make sure that the script reflected that. 

3. Representation

If there was something lacking in the original Rebelde, it was representation. The original telenovela, despite being a Mexican production and having a gay actor in its main cast (Christian Chavez, who wasn’t out back then),  Rebelde was a perfectly crafted but very straight, white story. 

The main cast consisted of white-passing actors, and the representation of any type of minority was non-existent. This version, however, gives us both a beautifully mixed and diverse cast from all walks of life, and also pointedly includes exactly what we were screaming for: queer representation.

4. Queer representation

This new take on Rebelde gave us queer-rep on all fronts. In the young, main cast we have four queer characters – yes, four! Let us repeat that: half of the young cast is queer! The show did a good job of including minor characters that represent all genders and sexualities as well. 

Queer representation isn’t just front and center, it’s weaved into every facet of the show. All in all, Netflix did score some points with this show in the queer field.

Rebelde provides a new generation of viewers with role models to aspire to. Despite its departure from its predecessor, it is a good campy show that does a great job at providing a space for the next generation of young people to explore what it’s like to be a teenager in a healthy way.

It has its downfalls, as nothing is ever perfect. Its storylines, albeit inclusive, are predictable. Every single one of us here predicted what was going to happen before it unfolded on our screens. The pace of the show feels somewhat rushed, and there are a few clumsy moments as the villainous characters are identified and revealed. But it’s queer, it’s here, and we’re all about it.

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Rebelde is now streaming exclusively on Netflix. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for all queer stuff!