Netflix is all ready to shoot us with Rebelde Season 2. So, what better time than now to take a recap for the first season of the Mexican series filled with shenanigans, emotions and a bittersweet dose of friendship. The first season consists of eight episodes in total, with a runtime of about 40 minutes for each.
Rebelde is based on the Mexican telenovela of the same name that aired in 2004 and the Argentine telenovela Rebelde Way. The director of the tv series is Santiago Limón. Also known as REBƎLDE, the drama is of Mexican origin and written by Ilse Apellaniz, José Miguel Núñez, Talia Rothenberg and Pericles Sánchez.
Rebelde’s cast consists of Azul Guaita, Giovanna Grigio, Sergio Mayer Mori, Andrea Chaparro, Jeronimo Cantillo, Álvarez, Franco Masini, Lizeth Selene, Alejandro Puente, Estefanía Villarreal, Karla Cossío, Leonardo de Lozanne, Karla Sofia Gazcón, Pamela Almanza and Dominika Paleta.
– This Article Contains Spoilers For Rebelde Season 1 –
Rebelde Season 1 Recap
Right off the bat, the first episode of Rebelde introduces us to our six main protagonists- Jana (a teen pop sensation that everyone loves and hates), Andi (a low-key, no-bullshit drummer with a knack for getting into trouble), Dixon (an aspiring rapper from the hood), MJ (a vocalist with humble, Christian origins), Luka (a rich, spoilt brat, who always gets what he wants, expect his father’s approval) and Esteban (the mysterious aspiring singer with a past no one is aware of).
Enrolling in the Elite Way School for their Musical Excellence Program (MEP), the three girls and the three boys end up becoming each other’s roommates, respectively which strikes the first chord of their friendship. The school also houses Jana’s boyfriend Sebas and, Sebas’ ex, the wannabe mean girl- Emilia. The MEP at Elite Way School offers its students the to audition and compete for the Battle of the Bands, a prestigious music inter-school music competition that is the golden gateway to signing record deals with reputed labels if you win.
However, before our six major characters can even get to audition, they are struck down by The Lodge- a secret society that lives within the shadows of the school that make the lives of the students they target a living hell. On their first night in the dorms, the six are attacked by The Lodge and harassed. Unknowingly, the members of The Lodge set one of the school’s properties on fire and the six freshmen students are caught.
Although they come clean about the hazing they faced to their principal, Cecilia, it is hard to convince her and the other admins that what they are saying is the truth. Jana, who knows she has the least to lose, takes the blame on herself and saves the rest of the group, who are allowed to audition for the MEP. She, however, hatches a plan with Dixon’s help to get to know who were the culprits.
As a form of punishment, the group is tasked with renovating the destroyed school property, which is when they slowly start gelling. Although, Luka does not participate and interacts with the group much, staying in his own bubble. Jana and Dixon think that the attack was orchestrated by Emilia or Sebas. Later, Jana even finds The Lodge’s mask and a used condom in Sebas’ room which seals the deal for her to believe that Sebas is a part of the group and is also screwing someone else behind her back. The two publically break up.
Meanwhile, Luka finds proof of a video The Lodge members recorded on the night of the hazing. He files it in time for the principal to see and not expel Jana and, let her audition for the MEP. All six students get selected. But, the next step is harder to get past as they are supposed to form their own bands. Andi approaches Emilia, as she has a crush on her but, gets rejected. Later, MJ suggests she, Andi and Jana could form a band together instead.
Dixon and Esteban get together to form a band of their own. As Jana is slated to perform with her boyfriend, Sebas, Andi and MJ are left with no lead vocalist. Luka manipulates an already smitten MJ to approach Esteban to join the band. Later, Dixon and Esteban join Andi and MJ. As Jana has broken up with Sebas, she also joins the group. Strangely, Luka also asks to be part of the band, to which Esteban readily agrees. The band is called “The Nonames”. We find out later that the leader of The Lodge is apparently instructing Luka to get into the band and break their bonding.
Sebas teams up with Emilia for the competition calling their band “XY’. However, Emilia and Andi soon start hooking up, away from people’s eyes as they are really into each other. On the other hand, the mysterious Esteban is constantly trying to get into Luka’s laptop and steal away some pictures. When Dixon finds out, Esteban clarifies that he is looking for his mother, who he believes is not dead and the last student she had was Luka.
Luka ignites fire here and there. He puts the idea in MJ’s head that she should pursue Esteban, simultaneously also gaslighting the band members against Jana. MJ and Esteban kiss out of a misunderstanding and Jana, who likes Esteban witnesses, creating a rift between her and MJ. Dixon, who has a crush on MJ, is also uncomfortable with this news. Later, Jana tries to direct the band members on their flaws but, it backfires on her as Luka’s gaslighting turns them against Jana.
An angry Jana almost quits the band but, later apologizes to others and gets together with Esteban before their first band performance moves them to the next round of the competition. As Luka is unable to stop the band from performing, The Lodge takes things into their hands. They direct Luka to ask Esteban to come to the rehearsal room right before the performance and end up beating him up. The Nonames perform without Esteban to only the judges and are fortunately selected.
Esteban is integrated about his attack but, he cannot remember a thing. Jana gives out the verdict that it is Sebas behind it all. She decides to throw an after-school party, inviting everyone where people not only get to see them perform for them to gain popularity but, also get Sebas drunk and confess his crimes. MJ serves as the bait for Sebas at the party where she gets drunk, performs the leading vocals and almost gets Sebas to confess. But, the latter escapes just in time.
We see Sebas leave Jana’s party with Anita- a member of the school administration, who serves as the principal’s secretary. It comes to light that she has been helping The Lodge function. Esteban starts to remember Luka being the one who called him in the rehearsal room the day he was attacked. Tension rises between the two.
The next day at school, we see MJ and Jana also share a sense of tension. Soon, the next round of the competition is announced which involves making a music video and the song the group gets is the anthem “salvame”. Luka has a confrontation with Esteban alone about what he is up to after the group is done recording the video. Esteban enquires about his mother and asks Luka where she is. Luka offers to give Esteban the information he needs in exchange for uploading a porn video, instead of the group’s music video for the competition- another instruction he has gotten from The Lodge.
Esteban reluctantly gives in. He finds out his mother’s location and leaves immediately to visit her. When the day of the video viewing arrives, the obscene video uploaded by Esteban creates a ruckus and the group is immediately disqualified from the competition. Luka puts all the blame on Esteban and says out loud that the group isn’t really friends with each other. This is when things slip out from each member of the group.
Dixon explains that he is not from the streets but, rather comes from a rich family. MJ confesses that she has lied to her parents about being in a religious music conservatory and, instead came to EWS. Jana, on the other hand, shares nothing. Luka grows desperate as The Lodge’s promise to make him win the Battle of the Bands seems to falter and he even decides to report them. Meanwhile, MJ, Dixon, Jana and Andi decide to prove Esteban’s innocence. They figure out Sebas is sleeping with Anita and try to catch them red-handed but, are unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, Esteban meets his mother and realizes that the real reason she left was that he was Luka’s brother, which his mother had disclosed to his father. Taking the heavy information back to school, Esteban confesses what he did and also exposes the truth about him and Luka being brothers to the latter. The band is still not allowed into the competition. MJ’s parents come across her singing video from Jana’s after-party and visit her at EWS and threaten to pull her out. She tells them to watch her perform in the finale and decide for themselves but, her dreams break when she realizes the band won’t be performing.
All the band members go through their own set of feelings. MJ and Dixon finally kiss, although MJ feels sad that she will not get her last chance. Andi calls out to Emilia and asks her not to contact her anymore. A broken Jana leaves campus to go back to her lavish but hectic life. Luka joins Sebas and Emilia’s team.
In her isolated world, Jana realizes how much she needs to go back and help her friends. She returns to the campus and gives a heartful monologue to Luka, that makes him switch his team and be a real part of The Nonames. MJ is disappointed that Jana is still behind bringing down The Lodge but, agrees to help anyway. Luka meets with The Lodge, unmasked and they come clean about their plan. The group gets this on record.
Rebelde Season 1 Ending Explained
Using the video footage, they report it to the principal, who immediately decides to talk to the board about it. Now back in the competition, the band is happy to be playing, except MJ, who feels she won’t be able to shine as Jana will be the lead vocalist. Before, the finals, Jana breaks up with Esteban, as she has her own set of issues to deal with. She suggests being friends and taking it slow.
Meanwhile, principal Cecilia is in a pickle as expelling Sebas is not in the cards as he is the son of the future president of Mexico. Mr. Couluci, who is an important school board member and Luka’s father, suggests they expel Luka, instead. The news is shocking but, the band decides to out the school’s tactics on stage on the day of the finals. They also ask Luka to perform with them.
On the day of the final of the Battle of the Bands, Emilia gets to know about Sebas’ dirty work and decides to walk out on him. During the performance of one of the other contending bands, she pulls Andi on the stage and kisses her in front of the school, making their relationship public. A tensed MJ joins Sebas for his final performance, walking out on The Nonames, as she will get to be the lead singer. Her parents are happy to see their daughter perform.
This breaks the other band members’ hearts but, they go on the stage anyway. Luka, who has nothing to lose, forwards the video of Sebas and the other Lodge members to the entire school, exposing the deal. The band then forms its final song whose chorus chimes ‘Rebelde’.
After the performance, a heartbroken Dixon leaves with his parents with a yearning MJ looking at him. Jana also leaves with her mother, leaving Esteban behind. Andi introduces Emilia to her mother. Luka tells his father that he has another son and drives away.
You can watch Rebelde Season 1 now on Netflix.
Rebelde Season 2 Trailer
Rebelde Season 2 is releasing on the streaming platform on July 27, 2022.
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