Y soy rebelde, chicos. The students of Elite Way School are back to break the rules on Rebelde, the continuation of the beloved Mexican telenovela (2004–2006), which itself was an adaptation of the Argentine series Rebelde Way (2002–2003). The hallowed halls of EWS that produced the world-famous Latin pop group RBD are welcoming a new class of musicians who are all hoping to reach superstardom and become the next Mía Colucci. Or, maybe Roberta Pardo.

Sálvame from the suspense — here’s your key recap of Season 1, featuring all the heartbreaks, secret cults and hit songs you won’t be able to get out of your head. 

KEY PLAYERS:

Jana Cohen Gandia (Azul Guaita): A famous pop star who goes to mom Pilar’s alma mater because she wants to make ~serious~ music.

Estebán Torres (Sergio Mayer Mori): A scholarship student who mysteriously chose to bring his “young Mozart” talents to EWS over a spot at a conservatory.

Luka Colucci (Franco Masini): Obnoxious and wealthy, this Colucci descendant is the definition of “hurt people hurt people,” but he arrives at EWS eager to chart his own path as a singer.

María José “MJ” Sevilla (Andrea Chaparro): Raised in a religious family out in California, MJ arrives at EWS hoping to expand her musical horizons beyond the church choir.

Guillermo “Dixon” Álvarez (Jerónimo Cantillo): A rapper from Colombia who yearns to maintain his allure of street cred, from wearing skirts to rocking a skunk mohawk.

Andrea “Andi” Agosti (Lizeth Selene): A drummer who can’t help but raise a little hell now and then — in her relationships and on the kit.

Sebastián “Sebas” Langarica (Alejandro Puente): The son of the “next president of Mexico” who gets away with anything and everything at EWS.

Emilia Alo (Giovanna Grigio): Originally from Brazil, she is the Queen Bee of EWS who will do whatever it takes to win the Battle of the Bands this year.

KEY LOCATIONS:

Elite Way School (EWS): The prestigious Mexican boarding school that begot the famous music group RBD, where a new generation of musical artists are waiting to take up the popstars’ mantle.

Jana’s Family Mansion: Where Sin Nombre (aka Without Name) perform in front of their peers for the first time at an after-hours party.

KEY PLOT POINTS:

1. It’s the start of a new term at the most renowned boarding school in Latin America, Elite Way School (EWS), where every freshman dreams of making it in the Musical Excellence Program (MEP) and winning the Battle of the Bands to follow in the footsteps of legendary RBD. Queen Bee Emilia shows the newbies the ropes, and Estebán and Jana immediately click when they meet after orientation, as he sees the artist in her like no one else has. One problem though — she’s dating the mayor’s son, Sebas, and he’s planning on taking “Jabas” (gag) to the winner’s circle of Battle of the Bands.

2. In the middle of the night, all the freshmen are taken from their dorms by members of The Lodge, a gang of students in animal masks and letterman jackets who feel entitled to getting ahead over scholarship kids by any means necessary. Cultish, much? Laughing and filming themselves using garbled Darth Vader voices to hide their identities, they steal the old RBD uniforms from the hallway display case and force our six new recruits (Jana, Estebán, MJ, Dixon, Luka and Andi) to wear the outfits while singing RBD’s classic song “Rebelde.” To The Lodge’s surprise, they nail it. While they’re singing, though, one masked member spills alcohol around some candles and sets the room ablaze. Everyone runs, leaving the six newbies stranded. They’re disqualified from auditioning, but Jana takes the rap so that the others will still have a chance.

Welcome to EWS

3. On MEP audition day, Luka sings a rousing song to his neglectful father, Marcelo, who’s in the audience, about how he’s “tired of his dad’s crumbs.” After Luka leaves his audition in tears, Kuri, a racist and homophobic student, taunts his “fairy tears,” and Luka knocks him to the ground, asking if Kuri got a good video. He looks at Kuri’s phone only to find a video of Kuri wearing an animal mask the night of the fire. He sends it to himself and later shows it to Principal Celina Ferrer, clearing Jana’s name.

4. Everyone makes it into MEP and, even better news, Jana and Estebán share their first kiss! But Jana gets back with Sebas to “keep her enemies closer,” since she suspects him of being in The Lodge. MJ, Andi, Dixon and Estebán become their own band, Sin Nombre, as Jana finds one of the masks from The Lodge and a condom by the trash in Sebas’ room. But he breaks up with her for violating his privacy, how typical. At least she’s with Sin Nombre now. Kuri takes the fall for the hazing incident, while former exes Sebas and Emilia get back together to form their own group, XY. Andi reminds Emilia that she is talented all on her own and they kiss, sparking a clandestine relationship. Estebán hacks into Luka’s computer just as MJ comes into his dorm and kisses him, only for Jana to watch, stricken, in the doorway. Estebán and Jana eventually reconcile because “they have something real.” 

5. Estebán confides in Dixon that he’s really at EWS to find his mom, Rocío, who abandoned him as a kid and happens to be Luka’s old music teacher. He wants to find photos of his mom that might be buried on Luka’s computer. Meanwhile, Sin Nombre throw a party at Jana’s house to rally support among their peers and convince Sebas (while drunk) to confess to the hazing. MJ steals the show (and Dixon’s heart) during their performance, yet Sebas gets away... but not before divulging to Jana that it was him behind the hazing and rubbing it in her face that she couldn’t get it on tape. Sebas ditches the party and hops in the car with Anita, the principal’s assistant, who’s been helping him terrorize students as part of The Lodge and sends Luka anonymous texts to sow discord in Sin Nombre.

6. Sin Nombre record a cover of RBD’s “Sálvame” for Battle of the Bands, but Luka blackmails Estebán into submitting a NSFW video instead in exchange for information about his mother, leaving the group disqualified — again. Estebán leaves school and goes to a bar to see their singer for the night — his mother, Rocío. After the show, he tells her that he’s her son. He asks her about why Luka’s father, Marcelo, sent her away, and she drops the bomb that Marcelo is his real father. Which means that... he and Luka are BROTHERS. 

Sálvame

7. Luka joins XY after following The Lodge’s orders, just as Estebán returns to campus and socks Luka in the face, shouting from the rooftops that Luka blackmailed him and that he helped Sebas sabotage Sin Nombre. Not to mention Estebán is livid that Luka didn’t tell him they were brothers, to boot, but Luka is also blindsided by the news. Andi is over all the secrecy with Emilia, who still wants to stay in XY with Sebas in order to win. So Andi breaks up with her. 

8. Jana catches Luka looking longingly at the RBD display case in the hall, implying that he only bought into playing the part of the villain but it’s not who he really is, then she reminds him, “the fact that you’re a Colucci doesn’t mean you have to act like one.” Luka convinces Sebas to summon The Lodge for a meeting, only for Sin Nombre to come out of the darkness and film everyone with their masks off, including Anita. They’re busted; Anita is fired; every student in The Lodge, including Luka, is expelled (except for Sebas, since there’s no way the board is expelling the mayor’s son); and Sin Nombre can perform in the finals again.

9. On the day of the Battle of the Bands, Emilia pulls Andi out during another group’s song, a cover of “En Tú Planeta Me Quedé” by Zoé, and kisses her in front of all their friends and family, as this is Emilia’s grand gesture since Andi “wanted to go public.” Emilia immediately quits XY and Sebas is left in the lurch. Since MJ wants to be sure of her chances to stay at EWS and doesn’t want to risk the consequences of a scheme Sin Nombre hatched with Luka, she goes on with Sebas instead. They sing a cover of “Lo Siento” by Beret, and MJ’s parents are beaming in the audience.

Lo Siento

10. Devastated by MJ’s betrayal, Sin Nombre go on anyway with Luka and spill everything about The Lodge and Sebas, with the students cheering them on. Jana reintroduces the group as Rebelde, and they start singing a cover of the iconic titular song. MJ cries offstage, mouthing the words to the song, while Emilia films them from the audience. If we really are judging by popular vote, then it’s easy to guess who the winner is of the Battle of the Bands… y soy rebelde, baby!

Nosotros Somos… Rebelde!

KEY QUESTIONS GOING INTO SEASON 2:

• Will Sebas ever face any consequences for his actions?

• Will Luka return to EWS?

• Will MJ stay at EWS and become a shining pop star?

• Are Dixon and MJ over before they’ve even begun?

• Will Jana and Estebán stay together? 

• Will Principal Celina Ferrer hire an honorable assistant?

• Will any of Luka (and Estebán’s) famous Colucci relatives make an appearance?

• Is this the last we’ve seen of The Lodge? Will they find a new leader?

• Which band will swoop in as the new competition to beat next season?

• Which Latin American pop star will the Battle of the Band champs record a single with?

• So just to confirm... Rebelde obviously won the Battle of the Bands, right?