After 11 years without the songs that remind us of our childhood, “High School Musical” is back with a new twist. I started the first episode not knowing what was in store, but the show exceeded my expectations.
Although many were under the impression that the series would be a subplot of the original “High School Musical” movies, the show is not an addition to the original trilogy, nor should the two be compared.
The show follows high school junior Nini, played by Olivia Rodrigo, who is caught in a love triangle with her new boyfriend E.J., played by Matt Cornett, and her ex-boyfriend Ricky, played by Joshua Bassett. The school’s fall show is “High School Musical,” in which Nini plays the lead, Gabriella. Things turn south when Ricky gets the role of Troy, making E.J. jealous.
The plot is engaging, with the majority of the drama centering around Nini, E.J. and Ricky. However, the other members of the cast are also compelling to watch. Complications can arise from something as simple as a cast list, which keeps the show interesting.
The series features new performers that are incredibly talented. The actors, some as young as 15, are able to truly captivate the audience with their incredible performances. Additionally, the cast is full of great singers. They add their own twists to the original songs from the movies, such as “Start of Something New” and “Stick to the Status Quo.”
I was excited to see that they incorporated both old and new songs into the episodes. Nini is a songwriter who writes “I Think I Kinda, You Know,” which has innocent lyrics about falling in love for the first time. The catchy melody already has me singing along in the car. Another original song “Wondering,” written by E.J.’s cousin Ashlyn, played by Julia Lester, is a beautiful ballad about feeling lost that gave me chills when I first heard it.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the show as it offers a new take on one of my favorite franchises from when I was little. The new songs really make the show come together, and I am not surprised that it has already been renewed for a second season.
Released December 2019, Digitized 2025
