HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL: THE MUSICAL - THE SERIES -- A Fresh And Charming Family Program

S1E10: "Act Two"

Review by Camden Ferrell

After a long journey with our characters, "Act Two" ends the first (but not last) season of High School Musical: The Musical – The Series. This episode resolves and ties up all of the loose ends from the previous and delivers a satisfying conclusion to the story thus far.
 
This episode follows the second act of the group’s production and deals with Ricky’s decision to concede his role to EJ so Nini has can give a better performance for the dean of the school to which she’s trying to gain admittance.  We also get some tender moments between Ricky and his mother that aims for catharsis and almost gets there. There are also some great character moments that fans have been waiting for all season, and it’s definitely worth the wait. Most plot lines are resolved fairly quick in the episode. It spends the latter half of the episode setting up conflict and hinting at future developments for the next season.
 
The first season finale is satisfying, and it’s adorable. It does its job of giving fans closure over pressing matters while also looking towards the future. Until season two starts, it has been lots of fun.
 
High School Musical: The Musical – The Series ​is currently streaming on Disney+.
 
Rating: 3.5/5

S1E9: "Opening Night"

Review by Camden Ferrell

"Opening Night" is the episode we have been waiting for all season. Even though the path may have been a bit arduous at times, it’s very satisfying to get see our characters finally perform. Easily the best episode this season, this penultimate installment should be thoroughly entertaining for fans.
 
This episode follows the cast and crew as they prepare for opening night of their musical at school. We get to see how Ricky and Nini deal with (or rather not deal with) the events of the previous episode while also preparing for the biggest roles of their life. We also get to see the rest of the cast scramble to make any last-minute adjustments to perform. It’s a really energetic episode that never really drags. It also succeeds in creating some tangible stakes that haven’t often presented themselves this season. This episode is nothing groundbreaking, but it’s really engaging due to all of the twists and turns that happen to these kids on opening night.
 
This episode perfectly sets up the season finale later this week, and it’s a fun episode for all to enjoy. It’s been a long journey to get here, but it makes the payoff worth it.

​High School Musical: The Musical – The Series is currently streaming on Disney+. New episodes stream every Friday.
 
Rating: 3.5/5

S1E8: "The Tech Rehearsal"

Review by Camden Ferrell

As we near the end of the season, an episode like "The Tech Rehearsal" reminds us about why we want to watch the show in the first place. However, despite its fervent spirit, this episode still feels very similar to most of the episodes this season.
 
After the fire that was teased in the previous episode’s final scene, we see our cast and crew as the suffer a devastating loss of property as well as a loss of the musical’s venue at the school. Thanks to some connections, they are able to acquire the use of a local theater, and this episode follows the students and Miss Jenn trying to make the best of their situation. This episode gives us some great moments with Nini and Ricky as well as with Ashlyn and Big Red. It may be a little too cheesy for some viewers, but it’s harmlessly sweet at the same time. The biggest strength of this episode is how it explores Miss Jenn’s comically tragic backstory. This all culminates in a surprise cameo that will please High School Musical fans everywhere.
 
While its laughs may be tepid, this is still a nostalgic and uplifting episode that will spark joy in viewers. It’s nothing special, but it’s a fitting prelude to the final two episodes this season.
 
High School Musical: The Musical – The Series is currently streaming on Disney+. New episodes stream every Friday.
 
Rating: 3/5

S1E7: "Thanksgiving"

Review by Camden Ferrell

"Thanksgiving", the most recent episode of High School Musical: The Musical – The Series, is the show’s strongest episode in recent weeks. This episode gets to see our characters enjoying a Thanksgiving party together during their break from school.
 
In this episode, the students get together during Thanksgiving break for a potluck at Ashlyn’s house where they spend time together and play a High School Musical themed board game created by Carlos. We get to see EJ as he becomes more publicly honest about his transgressions with mixed results. This episode also dedicates some screen time to Ricky’s relationship with Gina and Nini as well as the blossoming dynamic of Big Red and Ashlyn. It’s fun to really see the characters develop and interact independently from the plot, and it really makes this episode more enjoyable than recent installments. It may be a filler episode, but it’s one that is fairly entertaining and interesting.
 
Still streaming’s best guilty-pleasure show, this newest episode is a light-hearted installment that is fun to watch. It is enough to satiate fans as we wait for the rest of the story to unfold.
 
High School Musical: The Musical – The Series is currently streaming on Disney+. New episodes stream every Friday.
 
Rating: 3.5/5

S1E6: "What Team?"

Review by Camden Ferrell

The newest episode of High School Musical: The Musical – The Series does a lot to progress the plot of the show as well as address one of the series’ most pressing questions thus far. "What Team?" is an enjoyable albeit cheesy installment in the series.
 
This episode follows our cast and crew as they deal with the prospect of Miss Jenn being fired from the school. The details surrounding Miss Jenn’s past are revealed, and we are given some realistic yet predictable stakes this episode. Otherwise, this is an episode that sees EJ try and reconcile with Nini while Gina and Ricky grow closer. These are dynamics that add some more subtle tension and investment into the series, and I’m excited to see where it goes from here. Unfortunately, the episode is fairly devoid of humor even though it sometimes tries. Nevertheless, it does contain a great song and dance sequence that really captures the spirit of the show.
 
This newest episode is on par with recent episodes, and it should be entertaining enough for viewers. It gives us insight into Miss Jenn’s history while also hinting at some brewing romance and drama.
 
High School Musical: The Musical – The Series is currently streaming on Disney+. New episodes stream every Friday.
 
Rating: 3/5

S1E5: "Homecoming"

Review by Camden Ferrell

"Homecoming" is the fifth episode of High School Musical: The Musial – The Series. This episode follows our characters on the night of their homecoming dance. While it doesn’t directly deal with the musical they’re working on, this episode features a lot of sweet moments for its characters.
 
In this episode, we get to see most of our characters attend the school dance. EJ and Gina attend together after EJ and Nini split from the previous episode’s events. We also see Ricky and Big Red attend the dance as well. Both Nini, Kourtney, and Miss Jenn have their own girl’s night in lieu of their dance. However, the sweetest and most heartwarming storyline comes from Carlos anxiously awaiting his date with Seb at the dance. It’s a big step forward for LGBT representation in family programs, and it’s one of the episode’s most adorable moments. This episode also features some surprisingly intimate and tense moments between Ricky and Gina.  There’s a lot going on in this episode, and it feels a little jumbled at time, but it mostly finds its footing by the end of the episode.
 
This chapter in the series feels almost like a filler episode, but it does use its time wisely, developing these characters further and giving us more great character interactions. It’s still flawed but enjoyable nonetheless.
 
High School Musical: The Musical – The Series is currently streaming on Disney+. New episodes stream every Friday.
 
Rating: 3/5

S1E4: "Blocking"

Review by Camden Ferrell

High School Musical: The Musical – The Series returns for its fourth episode titled "Blocking". Like the previous episode, a lot of its time is spent developing its characters and their relationships rather than progressing its plot. Despite this, it’s still a generally solid episode that makes for some casual entertainment.
 
This episode deals with the fallout of the previous episode. We see how Nini responds to last episode’s revelation. This leads to a lot of uncomfortable moments of tension between her and EJ (which is executed very well by the young actors). However, the standout moments of this episode come from Ricky (played by Joshua Bassett). This episode finally reveals the nature of Ricky’s domestic life. We see how he handles the separation of his parents in a way that feels very resonant. Unfortunately, in between these two plots, the rest of the episode is rather forgettable, and some of the jokes fall flat.
 
This newest episode isn’t particularly impressive, but it did give its characters a handful of moments to shine and grow. Again, it’s another installment that feels like its building up to something even bigger.
 
High School Musical: The Musical – The Series is currently streaming on Disney+. New episodes stream every Friday.
 
Rating: 3/5

S1E3: "The Wonderstudies"

Review by Camden Ferrell

The newest episode of High School Musical: The Musical – The Series is probably the weakest so far, but it isn’t in vain. It spends its run time meandering while also setting up for what could be a highly eventful and dramatic episode next week.
 
This episode follows our characters as they continue to navigate their new dynamics and relationships since rehearsals have started. This episode isn’t so much about the musical as it is about the people who are starring in it. We get to see some of EJ’s inner struggle with his dishonest actions last episode while also seeing some tension between him and Ricky. We also get to see Nini’s insecurities as she fears Gina is stealing the spotlight from her. This episode reveals a lot about its characters, but it doesn’t do too much to propel the plot forward.
 
What’s unexpected is the mystery it creates around the character of Miss Jenn. When a robotics teacher gets jealous of all of the attention the musical is getting, he decides to investigate Miss Jenn’s past. His findings are merely hinted at, but not fully explored. This, along with a major cliffhanger, should lead to a very promising episode next week.
 
Even though, it’s weaker than the previous episodes, "The Wonderstudies" is still entertaining and enticing enough to come back for more.
 
High School Musical: The Musical – The Show is now streaming on Disney+. New episodes stream every Friday.
 
Rating: 3/5

S1E2: "The Read-Through"

Review by Camden Ferrell

Even though it’s less eventful than the first episode, High School Musical: The Musical – The Series returns with a second episode with some great character drama that plants the seeds for more conflict to come.
 
This episode follows our cast of characters as they do a read-through of the play and go through the first few stages of rehearsal. In this episode, we learn more about the internal struggle and emotional frustration of Olivia Rodrigo’s Nini while also seeing some more sinister characterization of both EJ and Gina.
 
While Rodrigo once again steals the show with some truly great moments, there is one surprise performance in this episode. Ashlyn, played by Julia Lester, gets some more screen time. Even though she is still relatively minor, Lester and Rodrigo share a fantastic song that is as emotional as it is cathartic for their characters.
 
The show still maintains its blend of humor and teen drama, and it gives little hints at the domestic troubles of Ricky which is a very promising storyline. Overall, this is an episode on par with the first that still feels like it’s building up to something bigger down the line. This show remains the guilty pleasure of the fall.

High School Musical: The Musical - The Series is currently streaming on Disney+. New episodes stream every Friday.
 
Rating: 3.5/5

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S1E1: "The Auditions"

Review by Camden Ferrell

High School Musical: The Musical – The Series is a comedy program for the streaming platform Disney+. This is a mockumentary-style show that refuses to live in the source material’s shadow while also being a fresh and original family program.
 
This show follows the kids who attend the school where the High School Musical films were filmed as they attempt to put on a stage production of the movie. Instead of being a continuation or a reboot, the show goes in a completely original direction with a fun premise that lends itself to a lot of meta humor and drama. The mockumentary style of the program can often feel derivative, but it’s a genre that this show explores more than most family programs. The shaky camera work and confessionals give the show a style that differentiates itself away from the films and paves its own path towards success.
 
This first episode is about Ricky, who finds out his now ex-girlfriend Nini and her new boyfriend EJ are planning to audition for the High School Musical production at their school. This is a fairly standard plot, but it’s just the kind of teenage drama that makes this show so shamelessly appealing. It introduces the characters in a way that isn’t boring, and it hints at many side characters who may become big players as the series progresses. 

The child actors are pretty decent overall. However, it is obvious that there is one stand out in this episode. Disney Channel veteran Olivia Rodrigo, who plays Nini, shows a lot of potential. She tackles some resonant teenage emotions and moments in a way that may feel cheesy at times but is also very realistic. She interacts well with her co-stars, and she has a very charming screen presence that I’m excited to see more of this season.
 
This episode took some surprising turns throughout. It tackled some relatively serious childhood issues that hints that this show won’t stray from being a more realistic portrayal of adolescence than we expected. However, it balances this with some comedy, music, and charm from the rest of the cast.
 
Containing plenty of references for longtime fans, this is a show that is great for audiences everywhere, and it’s perfect for family viewing on Disney+. It’s not perfect, but it’s a very enjoyable experience. This first episode sets in motion a story that may prove to be dramatic, funny, and highly engaging.
 
High School Musical: The Musical – The Series is currently streaming on Disney+. New episodes stream every Friday.
 
Rating: 3.5/5