When Disney+ announced they would be releasing an original series called High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, some head-scratching went on. The High School Musical trilogy was popular over a decade ago and nobody was really clamoring for more from that world. Throw in the awkwardly long title and you could see why some weren’t sure what to think.
The show arrived with the launch of Disney+ and exceeded expectations. It worked as a mockumentary (similar to The Office) focusing on students attending the high school from the movies who are putting on a musical based on it. With a likable cast, catchy musical numbers, and fun characters, the show was a hit. Here are the season one episodes, ranked by their scores on IMDb.
The Wonderstudies (Episode 3) - 7.6
A lot of the early episodes seemed to focus on the idea that Ricky (Joshua Bassett) and Nini (Olivia Rodrigo) were the couple to root for, while E.J. (Matt Cornett) and Gina (Sofia Wylie) were going to be the antagonists. “Wonderstudies” was all about driving that concept home.
E.J. secretly had Nini’s phone and deleted a voicemail from Ricky, breaking their trust. Gina rescheduled rehearsal and put together a complicated dance routine to throw Nini off. Nini responded by stealing a bunch of her possessions. While fans got the idea behind the episode, they weren’t too keen on everyone being so petty with each other.
The Read-Through (Episode 2) - 7.8
Ricky only auditioned for the show to get closer to Nini again and that wasn’t something she appreciated. They spent a good chunk of the episode bickering and it led Ricky to contemplate quitting. He didn’t want to ruin the production for anyone involved.
Gina stepped in to convince him to get back out there, giving us our first moment of the two bonding. However, it all ended with Gina helping E.J. steal Nini’s phone. Again, it was a case where the fans seemed to like the show better when everyone had come together as a lovable group.
The Auditions (Episode 1) - 7.8
With nearly 100 more reviews than episode two, “The Auditons” holds a slight edge for installments scoring 7.8. This was all about setting things in motion. We’re introduced to the characters, including the students and the new drama teacher Miss Jenn (Kate Reinders).
The episode does a strong job of establishing who most of the characters will be for the entire season. We also get to hear some classic High School Musical tunes like “Start of Something New,” as well as some original songs. Ending on the note of who made the cast gave us an intriguing step into the rest of the series.
Homecoming (Episode 5) - 8.2
It may not rank near the top but “Homecoming” turned out to be a hugely important episode. With Nini still upset at E.J., she decides to ditch the homecoming dance for a girls’ night out with Kourtney and Miss Jenn. It is huge for Nini’s confidence and starts the Miss Jenn/Mike Bowen flirtation.
More importantly, E.J. argued with his date Gina, who only went with him as part of a lame plan to get into the leads of the play. Ricky ends up driving her home and the two bond during the trip. It was the scene where Gina let her guard down and helped her become a lovable character.
Blocking (Episode 4) - 8.2
Following the debacle of E.J. stealing Nini’s phone, repercussions had to happen. With E.J. stepping into his understudy duties, he performs alongside Nini and it makes for one of the most awkward performances of the season. The bigger story involved Ricky and why he wasn’t at rehearsal.
Ricky was excited to see his mother back home, only to find out that she’s moving to Chicago and his parents are divorcing. Joshua Bassett gets to shine as he deals with these issues. Ricky ends up at Nini’s house, where the two share a nearly romantic moment. The spark was still there.
The Tech Rehearsal (Episode 8) - 8.3
While the spark between Nini and Ricky was clear in “Blocking,” they really found their romantic connection again in “The Tech Rehearsal.” The two privately rehearsed together in a touching scene. This episode also benefitted from changing the scenery from the norm.
A fire caused them to move rehearsal to the El Ray Theater. That’s where Miss Jenn sat when the original High School Musical premiered and she discovered her line was cut. It gave us a bit more depth to the character. To top it off, Lucas Grabeel reprised his role as Ryan Evans for a musical number to wrap things up.
What Team? (Episode 6) - 8.4
Miss Jenn gets suspended when it is revealed that she lied about her teaching credentials to get her job. The students in the show get together and realize the positive influence that Miss Jenn has had on the school and their lives. That sets up the pivotal moment at her hearing.
Everyone puts together a spectacular musical performance to show their support of Miss Jenn, who ultimately gets to keep her job. There was also an interesting subplot of Nini being jealous of Ricky’s new friendship with Gina. Throw in a cameo from a High School Musical cast member and this is a winner.
Thanksgiving (Episode 7) - 8.7
As noted earlier, the show seemed to be at its best when the group came across like a loving family. That was never more evident than during “Thanksgiving.” The gang got together for a party at Ashlynn’s house. The team bonded more than ever while there.
Big Red began his flirtation with Ashlynn. Gina and Ricky grew closer. E.J. tried making up for past mistakes. Most importantly, Gina learned that she was about to move again despite making true friends here. Fans also appreciated the touching evening Miss Jenn and Mr. Mazzara shared.
Opening Night (Episode 9) - 9.2
This episode begins with a bang as we find that E.J. is playing Troy on opening night, meaning something happened to Ricky. It then backtracks to reveal the events leading up to that moment. It turns out that Ricky started the show but left when his mom showed up with her new boyfriend.
It was also because he knew someone important was in the crowd for Nini’s future and he wasn’t going to drag down her performance with his distractions. “Opening Night” juggled so many different characters and plotlines but gave them all a good amount of time to breathe.
Act Two (Episode 10) - 9.2
It’s important to end on a high night. “Act Two” is the finale and picks up where “Opening Night” leaves off. Ricky has to confront his mother about her new life. Miss Jenn gets a shining moment on stage. Mr. Mazzara invites Big Red to the robotics club. Everyone seemed to be moving on.
Nini and Ricky shared an incredible moment on stage and confessed their feelings for each other, only for Nini to find out that the performing arts school is interested in her. Gina has to leave. Just when everything seemed to be coming together, fans were left with a great setup for season two.
