Trigger warning: the following article discusses depression and suicide. If you or someone you know is suicidal or struggling please call the suicide hotline at 800-273-8255.

Welcome to another High School Musical The Musical The Series review Wildcats! This week is all about Carlos as he celebrates his 16th birthday, and the team throws him a Quinceanero. Spoiler alert: I balled my eyes out during this episode, there is a wonderful performance by Seb that makes this episode my favorite of the season. Let’s dive into the big stories.

EJ

EJ lowkey has a great storyline in this episode; last week our favorite villain turned pretty great guy was struggling with the news that he didn’t get into the University of Duke. Mr. Mazzarra came to EJ at the end of last week’s episode, and he told EJ to broaden his horizons and to step outside of his comfort zone. This week EJ has joined the A/V Club (are the schools still calling it the A/V Club?) and is documenting all the action at Carlos’s Quinceanero. I love the moment Mr. Mazzarra has with EJ towards the end of the episode where he asks EJ “so stepping behind the camera instead of being in front of it, whose story did you like the most”? I think EJ is growing in new ways, and I love the development of his character.

Nini and Ricky

Nini has returned to East High after dropping out of her performing arts boarding school in Denver. Upon Nini’s return, Ricky has been trying to convince her to ask Ms. Jen if she can be in the spring musical, to which Nini doesn’t seem very confident in asking. The star-crossed lovers really aren’t doing too much in this episode, except being an adorable couple, but at the very end of the episode Ms. Jen said she had shocking news for our star couple. 

Gina

Buckle up Wildcats; Gina’s story in this episode is the powerhouse of this episode, and she is on an emotional journey, but first let’s recap everything that Gina has been through just in season 2:

Gina started the season by moving in with Ashlyn after her mom (who works for FEMA) was forced to move across the country for her job. Gina misread signals with Ricky and almost confessed her love for him even though he is dating Nini. Last week she got into a big fight with Carlos about choreography, which she made up with a big beautiful moment. 

This week Gina is making a big deal about Carlos’s Quinceanero, by trying to make it as perfect as she can. I honestly thought that Disney was going down a suicidal path with GIna’s story this week; there is a moment when EJ asks if GIna is okay, and she says “oh you’re genuinely asking me how I’m doing” and for some reason, this means a lot to Gina at this moment. Gina also keeps hinting that something is ending, and there is a shot when Seb is singing “The Climb” where Gina looks like she is taking everything in for the final time. At the end of the episode, the camera pans to Gina who is sitting away from the group as she calls her mom, and tells her she is ready to leave East High. I’ve said this before, but I have always related to Gina more than any other character in HSMTMTS. Gina is struggling to find her own identity within the larger-than-life cast at East High — she’s used to being the star and being the center of attention and at East High, she is loved but she isn’t the star. I can’t wait to see where Disney takes Gina on next week’s episode of HSMTMTS. 

Seb and Carlos

This entire episode is focused around Carlos’s birthday, and while it’s a great event full of wonderful memories the biggest perhaps is the performance Carlos receives from his boyfriend Seb. Seb sings an unbelievable version of “The Climb” that is 1000% a cry-worthy performance (watch the performance here). I love that Disney decided to do a cover of “The Climb” in this episode, sometimes I think we forget how music can inspire and this is a perfect song to inspire our cast as they prepare for the spring musical. We know Gina is about to go on a big journey with her character and Seb sending her off with a song like this just makes it absolutely perfect. 

I know I skipped over Ms. Jen in this review, but that’s because we are going to do a deep dive next week into her love triangle with Mr. Mazzarra and Ricky’s dad. Additionally, we will take a look at her rival Zack Roy and our new villain Lily! 

Thanks for reading!