Review of the Fourth Season of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series: A Final Curtain Call

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In the opening scene of High School Musical 3: Senior Year, the East High Wildcats find themselves facing a daunting challenge. They are trailing by a whopping 21 points at halftime in the intense New Mexico 5A Basketball State Championship. However, their fearless coach, Coach Bolton, played by the charismatic Bart Johnson, steps up to the plate. With an impassioned speech that ignites the team’s fiery spirit, he delivers a powerful message of determination and unity. This electrifying moment sets the stage for the exhilarating opening number, “Now Or Never,” where Captain Troy Bolton, portrayed by the talented Zac Efron, takes center stage, belting out lyrics that resonate with every fiber of his being. He sings, “This is our final opportunity to soar… this is our last chance to etch our legacy… so let’s seize it with all our might.” The gripping intensity displayed in this scene parallels the immense pressure surrounding the highly anticipated fourth and final season of Disney+’s High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, set to premiere on August 9. Just like the Wildcats in the film, the characters of this beloved series face a make-or-break moment, and fans are in for a thrilling ride.

In 2019, the musical mockumentary made quite an impression during its initial release. It managed to pleasantly surprise audiences by striking a perfect balance between catering to die-hard fans of the early 2000s film trilogy and introducing a brand new group of characters who were born around the same time as the original movie. But that’s not all! In addition to that, it cleverly incorporated a range of clever nods and allusions to the world of musical theater, specifically targeting the theater enthusiasts who can effortlessly recall the names of all the Jellicle cats even in their dreams.

In the fourth season of the show, the storyline returns to East High after the crew’s summer theater camp adventures in season three. It starts off with a highly anticipated reunion of some original Wildcats, including Corbin Bleu, Monique Coleman, Lucas Grabeel, and KayCee Stroh. Although we were thrilled to see them together on stage, it became a bit confusing when the first scene turned out to be self-referential, making us question what was happening. Sadly, Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, and Ashley Tisdale were not present for this reunion.

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So here’s the deal – we were under the impression that we were witnessing some impressive singing and dancing skills from Bleu, Coleman, Grabeel, and Stroh right at the beginning of the show. We had seen most of them (except Coleman) appearing as themselves in the HSMTMTS universe before. However, our minds were blown when we heard the director shout “Cut,” and the camera pulled back to reveal a whole film crew. It turned out that what we were actually watching was actor Corbin Bleu, who plays the character Corbin Bleu in HSMTMTS, portraying the character Chad Danforth from the High School Musical franchise. It was like a mind-bending moment that stretched the limits of our ability to keep track of all the interconnected references.

Are you ready to dive into the juicy details of season four of your favorite show? Well, get ready because this time it’s all about High School Musical 4: The Reunion. The story takes place at East High School, where the filming of the movie is happening. But here’s the catch: the drama students at the school are not only dealing with their own theater production of High School Musical 3, but now they have the added pressure of being recruited as extras for HSM4. And you can bet that when these two worlds collide, there will be some serious drama. If you’re still following along, get ready for a wild ride!

This season, we have three new characters joining the cast. First, we have Dani, a talented TikToker who has recently transitioned to acting. Then, there’s Mack, a former child star from a popular sitcom. And lastly, we have Director Quinn, a serious-minded millennial who clearly had a disdain for High School Musical back when it first aired. While these new additions play a role in the main conflict, their presence seems unnecessary. All we truly want in this final season is to focus on the core group, the ones who have been with us since the very start. These original characters are the ones we truly connect with and care about.

HSMTMTS is most captivating when the core group unites to confront challenges with a unified spirit of “togetherness,” although this dynamic unfortunately doesn’t fully materialize until later in the season. It’s not due to a lack of interaction, mind you. All of them are actively involved in HSM4 as featured extras together. However, this season appears to tilt towards individual storylines, with some characters preparing for graduation and others navigating the complexities of being juniors. As a result, certain character arcs receive more thorough development than others. For instance, Ricky engages in deep self-reflection with the guidance of two familiar faces, Kourtney undertakes a compelling exploration of college options beyond prestigious Ivy League institutions, and Ashlyn’s journey of self-discovery as she embraces her newly found queer identity is simultaneously hilarious and heartwarming (highlighted by a remarkable tribute to Eleanor Roosevelt).

Now, let’s look at Gina’s storyline, which I have to say is the most captivating one. It’s almost like a real-life parallel where Sofia Wylie, who plays Gina, suddenly rises from being a background character to becoming one of the main leads in HSM4. It’s similar to what happened in the show HSMTMTS when Olivia Rodrigo left to pursue her music career, allowing Wylie to take on a bigger role. This sudden shift in Gina’s character emphasizes how life can sometimes throw unexpected opportunities our way. It’s truly fascinating how things can unfold, isn’t it?

But Carlos (Frankie A. Rodriguez), who has really grown in the previous seasons, was given a quite boring storyline that focuses only on him trying to find his missing boyfriend, Seb (Joe Serafini). The excessive amount of talk about this situation seemed like the writers trying to explain why Serafini might not have been available for some of the season’s filming, which resulted in a less interesting story for our beloved theater enthusiast.

Let’s talk about Kate Reinders’ character, Miss Jenn, in the current season. She truly shines and holds the show together with her strong presence. Miss Jenn not only offers heartfelt and sincere advice to her students, but she also brings some amusing and self-aware moments. For instance, she acknowledges that she’s substituting as Ms. Darbus in their stage production, poking fun at herself for “scabbing.” Miss Jenn even refers to High School Musical 3 as a “complicated 2008 period piece.” These instances add a delightful touch to her character, making her one of the highlights of the season.

I hope we have more of those awesome, catchy songs that High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (HSMTMTS) is known for! In the first six episodes that early viewers got to see, there were only two songs that really captured the essence of what HSMTMTS is all about: taking beloved High School Musical tunes and giving them a fresh twist. It would be incredible if the final two episodes had a couple more of these fantastic performances, providing the perfect emotional and energetic send-off that these characters truly deserve.

Rephrased Version:

Like any concluding season, the show faces the challenging job of paying homage to its history while also setting the stage for the characters’ futures. Naturally, we hope for exciting cameos from the absent Wildcats, portrayed by Efron, Hudgens, and Tisdale. (Interestingly, both Efron and Hudgens shared pictures outside East High School… intriguing, right?) However, as we reach the end of the sixth episode, it seems like we’re facing a bit of a setback in the final moments. Perhaps the remaining episodes will be the boost that HSMTMTS needs to secure a triumphant victory.

Get ready for the thrilling return of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series! Mark your calendars for August 9th because that’s when season four will be hitting your screens exclusively on Disney+. Yes, you heard it right, the beloved show is back with all its musical magic and drama. This time around, our favorite characters will be taking us on another rollercoaster ride filled with emotions, joy, and jaw-dropping moments. So, gear up and join us as we embark on this exhilarating journey, where the power of music and friendship knows no bounds. Don’t miss out on all the fun, laughter, and unforgettable performances. Stay tuned and let’s make this summer one to remember!

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