It’s the start of something new. After the success of the first season of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series there was no doubt it would get renewed for a second season. The Wildcats are back and are preparing to put on their Spring Musical. With new music, teen drama and romance there is a lot to talk about. This is a spoiler warning for those who haven’t seen High School Musical: The Musical: The Series as of yet.

New Year’s Eve

In true High School Musical fashion we open with a musical number orchestrated by Miss Jenn. After a jolly performance of Something In The Air, the students are all excited for Winter Break until Miss Jenn reveals she never pressed record on her phone. After their rocky relationship in Season 1, Ricky and Nini are back together and appear happier than ever. There’s just one problem Nini has been accepted to the Youth Actor’s Conservatory and is moving to Denver. The only person that knows Nini is moving is Kourtney and Nini is worried about how to tell Ricky.

At Ashlyn’s house, Gina is moving in and both girls couldn’t be more excited about this. In her confessional, Miss Jenn is preparing to follow up on the success of her production of High School Musical with High School Musical 2. In Season 1, Ricky had a tough time dealing with his parents’ separation. His father drops a bombshell on Ricky that they’ll be leaving his childhood home to move to a smaller apartment. In the next scene Ricky and Nini, are exchanging gifts. Nini gifts Ricky a skateboard and he shares with her a memory of a childhood Christmas. Ricky gifts Nini an original song called The Perfect Gift, she exclaims that “Harry Styles could never” and he calls Nini his home.

It’s New Years Eve, Miss Jenn and Carlos are shopping at a costume shop. They exclaim that High School Musical 2 is a period piece and you can’t just find these things at Old Navy. Miss Jenn sees an old flame played by Derek Hough and whilst hiding explains her history with this mystery man. We learn that his name is Zack and he has had a lot of success on Broadway. He informs he is putting on a production of The Little Mermaid at North High School. Zack hopes his production will win Best Musical at the Alan Menken Awards for Musical Theatre. After a snarky comment about Miss Jenn becoming a teacher, she shares her plan to announce the Spring Musical with Carlos.

In Red’s bedroom, Ricky speculates that the Spring Musical will be High School Musical 2 and shows Red his rendition of Bet On It. Red expresses he is psyching himself up to kiss Ashlyn at midnight. Red’s mom informs him that she needs his help at their restaurant. The party is starting at Ashlyn’s place as Carlos and Seb walk in. In his confessional, Seb shares that Carlos comes from money and bought him a cashmere sweater for Christmas. Ashlyn reveals the theme of the party is 2007. Carlos hints at why 2007 is an ironic year and they figure out it is because they are doing High School Musical 2 for their Spring Musical.

Kourtney hands the boys a slip for a game they’re playing later and Seb reveals he is allergic to cashmere. EJ strolls in and says he is “taking it all in” as it is his senior year. At the restaurant, Red sends Ashlyn a text and she is eager to see him. Ricky dances his way into the party singing Bet On It and Nini follows behind him. In her confessional, Nini says she was going to tell Ricky about Denver but he was too distracted with his singing. As Ricky sits down, he and Gina share a look before she gets up to get herself a root beer.

Back at the school, Miss Jenn is rooting through costumes. She reveals the winner of the Alan Menken Award comes with a cash prize of $50,000 and a college scholarship for one student. Miss Jenn scraps the idea of performing High School Musical 2 and reveals they need to perform an Alan Menken musical. At the New Years Eve Party, the resolution game is beginning. EJ’s resolution is pulled out first, he reveals his family are Duke alumni and he has his sights set on Duke. Nini’s resolution is pulled out and the game goes on. In her confessional, Ashlyn exclaims she needs more clarity on her relationship status with Red.

Red arrives at door holding pizza boxes and Ashlyn smiles at him as he awkwardly walks away. Ricky believes something is up with Nini. Everyone breaks out into a medley of songs from High School Musical 2. Midnight is approaching and the countdown begins. Ashlyn and Red share a New Year’s kiss and Miss Jenn shows up. Miss Jenn reveals they are not going to be performing High School Musical 2 this semester. Everyone appears confused and then she reveals they are performing Beauty and the Beast in order to win The Alan Menken Award. Carlos informs her that North High will be tough to compete with.

Everyone is hyped to be apart of this semester’s musical and Ricky says he is in but only if Nini is in the show too. In a jaw dropping moment, Nini tells Ricky she is moving to Denver and the episode ends.

Start of Something New

There is a lot to unpack with these Wildcats. The choice to not do High School Musical 2 this season is a smart choice and the right choice. Although we are probably going to hear more HSM2 songs in Season 2, Beauty and the Beast is the better choice and it avoids a repeat of Season 1.

In Season 1, we learned a lot about Ricky’s home life and how his parents’ separation affects him. With Ricky having to say goodbye to his childhood home this will add fuel to the fire that was nearly burnt out. Ricky also has to say goodbye to Nini. With Nini’s out of the blue reveal, this may create problems for the new Troy and Gabriella. Nini must follow her heart and Ricky is a big part of that. It is safe to say Rini shippers’ hearts will be racing this season.

Love is in the air at East High. Seb and Carlos lead the charge in cute couples but there may be some conflict due to Seb’s feelings on Carlos’ rich family. Seb is hiding the fact he is allergic to cashmere but wears the sweater anyway, a sweet gesture but that rash will begin to itch and eat away at Seb. Ashlyn and Red are adorable and awkward and I hope we see more their amazing dynamic in Season 2. There appears to be some supressed feelings between Ricky and Gina. With Nini away at the Youth Actor’s Conservatory there may be sparks between this unlikely pair. Who doesn’t enjoy a love triangle?

In this episode, we learn that EJ’s father and grandfather are all Duke Alumni. I am predicting that EJ will be awarded the Alan Menken Scholarship which may cause some conflict between EJ and his father. This is similar to Troy’s story arch in High School Musical 3: Senior Year. We all know this series loves to pay homage to the original trilogy.

This was an incredible start to Season 2 and I cannot wait to see what unfolds. I am predicting drama, romance, great music and a killer Spring Musical. I am going to Bet on It that this season will be Fabulous and the songs will make we want to Bop to the Top.

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series is now available to watch on Disney+. Episode 2 will drops on Disney+ May 21st.