HSMTMTS Review: Yes, And (Season 2 Episode 6)

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series Season 2 Episode 6 “Yes, And” is making East High’s musical choice relevant.

With interpersonal conflict paralleling the struggles of Beasts and Roses, and an original song that leaves a lasting impression, Beauty And The Beast is finally starting to make sense. 

“All hail Olivia Rodrigo” is something most of the world has been cheering since her scorcher of a debut album, “Sour,” dropped last month. That sentiment echoes once again in “Yes, And,” when her casting as “Beast’s Rose” leads her to write this season’s most stellar original song.

Not only is it emotionally powerful, but the ballad adds layers to Nini’s own story. Her depiction of a delicately encased rose weaves seamlessly into her own relationship problems with Ricky.

Nini — much like the Rose  — feels trapped by Ricky’s dependence on her. 

Nini’s story has always been about finding her own way. Falling back into a pattern of disappearing behind a relationship isn’t something that interests her. It’s a piece of character continuity that has driven Nini from the pilot, and it lines up well with her growth as an individual.

It also proves she doesn’t have to run away to find herself; there’s plenty of self-discovery at East High.

Nini’s journey doesn’t gel smoothly with Ricky’s, however, who bristles at her need for independence.  Still struggling with his parent’s divorce, HSMTMTS hammers home how problematic Ricky Bowen finds the concept of change.

The juxtaposition of their individual needs highlights issues the two have never addressed from the first season. For Ricky, change equals destruction. As Nini flourishes, his grip on her tightens, deepening their disconnect and adding complexity to Ricky’s struggle. 

HSMTMTS deserves recognition for how acutely they depict children of divorce. Ricky is not just sad about his parent’s separation; he has let it seep into aspects of his life to a toxic degree. If HSMTMTS wants to stick the landing, the right decision is to properly address Ricky’s mental health.

That doesn’t mean solving his problems through song and friendship.

At this point in his storyline, there is no other “remedy” that will satisfy other than watching Ricky enter therapy. HSMTMTS has tackled the topic of divorce in authentically raw and extensive ways, but now faces the responsibility of following through with a solution no Disney show has broached. 

While some of Ricky’s romantic troubles lend themselves to his overarching narrative, others remain a perplexing mystery.

It’s unclear if Ricky’s love for Nini is based around a desire to be with her, or a desperate attempt to hold onto what once was. Is his anxiety stemming from an actual fear of losing her like his dad lost his mom, or is he using her to steady himself in already rough waters?

Those questions only deepen when HSMTMTS adds Gina into the equation.

In a beautifully fluid transition sequence, “Yes And” rewinds to the Season 1 finale, moments after Ricky’s first grand romantic “I love you” to Nini. It reveals Gina — not knowing what just previously transpired between Nini and Ricky moments earlier — pouring her heart out to Ricky.

It’s a shocking and well-placed plot twist. Sofia Wylie once again showcases her unbelievable emotional range, and  Ricky’s knowledge regarding Gina’s feelings refocuses the entire narrative that’s transpired between them. 

Ricky has been postured as a clueless boy who didn’t realize a girl’s feelings for him, making his mistakes forgivable, and Gina’s unrequited secret crush, relatable. Ricky’s awareness of Gina’s heartbreak, however, places him in a much less flattering light.

HSMTMTS has made a point of Ricky saying hurtful things to Gina, and putting her in awkward situations regarding Nini. Revealing his awareness of the situation borderline ruins the character’s integrity — regardless of what he’s dealing with at home. 

Lack of communication is the center of many high school problems, but Ricky’s actions feel unbelievable even for a 16-year-old. The entire circumstance reads like a gigantic plot hole being actively ignored in service of more tension the show isn’t ready to address yet. 

This could all be remedied if HSMTMTS would take a deeper dive into Ricky’s point of view. The show needs to stop delivering his story from a third-person perspective, and allow the audience to immerse themselves in his experience.

What the show has done to Ricky at this point takes away any viable opportunity to actually pair him up with Gina in a romantic context. At least, without it being a disservice to Gina as a character.

Ricky would do well to forget about romance for a while in order to focus on healing, but the show wants to revel in romantic entanglements instead.

Teenage angst is what makes a show like HSMTMTS fly, but there are plenty more relationships to delve into besides ones that include Ricky Bowen. 

Gina, for example, could find someone who puts her first for a change. As awe-inspiring as it is to watching Sofia Wylie deliver the wreckage of teenage love with incredible tenacity, it would be equally as thrilling to watch her get a chance at happiness. 

(Insert opportunity for her to perform Something There with Ej later on in the season here)

The good part about the romantic mess of HSMTMTS Season 2 is getting to see how incredibly talented the cast is — especially within the more dramatic aspects of the show. 

Wylie and Rodrigo both depict journeys every teenage girl can feel deep within her guts, while Bassett steps up to play Ricky with a sympathetic complexity that manages to resonate, even when it’s being shown from a distance. His scenes with Reinders, are some of the most moving of the season. 

Add Julia Lester’s absolutely phenomenal (and live!) performance of “Home” with Serafini’s comedic relief as Seb, and “Yes And” is a visual resume for the undeniable powerhouse of talent HSMTMTS has assembled. 

To match story quality with performance, the show needs to focus less on Ricky’s romantic life, and continue blurring the lines between musical and reality. 

 

Random Thoughts: 

• The “5 questions” exercise is a clever way to parallel everyone to their BATB characters. 
• I wish I was as emotionally well balanced as Kourtney at 16. Or, now, even. 
• Gina’s friendship with Ashlyn is spectacular; so real in its depth, but also in its speed bumps. 
• Ms. Jen needed to eliminate at least one suitor, so it’s good we’re down to two. 
• The physical comedy of this episode is great!
• Kourtney and Howie are SO cute. 
• It’s refreshing to see body image tackled through the way of Ashlyn. 

 

 

What did you think of this episode of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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High School Musical: The Musical: The Series airs Fridays on Disney+. 

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