HSMTMTS Review: Second Chances (Season 2, Episode 12)
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series Season 2 Episode 12, “Second Chances,” manages to live up to its name, while setting the scene for a potentially even bigger and better third season.
The second half of a two-part finale, “Second Chances” serves as a type of coda to “Showtime;” allowing its characters to wrap up threads and find their place, it works mostly as a resolution to the conflicts from the episode before it.
Not all is tied up in a tidy bow, however, and the episode also plays as a setup to a potential Season 3.
For a show that isn’t yet guaranteed that third season, the intensity of cliffhangers is a peculiar choice, although those creative decisions are undoubtedly due to COVID19 restrictions and roadblocks.
The questions “Second Chances” asks would be theoretically exciting, if the show knew it would be delivering on answers. With the future of HSMTMTS still up in the air, ending the season without Portwells first kiss, an answer to Nini’s phone call, or Ricky discovering Lily’s ulterior motives, leaves things feeling unfinished.
The anxiety of cliffhangers without definite answers only comes from wanting the best for the East High Wildcats.
As viewers, we want to see them soar, and in many ways, they still do.
Ricky and Nini find peace post-breakup, recognizing separate paths is the right choice — at least for now. Nini may be more comfortable in that reality than Ricky, but “Second Chances” is chock filled with examples of how far his character has come.
His reluctance to call after her is one of the episode’s strongest illustrations, both visually and in story choice.
The show goes to great lengths to parallel Rini’s first big “I love you” with their last big goodbye. They meet in the same room, but it’s darker. They wear the same colored clothing, but the outfits feel older, more mature. A room that once felt filled with vibrance and love, now feels cold and distant, somehow.
Everything and nothing is the same as Ricky goes to call after Nini like he did post HSM opening night, except this time, he decides to let her go.
It’s a beautiful scene, even if it breaks hearts along the way. For a character so incredibly resistant to change, watching Ricky move on from Nini — and even open his family to Ms. Jenn — is quite the payoff, considering all the work the character has done to get to that place of acceptance.
Joshua Bassett delivers each moment with the perfect amount of pathos, and even though we leave Ricky on the precipice of potentially making a huge mistake with Lily, he’s actively putting in the work to take new chances with his life.
We see the same amount of growth from Gina, who not only speaks her truth to EJ in the episode’s romantic final moments, but also to Nini — someone she’s struggled to connect with from the very beginning.
The two have what is possibly the episode’s best scene, speaking on everything that’s disconnected them. What blossoms is a place of mutual love and respect for one another. It’s not about competition, or a boy — it’s about building a bond with one another as women.
Sofia Wylie’s performance this season has been nothing short of incredible; the amount of raw emotion she spills into Gina’s most vulnerable moments is truly remarkable, and “Second Chances” is no exception.
While the miscommunication between her and EJ is especially painful to watch, it allows Gina a moment to truly step into her own.
Gina has built walls around herself, but she’s able to embrace her truth in “Second Chances” by taking chances on friendship and in love. Being honest with EJ about what she wants is such an important moment for Gina — a girl who pretends to be brave, but is actually deeply self-conscious.
It’s an important moment for EJ as well, who has worked tirelessly to become a better version of himself.
In many ways, EJs journey parallels Gina’s. He has dealt with self-doubt by cloaking himself in bravado and learning to own his insecurities. Giving him an experience of finding someone who sees the real him — and likes what they see — is the ultimate payoff for a character who has long since earned their own happy ending.
Matt Cornett deserves all the accolades here, portraying a character who has gone through an intensely transformative journey over the past two seasons.
HSMTMTS leaves the “Core 4” Wildcats worlds away from where they started, and the series uses one of the season’s strongest original songs, “Second Chances” — a four-part ballad — to travel back to pilot and prove it.
“Second Chances” brings the audience into the minds of Nini, Gina, Ricky, and EJ, reminding us of where we met them, and how far they’ve come since. It’s the quartet performance everyone has waited for, and the finale is the perfect time to deliver on it.
If HSMTMTS Season 1 was about finding your tribe, Season 2 Is ultimately about figuring out how to keep them. Through boarding schools, injuries, heartbreaks, and setbacks, East High has proven unshakeable.
The High School Musical movies were a cultural phenomenon that changed the perception of teenage musical theatre forever. They showed the world drama kids were cool, talent should never be concealed, and theatre can be life-changing if you let it.
The films were a perfect example of what made being in high school theatre so magical. You were a part of something special; a place where trust, acceptance, and love surrounded you during a time in your life where nothing felt safe or secure.
HSMTMTS has been able to carry that torch for an entirely new generation, by being a brilliant and hilarious fresh take on the original franchise. Most impressively, it’s been able to do it successfully, despite the unprecedented circumstances of a global pandemic standing in its way.
It’s truly a series full of heart; one that reminds every viewer they’ve got the music in them, and they were born to be brave.
So until next time, keep bopping to the top, learning to let go, and taking all your second chances.
And remember, we’re all in this together.
What team?
Random Thoughts:
- EJ’s voice cracks during his conversation with Gina are everything.
- Big Red putting Ashlyn’s name in lights is the pinnacle of cute.
- Howie acting strange just because he’s so blown away by Kourtney’s talent? Soulmate stuff.
- I like Ricky’s dad, but it’s Jen and Mr. Mazzara all the way for me.
- I wish we saw Ashlyn in her gold Belle dress, considering how self-conscious she’s been.
- Natalie better not be lying about a Summer Season! Also, more Natalie, please.
- The tag at the end of the episode thanking fans and crew is unbelievably touching.
- The cast performance of “Music In Me” over the blooper reel still has me crying.
What did you think of this episode of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Critic Rating:
User Rating:
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series airs Fridays on Disney+.
Follow us on Twitter and on 
Instagram!
Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!
Kat Pettibone
Kat Pettibone is an aspiring TV writer, artist, and poet. As a Pacey Witter Fan Club lifer who never missed a TGIF, she has dreams of becoming your generations small screen Nora Ephron. She's also an avid lover of coffee, dogs and all things spooky.