How ‘HSMTMTS’ Stumbled Into One of Teen TV’s Best Relationships with #Portwell
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series has stumbled into one of teen television’s best relationships with Gina Porter and EJ Caswell.
Love is never more prevalent than in the teen genre of television, where first loves and epic heartbreaks play as life-altering moments helping shape characters into who they are.
Unfortunately, those stories of epic romance don’t always unfold exactly as originally planned. Whether it’s a lack of chemistry between actors or structural story problems, well-intentioned epic love can end up falling flat.
Sometimes, though, in its place, a new type of relationship rises up. One between two characters who were never meant to be together, but somehow steal the spotlight, creating new and surprising stories.
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series Season 1 has a clear blueprint: tell an exes-to-lovers tale of two childhood friends finding their way back to one another through music.
The show tells that story well enough, but HSMTMTS quickly decides Ricky and Nini have too many internal conflicts to stay together. Both have story arcs that work for their characters as individuals, but as a couple, it makes for a mess of a dynamic.
Romance can’t simply be something that exists in TV and film. It has to have a purpose, propelling its characters forward. A relationship works better when it’s not only idly present for swoon-worthy moments, but actually helping characters induce change.
Enter Gina Porter and EJ Caswell.
As Ricky and Nini’s love slowly falls apart in HSMTMTS Season 2, a new one begins to bloom. One that ultimately is able to weave growth into its story by paralleling two characters who find themselves through second chances and the connection they build with one another.
When we meet EJ and Gina, both are focused on their own goals. Determined to steal the spotlight from Ricky and Nini, their motives differ. But their willingness to go to extremes in order to get what they want never does.
Those core personality traits immediately set both characters upon a similar growth trajectory. EJ and Gina are Season 1’s redeemable antagonists, and their mutual scheming unknowingly builds a solid foundation of understanding from the very beginning.
By the Season 1 finale, both characters begin to show signs of change. Gina realizes having friends is more important than being center stage, and EJ is determined to humble himself. That determination leads EJ to his first true moment of selflessness — one that comes through an act of kindness for Gina.
That small gesture sparks a shift, and EJ’s arc becomes one of the most successful aspects of HSMTMTS. His transformation from arrogant, and self-serving, to kind, and emotionally connected, is truly remarkable.
That growth is layered throughout his growing dynamic with Gina.
As EJ grows, he also becomes more aware of his underlying flaws. He recognizes and accepts his mistakes, and that guilt becomes something he carries with him. Instead of someone who is changing for the better, he feels branded by his past.
Gina, however, sees past those insecurities; she recognizes the work he’s done, who he’s become — and she likes what she sees. Gina helps EJ feel worthy of redemption and love, and that organically gravitates him towards her, eventually turning his platonic feelings into something more.
For Gina, those feelings and selfless actions EJ consistently and loyally tosses her way is what she needs in order to heal her aching heart. His constant presence and willingness to put her first, help her in letting go of the heavy pain she carries over falling for someone who has chosen someone else.
When Season 2 begins, Gina is distraught and lost from her heartbreak over Ricky. When she begins to form a genuine friendship with EJ, Gina’s on-screen moments turn from forlorn and melancholy, to bright and glowing.
That original foundation of who EJ and Gina are as characters — the parallels of growth they share in becoming more selfless and humbled — make for a mutual, unspoken understanding of one another’s wants and desires.
They are exactly what the other needs, even before they realize it themselves. Even before we as an audience do.
As a viewer, it’s unbelievably satisfying to watch unfold. There is an energy between them that feels good, because their relationship obviously makes them happy after being so unhappy, for so long. No matter what else, the two characters are always most themselves when they’re together.
It’s awkward, unsure, and at times confusing — no grand declarations or passionate kisses, at least not yet — but it rings true to teenage love at every turn.
It is the simplest, purest type of connection.
Sometimes, someone comes along and they change our lives in ways we don’t expect. One day we are planning out an evil rouse as understudies, dumping drinks on each other’s heads, and the next, we’re showing up at airports and telling the other how amazing we think they are.
That kind of surprising friendship and romance is fulfilling in our real lives, just as it is in the media we consume.
Everything about EJ and Gina’s relationship means something to their characters on a greater scale, and it’s constantly pushing them forward. A dynamic that’s deeply rooted in genuine friendship, it takes both characters in surprising directions and sets them on exciting new paths.
The adorable teen romance is just an added bonus.
Love and relationships are a staple of the teen genre. They are a constant in coming-of-age stories because, at 17, nothing else feels like it matters.
There are a million tropes TV and film can use in order to make those stories interesting, but it’s rare you get to see so many of them from one pairing, executed in such an innocent and enjoyable way.
Watching these two fall in love is… fun.
From fake dating enemies to best friends, and now to lovers, EJ and Gina are a surprise to us all, but they have undoubtedly become one of TV’s best teen comedy couples.
Matt Cornett and Sofia Wylie play their characters with the perfect balance of comedy and emotional delicacy. The show doesn’t lose its tone, but still takes time adding depth to the relationship, and the result is a beautifully earnest and organic love story tailored for this generation.
“Portwell” may not have been the big, epic romance HSMTMTS originally planned, but they certainly are its most roaring success.
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What do you think of “Portwell?” Who is your favorite couple from HSMTMTS? Sound off in the comments below!
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series is available to stream on Disney+.
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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.
5 comments
this was one of the worst articles ive read ever. not you a grown woman shipping an 18 year old with a sophmore.
We don’t know how old they are! For all we know she could be on the older end of sophomore year so 16 and he could on the younger end of Senior year so 17 almost 18! We don’t know and even if he is 18 it isn’t that weird go to Any high school you will find that age difference!
Your comment and your heart are as “gross” as your name.
I love Gina and EJ both as characters and as a couple. They are definitely my favorite couple from HSMTMS, as well as my favorite characters
I think that they are the best couple on hsmtmts and I have shipped from the start but now they have broken up in the s3 finale and I’m so upset!
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