hey

[chemical-irwin]

i did a binge of hsmtmts s1 to s4, and it really struck me how much i missed having the school musical as the that held all the plots together

in s1 all of the characters are motivated by that musical. Ricky and Nini getting cast as the leads and it means a lot to them because its first time anybody has believed in them. Gina and Ej dont get the leads and it hurts their egos. we get to watch all of the kids bond over the musical, and when miss Jen is going to be fired all of the drama club do a performance to save her.

in s2 they have the menkies, where the club feel the pressure to beat North High who is actively sabotaging them. getting cast as Belle makes Ashlyn insecure, Gina choreographing with Carlos causes tension between them, and Ricky wanting Nini to be the show makes them fight. in end they don’t open the results because they only cared that they put on a good show

in s3 the doc adds pressure on them. getting cast as the lead makes Kourtney confront her anxiety, getting cast as ensemble sends Ashlyn into an identity crisis, Ej having to direct the show puts a rift between him and Gina. rehearsals and the doc puts characters in situations that move their story forward. in the end they all came together to say forget the doc because putting on the best show was more important to them

in s4 all of the characters are in separate plots with nothing holding them together. Rina are in a generic Romeo + Juliet/star is born story, Kourtney has the mandatory college storyline, and Ashlyn and Carlos get B plot relationship drama. all of the stories feel disconnected because none of them really relate to each other. there was literally no narrative reason for any characters to be extras in the films, they were just props in the back (even Ricky, because he was only there to react to filming in jealously or awe). the only character that talks about the musical is Ricky (and Gina), and we only saw one rehearsal

and like… all of that is fine, but they found their magnum opus in s3. the pacing was better and the dramatic irony had great pay-offs, the themes, the balancing of storylines and characters was infinitely better (it’s shocking how downgraded Ashlyn was in s4) and it had a shorter runtime. this season wasn’t about high school kids putting on a musical. with the exception of Kourtney and miss Jen this seasons not really about high school. a part that of me really missed watching a group of kids grow together through the school year while they put on a musical (especially if their ‘senior’ year😭)

[chemical-irwin]

i’ve been thinking about Ricky’s character arcs over the 4 seasons, and i feel like my problem with how his story has ended (as of now, because i neeeed a movie) is that it i don’t know why Tim would spend two seasons showing how Rini were toxic for each other and were better broken up, even though they loved each other… only to lowkey write Rina into that corner

Ricky said it himself to EJ, he was flunking senior year, and not posting his college applications because he’s too worried about Gina. he feels insecure and like he’s holding her back, he’s intimidated and jealous of Mack and her what her new fame can offer- he’s being a good boyfriend to Gina, but that’s not a healthy situation for him!!

i think that EJ’s advice for Ricky to not run away, to shake off the bad feelings and enjoy his time with Gina is frustrating! yes he shouldn’t hide when things get hard, and worrying too much about life instead of living is a problem… but also he shouldn’t be ignoring that he feelings those things. he WAS supportive of Nini and shrugging off his feeling wouldn’t have kept them together. (and EJ and Ricky just sang a song about how important it is to talk about emotions??)

i feel like all of the female characters characters had such great stories of self discovery where they took charge and overcame fear, i wish Ricky got the same treatment! i love Gina and Sofia is a great actress, but i think there were too many scenes of her acting in a film we’ll never see. i wish this season had been about Ricky and how the theatre department and a healthy relationship helped him find himself (it was such a shame hsm3 had such a small presence in the season)

i think Nini and Gina are two sides of the same coin- if the main difference between them is that Gina loves Ricky more than Nini did and can handle his emotional dependency when Nini didn’t want to (because how does Ricky expect Gina to tutor him while filming a film, doing her own school and doing the musical?) that’s a weird conclusion. it’s important to feel motivated by thing other than your partner!! (imma give Ricky an ‘i am kenough’ hoodie fr!)

[chemical-irwin]

i love the way you can kind of see that Gina was guarded, but also ready to double down when Ricky found out she joined the musical because of him

she said “you had a vibe, i had an instinct,” with her chest like ‘of course i had a crush on from the second we met. what about it?’ but she also gave him a worried look when he sat down

(and of course she didn’t need to be worried because Ricky Bowen gets her, and it blows his mind even more that she has changed his life 🥹🥹🥹)

[chemical-irwin]

the principle saying to Gina “find something you like about this school, and try not to kill it,” right before Gina talks to Ricky was sooooooo funny

[chemical-irwin]

okay, but Mack had a comp-het crush on Gina after talking to her a couple times, but had a gay awakening when talking to Ricky once

like that convo with Ricky changed his life fr

[chemical-irwin]

oohhhhh i need to spill some thoughts about hsmtmts because the brainrot is real. as a lover of Gina Porter and a day 1 Rina warrior, i LOVED watching Gina getting everything she every wanted, and watching Rina be so amazingly disgustingly in love all season was more amazing than i could’ve imagined

but i also feel like most of the conflict i actually wanted to see maybe be addressed was just… sidestepped?

Rini had a lot of faults as a couple, but i think the bottom line for why they wouldn’t work was because their life goals and levels of ambition made them not compatible.

their communication with each other got bad because they were afraid to tell each other the truth. Ricky tried the long distance relationship and came to the conclusion that he found it difficult. and i think Nini came to the conclusion that she wouldn’t be able to fly and fully be herself while being by his side. (also ricky had feelings for another girl, sooo)

okay but Rina are literally soulmates. the difference is that they love and understand each other so much they are willing to fight through all the hardships and insecurities. they were going to find a way to have it all (and i believe they can)

that’s why i wish that they went through with Gina not being able to be Gabriella. it actually does seem like an alright sacrifice to make when she got the role in the film. just like it wasn’t important for her to be Gabriella in s1, Ricky and Gina making time for each other even though she was on set all day would’ve been a nice thing to see. (but also what is more meta than Gina coming in halfway through the show to sing a Gabriella hsm3 song?)

it would’ve been good to show that Ricky wasn’t worried about their limited time together like he was Nini. and he didn’t need to feel intimidated by Mack, whose ‘at the same level’ as Gina and wouldn’t hold her back. it’s one of Ricky’s biggest insecurities, and he still feels like that in the final.

i also think it would’ve been awesome to see Ricky help Dani. having Ricky’s plot be so Gina focused the last two seasons is fine for showing his character growth with relationships- but i also feel sad a a Ricky fan that he still feels somewhat lost by the end.

i wish somebody would turn and say to him that he’s a leader, and he has this super power to see through peoples hard exteriors and gets them to come out of their shells and connect with others (i loved his and Jets friendship in s3). Dani is supposed to be ambitious and business savvy, she couldve been a good foil for Ricky, instead we got a half baked story with Kourtney that was dropped. Ricky is talented! he should monetise it! (also it would’ve been good to see gina work through jealousy)

the fact Ricky’s conclusion was ‘as long as Gina can help me study, i’ll be able to get A’s go to college’ is definitely a conclusion. Gina getting to film the film in SLC is cool but what about the next film where she won’t have a clever plan for her conflicts? i feel like the show presents these situations to say ‘would this be tough for them? well Gina Porter can move mountains so you won’t have to know!’

sometimes love isn’t always enough for a couple. they actually might be Romeo and Juliet, where they are star-crossed, or they might not be, i feel like we never really got to put them to the test. (the fact that their rain kiss is about a miscommunication about her moms house rules, rather than the actual angst in their relationship was interesting!)

but also this is an 8 episode Disney Plus show soooo y’know

[chemical-irwin]

the hate oliva rodrigo stans have for joshua bassett needs to be studied fr

because why do i still seee so many tweets cussing him out with all levels of nasty, saying “i’ll hate this man forever” 😭😭😭 like i know sour is relatable, but damnnnn… unclench!!

(and some of them are rinas???? and like all by means you don’t have to like the actor of a character you like, but their tweets calling josh ugly, unlikable and untalented are so unserious when a couple tweets down is them crying and swooning at the idea of ricky writing a song for gina while streaming kristof lullaby?? 😭😭 plz be serious)

i’m sorry but making it known publicly that you despise a man this much because he was a shitty boyfriend to a girl in a teenaged relationship (years after fact) is just so…..

[chemical-irwin]

the ‘me + u’ heart sticker in the background while Ricky facetimed Nini on valentine’s day is one of the sickest things Tim has done fr

We should’ve known we had Rina endgame the second ‘when there was me and you’ was dubbed a rina song!!

[chemical-irwin]

I literally LOVE how the 3x08 is the perfect full circle moment from 1x05 because there’s where the characters fulfilled their arcs

Nini and Kourtney found confidence in each other on homecoming night song ‘born to be brave’ together and in the final episode we get them singing for the last time as a goodbye because they are finally are ready to live the promise of the song, even without each other.

Ricky let himself start again and Gina finally opened up to somebody new in the car on homecoming night, and we got the rina cue. Ricky and Gina finally got their timing right and we get an orchestral arrangement of their cue as they kiss under the spotlight.

and ej got a drink spilled on his head because he was being annoying and useless to Gina at homecoming, and in the finale he; watches Ricky serenade his ex, got hung up on by his dad who won’t tell him he loves him, watches a trailer that suggests his girlfriend was pursuing aforementioned boy all summer! very full circle

homecoming 8th october at east high very iconic indeed

[titansarmy]

i think we moved on too quickly from the fact that ricky came fully into his realisation that he very much was into gina AFTER gina threw him around like a rag doll. he was down BAD. 

[chemical-irwin]

so like… is anybody else wondering what camp nicknames Maddox gave everybody????

[chemical-irwin]

I saw people discussing when they think Ricky knew about his romantic feelings for Gina, and honestly I feel like him (and Gina) knew from the pretty much the beginning.

In 105 Ricky is upset Nini rejected his kiss and ‘friendzoned’ him so he decides to stop pursuing her and goes to homecoming with Big Red. He makes a pact with his dad that they would put themselves out there and Red says “So put yourself out there. Like, tonight”. and the next shot is Gina and EJ asking to sit.

The show establishes that Ricky is in the mindset of looking for a romantic connection and then places Gina in front of him.

He lashes out at her, and when he goes to apologise he basically tells her that he felt a connection with her, and he kind felt disappointed because he thought she felt it too (he was jealous 😭) and he has a high opinion of her. “I thought you were classier than that,”

After the convo and kiss on the check in the car, I think that he knows there’s potential there, but might be hesitant because she had just told him she that doesn’t date.

When Big Red asks ‘what happened with Gina, Ricky says “I’m not sure yet,” again, confirming that Ricky is deciding on if it’s a crush or not.

And then Gina asks to hear him play her the song, and he KNOWS that he likes her.

like look at his face, he is cheesing. This whole scene is SOOOOOO excellent. The way Gina asks him to play so they could stay for 5 minutes more because the night before the had confessed how much they enjoyed having a place to go after school, (him being flattered because nobody takes him seriously) ALSO WTWMAY is such a loaded song choice

After they both shower each other in compliments (because they are so 🥰🥰🥰) Ricky says to her:

“I kinda can’t forget about anything that happened at homecoming,”

Which I feel is Ricky telling Gina that he has a crush on her.

Look at the way he says “anything,” with the raise of the eyebrow, the small step towards her, as he tells her he’s been thinking about her, and the kiss with a hopeful smile.

And Gina understands it. You can see her process the information.

I’ve seen people joke that S1 Rina were dating without labels- and I literally think it’s true. Ricky tells Gina he felt a connection with her, she asks for a ride home and kisses him on the cheek. He tells her he can’t stop thinking about her, she walks him to a party and makes him a hat. They were courting each other, and that’s why they were both devastated when she got the call from her mom and she cut him off.

Gina’s confession on opening night is her verbally confirming to Ricky that she felt the connection too, and she was really sorry (heartbroken) that she had to give up on it.

Just like in the s3 finale, where she understood his confession in Kristof’s Lullaby, she verbally confirms that she wants to be with him.

Ricky doesn’t blink when Big Red thinks he wrote a song about Gina, because he knew he was romantically pursuing her. When Ricky says he let Gina slip through his fingers, I think means he’s sad he didn’t fight when they both knew they liked each other, and it’s why he feels EJ stole her. In s2 Gina says “Nini’s back and he’s so happy now,” she was a sad because he moved on, not because her crush was unrequited! And he only moved on because she had told him to, he doesn’t see her as an option after she moves (he thinks the follow my dreams resolution was about Gina) and he bury his feelings for her. He put himself out there and got disappointed again, and Nini was the safer option for a moment (i’m just saying Ricky wasn’t particularly heartbroken over his first break up with Nini)

The TL;DR is

Ricky is very open with Gina about his feelings for her in s1, he has always known that they were romantic and he basically tells her he has a crush on her after singing WTWMAY.

[chemical-irwin]

The thing about rini is that if they didn’t die of natural causes, Gina would’ve 100% been a deadly blow.

Like Nini was jealous of them high-fiving and walking into a party together- IMAGINE if she walked in a minute earlier and actually saw the chocolate conversation (her eyebrows would be at the roof at that laugh alone). If rina were friends she’d be hella intimidated.

Like Nini could overcome feeling inferior at theatre to Gina because she found her voice, but seeing Gina actually make her boyfriend happy, is something i think would break her

tea.. it would’ve made nini be a better girlfriend out of spite lol. it doesn’t mean she’s bad it just means she’s a lesbian who can’t make ricky happy and that makes her sad

[chemical-irwin]

one of my favourite things is that Gina didn’t even mean to make Nini feel jealous of her and Ricky as sabotage to her the role. She only told Ricky to stay in the show so his presence would annoy Nini.

Like, Gina just had one conversation with Ricky, and he became obsessed with her forever

[chemical-irwin]

Wow I cant believe the plot of HSMTMTS is basically

Season 1: Nini being obsessed and in love with Gina Porter

Season 2: EJ being obsessed and in love with Gina Porter

Season 3: Ricky being obsessed and in love with Gina Porter

and the fact it motivates them to be the best versions of themselves is literally insane!! Gina Porter is such a star, she literally only has to BREATHE to shift peoples entire worlds.

[chemical-irwin]

boy the alphabet show has given me thoughts

For all the EJ lovers I understand your frustration with his treatment this season!! He deffo deserved a lot of love and thank you from the wildcats and didn’t get much credit for pulling off the show (tbh I think it’ll be paid off in a BIG way s3) HOWEVER, I must defend my dear Gina for a second because she didn’t break-up with EJ because he ignored her.

I feel like the whole thesis statement of HSMTMTS (tho i could be wrong) is that attraction, history, potential, not even LOVE, is enough reason to stay with somebody- a relationship should be fulfilling, with good communication and understanding of each other’s love languages (the love we truly need), and it’s okay to leave of it doesn’t do that. Ricky accepted that for his parents, experienced it with Nini, and watched a speed-run of Portwell.

Gina is very clear that she doesn’t like to be kept in the dark. She feels like people (her mother) never put her feelings first and she never gets a say. This conflicts directly with EJ, who feels that dealing with his problems without her so that she can have a good summer, is him doing what’s best for her. Their love languages aren’t compatible.

We have Ricky to compare where EJ was went wrong, but it’s interesting how they had Val to show how easy it was for EJ to communicate, and have the conversations he should’ve had with Gina, with Val (as she pointed out). Even though EJ isn’t romantically interested in Val, they showed them working as a team all summer. Gina is jealous of Val and mad at EJ because EJ keeps choosing Val to confide in, not mad because he was too busy (the fact that he doesn’t ‘get’ her just makes her sad). Gina could’ve helped Val Carlos and EJ make the R.C.O.S.L, but EJ didn’t even think about it, and that’s only ONE example

It’s pretty clear that EJ needs to be with somebody who he can see as a equal partner, not a younger girl who he feels like he needs to be the perfect first boyfriend to.

I think he wants a trouble free gap-year because he knew his relationship would’ve crumbled after the honeymoon stage (and it did at SL) and it’s because EJ needs to have adult relationships now. He can’t feel like he is dragging down someone younger with his adult problems. Camp and his relationship with Gina was him clinging on to being a teen but he needs to let it gooooooo. The thing is, I think Gina was mature enough and a little communication would’ve worked, but also she shouldn’t have to because she is YOUNG!

Gina wasn’t wrong for not waiting 2 weeks for EJ, she saw the writings on the wall (“I need to skip ahead”). She knew if he couldn’t ask her for help, or put aside time for her they were doomed. If you’re sad you didn’t get to see Portwell together- well you kind of did. They had chance to be a team. I’m sorry but Ricky can make a 5 min walk in the woods ‘romantic’, but EJ can’t make sparks when his gf has set up a beautiful date… (I’m not even sure EJ even wants romance and intimacy, I wonder if he’s there for the wrong reasons 👀)

Bottom line- don’t cry for EJ Caswell (okay maybe a lil bit because of his dad). Ricky Bowen got the girl because he went through a season of heartbreak and learnt his lesson (his second chance, which he got right). EJ has done his time, (he got his second chance and failed) All of his development in s1+2 has him being a better person, this season now he can be a better boyfriend to the next one, who makes sharing his problems easy, and his drinks a choking hazard when they walk in the room.