Unanswered HSM Questions: What’s the Deal With Kelsi and Chad?
I like the dynamic between Kelsi and Chad during the HSM franchise, although it comes out of unexplained circumstances. We have no idea how they became friends, or what they may or may not have in common, just a series of careless clues. Since I love unravelling mystery, I will attempt to shed light on this coincidence.
In the above scene, the whole group of Wildcats see Kelsi staring despondently at the rearranged callback times.
So why does Chad adopt an accusatory tone towards Kelsi, of all people in the following line:
[Chad] “Do you know something about this? Small person?”
I can only assume that it’s because Chad treats anyone connected with Drama (or Music, or Skating, or Cooking, or Academics) with suspicion and contempt. Also, as an athlete in a sport where height is an advantage, he isn’t used to seeing people who are, er, vertically-challenged. The irony of this scene is that ever since their underhand scheme to discourage Troy from participating in said callbacks, Chad and Taylor are seen walking together into East High during this scene.
I have to admire Kelsi’s reaction here. Rather than cowering in the face of such rudeness (and yet I still like you, Chad), she completely blanks him out. This despite technically responding to him earlier:
[Kelsi] “Actually, I think it’s two rats, none of them named Darbus.”
(Still funny).
Either this was a reflex reaction, a method of venting her frustration, or she wanted to exonerate Ms. Darbus despite the latter capitulating to her students, rather than exercising proper authority. From this and several other scenes, it appears that Kelsi respects and even likes Ms. Darbus.
But after Chad belittles her height, she brushes him off and walks straight over to Troy. Not Troy and Gabriella, who are both being affected by this change, but just Troy. This is interesting, because it’s unnecessary. Kelsi should already know that all the Wildcats assembled there are upset about this change. Furthermore, she herself gave a huge hint (to Chad) that Ms. Darbus wasn’t technically at fault. Why does she need to explain to Troy directly (again, not Gabriella) why the show has been rescheduled?
I believe it’s because Kelsi wants to do the callbacks for Troy, for reasons which I explain here.
The fact that Kelsi treats Chad’s comments like they’re nothing can only be attributed to an increase in confidence caused by her new friendship with Troy. Previously, she had cowered under Sharpay’s glare and tumbled back onto her piano stool.
Prior to the above scene, Kelsi and Chad have no interaction whatsoever. As we can see earlier, the Drama Geeks’ lunch table is on the upper-landing of the cafeteria: the basketball players are below. Because we’re not shown any substantive discussion between Troy and Kelsi during HSM 1, there’s no evidence that she learns about his friends.
So after the callbacks, we have to assume that she met Chad somehow and grew to like him instead. How? Why? No information is given.
Instead, we move straight onto HSM 2 and get this:
[Kelsi] “Maybe Zeke and Chad can do backup and everyone can dance!”
Hold on a minute: since when did Kelsi deem Zeke and Chad suitable for backup singing? I highlight the singing part, because she said earlier that the employees got to do a number (a song), and Troy and Gabriella could sing the lead (without auditioning, despite Kelsi working for a Talent Show and surely knowing full well that everyone must audition).
So Kelsi somehow knows that Zeke and Chad can sing. Otherwise, she would not entrust them with her compositions or her songs. I have studied Kelsi’s character here, and have found her to be territorial over her work and who is suitable to perform it. I have criticised her favouritism towards Troy and Gabriella, although conceded that some of her reasons are justified when considering her character desires.
When did this happen? A number of possibilities present themselves:
1)- Additional roles were given in the musical and Kelsi discovered the singing talent of Zeke and Chad.
Verdict: Unlikely, as there is no evidence to support this.
2)- Kelsi wanted to meet more of Troy’s friends after the callback auditions went successfully.
Verdict: Given Kelsi’s extreme shyness once again on display when Troy hands her the Game Ball, this may not be likely.
3)- Troy introduced her to his friends after the show.
Verdict: Likely, because of Troy’s gratitude to Kelsi, as evidenced by the Game Ball award, and his attempts to include her as a friend.
4)- Kelsi met Zeke and Chad via Jason.
Verdict: Just thought of this a second ago, and it actually seems the most likely. When Troy gave her the Game Ball, she was shy about the praise, and awkward with the Ball. When Jason helped her shoot a hoop, she relaxed and smiled. If we are to assume that she began dating Jason not long after this scene, and that Kelsi became a Wildcat, as well as the fact that Jason and Zeke were close friends, then it makes sense she would meet them this way.
But that doesn’t explain how she learned that Zeke and Chad could sing.
So, we must read between the lines. In HSM III, Ms. Darbus’ class prepare for the Spring Musicale. But in HSM I, they are preparing for the Winter Musicale.
Therefore, could Kelsi have been involved in the Spring Musicale for Junior Year as well as Senior Year? That would, at least, explain why Sharpay instantly offered her a job at Lava Springs over the summer in HSM II. After Kelsi owned her brilliantly during the Winter Musicale, I can’t see Sharpay’s ego appreciating that until she had at least seen incontestable evidence of Kelsi’s talent demonstrated either at the live show or over two shows. Lava Springs is, after all, an exclusive club. Sharpay could have chosen any other composer-pianist.
But could Zeke and Chad have performed in this Spring Musicale? There’s no evidence, so we can’t assume anything-- particularly since everyone looks surprised and annoyed when Kelsi signs them all up for the Show in HSM III.
Then again, why do this unless she knew they were capable of performing onstage?
However, if we turn to a small scene in HSM II, where Martha is beatboxing and Kelsi is DJ’ing, we may have a satisfactory answer.
Suppose Kelsi’s influence as a musician, Martha’s recent confession to being a hip hop aficionado, Troy’s recent enthusiasm for singing, and Chad and co’s appreciation of that talent, were demonstrated on an ordinary day when the Wildcats were just hanging out. Suppose this scene were just like the beatboxing scene of HSM II. This would be a likely point where Kelsi would learn of Zeke and Chad’s talent in (backup) singing.
The same conclusion can be used for Kelsi’s declaration that “everyone can dance”.
Remember that Kelsi doesn’t suffer fools gladly, even if her shyness prevents her from calling them out. Her look of contempt bordering disgust at some of the people auditioning for Twinkle Towne speaks volumes. Indeed, when Ms. Darbus offers Cindra a fake compliment after her eardrum splitting performance, Kelsi gives her teacher an “Are you insane?!” look.
So if Kelsi says someone can be in her show, it’s a compliment.
Also, if Kelsi allows someone to play her music, that’s an even bigger compliment. The scene between Kelsi and Ryan in HSM III could have been a demonstration of Kelsi’s respect for Ryan as a musician. She budges over, allowing him to play her songs and enjoys his rendition. (Significant, given how she despised his take on “What I’ve Been Looking For”). It would have been a great character arc for Kelsi, who initially judged Ryan with resentment, and gradually realized his positive characteristics. Instead, the scene was ruined with fake romance.
In HSM II, Kelsi is delighted when Chad and the rest come to sing “You Are The Music In Me”.
We can therefore assume that her friendship with Chad was solidified either before or at this point.
More on this in subsequent posts.
