Part II of my analysing the above scene from High School Musical 2. (Part I is here). Apologies in advance for the poor video quality: I got this from YouTube. The full video is available from Google Play or in DVD format.
Having watched this scene yesterday and again today, I have some new observations on the various problems with Gabriella’s behaviour throughout. The last observation I made was that Ryan Evans had no problem with Troy chasing this scholarship opportunity, as it was clear from Mr. Evans’ high praise that he had earned it.
“Oh yeah, they’re awesome! Playing with them is like being in another world.”
I had a previous post on this comment, but my computer froze before I could post it, so I lost everything. However, I do recall noting on this scene that the Redhawks had gone out of their way to welcome Troy. They invited him to scrimmage shortly after they met (without even watching Troy play first), listened to his tutorial on holding a golf club, gave him one of their jackets, and gave him a free ride to their gym.
The film wants you to believe that these men help Troy get too big for his britches. Does the evidence support this? Notice that while Troy appears starstruck at meeting U of A players, they don’t bask in the praise. In fact, the first player is impressed that Troy has watched them play, and senses that he takes basketball seriously. Hence the immediate invitation for scrimmage.
Yet just because Gabriella takes objection to Troy calling them, “the guys”, we’re to dismiss these men who take their profession seriously and play at an advanced level altogether. Gabriella ironically belittles them, calling them “all those tall people”. I invite the audience to decide who is really the snob here. As far as I can see, these Redhawks have shown themselves to be polite, friendly, and generous.
What’s “another world” for Troy? We don’t know. I can only assume that, based on their practice, Troy is more part of the team, rather than the one being pressured to deliver (as when he plays with the Wildcats). But that is just an assumption.
Of course, Gabriella won’t pass on any compliments to Troy, even though by an impartial source, he is doing very well. Instead, she says:
“Well, you missed out on a fun night...”
So her priorities here are 1)- attention on her (hence dancing with Ryan); 2)- Troy only making friends she approves of (she takes no interest in the Redhawks); 3)- having fun right now (telling Troy that he “missed out”). Then she giggles with Ryan to underline how she has moved on emotionally.
To recap: Gabriella has ignored Troy’s call(s), treated Ryan as a new Wildcat, invested herself emotionally in Ryan, refused to apologise for missing Troy’s calls (which implies she ignored those calls), visibly shows more interest in Ryan (looking up at him while he passes on Mr. Evans’ compliment, but not Troy), and uses subtle hints to show that Troy is “missing out”.
Remember these things, because the general consensus in the comments’ sections for HSM II videos is that Troy is at fault. I again invite the audience, armed with the above facts, to consider that-- particularly given Troy’s visible jealousy and upset with the above behaviour.
“But the dessert afterwards had to be the best part. Her mom makes the best brownies in the entire world--”
“Yeah, I know: I’ve had ‘em.”
I think I have noted before how Gabriella did not see fit to invite Troy to her mother’s house, even if he had missed the baseball game (or even dessert). We know this, because Troy tried calling her to let her know that he was stuck at the gym. As I have fairly demonstrated, Gabriella ignored that call, because she only stared at him coldly when he mentioned it.
As must be evident, Gabriella wishes to emphasise to Troy that he has been left behind. This is punishment for his “failing” to meet previous commitments and for appearing close to Sharpay. Many, if not most viewers take Gabriella’s side here, even though Troy did his utmost to explain on several occasions precisely why he had missed arrangements with his friends.
Consequently, Troy cuts off Ryan, leaving an embarrassed silence as the latter eventually admits that things are troubled between the couple. He makes a quick exit, and who can blame him?
I have just realised that Gabriella never defended Ryan after Troy cut him off. Taken in isolation, this is a rude action from Troy, and if Gabriella had discovered Ryan’s true worth, now was her chance to step in. But she remains silent, leaving Ryan to stand around in an awkward silence and then leave, no doubt feeling as though he did something wrong.
(We know this, because later on, he waits for Troy to address him personally before speaking.)
Ultimately, as much as Gabriella does like Ryan, he was a tool to help her inflict emotional punishment on Troy. I think I have fairly demonstrated this, and I call upon anyone who feels that Troy was at fault to prove otherwise. The resulting cold silence between the two after Ryan has left more than proves this, with Gabriella refusing to even move an inch to bridge the gap between them or explain her feelings.
The most I can say for Gabriella by the end is that she does appear remorseful after he has left: we can see her face change a little. This is consistent with HSM I, where she looks wistful standing alone at home, after having ignored Troy. But the other consistent theme here is Gabriella’s refusal to explain those feelings. I have far fewer problems with her behaviour in HSM I, but come the summer, she defaults back on the same fault: freezing Troy out-- and this time, replacing him with someone else.
So here’s an honest question. How come Troy has to apologise to everyone and his mother for losing sight of his friends and his commitments, while Gabriella, who used Ryan, quit the show and had to be dragged back, is treated as though she was right all along?
For me, Troy undoubtedly had his faults in this movie. But Gabriella’s behaviour here is indefensible. Troy had explained himself time and time again. She didn’t have to agree with or like those explanations, but it would have cost her nothing to listen, let alone give him the benefit of the doubt. Yet she behaved as though Troy had betrayed her, when all he did was put his future first so his parents could worry less about college costs.
While I have no problem with characters having serious faults, and I do not like PC stuffed into film-writing, I still have to say that HSM II sends an atrocious message to its intended audience.