I don't know about you but I love Disney+, Disney's foray into the streaming industry. From classic Disney movies, Disney Channel originals and the entire collection of the Marvel Cinematic Universe & "The Simpsons," my cravings of nostalgia could never be more replenished.
I think nostalgia for old shows from our childhood are great. They start conversation, it truly marks a wonderful time for pop culture and can provide an escape from our modern-day busy lives.
But as recent years have shown us, remakes or reboots have turned out to be horrendous. "The Powerpuff Girls," "Teen Titans Go," and even ongoing shows like "The Fairly OddParents" have transformed into radically different plots that alter what we love about all of these shows.
But as Disney has shown us this week with the new Disney+ series "High School Musical: The Musical: The Series" shows us, maybe there is hope for doing a reboot right.
The new series is set in a somewhat real universe at the Albuquerque high school, which is actually in Salt Lake City, where the "HSM" films were shot. Fourteen years after the original film was released, the school is putting on their own production of the beloved musical. Ms. Jenn (Kate Reinders) is the new drama teacher spearheading the production. Ricky Bowen (Joshua Bassett) joins the cast in order to win back his ex-girlfriend Nini (Olivia Rodrigo) from the jock-type E.J. (Matt Cornett). Nini, who is cast as Gabriella, also has to deal with the Sharpay-like type Gina (Sofia Wylie), who also happens to be her understudy.
I think one of the great things about this series is that Disney was able to create a new plot without ruining the sacredness of "HSM." Instead of bringing back the original characters and butchering them in some way, shape or form, we are introduced to a variety of new characters that despite mirroring the original cast, they are able to convey an entirely new plot different from the "HSM" trilogy.
"High School Musical: The Musical: The Series," overall, is a wholesome, fun, dramatic and bubbly reboot that carries on the legacy of a film trilogy fundamental to a lot of our childhood. It doesn't entirely mimic the film nor does it go into unchartered territory in the universe; it's a robust balance of the two, which makes it something worth your time and maybe your money if you're on the verge of giving in to Disney+.
New episodes of "High School Musical: The Musical: The Series" premiere Fridays on Disney+.
