When the first trailer dropped for "High School Musical: The Musical: The Series," we all had the same thought Sharpay Evans did when she saw the cafeteria in chaos: something is really wrong. Many of us grew up with the "High School Musical" movies, so seeing what looked like a cash grab featuring an entirely different cast felt like a slap in the face. Initial reactions ranged from rejection to mockery. The general consensus was that the show looked awful, and that no one was going to waste time watching something so vastly unlike the movies we all fondly remembered.

Little did we know, this show would actually turn out to be pretty great.

It may not be the same as the originals, but it doesn't try to be. It isn't a reboot like we thought it was. It's a spin-off that honors its roots rather than dismissing them. The show takes place in East High, where the original "High School Musical" is said to have been filmed, and the students who attend are informed that they will be putting on a production of the titular musical. The originals hold as much value to the characters - as well as to the writers, it seems - as they do to us, as shown through cameos and references that true fans of the "High School Musical" movies can enjoy. This show doesn't make any effort to discredit the films we know and love. Instead, it celebrates them.

Beyond paying homage to the movies, the series also has its own merits. The new cast is incredibly talented, and their performances blew me away more times than I can count. Would you believe me if I said that a good portion of this show's original songs are just as good as the ones from the movies? On top of that, the story itself is a gripping one. It may lean into the drama a bit at times, but it works. I can't tell you how many times I refreshed the home page of Disney+ after a particularly shocking cliffhanger in hopes that maybe, just maybe, they'd drop the next episode early to sate my impatience.

There are so many other things to praise about the show, but to put it simply, I think we all may have been a bit too quick to judge it based on what we all assumed it would be. It refuses to stick to the status quo, and we should applaud it for that, not reject it. It's bold and progressive, yet also familiar, bringing back memories from our childhood while simultaneously crafting its own original story for fans new and old. With all ten episodes of the first season readily available on Disney+, I can't think of a better time to binge it for anyone who has yet to give it a shot. I've loved every second of "High School Musical: The Musical: The Series," and I'm sure anyone else who adores "High School Musical" as much as I do would love it too. In fact, I'd bet on it.

Okay, fine, I'll stop with the references now and get back to jamming to this show's soundtrack.