With so much serious (and somewhat depressing) news stories taking the media hostage nowadays, I thought it may be a good idea to write an article to help people take their minds off these stressing times. Not only are these times stressful for adults but many teens/students have some sort of uncertainty around their academics as a result of this pandemic. Sometimes the best way to alleviate the stress and anxiety of uncertainty is escapism. This is why I urge everyone to maybe immerse themselves in a new series or a new movie genre, play a video game or take up a new hobby. It seems like we have nothing but time, so that excuse is now redundant. While I’m not suggesting people run away from their problems completely- because that’s unhealthy and unproductive for several reasons- I just think sometimes it’s necessary to escape into a world less daunting than this one. You may leave with loads of motivation, a new perspective on your situation or at least in a more positive mindset to help you tackle the rest of your day.
A show I’d recommend is “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series”. While it seems to have an unnecessarily long-winded name and on the surface appears to be one of those spin-offs networks make to try and milk the last dime out of a previously successful franchise- which is why it took me till quarantine to watch it- but after watching the series I have mostly only good things to say about it. The show is a spin-off from the widely popular High School Musical franchise that dominated the childhood of most people aged 15 and above. It streams on Disney+, consist of 10 episodes and is already renewed for a season 2.
The series is fundamentally about a love triangle in a high school setting. In short, “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” is about Eastwood High school (the setting of the original High School Musical movies) putting on a production of the first High School Musical movie. The main character, Nina, returns to a new school year as a junior (year 12) with her new senior(year 13) boyfriend, EJ, she meets over the summer (during theatre camp) after her ex-boyfriend, Ricky, tells Nina they need to go on a break just a few days before she leaves for camp. The series begins with Ricky preparing to get back with Nina only to find out she’s now dating EJ. Ricky decides to try and win Nina back by getting the lead in the school play as Troy, while the new couple - EJ and Nina- saw the play as the perfect opportunity to grow together as a couple by getting the leads in the school play.
The series is shot in a “The Office” kind of style where characters occasionally break the 4th wall and speak directly to the camera to tell their thoughts or make humourous comments. The show continuously subtly mocks how unrealistic certain aspects of the narrative/show is; giving the audience a deeper connection to this show and allowing scenes that would otherwise come off as extremely cringy (turning people off the show) into a big laugh. The show is laced with intentional irony and intertextuality; anyone who was remotely a fan of the High School Musical franchise is likely to enjoy this series and get a wave of nostalgia out of it. “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” includes a few songs from the original movie but also a few new ones to help carry the narrative along; it is a musical after all. It even has two camos from the original HSM cast; Lucas Grabeel( Ryan Evans) and KayCee Stroh( Martha Cox). The cast is extraordinarily talented and diverse; somewhat reflecting the world we live in giving the show a relatable and genuine feel. The show has a very positive undertone, despite it addressing some serious problems teens face nowadays. It is likely to leave you in a happy, hopeful mood at the end which is something we all need in these trying times.
Happy St. George’s day and remember to keep social distancing without social disconnecting
By: Naomi Eboreime
