Yes, I’m going to be covering the same show that I reviewed literally not too long ago! Called me obsessed, but after getting into the show and the music from this DisneyPlus series, I thought it’d be fun to give an analysis/ranking of my favorite couples from the show. As a disclaimer, this post will have spoilers from the series to help give more context, so unless you don’t mind being given spoilers, I’d recommend watching the show first before jumping into this one blog post.
1. Frankie Rodriguez (Carlos) and Joe Serafini (Sebastian, or “Seb”)- for anyone who doesn’t follow these actors or doesn’t know who they are outside of the show, these two are dating in real life! Knowing this really just adds more depth to their on-screen relationship. Their dynamic can be best described as wholesome, sweet and the most healthy. Through the show at least, their relationship starts when Carlos asks Seb out to the prom after having to rehearse a dance number together. Since then, these two can be seen as inseparable.
2. Julia Lester (Ashlyn) and Larry Saperstein (Big Red)- These two characters have very unique personalities, and one thing I love about them being together as a couple is that they know how to lift each other up whenever one of them feels insecure or in a downer mood. One thing that these two also know and understand is how important it is to communicate openly and honestly. One thing that I would consider to be a misconception is that if a girl says “we need to talk”, that doesn’t always have to mean that there’s bad news, or that there’s going to be a break-up (though in all fairness, the two of them did separate after sharing to each other their new sexualities). Ashlyn and Big Red, as lovable as they are as individuals, play into this “power couple” role that’s not forced or feels toxic in any way, and because of that, I’d say that their relationship is just as healthy and wholesome as the previous couple mentioned.
3. Matt Cornell (EJ) and Sofia Wylie (Gina)- If there’s any couple in the show that gives off real Troy and Gabriella vibes, it would be these two characters! Granted, the way that these two characters came together was kind of through a series of very confusing events… the best way for me to recap this is to say that at first, they didn’t know much about each other as they were set up to be understudies for Nini and Ricky. A lot of last minute casting changes were made during the first season’s musical (which of course, was High School Musical), so this made opening night feel like a “hot mess” in some ways. All of this to say that if these two characters hadn’t been cast as understudies by Miss Jen in season 1, they probably would have never come in contact with each other. Their relationship in the series took some time to develop as they first started out as just friends, but by season 2, it was obvious that they started to have feelings for each other and their relationship was fully pursued by season 3. I just wish that things hadn’t ended between them, but their individual paths- or mostly EJ’s, at least- kind of got in the way.
4. Olivia Rodrigo (Nini) and Joshua Bassett (Ricky)- To say that these two characters have a lot of history is kind of an understatement since Nini and Ricky have known each other since childhood. In some ways, I feel like this is why I’m ranking this couple only this high due to them already having a dynamic that’s been well established. The complexities of Nini and Ricky’s relationship almost feel similar to what I have in my own relationship, but of course, Ricky’s development throughout season 1 is about as real as it gets when it comes to dealing with newly divorced parents. You can’t really use that as an excuse to defend his behavior, but at the same time, the mistakes that he makes can’t be avoided either. Love isn’t an easy thing to maintain for some people if what they’re getting at home isn’t being measured up to a perfect or ideal standard, and saying those three words to someone shouldn’t be something to take lightly.
5. Sofia Wylie (Gina) and Joshua Bassett (Ricky)- As much as I don’t understand the hype from fans between these two characters as a pair, I’ll admit that their friendship at least is very light-hearted, playful and well balanced. Ricky and Gina as friends is always a nice treat to see in the show, but whenever they start to explore their feelings for one another, I start to question whether or not these two will last as a couple. Gina and EJ worked well together despite not being on the same path as individuals, and while I don’t want to make any quick assumptions or judgments, I just can’t shake off this feeling that Ricky may end up doing something to hurt this relationship he has with Gina, or that Gina may end things too soon for whatever reason she can think of as a reaction to whatever Ricky ends up doing. I guess only time will tell for these two since season 4 won’t be out until this coming summer, but until then, I’ll do my best to remain hopeful.
6. Dara Renee (Kourtney) and Roman Banks (Howie)- I feel like even though these two characters definitely hold a lot of depth as individuals, the relationship between these two is like doing a very slow waltz. With Kourtney being so confident and self-assured to the point of thinking she doesn’t need a boyfriend to be complete, this makes Howie the perfect first boyfriend for her, even though the fling doesn’t last long. The way these two got their relationship started is when Kourtney was hired to fulfill a management position at Big Red’s family pizzeria, and Howie is someone who has had his fair share of managers who tried to change the way things work within the restaurant.. Now I don’t want to act like their relationship was an entire waste of time for me as a viewer, but see Kourtney debilitate over her own feelings so much, let Howie in and then reassess the difficulties she has with herself and why things have to end is just a bit dramatic and too complicated for me to handle.
7. Olivia Rodrigo (Nini) and Matt Cornell (EJ)- Being lied to is a reasonable excuse to end a relationship, but what makes me put EJ and Olivia dead last on this list is not just him being deceitful to her about why she got the part in the summer musical, but also in knowing that he took her phone simply because he was worried about the relationship sinking even further due to his first mistake. Thankfully, Nini was able to put those worries behind her by the time season 2 rolls around, but when season 1 was just getting started, you can automatically tell that what started out as a summer romance quickly turned into more drama than what was worth it for her. Of course, EJ did have enough sense to explain things later on after they’ve broken up, but what’s done is done. I’m pretty sure explaining things as a means of apologizing was enough anyways, unlike his boy-bandish tune “A Million Sorrys” that’s sung just moments before that encounter happens- but I’ll admit, that song is just so darn catchy and hilarious!
