Lucas Grabeel ryan evans hsm high school musical sharpay gabriella troy best character i don't dance chad

5 Indisputable Reasons Ryan Evans Is The Best ‘High School Musical’ Character

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I had an unhealthy obsession with all things High School Musical as a teen, so much so that my now-husband serenaded me for my 18th birthday while I was perched up on my uni hostel’s balcony. He can’t sing, but it’s the thought that counts. 

While I used to dream about being Gabriella Montez, as I get older I’ve realised that Gabriella and Troy were kinda the worst. Swooping in to steal the leading roles in their school musical when they cared more about each other than the actual musical? Blasphemy!

Lucas Grabeel ryan evans hsm high school musical sharpay gabriella troy best character i don't dance chad

The cast of High School Musical. Photo credit: Disney, HSM

It’s a sentiment that seems to be talked about a bunch now, but most people tend to jump in to defend Sharpay Evans as the real star of the HSM universe. But hear me out, what if Ryan Evans was the true hero all along? 

Sharpay has a love for musical theatre, but she’s more focused on fame and fortune than the actual craft. Her fraternal twin brother is not only insanely talented (like, Juilliard-level), but he’s also a true musical theatre kid, through and through. 

So, without further ado, here’s all the reasons Ryan Evans is the best character from High School Musical. And no, you will not change my mind. 

1. Ryan is more talented than Sharpay. 

Sure, Sharpay has the razzle-dazzle and can command attention on cue, but Ryan’s the total package. He can play piano, is randomly gifted when it comes to baseball, can choreograph massive musical theatres, and is an incredible dancer. Have you seen his jazz squares? No notes. 

After taking on the role of choreographer for the senior musical in HSM 3, he won a scholarship to Julliard. The only other Julliard scholarship went to Kelsi, for composing all the music in the show. As for Sharpay? Crickets. 

2. Ryan has some of the most iconic lines in the HSM franchise. 

Firstly, his entire duet with Chad Danforth in HSM 2 belongs in the Louvre. The sexually charged baseball-themed song ‘I Don’t Dance’ gave us gems like “Slide home, you score. Swingin’ on the dance floor” and “Bases loaded, do your dance”. There are so many double entendres, no wonder it became one of the most popular songs from the sequel. 

Meanwhile, Troy and Gabriella end up singing a sad duet, all because they don’t know how to communicate. Like, have you considered just talking to each other? 

Also, when Sharpay told him off after their audition for adding a jazz square, he defended his decision and I’m Team Ryan on this. “It’s a crowd favourite. Everybody loves a good jazz square,” he declared. Yes Ryan, we do. 

3. Ryan is the first openly gay character in the DCOM universe. 

Ryan’s sexuality isn’t addressed in the HSM films, but fans picked up a certain vibe. I’m convinced he had a crush on both Zeke (yep, creme brulee chef Zeke) and Chad. I simply refuse to believe there was anything romantic going on between Ryan and Kelsi. 

In 2020, director and choreographer Kenny Ortega confirmed that Ryan is part of the LGBTQ+ community, and would’ve come out in college. “It was less about coming out and just more about letting his true colours come forward,” he told Variety. “I took it upon myself to make choices that I felt those who were watching would grab. They would see it, they would feel it, they would know it and they would identify with it.”

In Season 4 of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (I know, that name kinda gives me the ick), it was finally confirmed that Ryan is queer and in a healthy relationship with his partner, played by Pentatonix’s Scott Hoying. 

The showrunner, Tim Federle, checked in with Lucas Grabeel, who plays Ryan, to hear his thoughts on Ryan coming out in Season 4. “Lucas, like, cried on the phone and said, ‘This would mean so much to people who grew up with this movie… It’s what they were always kind of missing from this character’,” Tim told TVLine. 

4. All of Ryan’s beautiful hats. 

Ryan wears a number of brightly coloured hats, and I’m low-key obsessed with all of them. From his hot pink beret to his patterned baseball caps, he never fails to deliver. Plus, his red and white bucket hat from HSM 2 that matched his shorts was peak fashion.

@disneyuk Need forty reasons to watch HSM & HSM 2 on @Disney+ ? Well look no further… #hsm #hsm2 #ryan #disney ♬ original sound – Disney UK

One fan even devoted an entire live journal blog post to his choice of hats, and I’d like to thank them for their very important work. 

5. Ryan is a decent human being. 

After being turfed out of the talent show by Sharpay in HSM 2, he’s recruited by Gabriella to put together the staff talent show. Instead of ignoring all the Wildcats and swanning off to relax by the pool, he rounds everyone up and raises morale. 

Troy and Gabriella’s fate was revealed in HSMTMTS Season 4 and honestly, it tracks. The pair – who did nothing in HSM 3 except dance in the rain and run away from problems – are now in couples therapy. Meanwhile, Ryan is thriving, proving my point that he was the star all along. 

Snaps for Ryan. 

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Image credits: Disney, High School Musical