Though the High School Musical films focus primarily on the relationship between Troy and Gabriella, the trilogy features a large ensemble cast. One of the main characters is Ryan Evans, co-president of the drama club and twin brother to Sharpay.
While this East High student has a lot going for him as he develops over the course of the series, there are a few decisions he makes that aren’t the best. We’re taking a closer look at why he is one of the franchise’s greatest characters as well as why he is one of the worst.
Best: He Worked Hard And Followed His Dreams
Ryan is perhaps one of the hardest workers in the entire High School Musical series. Like his sister, he cares deeply about musicals and performs several show-stopping numbers throughout the High School Musical films.
In the third movie, Ryan is made choreographer of the senior musical and does such an incredible job that he scores a scholarship to Juilliard. In Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure, it is revealed that he is touring the country as part of a musical. Ryan’s hard work paid off.
Worst: He Faked His Unintelligence
Perhaps this is more of the writers’ problem than Ryan’s issue, but there is a huge shift in his character between the original High School Musical and its sequel.
Ryan isn’t the brightest in the first film. He struggles to read the phrase “Go Drama Club!” and frequently plays dumb to the tension that bubbles between Sharpay and Gabriella. However, in the following film, his personality develops and Jason Cross instead takes on a more ditzy persona. Why did Ryan act differently in the first film? Was he faking it the whole time?
Best: He Brought The Wildcats Together
Ryan has some strong team-building skills. In High School Musical 2, he splits away from Sharpay, befriends the other Wildcats, and agrees to choreograph a musical number for them.
His encouraging nature continues in the High School Musical 3 when he teams together with Kelsi to help the East High gang prepare for the Senior Musical. He pours a lot of passion into the project and tries hard to ensure everyone is having fun.
Worst: He Backstabbed Sharpay
In High School Musical 2, Sharpay is angry that Ryan is performing a song with their East High classmates and decides to ban all junior staffers from performing in the Midsummer’s Night Talent Show. Upset by this, Troy agrees to perform in the talent show with Sharpay only if she lets the other staffers come back in. She agrees, but Ryan still decides to intervene.
Frustrated by her earlier move, Ryan tricks Troy into learning a different song with Gabriella, leaving Sharpay with no musical partner. His sister worked really hard and realized she was in the wrong by this point, so why did Ryan still choose to keep her from taking the stage? Was he that set on revenge?
Best: He Cared About Sharpay
Despite the High School Musical 2 incident, Ryan was usually very kind and caring toward his sister even when she tried to manipulate him.
In the original High School Musical, Ryan sticks by his sister to make sure all of their performances were the absolute best. In the summer sequel, the two reconcile after their squabble. In the final film, he tries to score Sharpay Kelsi’s best songs so that they can try to win a scholarship to Julliard. The Evans twins were unstoppable.
Worst: His Relationship With Kelsi Had Ulterior Motives
Ryan expresses no interest in Kelsi until the final film when, as aforementioned, Sharpay suggests the two get close to one another. Sharpay wants Ryan to polish Kelsi’s glasses, buy her ruby slippers, or do anything that will get Kelsi to give her and Ryan the best songs.
Though Ryan is uneasy about Sharpay’s controlling request, he decides to pursue Kelsi anyway, even asking her out to prom. Yes, Ryan seems genuinely interested in Kelsi, however, she probably wouldn’t feel good if she knew that Sharpay was pulling the strings in their relationship. Ryan never comes clean on-screen.
Best: He Stood Up For Himself
While it took Ryan a while to realize that Sharpay abused her power, he eventually took a stand for himself.
As aforementioned, Ryan becomes friends with his classmates in High School Musical 2. He goes out to a baseball game and decides to work on a musical number with them even if it’s not what his sister wants. In the third film, he sticks up for Gabriella after Sharpay tells him that she might be able to steal her part if she goes off to Stanford early. He respects himself and his friends.
Worst: He Didn’t Always Stand Up For Himself
While later Ryan takes a stand, early Ryan complacently plays the role of Sharpay’s puppet.
Throughout the first film, he follows Sharpay’s lead and puts up with her meanness. She’s critical of him when he makes a mistake and doesn’t leave any room for forgiveness. He simply follows her requests without questioning her motives.
Best: Ryan Is Fearlessly Himself
In the first High School Musical movie, East High’s jocks, geeks, and skaters judge each other for having different interests. However, Ryan never once participates in this or changes himself because of someone else’s opinion of him.
Throughout the series, Ryan rocks bright colors and patterns, loves to perform and embraces his quirks. No other character (except maybe his sister) is quite as confident in who they are.
Worst: He Isn’t An Original Thinker
The High School Musical trilogy tries to convince viewers that Ryan loves the stage and that there is no place he’d rather be, but is this actually true?
Sharpay is always bossing Ryan around, and as revealed in High School Musical 2, his parents also have some high expectations for him. In this same film, viewers are shown that Ryan is great at baseball. If he hadn’t been pushed into music by his family but instead got the chance to explore his other interests, would he still be doing musicals? Would the Ryan viewers know look wildly different?
