‘Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies’ Episode 5 Review: Potential conflicts can lead to positive outcomes at times
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Annabel Oakes' 'Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies' for Paramount+ is the OG film's prequel, set four years before the original film 'Grease' released in 1978. The premise of the series centers around four quirky misfit girls in Rydell High School who are attempting to find their way through life and form a group known as the 'Pink Ladies' in the process.
A slew of rising stars, including Marisa Davila, Cheyenne Isabel Wells, Ari Notartomaso, and Tricia Fukuhara, play the students' namesakes. Before the series premiere, the creator and cast members mentioned that they will not shy away from confronting disturbing themes or calling out inappropriate behavior that was considered 'normal' in the '70s. The latest episode of the Paramount+ series demonstrates how differences may occasionally turn out to be something good, albeit hidden at the start.
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Conflicts can make beautiful outcomes bloom
Unlike today's conflicts like cyberbullying and social media take downs, Rydell High School students in the 1950s have challenges about who ought to compete for student council, what they want to do with that power, and so on. However, these disputes may at times lead to favorable results. A glimpse of this can be seen in the fifth episode of 'Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies,' when the students can't pick between Buddy and Jane when it comes to the the student president post.
Whereas Jane strives to demonstrate to everybody that she is the best, Buddy is content to simply go with the flow. However, at the Halloween party, the two of them realize after an argument that being against each other had never been in the plans. They wanted the student council elections to be fun, not vile. They are both unhappy about continuously having to try tearing the other person down.
When Richie sees Jane and Buddy having a lighthearted conversation, he goes all T-bird and lights up all the firecrackers they possess, causing everyone to believe it's a nuclear bomb they saw in the drill video earlier that day. The explosion stirs up some emotions in the cast members, including Jane and Buddy. So, having clashes with someone may at times give rise to pleasant and heartwarming outcomes that one would not expect. Similarly, Lydia and Cynthia's differences lead them to collaborate on the play, and the two end up kissing at the party, which not only helps Cynthia act better but also hints at a future romantic relationship.
McGee discovers a way to make an impression
Students generally dislike school officials, and Rydell High is no exception, but Jackie Hoffman, who plays Assistant Principal McGee, is an experienced theatre actor known for her ability with a blunt sarcastic line and is a beloved character on the show. With an 'Election Song,' the actress' character shines in the episode. In one of her recent interviews, she communicated her excitement about having her song featured in one of the episodes.
The theatre actress also is successful in bringing a smile to the audience's face whenever she appears. She is truly pleased with the election results and informs the council that the winner will be the first female school president aka Jane. McGee sure looks great as her 'resting' grumpy face is transformed by her proud smile.
Romance is not the primary concern
The episode made it clear that Jane and Buddy have unresolved issues, and the fact that the two of them end up kissing near the end of the episode makes one curious about what will happen next. Buddy truly likes Jane, but she's been on a mission to prove him wrong, especially after she got made fun of by the school for having sex with him when they didn't. Buddy finds solace in Jane's victory during their conversation, and that moment is enough for Jane and the audience to comprehend that his feelings are still there.
What about Richie, though? We'll have to wait for the next episodes to see where this goes. Of course, the character dynamic may change as the story progresses. It should be noted that ‘Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies’ is not about romance but about how four misfits find a common goal and form a group and are there for each other. Being romantically involved with other characters on the show is a part of the story but the focus is only on how the Pink Ladies "rise."
‘Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies’ is streaming currently on Paramount+