Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies

This show isn't meant to be a remake of the movie. But some of these bad reviews seem to have forgotten what the original movie was really like. It was made in the 70s. Olivia Newton-John was a 30-something playing a high school student and was obviously not one. They tackled social issues like Russo being slut-shamed and being worried about being pregnant. It came down hard on both the Socs and the gangs. It had songs that were not 50s style ("Hopelessly Devoted" anyone?). It had a flying car at the end and an entire cartoon scene during "Greased Lightning". Plus it was based on a popular Broadway play. So get over yourselves.

This show is cute and fun. It definitely has some more pop/50s style songs. Yes, it reflects actually more 50s realistic social issues like women seen as unfit to lead and Black people rarely appreciated for who they really are. That is not fantasy. That's realistic. Idk why anyone thinks that's not how the past was. It's socially conscious and yet fun. I enjoy the Pink Ladies and the shenanigans they get up to while trying to make their points and make Rydell fun for all.

I started watching Pink Ladies due to my love of Grease from when I was a kid. I also love musicals and teen drama, so I was stoked when I found out they were making a prequel. Initially, I felt the songs, while well sung and choreographed on their own, didn't seem to fit within the story very well. I kept watching, though, as I was enjoying the overarching storyline. However, at Episode 5, I finally felt the songs mesh within the storyline and the overall production found their footing within the show. Now each episode has better songs than the last and I find myself singing them. Give it a change. You may be pleasantly surprised.

"Too much singing" Hello! It's a musical! What were you expecting! And the 5 songs in the first episode were all under 3 minutes... Heavens! 12 minutes of singing in the entire 60 minute run time! The only song reused from the original was "Grease is the word." And the lyrics were not changed so I have no idea what that person was talking about. The story had parallels to the original but completely stood on its own. People crying that it's nothing like the original or is a sad pathetic mockery... No one claimed it was a remake, it's an origin story NOT a prequel! There's a few characters sprinkled in it and let's remember, this is before they became who they are. Sure this isn't perfect but sorry neither was the original grease (not trying to rag on the original Grease, it was my childhood and it will always have a special place in my heart.) However it's totally over watched and over done as a live performance and I personally can only watch it like every 10 years now. So it's nice to have a fresh take on it that still makes you feel nostalgic to the original! If you like musical theatre, you'll like this! And if you're that upset about it go watch the original! There's space for both! And yes there's even enough room for Grease 2 <3.

Being a fan of the original Grease I decided, why not give this a try. Set 4 years before the movie, rise of the pink ladies is cute and quirky. It points out the ridiculousness of the time while also kinda poking fun at the original movies. The songs though modern in feel have a nice retro edge to them. The characters are just as silly and shallow as the original. Definitely a cheesy feel good type of show. Very light, drama and angst free. If you go into it taking it too seriously you won't enjoy it as much. Just take it at face value without comparing it to the movies and you might like it.

I grew up obsessed with the OG Grease. With the hindsight of adulthood, one realizes the limitations of the original. And although this has its own missteps, anyone who appreciates a fresh approach will love the feminist slant, albeit from a burgeoning sense of new identity. Some of the songs can be a tad clunky, but others (like I Want More in the second episode) are powerhouses. Most of the main characters have decent depth to them and hint at more to come. And the easter eggs are a delight to old school fans who cherish their trips down memory lane with a bit of bite. Although it's not Oscar fare, I'm definitely looking forward to this season and how their stories unfold at Rydell.