‘High School Musical: The Series’: Disney+ Originals to binge on launch
The time is upon us to waste away on our couches watching Disney’s massive catalog. Disney+ is here, so it’s time to take a look at the platform’s slate of original programming. While The Mandalorian alone is most likely going to be the first thing you binge once you log into Disney+, you should also check out originals like Encore!, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, The Marvel Hero Project, The World According to Jeff Goldblum, and The Imagineering Story.
While most of the programming is reality/documentary, they’re high-quality productions, which is no surprise. We’ve dug through the reactions and know which shows you should be checking out, so get your bingewatch outfit ready. We at Film Daily are partial to onesies and rompers this time of year.
The World According to Jeff Goldblum
The most confusing yet surprising Disney+ Original of them all, The World According to Jeff Goldblum is probably the strongest out of all these shows. Think Anthony Bordain but focused on culture as a whole, not just food. Plus, Goldblum comes across as so genuinely interested and excited by the topics at hand, making the show that much more fun to watch
Granted, we’d watch Jeff Goldblum read a phone book for 30 minutes. Anyone interested in the world around them will dig this series. Even if you’re not huge on documentary/reality style shows, watch it just for Goldblum’s reactions to the cultures he’s learning.
Encore!
Your interest in this show is going to come down to whether you liked high school or not. If you have nostalgic ties to your time in high school and wish you could go back for a day or two, then you’ll love Encore!. Hosted by Kristen Bell, the show lets a group of adults relieve their high school musical productions again, directed by a professional Broadway director.
While you’re definitely not going to love the musical performances, if you find shows like Queer Eye endearing, this is for you. It’s a feel-good reality show that gives people a chance to relive a great experience in their lives and reconnect with old friends and old passions.
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series
By the title alone, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series has no right to exist. But somehow, this is a fun teenage version of The Office while offering nostalgia for those who grew up with the original High School Musical movies. While the drama is definitely childish at times and the whole concept is utterly ridiculous, it still works.
This is the only other scripted show besides The Mandalorian dropping on Disney+ launch day, so it may be worth your while. Of course if you’re still a diehard Wildcat, you’re going to enjoy the start of something new.
The Marvel Hero Project
Looking for more feel-good stories after Encore!? The Marvel Hero Project takes a look at young kids across the U.S. who are helping their communities in extraordinary ways, becoming real-life heroes in the process.
It’s a great way for younger kids to see that even with their age as an obstacle, there are still things they can do to make the world better. While The Marvel Hero Project may not be entertaining across the entire series, it’s still something inspirational and great for fans of reality TV to watch.
The Imagineering Story
Disnerds, beware. This is the show you will watch again and again . . . and again. The six-part docuseries gives an inside look at the innovation that led to Disneyland and the entire Disney theme park empire. Through archival footage of Walt himself and interviews with surviving imagineers, this is easily the best thing Disney+ will release on launch day.
There isn’t a single person that wouldn’t get something out of this series in one way or another. Whether you’re a park lover and want to see the history of the parks, a fan of Walt Disney’s legacy, or just like a good documentary, The Imagineering Story is the go-to series to start on launch day.
The Mandalorian
The Mandalorian is the biggest show on the platform. It captivated audiences & critics alike, and gave the world Baby Yoda, which is perhaps the most marketable character since the introduction of the Minions. Who doesn’t like a space western? And better yet, who doesn’t like Star Wars?
