#portwell deserved better

[aroundthewaygirlao3]

And for my next rant...

For a show as DEEPLY self-referential as HSMTMTS is, why did we get almost zero in-references for Portwell this season? No ‘babe,’ or risotto, or Duke sweatshirt. No Wonderstudies. No mention of EJ being the one to buy the plane ticket. 

Because to make the path they chose make sense, they had to downplay EVERYTHING they built in season 2 between EJ and Gina.

You will NEVER convince me that the series endgame was supposed to be anything other than Rini. Plans change, and that’s fine. But even Gina’s speech to Ricky stalled out at the end of season 1. They had to disregard literally a whole season of their own canon to make it fit. That’s not an epic slow burn, it’s a hard left.

And the lovely thing they built between EJ and Gina was the casualty.

[lonelylittlebookworm]

so.

i like ricky better with gina.

but.

i like gina better with ej.

[thegirlwithataser]

also how the FUCK are rina’s even happy with the way that played out like they’ll accept anything at this point that was some of the worst narrative and character writing i have ever seen on my tv screen like this ain’t even anti rina at this point it’s just a what the fuck was that

[livelovecaliforniadreams]

#A Travesty

[myfandomtopia]

Matt Cornett is not listed as a season regular for season 4, which means we wont get any resolution or happy ending for EJ’s whole struggle in season 3 we’re really just left with his dad hanging up on him, his girlfriend breaking up with him, and him feeling like he has no support system. The show painted him as the bad guy all season, let everything go downhill for him, had everything he worked for all season fall apart, and then demoted his role in the show.

[aurantia-ignis]

"Can I have this dance~"

Doodled this for animation practice. Also I miss them.

[thstarsofsilver]

i still don’t think we talk enough about how heartbreaking it would be for ej caswell to be not his best self and lose a girl to ricky bowen, then go on a long hard journey of self-development and self-improvement, learning to be a more outward-looking & genuine person and finally begin to gain confidence in his new, better self and STILL lose a girl to ricky bowen.

[sparklyseblos]

i find it so sad how in s2 when ej was falling for gina he was scared to make a move with her bc he had a fear of being rejected like he had been with nini and the whole “i wonder if he’ll ever learn to love anyone after belle” yet he decided to take the risk and ask gina out.

and then in s3 he does get rejected again and in pretty much the same way with gina running to ricky just like nini did. LIKE THATS SO HEARTBREAKING?!?!? 😭

anyways i’ve said it once and i will say it again JUSTICE FOR EJ CASWELL.

[ejcaswellblog]

EJ’s wasted potential

I feel so sad when I think about how poorly EJ has been treated by the writers. I remember after s1 ended I was so excited about his story. I really thought they were gonna dive deeper into his home life, his fear of not being enough, his insecurities and give him the anxiety storyline (there were little hints in s1, also his first character description said that he was secretly prone to anxiety attacks). Also, I wished he had a bff who was one of the wildcats (and is not his cousin).

Instead of doing what I was expecting, the writers used him again as a plot device for Ricky's romance… Portwell should've never happened if R*na was planned since Homecoming… I get that they paralleled the batb story in s2, but they could have had only Kourtney and Howie to do that (and let Gina recover in 2b after how much she was hurt by Ricky, without throwing her to another love interest). In s3 they could have easily introduced a new character for Gina's love interest who parallels Hans. It was so easy to keep EJ out of the love triangle plot (which was a redo of the s1 triangle) and let him deal with his own problems… They should have given him a love interest that is a new character, without his romance being the main focus of his story (as much as I love Portwell, I hate that he got more focus only when he started to have feelings for Gina)… His storyline with his father was extremely rushed. They treated the Duke storyline as a joke in most s2a (I liked ep 4 and that one got me really excited about his story, and then it was handled so poorly). They treat EJ as a joke in general. They revealed his name in the worst way possible. They casted him as Sven and put him in THAT costume just to humiliate him for no reason... He has no serious solo, NONE. And we saw that Matt can sing very well if he is given the right song. Also, the lack of EJ POV during most of the show is so frustrating. I've never seen writers wasting such great potential for a character…

He would’ve definitely been a fan favourite character if the writers had done what I was expecting...

[erinchristmaselvis]

One heart broke, four hands bloody

[caswensworld]

The similarities between these 2 characters

Both have parents who don’t care about them

Both have enemies who love to torture them (maybe torture is a strong word but you know what I mean)

Both of them should’ve had this romance

Both of their backs hurt from CARRYING!

[hope-i-dont-choke]

Really fucking gut wrenching that EJ has put so much work in over the course of 3 seasons, he has reinvented himself, become a better person, a better friend, all he did was try his best, and it still wasn’t good enough, just give him next season for god sakes, make next season the season of EJ, reveal that Val has always loved him so he can know that it’s real since she’s his best friend and give him a power ballad solo, and let him be happy for once this whole show like damn

[portwellbabes]

set after episode 7, directors room

Ricky walks into the directors room looking for EJ.

“Oh there you are Elton, Val is looking for you she needs to check off the “In Summer” choreo.”

Ricky gets no response from EJ, so he moves closer to him. “Hey? You good? Whats…” He notices EJ has tears stained on his cheeks and his voice shifts to a softer tone, “EJ... whats wrong?” Ricky sits next to EJ putting an arm on his shoulder as EJ wipes away his tears.

“Gina broke up with me tonight” he says without making eye contact with Ricky.

Ricky looks at him speechless. He knew that Gina and EJ were kinda tense throughout the night but he had no idea it went this far. “Oh. EJ, I…”

Ricky is cut off as EJ starts to ramble anxiously, “I’m just stupid! I’m so stupid for thinking that I could be good enough for her.”

“No EJ don’t say that”

“No it’s true!” EJ makes eye contact with Ricky before continuing, “first Nini, now Gina! I’m just, a horrible person…I’m not- I’m not worth it” he concludes feeling extremely defeated.

Ricky looks at him upset, with a pang of guilt as he realizes that he unintentionally ruined two of EJ’s most treasured relationships.

EJ looks down at his feet, smiling wryly, “I mean, I’m such a failure that I’m not even good enough for my own father to say that he’s,” he stops for a moment staring at the wall blankly, “that he’s proud of me.”

A moment of silence passes until Ricky speaks up, unable to see EJ in such a weak and vulnerable position. He’s almost shocked to see the graduate so insecure of himself. Maybe he’s not as perfect as he seems to be?

Ricky turns to face EJ. “No you know what, that is absolutely not true you are not a failure EJ, you are so worth it, you are worth so much more than you know. and you know what? If your dad and Gina can’t see that then it’s their loss, because you are so incredible EJ.” EJ looks at him through his teary eyes as Ricky rambles on with a distant smile on his face. “I mean you’re talented, you’re kind and smart, and if I’m not wrong you were voted most likely to become a hollister model” he chuckles and EJ scoffs with a smile. “I see it, Maddox sees it, Val sees it! you’re the one who can’t see it.”

“Ricky you’re just saying that”

Ricky looks at him seriously, “I’m not! and EJ you don’t need someone else to prove that you’re worth it. I get it trust me, we all need validation. But EJ, you need to believe you are worth it. and as for Gina” Ricky sighs, “if you guys really are meant to be, she will come back to you. But EJ, maybe you just need to let her go first?”

“Yeah, i guess you’re right” EJ smiles back sadly.

Ricky smirks proudly to lighten up the mood, “when am i not?”

EJ punches his arm lightly as the two laugh quietly.

“Hey, it’s kind of like in frozen when Kristoff lets Anna go to Hans and when she realizes she loves Kristoff she comes back to him!” Ricky suddenly realizes, making a perfect analogy to EJ and Gina’s relationship. However, EJ doesn’t register this, choosing to focus on the fact that for once, Ricky actually got the plot of Frozen right. EJ looks at Ricky stunned, turning his body to face him.

“You- you actually know the script?” he asks.

Ricky blinks, “I mean, you did tell me to study it,” he replies referring to a couple hours ago at the camp prom.

“And you did??”

“Yeah…?”

“I- wow… thanks Ricky”

“No, thank you. You’re the reason we’re not gonna make a fool of ourselves on national television tomorrow. You might not think so but, I do appreciate you EJ.”

Ricky stands up and walks out, giving EJ a small smile and leaving him feeling a little more confident in himself than before.

i always pictured ricky and ej having some sort of heart-to-heart conversation in s3 after they’ve finally put their differences aside. this headcanon is where i imagine ricky discovering his sexuality for the first time after realizing he’s some what attracted to ej? and where ej realizes that ricky’s not that petty junior he was at the beginning of the school year and they can actually be friends. and it kinda leaves things open ended for portwell, rina, and caswen which they could’ve explored in season 4🤪

[differentlyweird]

EJ Caswell Deserves Better

I am so angry at how they handled EJ storyline this season. Never in my life would I have thought that I would be advocating for EJ Caswell of all characters,but here I am.

EJ deserves so much better. All he wanted was to make the play good,so that everyone would get to show off how amazing they are. So that he could stay in Salt Lake City to be with Gina. I know he neglected Gina this season , and that is completely his fault. However all he wanted was to be appreciated and he still didn’t get that. All he wanted was to prove to his dad that he was worth it, and his own father hung up on him instead of telling him. He wanted to prove to Gina that he was going to fight to stay because he knows Gina’s never had certainty.He still ended up being second choice like always. I understand that in season one he did things that were horrible and Nini had a right to break up with him;but he changed and put in the work to become a better person. He has shown time and time again that he will never ever stop trying to be a better person. This season he was so selfless,caring and scared. This boy is 18 years old and had to direct a camp play that was going to be broadcasted to 63 countries around the world. Keep in mind he has never done anything like this before and he still pulled it off.

Also one more thing and I know people might get angry at this. I don’t mean to start an argument nor do I want to be arguing with people in my mentions. But Ricky does not put in the work to be the lead or in my opinion to be with Gina. He is very talented and I do like him but the fact that he doesn’t put the same amount of effort into the show like all the other characters is just disrespectful because there are people that work really hard. I don’t like that Ricky has kind of had everything handed to him when it comes to being the lead or being with Gina I just feel like he hasn’t put in enough work or effort to be worthy of Gina. We know he has feelings for Gina but Gina‘s confession scene needed to be Ricky‘s because Ricky has not plainly said his feelings out loud for Gina. I feel as though it’s been Gina putting herself out there or dealing with her feelings throughout Rina’s journey.I know there’s been build up but I just feel like it hasn’t been handled very well. Regardless of Portwell or Rina. Gina deserves to be told how much she’s loved

Not to mention the fact that EJ has chosen time and time again when it comes to Ricky to be the bigger person. He had every right to get mad at Ricky and Gina,but he didn’t because he knew that he cared about both of them. Whether he liked it or not they were going to be together. He deserves to express his feelings fully without feeling like he’s going to hurt anybody. He deserves to be mad at Ricky even if it’s just for a little while. Even when he had the chance he chose to take the high road.  I hope in season four we see him at community college or something furthering his interest in filmmaking. I really hope we see him thrive and heal from everyone’s rejection. I want to see him confident in himself and his future. More about that here

I want him to know that he deserves to be someone’s first choice. That he deserves to be appreciated and loved. I want him to find his family/people.

If you want to think he’s lesser than Ricky just because he screwed up TWO WEEKS OF SUMMER with Gina, fine but acting like he’s better than Ricky as a whole is a lie

[livelovecaliforniadreams]

#We Stan A Supportive/Protective Ex Boyfriend King

[grootslegion]

EJ deserved better. That’s it.