I have to admit, it’s often the case that a show with such a niche plot dies out after the first or second season because the writers can’t come up with anything new. That’s definitely not the case with Paramount+’s “School Spirits.”
The first season follows Maddie Nears (Peyton List), who appears to be missing to her classmates and family. Her spirit was actually trapped in her high school, and her body was stolen and possessed by a ghost named Janet (Jess Gabor), who was killed in a fire in the 50s. With the other ghosts she encounters in the school (who also died there) they spend the season trying to find out what happened to Maddie.
She falls in love with ghost Wally Clark (Milo Manheim). Yes, Emma from “Jessie” and Zedd from “Zombies” are in love in another life — or afterlife.
If I had a nickel every time Manheim played an undead football player, I’d have two nickels. Talk about a niche typecast.
In the second season, after finding out that Maddie isn’t actually dead, the characters continue searching for answers. They realize Janet is in Maddie’s body and have to find a way to get everyone back to where they’re supposed to be, whether that be on Earth or in the school to continue spending their afterlife.
While the first two seasons were mostly mystery, this third season was definitely the creepiest.
In the second episode of the latest season, Simon (Kristian Ventura) goes into one of the ghosts’ “scars.” These “scars” are basically just the memory of how they died in the worst possible way, and considering basically every character died a horrific death, it can get pretty dark.
The “scar” that he went to in particular was a 2004 bus crash that killed members of the high school’s marching band. The scene is pretty graphic and insanely creepy, with students sprawled out in insane positions due to their broken bones and injuries.
The creative minds of the producers are impressive, with little things such as ominous marching band music playing in the background. One student was creepily playing his drums while he was impaled with a stop sign.
It gets creepier. In the second half of the third season, we spend a lot of time in a buried Finnish church, with ghost children and a decomposing old man. It honestly reminded me of “The Nun.”
It wouldn’t be that surprising if it were intentional. Maddie and Simon are horror movie fanatics, but with the horror movie references sprinkled throughout the show, you can tell the creators are too.
I’d be amiss not to mention that Superintendent Deborah Hunter-Price (Jennifer Tilly) was one of the main antagonists this season. If you’re a horror movie fan, Tilly’s name may sound familiar to you. She’s most famous for playing Tiffany in the “Chucky” franchise.
Superintendent Price is set on destroying the school (where all of the student ghosts are) and reconstructing a new school. What’s found out throughout the season is that if a haunted place is destroyed, the ghosts get trapped.
The Finnish church that I mentioned? Yeah, those children are trapped under the school that was built over it. The cycle would just continue.
Tilly wasn’t the only famous star to appear in this season. A random, but oh so welcome guest star was singer Lizzy McAlpine. She appeared in a flashback of one of the ghosts, singing “House of the Rising Sun.” If you haven’t given it a listen, please do. It’s heavenly, per usual with her music.
I’m sure there will be another season. They did a pretty good job with leaving just enough questions unanswered that it’d make sense, but not enough that you’re still confused.
In the second-to-last episode, Wally goes through his door, which is what you’d assume would be their ticket to heaven. When we get to the last episode, we see that’s not the case. Maddie, who is still alive, manages to make it to the forest where the rest of the ghosts that have “crossed over” are. We see Dawn (RaeAnne Boon), who “crossed over” in season one, and Janet, who did at the beginning of this season.
Wally went through his door to try to find Simon, who is alive, just stuck in the ghost world.
Every living person made it out. But where is my precious baby boy, Wally? I will riot if he’s not in the next season, and even worse, if Maddie ends up back with her cheating season one boyfriend (yes I’m ignoring the great character development right now), Xavier (Spencer MacPherson). Xavier has been great, but I’m worried by how much it felt like the writers were trying to make us ship them again, as if they’re planning on bringing them back together.
I don’t care if he’s dead; Maddie belongs with Wally. End of story.
The writers are doing a great job at keeping the stories and excitement alive, even if most of the characters aren’t.
