‘School Spirits’ Review: Season 2 Defies the Sophomore Slump

Two years after it first aired, School Spirits is finally getting the hype it deserves. Season 2 debuted with a 104% increase in viewership. It seems everyone wants to know: what happened to Maddie Nears?

In Season 1, viewers are introduced to Maddie (Peyton List), the latest ghost unlucky enough to spend her afterlife trapped within the halls of Split River High. Fellow ghosts Rhonda (Sarah Yarkin), Charley (Nick Pugliese), and Wally (Milo Manheim) attempt to help Maddie find and confront her murderer.

The catch? Maddie has no memory of her death. 

It’s not difficult for shows to lose some of its first season magic, but School Spirits breaks the curse with ease. Viewers can expect more laughs, more twists, and more ghosts from Season 2. The show continues to excel with its character-driven plot and binge-worthy episodes.  

Show creators Megan and Nate Trinrud expertly weave together storylines of trust, friendship, and resilience that highlight the bittersweet teenage experience. The heartfelt friendships that Maddie forges remind us that no matter how lonely we feel, we’re never truly alone.

Warning: spoilers ahead.

Season 2 Overview 

Season 2 picks up right where Season 1 left off: with the reveal that Maddie is trapped in the spirit world because Janet (Jess Garbor) has possessed her body. Mr. Martin (Josh Zuckerman), a villain-in-disguise who happens to be the only other person with answers, is on the run.

The stakes have never been higher for Maddie Nears and her friends, both living and dead. For the first time, they must all band together to get Maddie her life back. Each episode ends on a cliffhanger that has fans eagerly anticipating the next.

Confronted with proof that his best friend is still alive, Simon (Kristian Ventura) has a hard time trusting Maddie when she tells him that her body is actually possessed. Janet, on the other hand, has never felt freer. She steals Maddie’s body as a second chance at the life she never got to live.

Janet has had almost seven decades to stew over the loss of her potential. As she continues to remind those who stand in her way, we have no idea what she’s truly capable of.

Standout Performances

Peyton List’s performance alone makes the show a must-watch. Her mannerisms change ever-so-slightly when portraying Janet as Maddie. This helps viewers instantly identify who List is playing on screen. List’s interpretation of Maddie deftly explores themes of violation and personhood. Her portrayal of Janet attempting to mimic Maddie’s laugh is as impressive as it is horrifying.

Rhonda’s character takes a front seat in the first half of the season, and Sarah Yarkin rises to the occasion. Rhonda is devastated that she placed her trust in Mr. Martin, an authority figure, and gets betrayed (again). Yarkin’s performance as Rhonda is gripping; her emotion, palpable. The amount of focus on Rhonda has fans theorizing she may be the first of Maddie’s ghostly gang to successfully cross over.

It would be remiss of me not to include Milo Manheim’s masterclass of a performance this season. Manheim is no stranger to playing the stereotypical jock with a wicked sense of humor and something to prove. That being said, he approaches Wally’s character with a tenderness that defies expectation. In Season 2, viewers get a glimpse into the depths of Wally’s trauma, all while he grapples with the fact that his romance with Maddie has been ill-fated from the start.

What’s New 

Viewers briefly met Janet in Season 1, but nothing could prepare them for her heart-wrenching backstory. The camera often cuts between Janet (Jess Garbor) in flashbacks and Janet-possessed Maddie in the present to remind viewers of her unchecked power.

Alongside Janet, new cast members are introduced to round out the show’s ghostly comfort characters. Charley is drawn to Yuri (Miles Elliot), a self-isolating pottery artist, whom he convinces to leave the school’s art room for the first time in decades.

Rhonda’s efforts to snap the marching band members out of their daze are no longer in vain. Quinn (Ci Hang Ma) puts down her trumpet to help Maddie, forming a close friendship with Rhonda in the process.

In the land of the living, Maddie’s friends must track down Janet and convince her to forfeit Maddie’s body. Forced to work together, Claire (Rainbow Wedell) and Nicole (Kiara Pichardo) slowly but surely learn to put their differences aside. Xavier (Spencer Macpherson) and Simon’s unlikely friendship is another joy to watch unfold on screen.

The spirit world is also expanded with the introduction of “scars,” which are objects that create personal horrorscapes that replicate the circumstances of each ghost’s death. While it forces the characters to confront their traumas, it also provides opportunities for the actors to shine. The eerie juxtaposition of red and green lighting amps up the show’s horror elements in new and fascinating ways.

Mystery Boxes and the Official Soundtrack

As the episodes air, Paramount+ has been sending fans exclusive clue boxes to help them unravel the show’s mysteries in real-time.

The boxes include collectible objects that are important to the characters, such as Quinn’s instrument case and one of Rhonda’s records. This genius marketing strategy has kept the internet buzzing with theories and reactions you don’t want to miss.

The clues also provide a more immersive watching experience for the viewers as they become personally invested in solving the mysteries alongside Maddie’s friends.

For those who can’t get enough of School Spirits, Season 2’s soundtrack is a stunning example of music selections done right. Songs like Lizzy McAlpine’s “Doomsday” and Hazlett’s “I’m Not Ready to Go” make the show feel bigger and more cinematic. If you check out the show’s official playlist on Spotify, you can even find “Foolish Girl,” an original song about Rhonda that appears in episode 5.

School Spirits tackles the cozy, paranormal mystery genre like no other, and its marketing is proof. Season 2’s epic conclusion is set to air March 6th on Paramount+. Will you be watching?