Steven Prusakowski
After what felt like an eternity in limbo, School Spirits fans could finally breathe again. The supernatural high school drama returned this week after a long hiatus leaving viewers in an almost two year state of suspense. Last season ended with (SEASON ONE SPOILERS AHEAD) the shocking reveal that Maddie (Peyton List) is not dead, but instead her body had been possessed by Janet’s spirit (Jess Gabor).
By the time the credits rolled on the season one finale the internet was flooded with fans theories, questions and frustrations as they tried to figure out what it all meant for Maddie and her band of ghostly and living friends. Thankfully season two picks up right where the cliffhanger left off, delivering the some answers to the mysteries fans have been eagerly awaiting. But as some questions are answered, a slew of new ones are presented.
While season one was an addictive mystery that haunted from start to finish, season two builds on the world of School Spirits by deepening its supernatural elements and exploring the emotional complexities of its characters, all while keeping the tension high and the twists even sharper. The producers (Oliver Goldstick, Megan Trinrud, and Nate Trinrud) have mastered the art of the tease, ending each of the four episodes reviewed with heightened anticipation for the next episode. They do so by either raising stakes or through exciting reveals elevate this season to a satisfying edge-of-your-seat supernatural mystery. In addition the storylines provide more emotion, intrigue, humor and even some ghostmances.
The extended crew of characters take some big leaps forward as we continue their arcs. Simon (Kristian Ventura) starting to doubt his own sanity, is concerned Maddie is in his head. By the end of episode one Xavier (Spencer MacPherson) is seeing the whole situation with a whole new perspective. Wally, Rhonda, and Charley (played by Milo Manheim, Sarah Yarkin, Nick Pugliese) continue to help Maddie on her quest to get her life back hunting down clues about Janet, as Mr. Martin (Josh Zuckerman) quickly becomes the prime suspect in a new mystery.
With some skepticism, Claire (Rainbow Wedell) and Nicole (Kiara Pichardo) add more living people to the mix, as they begin to realize everything is not always as it appears in Split River. This helps as the mystery moves well beyond the present day walls of the high school taking viewers across the town and even back to the 1950s as the pieces of the puzzle are slowly put together, leading to unexpected twists and turns. The expanded world also allows a deeper dive into the past lives of the other ghosts, giving them more dimension, including on-screen pairings that not only further the story, they provide for the deeper exploration of their personalities and relationships.
“I feel like this big thing in this season is how to let people in, and I think every character is dealing with that in their own way, so I think we see ranges of emotions from everyone, because they actually have to let each other in and work together,” shared Yarkin, whose character Rhonda reveals she has been holding back some secrets of her own.
The second season’s mystery picks up right where the previous left off, driving the plot forward in exciting directions, avoiding the dreaded sophomore slump. It steers clear of a simple rehashing, instead opting for a fresh, inventive approach including some expanded rules, that invigorates the storytelling, making season two even more engaging than the first.
Picking up where they dropped off would seem to present more challenges, especially with an extended hiatus. Getting back into character meant doing a little time travel of their own. They had to return their performances to where they left off, back to 2022 when the first season was shot. With that said, the cast was up for the challenge.
“We had to make sure our hair was the same length. We had to match completely,” explained List. “But I think being in the same sets, well, they recreated the same sets, and being in our same exact wardrobe, and everyone looking exactly the same, it was trippy seeing everyone just right back in the moment. I feel like it came back more naturally than I expected it to.
“But also, I feel like all of us grew a lot, or just changed a lot,” added Manheim. “Change is growth. So we grew in those three years, and you don’t want to fight that against the character, even though it’s supposed to be the exact same time. You have to allow that—you gotta evolve with your character.”
More of my insights from the cast can be found in my two video interviews (below), where we discuss the new season in a pair of spoiler-free conversations. While avoiding key plot points they did cover returning to season two after the long hiatus, fan theories and interactions, and much more, including having the cast provide one word to describe season two (which turned out to be both revealing and a lot of fun). Be sure to also check out Peyton’s as my guest on TV Topics podcast.
Based on the first four episodes, School Spirits season 2 is a must-watch for established fans and an easy recommendation for young adults and up, especially if you enjoy mystery, supernatural twists, and clever teen drama. Your level of engagement may vary depending on your age and how familiar you are with the genres it plays with, but the season strikes an inviting balance between fresh ideas and familiar ones. Smart, spooky, and even surprisingly sweet, this is one class you definitely won’t want to skip.
(SCORE: ★★★1/2 out of five stars so far, with a lot of spirit and promise.)
Season one and episodes the first 3 episodes of School Spirits can be streamed on Paramount+ with new episodes of the 8-episode season being released on Mondays.
I’m enjoying the new episode however I’m a little turned off about Simon not asking who are the other sprit … Maddie who else is here with you ?? She self centered and it gets a little exhausting.