Peyton List’s Mystery Series Is Still a Ghostly Great Time

Just like fashion trends, teen mystery dramas never really go out of style. Take the first season of Paramount+’s School Spirits as an example: a supernatural, YA murder mystery that felt like a worthy successor to the deliciously angsty roadmap laid down by Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Pretty Little Liars, Teen Wolf — plus a smattering of CBS sitcom Ghosts — while charting its own defined course in a way that made it a breath of fresh air in an often overcrowded genre. Here was a whodunit unafraid to pursue the deadly plight of its ghostly protagonist with all the grimness such a topic deserves, but never indulging in enough gloom to prevent the series’ charming, coming-of-age heart from shining through.

School Spirits became a sleeper streaming hit buoyed by largely positive reviews, and its sophomore season hasn’t misplaced any of that tender-hearted irreverence, soap opera charm, or barrage of sneaky twists. Hailing from sibling creators Megan and Nate Trinrud and showrunner Oliver Goldstick (Pretty Little Liars, funnily enough), Season 2 immediately follows up on last season’s cliffhanger and expands the lore surrounding the small town of Split River and the unfortunate ghosts forced to spend eternity inside their high school (i.e., the worst hell imaginable).

What Is ‘School Spirits’ Season 2 About?

As of the Season 1 finale, Maddie Nears (Peyton List) finally knows the circumstances surrounding her “death.” However, as Season 2 quickly establishes, solving one mystery only births another. Janet Hamilton (Jess Gabor), a ghost the rest of the Split River spirits thought had passed on, has possessed Maddie’s body and absconded with it, while their traitorous teacher, Mr. Martin (Josh Zuckerman), has vanished. Stuck on the Split River High grounds, Maddie’s spirit continues playing amateur detective (wouldn’t we all?) by searching the school for any information about Janet and Mr. Martin. Although Maddie’s dead-but-not-really circumstances create some envious tension between her and her group of ghostly companions, Maddie’s newfound friends stay on the case — although whether Simon Elroy (Kristian Ventura), Maddie’s best friend and the only living person who can see her, will do the same is far from guaranteed.

Meanwhile, the previously enigmatic Janet’s history — including how far back her connection with Mr. Martin goes — unspools in flashbacks while she’s on the run in Maddie’s body. Mourning her past trauma and startled by the contemporary world’s steep learning curve, Janet is also enjoying a modicum of freedom for the first time in decades — perhaps, for her entire life. Hot on Janet’s trail are Nicole Herrera (Kiara Pichardo), Maddie’s other friend from the land of the living, as well as Claire Zomer (Rainbow Wedell), Maddie’s former childhood bestie. However, after witnessing a Janet-possessed Maddie leave Xavier Baxter (Spencer MacPherson) for dead, Nicole and Claire believe the friend they once loved is a criminal capable of attempted murder.

‘School Spirits’ Season 2 Keeps the Best Parts of Season 1

School Spirits‘ second season hasn’t lost its edge when it comes to the surprising intensity with which it approaches its themes. No, this isn’t Euphoria, thank goodness, but certain moments continue to land like a blow to the solar plexus – fittingly so, for a series about teenagers who perished tragically young and endured deep emotional wounds during their too-short time on this earth. The characters’ individual pains feel legitimized rather than exploitative, and thanks to School Spirits‘ earnest utilization of the quirky charms prevalent in teen dramedies, the proceedings avoid nosediving into excessively melodramatic tedium.

Related

Missing ‘School Spirits’? Watch This Eerie Horror Comedy Series on Streaming

Teenage milestones still exist in the afterlife.

This formula is where School Spirits soars. Our teenage years are defined by emotions that, at the time, feel like the ultimate highs and the ultimate lows. Silliness and levity exist alongside turmoil and heartbreak. School Spirits captures that seeming contradiction more authentically than many of its genre predecessors by letting both extremes live in harmony. The tiny-but-mighty ensemble remains just as key to that success, and based on the three episodes provided for review, everyone gets their time in the spotlight. Milo Manheim‘s performance as Wally Clark, the jock with a heart of gold, was already a stand-out, and that doesn’t change here. When their little group isn’t dashing around in investigative urgency, Wally’s genuine affection for Maddie keeps their tentative romance beating — which is also a testament to the series’ excellent pacing, ensuring that time pauses long enough to keep the characters’ hearts grounded. Likewise, Charley (Nick Pugliese) enjoys an earnest flirtation with fellow ghost and pottery artist Yuri (Miles Elliot).

On the opposite spectrum, Rhonda (Sarah Yarkin) reluctantly picks open her scarred-over wounds by revisiting her profound trauma. Although the subject is no laughing matter, seeing our favorite beatnik demonstrate some vulnerability is a welcome change from a character development perspective. Split River High band member Quinn (Ci Hang Ma) is a new cast addition and fits right into the existing dynamic. In the living world, Nicole and Claire overcome their bad blood long enough to join forces in the hunt for Janet-Maddie, while Xavier’s situation takes a turn we won’t spoil.

‘School Spirits’ Season 2 Is Another Touchdown (Pun Intended)

As far as School Spirits‘ powerhouse performances are concerned, List remains every bit as riveting if not more so, given she’s effectively playing two characters: Maddie and Janet. List shares duties with newcomer Gabor on the latter front, with certain scenes remaining in one location and cutting between both actresses; Gabor is also a highlight in the flashbacks detailing Janet’s perilous life. Ventura and Yarkin remain impressively emotional throughlines, although there isn’t a lackluster performance in the bunch.

With three episodes screened out of Season 2’s eight total, it’s fair to admit that we don’t advance too far with the characters’ individual growth or dive too deep into unraveling every strand of the numerous interconnecting mysteries. That said, the first three episodes are a solid, satisfying indicator of how the rest of the season will unfold. Split River’s kooky bunch of outcasts might sometimes quarrel with that unique brand of overwrought teenage fervor we all recognize, but storming off in a huff is just another day in the afterlife — and never enough to split up their ghostly found family.

School Spirits Season 2 premieres January 30 on Paramount+.

Watch on Paramount+