by: Isabella Langner
Center Editor

Back again for its third season, School Spirits has added new characters, plotlines, and settings that expand the story further, providing answers and backstories to the many series’ mysteries. Season three debuted on Jan. 28, following its pattern of annual seasons since 2023. The consistent release of eight episodes has kept fans engaged without forgetting what happened in the previous finale.

School Spirits resumes right where season two ended, bringing viewers straight back into Split River with instant action. Simon, Maddie’s friend from the living world, is sucked into the ghost world, swapping places with Maddie. The main focus of the show then shifts onto recovering Simon while diving into the history of the town and the ghosts. The characters discover secret buildings under both Split River High School and the hospital in an attempt to find what brought Simon to the spirit realm, showing there are many more spirits and secrets from hundreds of years ago. While not revealing many answers to why yet, the show identifies a higher power or spirit trapping ghosts from crossing over. The show maintains a fast-paced tempo, creating new stakes to keep viewers on edge. There are threats to Split River High, and a demolition would restrict ghosts from crossing over to whatever lies beyond death.

Another aspect of School Spirits that successfully continued into this season was the well-rounded character development. By introducing new characters, the show expands various main character arcs while exploring new traumas within the unfamiliar faces. Rhonda, one of the school ghosts, tackles her fear of depending on another by taking on a new love interest, Maddie explores her fear of failure through confiding in Xavier, and the show finally uncovers Mr. Martin’s backstory.

School Spirits is identifiable through its unique filming style, featuring close-up shots during conversations and intense moments, bringing viewers directly into the eyesight of the characters. This creates a sense of intimacy and privacy during scenes, preventing emotional topics and heated moments from falling flat. These intense camera movements, coupled with passionate music, allow the show’s horror scenes to provoke fear. Despite including lighthearted humor, School Spirits does not shy away from inspiring nightmares.

While providing entertainment through action and mystery, the show tackles an important question among humans: What happens after we die? Although the show has given no answer, as “the beyond” is left ambiguous, School Spirits sparks conversation among viewers about what lies beyond. As the ghosts debate difficult choices between remaining trapped at the school or moving on, the show pushes viewers into thought-provoking conversations.

If you are looking for a show that has mystery, romance, humor, action, and horror, School Spirits is the right choice.