Reel Talk: The Cast of School Spirits Talk Season 2 Mystery and Character Development
Paramount’s supernatural drama School Spirits is back for Season 2 after the shocking cliffhanger last season ended with. Caught between life and death, Maddie (Peyton List) and her friends must solve the mystery of her unexplained ‘death’ and find the answers before it’s too late. Season 2 released its first three episodes and is already revealing more secrets and drama. Spencer Macpherson, who plays Xavier, recounts coming back for the new season in Reel Talk’s recent interview with the cast. “It was like no time had passed. I genuinely think that this season is better. They’ve really expanded the world and everytime we got scripts we would just lock ourselves in our rooms.”
Picking up where last season ended, Maddie’s body is now being taken over by Janet, a girl who had mysteriously died at Split River in the 90’s. Now the spirits and the living gang must work together to find Janet and save Maddie. Communication between the living and the dead world would not be possible this season without Maddie’s best friend Simon. Kristian Ventura talks more about playing Simon and what he took with him this season. “I wish I had a friend like Simon. Simon’s unconditional love for Maddie is something you want. You want a friend to fight for you. You show someone you’re willing to run in the dark for them, they’ll run in the dark for you.”
With a lot of pressure on Simon this season, he must lean on his friends, Nicole, Xavier, and Claire to help him through. Claire’s character has also grown significantly from last season. Rainbow Wedell talks about Claire’s transformation in Season 2. “Claire is a person that she’s been lied to a lot in her life. Her cheerleader friends and her parents aren’t really there for her and she doesn’t trust a lot of people. Being able to trust and let her walls down with these guys is something that she really needed. She’s never had that before and she would do anything for all three of them.” Claire’s turnaround and seeing this friendship form was definitely something the fans were waiting for from last season!
This season Nicole also struggles with the thought that her close friend may potentially be dead. Kiara Pichardo touches on her character and how she feels this season. “I think she (Nicole) doesn’t want to believe her friend is a spirit. She is firm in her beliefs and thinks she’s coming back, but eventually I’m sure things are going to have to change. And if it is how Simon’s character says in the beginning, then I’m sure Nicole will come around.”
Things are also significantly changing for Xavier this season as well. “In season 2 you get to see Xavier evolve,” Macpherson says about his character. “He discovers that maybe he doesn’t have to do everything by himself anymore. Maybe he can work with a group of people. You discover who he is behind the mask. As the season progresses, you get to see that and I think that’s really cool.”
There is definitely character growth from the whole gang as they start to heavily rely on each other this season. The cast also talks about their characters being able to work together more and reminisce on some of their favorite moments from filming. “There are so many memories. Episode 5 is my favorite,” Wedell teases. MacPherson also recalls, “We had this one night shoot and we didn’t get to film our side of the scene until four in the morning. I am interested to see how that turns out because I don’t even remember what we did!”
Overall, season 2 feels completely elevated; from the plot to each actor’s performance. Each character goes through a different journey that many fans will be able to relate to. Ventura adds, “I know it’s fiction, but I have a feeling that the showrunners write these characters cause they wish they were alive.” The showrunners and creators, Nate and Megan Trinrud, have truly created an amazing mystery with well-rounded characters and that is only elevated in season 2!
School Spirits Season 2 is now available on Paramount+.
