It's a Wonderful Afterlife?
Maddy is back in her body, but now she has to readjust to being alive again. Simon is now stuck in the school, but he’s clearly not a ghost. And the Superintendent arrives to shut down the high school raising questions about the ghosts’ futures.
Warning: Spoilers Below.
Maddy Wakes Up
The episode shows Maddy falling through a black abyss until she ends up back in her own body, basically recapping the ending of season two. She woke up at the end of the previous season with Xavier telling her about his experience seeing ghosts at the hospital including her dad. When she’s trying to get more information, Xavier’s dad shows up and whisks him away to discuss what Xavier told him and what he saw at the school.
Ed Araquel/Paramount+
Meanwhile, someone else in the background is clearly listening to their conversation as Xavier talks about being able to see ghosts. Back at the school, Nicole and Claire have been looking for Simon but only find his torn headphones. Simon is stuck in Mr. Martin’s scar. Janet returns and pulls Simon out, but when she does, he cuts his hand revealing that he’s not a ghost like the others, so what is he?
Ghost Whereabouts
Wally saw a bright light on the football field at the end of the previous season. Season three opens with him about to walk into the light before deciding against it. He walks back into the school where he’s shocked to see Simon stuck like a ghost. The rest of the ghosts go around and take attendance. They discover all the other ghosts are present and accounted for meaning none inhabited his body. Plus, Janet points out that ghosts can’t bleed, so he clearly isn’t dead.
Ed Araquel/Paramount+
After being released from the hospital, Maddy breaks free from the police car escorting her and her mother home to run into the school. She runs into the library where the ghosts are talking, they are excited to see her, but she can’t see them. She heads to the auditorium, where Wally sees her and calls for her. She responds, letting them know she can see them in the rooms where someone died, just like Simon could previously. She asks about Simon and they send her to a classroom. She explains that she’s back, but Simon explains that he’s now stuck at the school, just like she had been.
New School Plans
Maddy has a discussion with her mother and decides to go back to school. This shocks her mother since Janet, in Maddy’s body, had discussed finishing school online. Instead, the real Maddy wants to go to school with Xavier, Nicole and Claire and search for a way to free Simon. Other classmates try to mock Maddy until Claire steps up and calls out their own faults and insecurities. Meanwhile, the Superintendent is at the school to make an announcement about the school’s future.
Ed Araquel/Paramount+
The Superintendent announces the school will be closed and a new high school will be built across town. This is due to the disappearances of students, like Maddy, and what happened when the ghosts all entered their scars that caused the school to light up like the “Fourth of July” according to Sheriff Baxter. While the gang is discussing what this could mean, Maddy gets a “Welcome Back” note. Claire lets her know that’s from the biggest bully in the school, Livia (not Liv or Olivia, just Livia).
Communicating with Ghosts
Maddy goes to the greenhouse to talk things over with Simon. The ghosts tried to all go into Janet’s scar to get him free, but it didn’t work. The pair are still confused about how Simon is stuck at the school without someone possessing his body like Janet did to Maddy. Plus, they need to find a way to explain to Simon’s parents why he’s missing. They work out a plan while getting rid of the suspension letter the school is sending home.
Ed Araquel/Paramount+
Maddy also makes plans to meet with Wally at the football field. The pair connect since they were clearly bonding as ghosts when Maddy was trapped in the school. The pair discuss their issues and Wally wishes he could actually make contact with Maddy instead of passing through her. The pair talk and laugh, but something is clearly up. To passersby, it will appear that Maddy is laughing and talking to no one. Video of this is taken and shared with all the students at the school. Meanwhile, Janet writes a letter to her fellow ghosts and decides to go into her scar to pass on. She hopes it helps Simon, but it doesn’t. Janet leaves instructions to the other ghosts. Meanwhile, Simon approaches Mr. Martin to discuss a bigger evil that he has hinted is coming.
What’s Next?
It could’ve been very easy to just have another ghost possess Simon to continue the series. It’s already established in the series. It also would’ve been unimpressive and unnecessary to rehash the exact same storyline with a different character. While there has to be some similarities like Simon being stuck in the school and only one character, Maddy, seeing him, but other changes can be made to keep the story fresh. Plus, Xavier can see the ghosts at the hospital, even though neither Simon nor Maddy could see them there and has been approached by one to communicate with the corporeal world for him. After one episode, I’m incredibly intrigued.
I’m also interested in the new season villains. Claire hints that Livia is the biggest bully in the school. It makes me wonder why she wasn’t there previously. Still, her eyes are set on Maddy, so let’s see what happens. Plus the reveal that she’s the daughter of the Superintendent and the Superintendent is just as cold with her as other students makes Livia more interesting. And Jennifer Tilly kills every role she’s in, so casting her as the villain makes sense.
Check out School Spirits streaming exclusively on Paramount Plus.
Article Written By: Jeremy Brown for Stelmach Brown Media 2026
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