School Spirits Season 2, Episode 6, “Ghost Pointe Blank” Spoilers Ahead
“Breathing feels different when you’re alive.” Friendships feel different, too, and with another beautiful episode, School Spirits’ “Ghost Pointe Blank” continues to emphasize the importance of platonic soulmates. We see it with Maddie and Simon, Wally and Charley, and the burgeoning new friendships we’re seeing with Xavier and Nicole, plus Nicole and Claire. This show works for numerous reasons, and while last week’s episode gave us a gorgeous glimpse of the romances, this one explores friendships and why they matter equally.
In many ways, Janet’s journey inside Maddie’s body is about second chances. Charley opening his heart again with Yuri is about second chances. Wally growing from a bully to a compassionately loving man is about second chances. Sandra’s recovery and relapse are about second chances. We’re so fickle as human beings that we never see what’s right in front of us—we take advantage of the fact that we can pick up our phones and call our best friends just to say hi. We take advantage of the fact that we can grow and we can forgive the people who’ve wronged us. But School Spirits isn’t over yet, so before we get beats that stick and last beyond the afterlife, we have to take the little moments.
Simon’s Loyalty to Maddie Continues to Be Everything in School Spirits’ “Ghost Point Blank”
The lengths Simon will go to for Maddie never fail to astound me, and the way he’s always willing to open his heart to show his appreciation for her continues to get me. In School Spirits Season 2, Episode 6, “Ghost Pointe Blank,” Simon’s way of standing up for Maddie and opening up about how much she means are what allow Janet to understand that she can’t simply take over someone else’s body. She deserves a second chance, too, but not while another woman loses the life she should’ve gotten the opportunity to live.
He’s willing to do everything for his best friend, and Janet clearly sees that. It’s also a testament to how vulnerable and raw Kristian Ventura’s performance is, which is a constant in the show as he consistently shows the audience every piece of Simon’s heart. The tears in his eyes, as he opens up about why Maddie deserves the chance to live, the subtle voice break — I wept watching him.
Wally’s Apology to Charley Is Crucial
Not everyone is fortunate to grow up in a loving home and place where they’re taught how to appreciate people as they are and how to live with empathy and kindness. And given how so much of Wally’s journey while he was alive was about becoming bigger and better in football, it’s understandable that he’d be a stereotypical jock. Yet, it’s who Wally chooses to be today that matters. It’s how he leads with his heart that’s admirable. Further, today, it’s not only about the fact that he’s grown into a more loving person, but it’s the fact that he understands where his faults lie. He isn’t just apologizing for the sake of throwing something out there, but because he fully grasps how and why his beliefs were wrong.
In School Spirits Season 2, Episode 6, “Ghost Pointe Blank,” it’s crucial that Wally apologizes to Charley even when Charley knows he isn’t the same guy he was back in high school. Wally’s proven that he’s changed with his actions, but in some cases, words matter, too, and that’s exactly why he had to acknowledge his mistakes verbally. And perhaps more importantly, this scene outside of the school is also about two friends recognizing how much they love each other. Charley isn’t just one of Wally’s best friends because they’re stuck together, but because there’s real love and admiration between them. There’s nothing and no one Wally wouldn’t hurt if it meant he’d be protecting Charley. There’s deep respect here and, simultaneously, a sincere desire to see him happy, making Charley’s choice to go back to Yuri that much lovelier.
On top of the great writing and cozy directing that ensure the scene stands out, Milo Manheim and Nick Pugliese bring their A-game into their performances. The vulnerability both men showcase is no small feat in revealing all the words left unsaid — the pain and the heartaches of the past and the deep, unending love they have for one another today. It’s the performances that elevate the heart of the scene, making it that much more memorable in the show’s history. Almost every episode of School Spirits Season 2 is brimming with heart, but this one? This one’s got me deep in my feelings.
Now streaming on Paramount+: What are your thoughts on School Spirits Season 2, Episode 6, “Ghost Pointe Blank?” Let us know in the comments below.
First Featured Image Credit: ©Ed Araquel/Paramount+