School Spirits
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Screen for YOUR familyParent's Guide to School Spirits
School Spirits (2023) is a supernatural teen drama series that premiered on Paramount+ and is also available on Netflix, designed for mature audiences. The series follows Maddie Nears, a teenager who finds herself trapped in the afterlife within her high school after her mysterious disappearance and presumed murder. Unable to remember what happened, Maddie joins an afterlife support group composed of other deceased students from different eras and, with the help of her living best friend, Simon, investigates the circumstances surrounding her death. The narrative blends elements of mystery, teen drama, and the paranormal, exploring themes of grief, trauma, and identity while navigating the complexities of both the living and spirit worlds. The show is generally aimed at older teenagers due to its mature themes and content warnings.
Things to Consider
Violence
Violence is a central element of the plot, as the main character Maddie is investigating her own murder. While often implied or shown without graphic detail, there are instances of physical altercations, critical injuries, and thematic discussions of death and murder.
Maddie's central storyline revolves around investigating her own mysterious death and the murder of other teenage spirits, which is an ongoing and pervasive theme. In the Season 1 finale (Episode 8), Xavier is critically injured by a hooded person during an investigation, requiring hospitalization. Flashbacks in Season 2, Episode 8 reveal that Mr. Martin killed Janet, although the act itself may not be graphically depicted, the implication of murder is strong.
Profanity
Profanity is present throughout the series, including strong curse words. Multiple sources indicate the frequent use of explicit language, contributing to the show's mature rating.
Substance Use
Substance use is explicitly depicted and discussed, including alcohol abuse as a significant character trait for a main character's parent, and references to illegal narcotics among high school students.
Scary & Intense Content
The series contains significant scary and intense content, driven by its murder mystery premise and supernatural elements. This includes frightening situations, intense imagery, and an increasing lean into horror elements in later seasons.
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Additional Context
Best For Ages
16+ with strong parental guidance. The series carries a TV-MA rating, indicating content suitable for mature audiences (17+), though Common Sense Media suggests it is appropriate for ages 14 and older. The cumulative presence of strong language, substance abuse, scary content, and mature romantic themes necessitates a recommendation for older teens and parental discretion for younger mature viewers.
Good to Know
The series evolves with each season, with Season 3 reportedly delving deeper into horror elements and the complexities of the afterlife, potentially intensifying some concerns. Parents are encouraged to preview the content due to the discrepancy between the official TV-MA rating and some community reviews suggesting a slightly younger age appropriateness, to make an informed decision based on their family's values.
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