The Fault Of Our Scars – The episode opens with Simon Elroy (Kristian Flores) acknowledging he can see and hear Maddie Nears (Peyton List). She denies any knowledge of what happened to her. He informs her of Xavier Baxter (Spencer Macpherson) having her phone. She says he accidentally sent her a text meant for Claire Zolinski (Rainbow Wedell) who he was seeing behind her back. Nichole Herrera (Kiara Pichardo) approaches to tell him that the students are conducting a search in the woods. Maddie encourages him to join the search. Before leaving, he turns to see Maddie is no longer there. She demands to know why he can no longer see her. Charley (Nick Pugliese) tells her that he has no idea. She rushes out to join the search party only to end up back in the boiler room.

Maddie asks if Mr. Martin (Josh Zuckerman) can explain why only Simon can see her. Charley warns the others may try to utilize her as a messenger if they find out.

Sheriff Baxter (Ian Tracey) suggests Xavier stay home to let the investigation play out. Xavier warns it would make it look like a sociopath before describing Maddie as “more than a friend.” Baxter informs him that the crime scene analysis validated the blood in the school’s boiler room belonged to Maddie. Xavier screams into his pillow.

Mr. Martin talks about Nirvana when Rhonda (Sarah Yarkin) describes Wally Clark (Milo Manheim) as entitled for leaving the worst donut for her. He accredits himself for taking the donuts from the faculty lounge. Maddie asks if humans have ever seen them. Rhonda assures her that it isn’t possible. Mr. Martin changes to the subject the proverbial book before ordering Maddie to write her own obituary.

A janitor asks if any evidence was discovered in the woods. When Simon says no, he suggests important evidence is always underneath desks, not in scary places. Simon asks if he found anything. The janitor says, “Scars everywhere.”

Mr. Martin suggests writing an obituary may bring closure. Maddie admits to being more concerned about solving her murder than closure. He reminds her of where she is now. She says her death will break her mother, Sandra Nears (Maria Dizzia). He assures her that it will get easier. She asks who will take care of her mother.

Maddie is asleep on the faculty lounge sofa while Ms. Fields (Kalyn Miles) brews coffee and Mr. Anderson (Patrick Gilmore) walks through the door. Rhonda tells her that it’s a good place to learn more about the teachers. Ms. Fields informs him of the blood in the boiler room belonging to Maddie. Principal Hartman (Alex Zahara) has called in a grief counselor, Ms. Chung (Patti Kim). Rhonda claims the teachers at her school were planning a party only two weeks after her death. Maddie assures her that Simon won’t allow them to move on.

Xavier ignores a text from Claire. Nichole tries to reassure Simon that Maddie isn’t dead. Maddie asks for his help. Students stare as he asks where she disappeared. Pretending to talk on the phone, he asks what she remembers on that day. She says when her mother showed up, she left study hall but nothing else. He claims Sandra denied finding her before suggesting she was already gone. In a flashback, she comes through in the boiler room. She sees blood splattered on the wall. The hall clock shows it’s after 3pm. None of the students or teachers notice her. Back to the present, he suggests it may be Xavier’s way of proving he loves Claire. Xavier was a no-show for biology class.

Claire visits Xavier’s home. It warns that her coming there is risky. She assures him that it doesn’t matter to her. He admits to being scared they’ll find Maddie’s body. She suggests only talking to her before leaving.

Simon opens Xavier’s locker to find it empty. He’s picking Xavier’s gym locker lock when the gym teacher orders him to get dressed.

Baxter arrives home to find Xavier in the garage. He informs him that Maddie’s phone didn’t have anything on it before asking if he knows anything about it being replaced. Xavier claims to have been unable to access her phone because he didn’t have the passcode. Baxter warns he’ll not be able to protect him if more evidence shows up before leaving. Xavier repeatedly punches the wall.

Charley and Maddie watch the janitor wash her blood off the boiler room wall. He suggests it’s possible for someone to see her if they refuse to let her go. She asks how long Simon will be able to see her. He informs her to Hartman receiving a visit from two police officers. She rushes to relay the information to Simon. After Ms. Fields confiscates his phone, he meets Maddie in the old auto shop. She tells him that Xavier spent a lot of time there playing Candy Crush. He asks what she liked about Xavier. She describes him as being “messed up.” He finds something that causes her to have a flashback of Xavier crushing a mouse with a concrete block. Back to the present, Simon holds up a piece of what he believes is from her phone.

Maddie suggests Simon speak to Sandra about her phone. Anderson admits to not being ready to give up hope that Maddie is alive. He briefly talks about Maddie’s final essay before leaving. She says give it to Anderson or let Sheriff Baxter bury it to protect Xavier. When he gives it to Anderson, he demands to know where it was found.

Rhonda suggests it was Claire’s idea to give rid of Maddie. Wally says Charley had a crush on Mr. Emilio Figueroa (Andres Soto) when they were classmates.

Simon is watching Frankenstein when the police and K9s arrive to search the football field. A rookie officer (Shayna Virginillo) evacuates the second floor to conduct a sweep. A K9 dog targets Anderson’s desk. He hurriedly picks up Maddie’s essay.

Claire rescues injured swimmer, Ava (Kirstyn Konig). Maddie, Charley, Rhonda, and Wally watch as she performs CPR. Ava starts breathing.

Xavier visits Sandra. She asks what happened to Maddie. He claims to have been in the restroom trying to figure out the passcode for her phone. She asks if he hurt her. He admits to lying to her before asking if she has her phone. She tells him that the police confiscated it. He says it may not be hers. They both admit to hurting her.

Simon warns Maddie that Sheriff Baxter will not conduct a proper murder investigation. Maddie admits to believing Claire isn’t responsible. He asks what made her change her mind. She tells him about Claire rescuing Ava. He tells her that serial killers portray clowns at children’s parties.

Martin asks Charley why Maddie was so convincing about speaking to a friend. Charley denies any knowledge of it. Martin admits to being proud of him.

In a flashback, Charley sees young Figueroa (Andrew Alverez). Back to the present, he tries to interact with him but is unsuccessful.

Simon meets Maddie in the old auto room. Maddie asks why Xavier killed her. He demands she sees people for who they really are when he spots another piece of what may be from her phone on the floor. When he reaches over to pick it up, Anderson grabs his shoulder. Anderson suggests he let the police investigate Maddie’s case as the episode comes to an end.

 

School Spirits Review

Simon and Maddie unite to investigate her murder. They discover pieces of what appears to be part of her phone in the old car room. Sheriff Baxter believes the killer switched out Maddie’s phone because the confiscated phone didn’t have anything on it. Xavier didn’t have the passcode so he never accessed it.

Claire goes to his home when he doesn’t answer her calls. She tells him to not talk to anyone but her. After witnessing her save Ava from drowning, Maddie believes she’s innocent.

Maddie and Simon give the broken phone fragment to Anderson to keep Baxter from concealing it from evidence. He meets her in the old car room after school. They find another broken fragment when Anderson shows up. He suggests Simon let the sheriff investigate the case.

The intensity goes from zero to 10 and resets throughout the episode. The script is a bit messy but not to cause confusion. The pace is good which seems to keep everything balanced.

The show is not without idiosyncrasies. It has a tendency to produce unforeseeable emotions. An FYI, it’s not for everyone. The episode deserves a 6.5. Get more School Spirits recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking the link. Inquire about our onsite advertising.