Dead And Confused – The episode opens with Madison “Maddie” Nears (Peyton List) watching Mr. Anderson (Patrick Gilmore) escort Simon Elroy (Kristian Flores) to his vehicle. Anderson suggests they don’t tell anyone about what happened. Simon asks why he was in the old auto shop so late but he refuses to answer.

Sandra Nears (Maria Dizzla) demands to know why Sheriff Baxter (Ian Tracey) called off the search party. He tells her that they’re just cutting back to focus on local break-ins. She asks if the decision is related to the upcoming Sheriff’s election. He assures her that the police are doing everything to find Maddie. Xavier Baxter (Spencer Macpherson) informs him of his decision to return to school.

Simon admits to being suspicious about Anderson. Maddie assures her that Anderson is not responsible before admitting to their being friends. Simon suggests she keep an eye on him today.

In a flashback, Anderson wakes Maddie when class is over. She hands him her essay, “Is Orpheus Bringing Eurydice Back From The Underworld.” He offers an ear if she needs to talk before handing her a sobriety coin that belonged to his father. He jots down his phone number for her. She leaves his number and sobriety coin on the desk as she heads to class.

Back to the present, Xavier gets leers and snide remarks. Simon asks Nicole Herrera (Kiara Pichardo) what she thinks about Anderson giving Maddie his number. She suggests he gives his number to other students before saying his car looks like it is being slept in.

Mr. Martin (Josh Zuckerman) suggests to Rhonda (Sarah Yarkin), Charley (Nick Pugliese), Wally Clark (Milo Manheim), and Dawn (RaeAnne Boon) they do a field day to exorcise their demons.

Nicole detains Anderson while Simon searches his car. He discovers the fragment from Maddie’s phone (he gave it to Anderson in episode 2) in the glove compartment.

In a flashback, Maddie calls Anderson after crashing her car. He assures her everything will be all right. Back to the present, Simon informs her of the phone fragment in his car. She tells him about the night Anderson helped her when she crashed her mom’s vehicle. After a bit of back-and-forth, she takes an oath to solve her own murder.

Wally convinces Maddie to drive a golf cart. She drives erratically across the yard to where the field day obstacles are set up. Charley is taking his frustration out on a blocking sled dummy while Martin drives a coffee cup.

Nicole receives an alert that Maddie liked her photo. Xavier watches as she rushes out of the library to the old elevator control room. In a flashback, she is there with Maddie. She paints a mural on the wall. They discuss Nicole’s art talent and college plans. Maddie adds Nicole’s name to the mural. Back to the present, Xavier approaches. She suggests he lured her up there. He claims a statement from Mr. South cleared him of Maddie’s murder. Mr. South saw him in the boy’s bathroom. She asks who liked the photo. He informs her of visiting with Sandra.

Simon asks Anderson what the police said about the phone fragment. Anderson admits to still having it because he doesn’t trust the people in charge. He doesn’t want Simon’s name to come up in the investigation.

Maddie takes her frustration out of vending machines. She tells Charley that she and Simon had a disagreement about Anderson being the killer. He suggests she speak to Rhonda.

Xavier says people will be saying stuff about him for a long time. Nicole says they need to prove that Maddie is still alive. He warns that the police slow down looking when there is no new evidence. She suggests they do it.

Maddie asks Rhonda about her relationship with the guidance counselor. Rhonda describes Mr. Manfredo as the “nice man she ever met. She says her father worked a lot and her mother was obsessed with their home looking nice. Manfredo shut down when he found out she had been accepted to Berkley. He believed their relationship was more than what it was. She never left his office alive. He died in prison.

Maddie tells Simon that Mrs. Fields’ office was part of the old guidance counselor’s office. She suggests they installed the wall between the two rooms after Rhonda was murdered. She says they can only talk in rooms where someone died. He tells her that Mr. South said the school had scars. She admits to believing his theory about Anderson is right.

Nicole, Sandra, and Xavier search the woods for Maddie.

Simon asks Maddie why she called Anderson inside of him after the accident. She claims Sandra crashed the vehicle while intoxicated. In a flashback, Anderson questions if she was really driving the vehicle. He warns that her license could be revoked. She says it would be better than losing her mother. He suggests she stay there while he takes Sandra home and they’ll deal with the insurance company. Back to the present, she admits to having been concerned it would have scared him away. Simon reminds her of his sticking around to talk to her ghost.

Maddie and Simon hide in a closet listening to a frantic Anderson talk on the phone. Anderson says this time, they’re going to do things his way. Nicole tells Xavier and Sandra that she found something. Anderson admits it was wrong to give Maddie money before angrily walking out of the room. Maddie, Simon, and Sandra stare at Maddie’s ticket with a large footprint on it. He claims she had it in study hall. Maddie denies asking Anderson for money. Simon suggests he killed her for the money. Xavier and Nicole believe the boot print is Maddie’s. Simon and Maddie discover a hidden compartment in Anderson’s classroom filled with cash. Simon says it’s probably linked to her death as the episode comes to an end.

 

School Spirits Review

Maddie begins to suspect Anderson may be connected to her murder. Xavier is cleared after Mr. South gave him an alibi. He partners with Sandra and Nicole to search the woods where they discover Maddie’s boot prints and ticket.

Maddie joins Martin and the other spirits on a field day. She releases her anger by pounding on a vending machine.

Maddie and Simon overhear Anderson telling someone that he shouldn’t have given Maddie money. They discover a hidden compartment of cash in his classroom.

I could describe the show as “unrealistic” but I prefer not to run the risk of negative feedback. According to a YouGov survey, about 41 percent of people, mostly women, living in the United States support the idea of ghosts being real. The discovery of living among ghosts would surely produce varying responses.

The show goes from zero to 10 on suspense. There are no points of boredom which is always a plus. Don’t set your realism expectations too high, you’ll enjoy the show. The episode deserves a 6.8. Get more School Spirits recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking the link. Our onside advertising is affordable and effective in building brands.