The highly anticipated fifth episode of "School Spirits" season 2 has landed on Paramount+, and it's a doozy! In this gripping installment, Janet finds herself entangled in a precarious predicament. Meanwhile, Simon, Xavier, Nicole, and Claire team up to devise a clever scheme to entice Janet back to Split River High, paving the way for her and Maddie to once again switch bodies. Elsewhere, Maddie and the mischievous teenage ghosts embark on a quest to uncover more about Janet and the mystifying art of body swapping.
The episode kicks into high gear with Maddie experiencing an emotional breakdown in the bustling cafeteria of Split River High, seething with rage over Janet's occupation of her body. The scene then shifts to Sandra, who attempts to coax Janet into inviting Simon and Maddie's other friends over to the house for a glimpse of her. However, Janet politely declines the invitation. Sandra even tries to persuade her to seek professional help from a therapist, but Janet remains steadfast in her refusal. Faced with Sandra's unwavering determination, Janet reluctantly caves in and agrees to let Simon and Nicole visit.
After the captivating opening credits, we find ourselves back at Split River High, where Quinn sits anxiously at the bus stop, hoping her instrument will serve as the magical key to unlocking the mysteries of her scar. Alas, her efforts prove futile. In the midst of their conversation, Rhonda spots Janet's watch – the key to her true identity – lying abandoned on the ground nearby. She swiftly scoops it up and brings it to the attention of her compatriots. Knowing that Mr. Martin had possession of Janet's watch last, they deduce with certainty that he has left the school's premises by inhabiting someone else's body.
Simon convenes with Maddie and informs her of Sandra's invitation to visit Janet at home. Fuming with frustration, Maddie insists that they assemble the rest of their team and the mischievous teenage ghosts to hatch a plan. They convene in the school's grand auditorium, where they brainstorm a strategy to lure Janet back to the school and facilitate another body swap with Maddie. They agree that to successfully entice her, they must delve deeper into her personal world. Claire proposes that once they have Janet alone, they could coax her back by revealing that Mr. Martin is no longer lurking around the school and that Dawn has already crossed over to the other side. Everyone in attendance eagerly embraces this daring plan.
Later, Nicole unveils to Simon, Xavier, and Claire a photograph of Eugene, one of Janet's former classmates. She speculates that if they manage to locate him and engage in conversation, he might prove instrumental in devising a strategy to persuade Janet to revert to the school and restore Maddie's body to her. However, Simon dissents, advocating adherence to their initial blueprint.
Meanwhile, back at Sandra's abode, Janet sifts through Maddie's belongings, preparing for the impending visit from Simon and Nicole. Over at Split River High, Maddie, wielding Janet's key, unlocks her scar in the boiler room. Believing that delving into Janet's scar will unravel more about her, Maddie finds the experience deeply disturbing yet reveals that Janet was an exceptionally brilliant pupil, particularly in the realm of science. It transpires later that Maddie's access into Janet's scar was facilitated by their shared scar.
Elsewhere in the band room, Rhonda and Quinn delve into Rhonda's past, specifically her strained relationship with an old friend. Rhonda confides in Quinn that her friend betrayed her after her demise by crafting a song that ridiculed her passing. However, this revelation proves to be a misconception; Rhonda had never listened to the song in its entirety, misinterpreting its lyrics. Quinn listens to the complete track and discovers that the song actually expresses the friend's guilt over her absence during Rhonda's toughest times. Sharing this revelation with Rhonda prompts an emotional outpouring between them.
In the school library, Wally and Charley peruse Mr. Martin's journals, seeking insights into body swapping. Yuri joins them, offering assistance. Upon scrutinizing the formulas in the journals, Yuri realizes their connection to serotonin and dopamine, postulating that Mr. Martin harnessed these neurotransmitters to create open access points. However, Charley abruptly halts his explanation. During this scene, Yuri's untimely demise is also disclosed; he succumbed to a severe asthma attack within the school's greenhouse.
Nicole pays a visit to Eugene at a senior living facility, seeking clarity on Janet and the events preceding the Split River High fire. The episode then takes a nostalgic turn, flashing back to the 1950s, where a rage-filled Mr. Martin loses his composure, lashing out at Janet and other students after learning of his dismissal. Eugene later divulges that Mr. Martin scarcely exchanged words with Janet following the incident. When Nicole inquiries if he believes Mr. Martin ignited the fire, Eugene hints at it being no mere accident but a deliberate act.
As night descends, Simon, Nicole, Xavier, and Claire embark on their journey to Sandra's house for dinner, accompanied by Janet. Simon strategically places a phone at Split River High, enabling Maddie and the spectral teenagers to eavesdrop on the dinner conversation. However, Maddie's emotional turmoil over her plight soon overwhelms her, rendering her unable to listen for long. Wally rushes to her side.
Throughout the dinner, Janet endeavors to mimic Maddie's demeanor, though her companions are privy to her true identity. They attempt to elicit a reaction by mentioning topics that might ignite her enthusiasm, such as science, but to no avail. It isn't until Nicole utters Eugene's name that Janet's composure falters.
In a swift motion, she conjures an excuse to abandon the dinner table and dashes towards the kitchen, her steps hurried. Sandra, intrigued, trails after her and inquires about Eugene's relationship to Janet. Janet clamps her lips tight, divulging minimal information, and instead proposes wrapping up the dinner prematurely. Meanwhile, at the table, Simon, Xavier, Nicole, and Claire engage in a heated debate about the recent turn of events. Xavier casts his gaze towards a nearby table and spots a photograph of a youthful Maddie, Sandra, and an enigmatic male figure. He lifts the photo, scrutinizing it with an odd expression etched on his face. Could the man's visage stir recognition within him?
Sandra strides into the room, announcing the abrupt conclusion of dinner due to Janet's ailing condition. Simon, desiring to bid her farewell, seeks Sandra's permission, which she grants. Elsewhere, Maddie and Wally share an intimate moment in the school's natatorium. After stepping into Janet's scar and uncovering the depths of her heart-wrenching fate, Maddie finds herself empathizing with Janet, even questioning her own right to be present more than her. Wally assures Maddie of her belonging in the realm of the living, and their bond deepens as they find solace in each other's embrace beneath the water.
Back at Sandra's abode, Simon endeavors to convince Janet to return to Split River High, but she dismisses him with a wave. He reassures her of his trustworthiness, but as his words flow, she delves into his pockets and discovers his phone, still connected to the ongoing call with the teenage spirits at the school. Frustrated, Janet hurls the phone into a bubbling cauldron of boiling water, severing the spirits' connection to their conversation. She subsequently insists that Simon and the others depart.
As they prepare to leave, Xavier approaches Sandra, curious about the photograph that caught his eye earlier. He inquires about the identity of the man in the picture. Sandra reveals that he was Maddie's father. Pause for reflection. Wasn't Maddie's father among the figures Xavier glimpsed during his fleeting visit to the spirit realm? Indeed, it seems so. Having concluded his conversation with Sandra, Xavier promptly messages Nicole on their online paranormal discussion board as he heads towards the car.
Upon mentioning his attempt to throw salt at a ghost—a maneuver he actually executed with Janet at dinner—Nicole instantly makes the connection, realizing that the individual she has been corresponding with is none other than Xavier. Her suspicion is solidified when he receives her response and checks his phone instantly.
Back at Split River High, Charley finally summons the courage to invite Yuri on a date. Elsewhere, Maddie and Wally are strolling through the corridors when they overhear Mr. Anderson erupting in a torrent of expletives from within his classroom. Intrigued, they peek in and to their astonishment, Mr. Anderson spots them both. Oh no! The realization dawns on them: he must be the hapless individual whose body Mr. Martin has inexplicably swapped into!
The narrative then shifts to Sandra's residence. Simon, Xavier, Nicole, and Claire are parked outside in a car, their eyes peeled on Mr. Anderson, now masquerading as Mr. Martin, making his way to Sandra's doorstep with a book in hand. Mr. Martin informs Sandra that he's heard Maddie has returned and wishes to present her with the book as a gesture. Despite feeling unwell, Sandra politely accepts the gesture. Before bidding farewell, Mr. Martin assures Sandra that he'll revisit the next day to inquire after her wellbeing.
The episode concludes with a cliffhanger: Janet is in the midst of tossing out the trash when, out of nowhere, a hooded figure abruptly envelops her head with a bag and whisks her away. Could this mysterious hooded figure be none other than Mr. Martin? The possibility looms large!
