School Spirits Season 3 Episode 8, "Dawn of the Deb" - (l-r) Milo Manheim as Wally Clark, RaeAnne Boon as Dawn, Peyton List as Maddie Nears, Jess Gabor as Janet Hamilton, and Kristian Ventura as Simon Elroy School Spirits Season 3 Episode 8 Review: Dawn of the Deb

School Spirits Season 3 Episode 8 Review: Dawn of the Deb

Reviews

Is this the end? School Spirits Season 3 Episode 8, “Dawn of the Deb,” finally shows us the world beyond the doors. It’s not the exciting afterlife everyone expects.

It’s an all-around disappointment.

In fact, this world appears more like some hell dimension. It’s a confusing place that can trap ghosts in memories. It also generally doesn’t look fun.

School Spirits Season 3 Episode 8, "Dawn of the Deb" - (l-r) Peyton List as Maddie Nears and Kristian Ventura as Simon Elroy
L-R: Peyton List as Maddie Nears and Kristian Ventura as Simon Elroy in School Spirits, episode 8, season 3, streaming on Paramount+, 2026. Photo Credit: Ed Araquel/Paramount+.

This all makes us wonder about the appeal of taking a door.

Now that Maddie knows what exists beyond it, she likely plans to warn the rest of the ghosts not to take it. This ends some suspense and drama that comes with the doors and the ghosts.  

They know it’s not better than their current situation. It feels worse. However, the viewing of the place beyond the door introduces a very interesting storyline for a potential School Spirits Season 4.

Wally, Janice, Maddie’s father, Dawn, and others aren’t living this fantastic life in this world. They’re left to roam for eternity, confused and scared. Maddie must find a way to free and save them.

This seems impossible now, but to allow certain actors a bit of a break. However, the fourth season could also still show life in this world. We are now more curious about what monsters lurk nearby.

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School Spirits Season 3 Episode 8, "Dawn of the Deb" - (l-r)
L-R: Danny Mac as Dave, Peyton List as Maddie Nears, Kristian Ventura as Simon Elroy, Jess Gabor as Janet Hamilton, Milo Manheim as Wally Clark and RaeAnne Boon as Dawn in School Spirits, episode 8, season 3, streaming on Paramount+, 2026. Photo Credit: Ed Araquel/Paramount+.

After School Spirits Season 3 Episode 7, “Midsomester,” it seemed as if the show was planning to end the season neatly. This would ensure that if this is the last episode, no cliffhangers remain. “Dawn of the Deb” goes against that expectation.

Instead, it leaves so many cliffhangers that will haunt us until a renewal has been confirmed.

The main one being whether Maddie will find a way to bring the ghost back from behind their doors. The most important one is Van Heidt possessing her mother.

Maddie and Sandra have just repaired their relationship, so Van Heidt controlling her will definitely set them back again.

It’s a good twist that surely will be interesting in the next season. Not only do they have to figure out how to get Van Heidt out of Sandra, but destroy him once and for all. That is starting to seem nearly impossible.

School Spirits Season 3 Episode 8, "Dawn of the Deb" - Milo Manheim as Wally Clark
Milo Manheim as Wally Clark in School Spirits, episode 8, season 3, streaming on Paramount+, 2026. Photo Credit: Ed Araquel/Paramount+.

The place beyond the door may hold the key to that eventual victory.

As a Season finale, “Dawn of the Deb” is fine, but it leaves room for improvement. It almost feels underwhelming as a conclusion to the season. Season 3 sets up many interesting storylines, but doesn’t fully nail the ending.

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Stray Thoughts
  • I love finally seeing Jennifer Tilly get to embrace her skill of playing demented characters. It almost feels like School Spirits didn’t capitalize on the actor until the end of the season.
  • Music moments can be iconic. The Simon and Maddie falling one was captivating, but “Dawn of the Deb” had a few too many music moments. It felt a little distracting.
  • Wally and Maddie’s reunion is very cheesy, but I loved every moment of it.
  • I wonder what will happen now that Nicole and Claire saw Rhonda and Quinn. Could this open the door to them seeing ghosts, too?
  • Xavier and Livia have a small moment at the end of the episode that makes me wonder if they will become a romance next season.
  • I cannot wait to see what happens with the ghosts now having the ability to leave the school. That’s my favorite twist on the finale.
  • Paramount+, renew the series for Season 4.

What did you think of this episode of School Spirits? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to leave your own rating!

Critic Rating:
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Audience Rating:
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[Total: 2 Average: 4]

 

Stream School Spirits Season 3 on Paramount+. 

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Jerrica Tisdale is your favorite neighborhood pop culture junkie. She will annoy you with random TV and film facts, while complaining about whatever is the hottest new book. She has been a TV fan all her life but writing about it for over a decade. You may find her work all over the internet especially reality TV rants. She is a senior writer at Tell-Tale TV.

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