Julie and the Phantoms 1x09 Review: “Stand Tall” (Whatever Happens Next) [Contributor: Jenn]

“Stand Tall”

Original Airdate: September 10, 2020

Sacrifices are hard, but they’re only difficult when you really care about someone or something. I could give up playing video games for years because they don’t matter to me. But if you asked me to sacrifice wine or chocolate? No dice. It’s silly, but the same truth is applicable when it comes to people. We’re willing to sacrifice small things for people who don’t matter. But it’s a lot harder to sacrifice big, life-changing things for the people you truly love and care about.

Julie Molina deals with loss a lot — much more than someone her age should have to deal with — and in “Stand Tall,” the show’s (hopefully just) season finale, Julie has to make the ultimate sacrifice by letting the boys cross over so they’ll be safe. The boys make their own sacrifice in choosing to stay with Julie even though it means their certain demise. Ultimately though this episode is a lovely exploration of grief, healing, and the power of all kinds of love. Let’s dive in!

DAHLIAS AND GOODBYES

Let’s all take one collective moment to appreciate the lovely, talented Madison Reyes. This is her first ever gig and she’s not just an amazing singer but also a wonderful actor. She knocks this episode out of the park, too, especially the scene in the alleyway where Julie is talking to her mom. But backing up for a moment, Julie pulls Luke aside before the group heads to perform at The Orpheum and asks him to do her a favor. Like the smitten puppy he is, Luke promises he’ll do anything. 

So Julie’s last request of the boys (for now, she makes another at the end of the episode) is to find her mom and thank her for bringing the boys into Julie’s life. The other important detour I want to take really quickly before we dive into the emotional arc Julie goes on before the show is that the boys affirm something that I think Julie and the Phantoms fans sometimes forget: Julie is a star. Though I love all of these dumb boys with my heart and soul, they’d be nothing without Julie Molina. Literally they’d be invisible to everyone. Julie and her voice are what make the band who they are. Sometimes we get so sidetracked with complimenting Jeremy or Owen or Charlie that we forget Maddie is the heart and soul of this series. Let us never forget that, because the boys — both in and out of the show — know that she’s the reason for everything. She’s the reason there is a show and she’s the reason there is a band.

But the boys get kidnapped, essentially, by Caleb and forced into playing at The Hollywood Ghost Club. Julie, of course, is worried. Even though the boys abandoned her once, she knows them well enough now to know they’d never abandon her, especially not on the biggest night of her life (and their afterlives). Even so, Julie doesn’t have many options as she sits and gets ready for the show. Either she’s going to back out or go up on stage without a band. 

First though, she needs to go to the alley to have a conversation with her mom. It’s this incredibly emotional, beautiful and honest moment where Julie finally lets it all out. She’s tired of saying goodbye to people she loves. She’s tired of not knowing why she has to deal with the weight of the grief she feels. She’s tired of being on her own, without her mom there to help. So she pours all of her feelings out to the alley. “They were my friends. My band. My family.” 

The thing is, Julie hasn’t probably said a lot of these words out loud before. She’s talked about her mom and reminisced and missed her, but there’s this unguarded anger and frustration as well that we finally see. She’s upset that her mom isn’t there to scoop her up in her arms and tell her it’ll all be okay. She can’t even find comfort in knowing for sure that the boys are okay. So what does Julie have left now?

Well, in that moment, a woman passes by with a bag of flowers and notices Julie crying. So she hands her one. And it’s, of course, a dahlia. It’s Julie’s comfort in knowing that even though she can’t see what’s ahead, her mom is really there with her in a tangible way. It gives her the courage to go up on stage and perform her song — even though she thinks she’ll have to do it alone. The thing is, she knows now that she’s never been alone. She has her dad and Carlos and her aunt. And her mom is still right there with her, in that dahlia and in the unexpected.

STAND TALL

The boys fight their way back to Julie. We could theorize for days about the order in which the boys pop onto stage with Julie, but my theory goes a little something like this: Alex appears first because he’s got this empathy and compassion that’s stronger than most people. He cares about Julie, but I think the tug for him is that he’s needed. He can feel that. And Reggie goes next because he feels Julie’s need and it reminds him of his need for family. Luke, you’d think, would be the first to pop out onto stage. But the thing is that his pull is strongest to Julie. He’s the most deeply connected to her so the only way he’s getting out of Caleb’s clutches is if he fights and claws his way back there. So the other two arrive first and it appears that Luke is flickering and fading. But he makes it, not because he’s pulled toward the spotlight but because he’s pulled away from it and to the person he cares deeply about.

The boys poof away, and Julie thinks they’ve left to finally cross over. But later, Julie goes into the empty garage to say goodbye and get a sense of closure and realizes the boys are still there. In pain and possibly dying again, they tell her that they didn’t have anywhere else to go. Julie is more distraught than the boys are and demands that they take Caleb’s offer. “Please, do it for me,” she begs them. It’s a moment of desperation and heartbreak rolled together. And even though it would likely save them from pain and torture in the short-term, the boys refuse. They’d rather cease to exist than exist without Julie. “No music’s worth making, Julie,” Luke tearfully declares, “if we’re not making it with you.” What a lovely character growth arc for Luke. All he cared about was playing their music — Sunset Curve, to be clear. And then he met Julie and he fell for her, but he also realized what really mattered in life. What mattered wasn’t the fame that he failed to achieve while he was alive; what mattered was love and earnestness and vulnerability. 

When Luke tells Julie this, she flings her arms around him, unable to stop herself. And in that moment, we realize something a little quicker than they do: they’re hugging. They can touch! (Sidenote: the fact that Julie was so desperate to hug Luke that she flung herself into his arms knowing he couldn’t catch her was too much for my heart to handle.)

Soon the pair realizes what’s happening and kudos to Madison Reyes and Charlie Gillespie for playing the next moment with the pitch-perfect attention it deserved. Luke and Julie can touch, and the moment that Julie realizes it, her hand goes straight to touch Luke’s face and he cups her face in his hands to wipe away her tears. It’s the softest, sweetest thing. They hold hands like they can’t believe the other is real (and if there’s a season two, let’s be honest: the touching thing won’t last because that’s just not exciting plot fodder). Reggie and Alex join Luke and the group hugs each other. Suddenly, the boys’ club stamps from Caleb float off their arms and into the sky. They have no idea what’s happening but somehow they’re all okay — and slightly glowing.

Though they have no idea what it means, the group decides to hug and Luke declares: “I think the band’s back.” This family has found each other and will keep finding each other over and over again. No matter what.

Notes and quotes:

• While I greatly appreciate the incredible vocals of Cheyenne Jackson, “Nothing to Lose” might be my least favorite song out of all of the songs in Julie and the Phantoms. It’s not bad, but it’s just not as engaging as “The Other Side of Hollywood.” I do love the performances by the boys though on their instruments. I know they did a lot of work so I’ll always Meanwhile, “Stand Tall” is and forever remains a bop.
• “I told you, I’d do anything for you.” MY BABIES ARE SO PRECIOUS.
• “Alex, no dancing.”
• I talked about this on an Instagram Live with some fans of the show and I guess we just have to suspend all our disbelief that if Julie and the boys were trending literally no one who’d ever heard of Sunset Curve, any of their family members, or close friends would have recognized them.
• “Why do you hate me too?” “Only love, baby. Only love.”
• “Where’s she going?” “Where to any of us really go?”
• “Step into your greatness.”
• I love that Carlos knows about the ghosts but never says anything because that’s how sweet he is.
• I love that Carrie stands and applauds Julie. LADIES SUPPORTING LADIES.
• We don’t need to talk about it, but Luke’s “Stand Tall” outfit at the end really just… is something else, isn’t it?
• Let’s be real: we can’t leave the series on that Nick-related cliffhanger, can we?

What did you all think of “Stand Tall”? Sound off in the comments below and let me know how much you all want a season two of Julie and the Phantoms!

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Julie and the Phantoms 1x08 Review: “Unsaid Emily” (Bring Me a Whole Box of Tissues) [Contributor: Jenn]

“Unsaid Emily”

Original Airdate: September 10, 2020

We all have regrets — we often regret the things we’ve said or done. But there’s another kind of regret and it’s the regret that comes from the things we don’t say or do. We regret the choices we didn’t make, the words we didn’t say, or the last hug we didn’t give to the person we love. You can live in regret until it weighs you down, but that’s no way to live at all. The musical Rent reminds us: “Forget regret or life is yours to miss.”

But regrets can be painful, and nothing is worse than regretting the things we can’t physically ever take back. Like Luke, who regrets that he never reconciled with his parents, especially his mom, before he died. And that is why “Unsaid Emily” is arguably one of the most emotional episodes of Julie and the Phantoms, focusing on Luke’s relationship with his parents and Julie’s growing connection to Luke.

PASS THE TISSUES

First thing’s first (this joke was on purpose): Charlie Gillespie does incredible work in this episode. He’s a comedic talent and a musical one for sure. But as I rewatched in preparation for this review, I was struck by just how subtle and powerful his facial reactions were, especially in his scenes with Julie. There’s nuance that Charlie brings — the frustration especially with Julie crossing boundaries is so subtle because there’s not just disappointment but also this slight emotional exhaustion with the grief he’s carrying — in this episode is unmatched. Madison Reyes shines too, but we’ll talk about how “Stand Tall” proves that this girl deserves to be the star of her own show and we shouldn’t forget that. Ever.

Charlie’s performance is heartbreaking, especially during the song “Unsaid Emily.” Vocally, he incorporates such a range of talent — from the soft, gentle way that he begins the song to the distraught and desperate final chorus — but I need to give a special shout-out to the actors who play Luke’s parents. Their performance often gets overlooked but they’re the ones who ultimately break me in this episode. More on that in a moment. First, let’s talk about what this episode is even about.

“Edge of Great” demonstrated that Luke and Julie’s chemistry is undeniable. And now Julie recognizes it. So when Nick asks her out, she turns him down gently and admits to Flynn that she’s aware that her relationship with Luke can go nowhere. But as she tells Flynn, it’s not just about their chemistry when they’re on stage. Luke and Julie are connected because they’ve both experienced profound loss; specifically, they both know what it feels like to grieve a mother. Luke, of course, died before he could reconcile with his while Julie wishes she could spend more time with hers.

It’s the theme of a motherly bond that drives “Unsaid Emily,” and it’s what drives Julie to remember that Luke wrote a song for his mother. She shows up at their front door and decides to give closure to Luke and his parents by presenting them with the song he wrote.

Honestly, I know that “Edge of Great” is the great episode for Luke and Julie because of their duet and prolonged eye contact, but I think the depth of their personalities both individually and as a ship are best explored in “Unsaid Emily.” You truly get the understanding of just how deeply the two connect, and the way that Julie shows Luke how much she cares by sitting in those really hard emotions with him? It’s beautiful. Julie is the person he needed in that moment of simultaneous catharsis and grief, just like Luke’s parents needed Julie for their own personal healing. They lost their only child, and as we saw in the previous episode, that never goes away. They celebrate his birthday, and I’m sure they’re plagued by the constant regrets of, “What if?”

The moment in “Unsaid Emily” that really breaks me is when Julie’s parents are sitting and we don’t see the car but we see the police lights flash in their eyes. At that moment, they know that their son is really gone. All hope of reconciliation has died with him, and the sheer magnitude of grief expressed by those actors is both gut-wrenching and also beautifully acted. It’s a wordless monologue and it’s made even more heartbreaking when Luke enters with his gravelly and emotional: “I’d never let you go.” (Even thinking about the scene brings tears to my eyes.)

LOVE IS ALL AROUND

The truth is that at its core, Julie and the Phantoms isn’t about music or shipping or cute ghosts. It’s about love — the love that we have for each other and the pain of losing a person we love. Familial love ties this whole show together. Julie’s love for her mom spurs her on. Her dad’s love for her gives her courage. Luke’s parents never stopped loving him, even though it’s been 25 years since he’s been alive.

Love is what binds us and because of that, it’s the thing that can bring us pain and set us free. Julie’s gift to Luke is freedom. She can’t free him from the curse that Caleb put on the boys (not yet anyway), nor can she free him from the in-between world he’s currently occupying. But she can free him from his regrets by reminding his family of his love, and that’s a priceless gift.

I can’t overstate how much I love “Unsaid Emily,” not just as a character study in Luke and his relationship with his parents, but also as a character study in Julie and the depth of her love for Luke. The thing she does in this episode is incredibly hard — she forces herself to re-enter grief, relive her own pain of losing her mother, and sit in the pain that Luke’s parents feel. Julie is a high-school girl who’s more emotionally present in this episode than most adults are in real life. She knows that love means choosing the hard path, and she’ll choose it again next episode too. Because that’s who she is; she’s the person who cannot ignore pain, who allows herself to feel the depth of her emotions, and who steps into the grief of others even when she knows it will hurt her.

When she apologizes to Luke for potentially overstepping, he stops her apology and tells her that what she did was perfect. He now has no more regrets about how he lived his life; his family will have the freedom of knowing their son loved them deeply and that he was happy in his pursuit of the thing he loved most — making music. That’s an incredible gift, and it’s something that bonds Luke and Julie on a depth that no amount of puppy eyes can manifest.

“Unsaid Emily” may be a heartbreaking episode of Julie and the Phantoms but it’s also a really important one, especially because this show is geared toward a younger audience. It reminds us that we need to feel our pain instead of run from it, and that catharsis and healing are possible no matter how rough things seem — as long as you’re open to it.

Hitting the right notes:

• I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: “Unsaid Emily” is the best song in Julie and the Phantoms. Is it my favorite song? No. That title belongs to “Bright.” But the lyricism and emotion of “Unsaid Emily” are entirely unmatched in the show. While other songs are fun bops or anthems, this one is pure heart and soul. Charlie Gillespie acts the crap out of the song’s scene and sings the crap out of it. He makes me cry and makes my heart break. MVP status, y’all.
• “I would’ve still followed you.” I didn’t really talk about them much above, but I love this soft, quiet scene between Alex and Willie where Willie apologizes again for dragging Alex, Luke, and Reggie to the Hollywood Ghost Club. Alex, however, has no regrets because even though he’s upset by the reality and gravity of the situation, he knows he would have done anything to know Willie. And vice versa.
• “You are the most watchable dueters I’ve ever seen.”
• “He said ‘ghost butts’!” 
• REGGIE AND RAY IS TOO PRECIOUS TO ME.
• “This is an interesting little relationship you and I have.” I’ll never be over this line reading.
• “You can’t get rid of me. I’m like the crazy glue of best friends.”
• “You’re gonna lose them no matter what. And it sucks. But they helped bring you back to life; now it’s your time to help them.” We don’t talk enough about this moment and line. Flynn is incredibly emotionally aware as Julie self-destructs. When Luke tells Julie that there’s no world in which the guys get to stay with her, Julie spirals because it seems all the people she loves leave her. Flynn, however, reminds Julie that the reality is she’d never be able to stay with the boys forever; she’d lose them at some point. And instead of wallowing in that pain, she has the chance to help them heal the way they’ve helped her heal. It’s a beautiful little moment and I love Jadah Marie for her touching, subtle delivery.

Is everyone ready for “Stand Tall”? That review will be coming to you in a few weeks — and here’s hoping it’s not the last review of the show I ever write! Until then, hit up the comments and let me know how hard YOU cried during “Unsaid Emily”!

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Julie and the Phantoms 1x07 Review: “Edge of Great” (Falling Slowly) [Contributor: Jenn]

“Edge of Great”

Original Airdate: September 10, 2020

One of my favorite rom-com tropes is when a couple doesn’t realize they’re in love with each other and have it pointed out to them by their friends. Julie and the Phantoms has slowly built the chemistry and feelings between Luke and Julie and “Edge of Great” is where we get the most blatant discussion of feelings on both of the characters’ ends. While Luke is gushing about Julie and trying to deny his feelings (a classic trope), Julie is daydreaming about him during dance rehearsal. But that’s not all that happens, so let’s break down the episode!

CHEMISTRY: HE HAS IT WITH EVERYONE

For the record, I fully do believe that Charlie Gillespie has chemistry with everyone he shares scenes with. The hilarious little moment with Reggie and Luke proves that. He’s like a younger, male Alison Brie in that regard. But I really love “Edge of Great” because it sets the stage for a deeper, more emotional Luke/Julie storyline we’ll see in the next episode, “Unsaid Emily.” Still, Luke denies his feelings for a reason: their relationship is far too complicated for even him to figure out. Julie and Flynn have an almost identical conversation when Julie confesses that even though Nick likes her, she’s a bit smitten with Luke.

Flynn is honest. A lot of times our best friends tell us the things we want to hear. And it would’ve been easy for Flynn to root Julie on and tell her to pursue Luke. But the truth is deeper than that. Both Flynn and Luke assert something about Julie in this episode: she’s suffered a lot of loss. Luke doesn’t want to tell Julie about the group getting zapped (possibly out of “existence”) because he doesn’t want her to have to mourn anymore loss. And Flynn doesn’t encourage Julie to pursue Luke for the same reason; she knows that her best friend has suffered so much pain already and that going after any sort of relationship with Luke is doomed to end in heartbreak one way or another. 

What I love though about the Luke/Julie story on Julie and the Phantoms is that while other characters assert the idea that relationships, no matter if they’re complex or not, involve pain the show also reminds us that we should pursue pain-free love. The truth is that we aren’t guaranteed a heartbreak-free life. The show admits that a Luke/Julie romance is complicated while also not undercutting the depth of the two characters’ feelings for each other in the process. It’s like it’s giving us permission to feel, and for a show aimed at a younger audience I think that’s an important message. We should allow ourselves the chance to deeply and truly feel love and loss. No, it might not be the smartest decision to pursue love with a ghost but it also doesn’t make Julie less of a person for having those romantic feelings. The show points out that Luke’s feelings for Julie and hers for him are valid and real. They’ve created a deep relationship rooted in their songwriting and connection to both music and grief. That’s significant, and while Nick is the more practical choice for Julie in this show, she recognizes that pursuing him would be unfair to both of them in the end since, practical or not, her heart is not in it. 

I love that we’re going to see how Julie unwaveringly supports Luke in the next episode and Charlie Gillespie will do some MVP acting during “Unsaid Emily” not only in terms of the depth of emotion, but also in the sheer awe he has over Julie as a person who helped him get closure with his parents. And I love the Luke/Julie relationship because it’s built on trust, support, and respect. It’s so important for everyone to remember that heart eyes and flirting and physical attraction are fun and all, but when a relationship has as many practical hurdles as Luke and Julie’s does, the foundation needs to be something solid. And it is. These two characters would do anything for each other; Luke will give up control and leadership of a band. Julie will give up what is most comfortable and practical. They will be there for each other and when they are not, they will always find their way back to each other. What a lovely and deep relationship, right?

(For the record, Madison Reyes is really lovely in this episode as she navigates a girl torn between two worlds, while also allowing herself the freedom to feel in “Perfect Harmony.” The joy expressed in that song is so lovely, even if it’s only existing in her own mind. You can sense her weightlessness and happiness when she’s with Luke. Ugh, I love it.)

A WRINKLE IN THE PLAN

The biggest plot-related thing to take from “Edge of Great” is that Willie tells Luke, Alex, and Reggie about the stamp Caleb put on them. If they don’t submit to him and join his ghost band, they’re eventually going to just cease to exist. The zaps will get more and more powerful and will eventually blip them out of existence. But there’s good news, even if Willie has to deliver it somberly: If the boys can figure out what their unfinished business is, they can cross over.

Of course there’s a hitch in either plan: Julie. The boys are bound to leave her, whichever option they choose. Either they’ll be stuck with Caleb for eternity or will be whisked away to the afterlife. So instead of telling Julie this conundrum, the boys decide they’ll figure out their unfinished business themselves. And their first guess? Playing at the Orpheum. So that’s what we’re building toward: a grand performance that’ll help the boys cross over.

Or so they think.

Hitting the right notes:

• This episode has it all, everyone: “Edge of Great” (which is wonderful and has an epic guitar solo that was improvised by Charlie Gillespie) and “Perfect Harmony” (which is the perfect successor to “Can I Have This Dance?”).
• I like Luke’s “Perfect Harmony” hair. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I am not ashamed of it.
• “You can make all the music you want with Luke, but he’ll always be a phantom.”
• “The key is to avoid those big, beautiful... dead eyes.”
• The chemistry scene is one of the greatest things I’ll ever witness.
• “Girls, am I right?” “Yeah.” “No.” Will I ever be over the fact that this was improvised? Nope.
• Do we all adore how Luke is so sad when he’s ignored, like a forgotten puppy? I sure do. But I really love how Reggie and Julie got some jam time together during the song!
• Booboo Stewart does some lovely acting work when he tells Alex he cares about him and apologizes for bringing them to the club.

Honestly, “Edge of Great” may be my favorite episode of Julie and the Phantoms. What about you all? Sound off in the comments below and grab tissues for my next episode review: “Unsaid Emily”!

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Julie and the Phantoms 1x06 Review: “Finally Free” (I’ve Got a Spark) [Contributor: Jenn]

“Finally Free”

Original Airdate: September 10, 2020

The old adage “actions have consequences” is an adage for a reason — it’s painfully accurate. Luke, Alex, and Reggie learned that the hard way in the previous episode of Julie and the Phantoms. And unfortunately they also learn another lesson about how apologies don’t immediately erase hurt. But there’s something else we can glean from “Finally Free,” and it’s a lesson that Julie learns: sometimes hurting people hurt people. It doesn’t make it right, but at the end of the episode, Julie has a deeper understanding of Luke and his motivations.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LUKE

It’s apparently Luke’s birthday, and that’s something he doesn’t share with the group. But Alex and Reggie, who have a lot more history with Luke than Julie does, convince her to take a little trip with them out to Luke’s old house and watch what he does. But let me back up for a moment because the reason that Luke ends up visiting his family is only partially because it’s his birthday. Alex and Reggie mention that Luke tends to poof away to the house often because of his strained relationship with his family.

While initially the boys’ revenge plot against Trevor seems to be just out of petty spite (and part of it is), the larger part of their reasoning has to do with their families. When Trevor took the Sunset Curve songs, he effectively erased Luke, Alex, and Reggie’s impact as individuals. Luke’s parents hated that he was in a band, and their strained relationship is a guilty weight that Luke carries around with him. They’ll never know that he was doing something that mattered. And he’ll never get to apologize to them for the way he left their relationship. As silly as it might sound, there’d be some sort of vindication if Trevor admitted that he’d taken the songs and credited Luke as the songwriter. It would show his parents that Luke’s dream wasn’t in vain, and his death wasn’t either. It’s not a large consolation when what you’re really facing is the loss of a child, but it’d be something at least for his parents to hold onto. Right now, all they know is that their teenage son died in the 90s and they believe that he died hating them. 

But still, they celebrate his birthday every year. As Julie, Alex, and Reggie watch Luke — filled with emotion — sit at the table with his parents and blow out the candle on his birthday cake, Julie realizes that even though she called Luke selfish for abandoning her at the dance, his decision was rooted in pain and grief. It doesn’t make his flaking excusable, but it softens Julie’s heart. She recognizes that her and the boys have something in common, even if so much is different. They all share the weight of grief and the pain of losing people you love. That allows Julie the chance to forgive the boys for flaking on her at the dance, helps her understand just exactly what Luke lost before he died, and helps her put into perspective the important bond she and the band share through music. She mentions that they’ve all lost so much already that they can’t afford to lose music too.

And there’s a moment where Luke realizes the bond he and Julie truly share, and you can tell that he’s overjoyed at her choice to rejoin the band — but not because he wants fortune and fame or even to be seen by an audience.

He’s willing to give up being the lead singer of his own band, step aside, and let Julie shine because maybe it’s taken him until he’s died to figure it out, but Luke Patterson would do anything for the people he loves.

HEART EYES AND JUKE RISING

Speaking of Luke and Julie, this might very well be the episode where Luke realizes how he feels about Julie. He respects and admires her for sure (that endlessly supportive puppy!), and you can tell that the part where Julie calls him selfish is especially wounding because she mentions songwriting and how close they’ve gotten because of it. But Luke sees Julie as more than a friend, and if you need further evidence just watch the way that Charlie Gillespie plays Luke in that garage scene after his parents’ house.

He’s truly repentant and surprised that Julie returned. But more than that, he’s touched when she explains why she returned. They have a bond, all of them, but she’s only talking to him in that moment. And then when she wishes him a happy birthday? Charlie’s choice was so delightful and I’m curious to know whether it was a directing choice or a choice by the actor to appear so giddy. That’s the only word I can use to describe the little way he fidgets with his hand and the momentary surprise that Julie knew it was his birthday. (Also gotta love that Julie doodles a birthday cupcake on her mic later on!)

The boy looks at Julie like she’s the sun, and he’s happy to step aside and watch her shine. During their performance of “Finally Free,” even Alex and Reggie see the spark between the two (ironically when they’re singing, “I’ve got a spark in me”). But there’s a moment I love maybe more than that one — it’s at the very end of the song when Julie riffs the final few notes, and Luke looks at her with this complete sense of awe. He’s taken aback by how talented she is and how much she fills up the stage with her voice and presence. He’s basking in her glow and it’s so lovely to see. Typically in shows like these, the male protagonists pursue the female protagonists, make some googly eyes, and then convince the woman that they’re the right person to be with. But Julie and the Phantoms takes a different approach — Luke is a lovestruck teenage ghost boy who, every chance he gets, points the spotlight off of him and right back to Julie. He’s supportive, encouraging, constantly praises her, and reminds her that she’s the true star. He’ll say it in the final episode, but to him, no music is worth making unless it’s with her.

Ooooooooof, it hits you in the feels in the best way! And don’t worry because the next episode is possibly the show’s best and will demonstrate exactly how perfect these two are for each other (minus the whole ghost/human thing but we can work with that). 

Hitting the right notes:

• While “All Eyes on Me” and “Finally Free” aren’t my favorite songs lyrically, both are definitely bops. And “All Eyes on Me” is fabulous for the Alex appearances alone. Owen Patrick Joyner is comedic GOLD throughout.
• I do feel bad for Madison because apparently during filming the song “Finally Free,” it was so hot and she was overheating (made worse by the dress she was wearing). According to her, she nearly passed out. (Also I think this scene was when Charlie was sick so honestly good on everyone for powering through.)
• “I’d kill them if they weren’t already dead.”
• “Feels like that time I was fixing my amp in the rain.”
• The boys’ little sorry song is so cute.
• I should mention that Julie gets grounded for skipping class, she’s paired with Nick for a dance in class, and she seems to be flustered by that fact. Nick is actively fine (albeit pretty personality-less) but let’s be real, it’s hard to compete with Luke.
• I love that the show threads “Unsaid Emily” into the scene with Luke and his parents. It emotionally wrecked us before we even heard it!

What did you all think of “Finally Free”? Sound off in the comments below!

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Julie and the Phantoms 1x05 Review: “The Other Side of Hollywood” (What You Want Comes at a Cost) [Contributor: Jenn]

“The Other Side of Hollywood”

Original Airdate: September 10, 2020

How much would you be willing to pay to get what you want?

I’m not talking about physical money though. What would you be willing to sacrifice to get something you think will make you happy? Would you sacrifice your friendships? Your integrity? Your time?

Recently on The Community Rewatch Podcast, our guest Gavin aptly noted that it’s often easier to convince people of things when they’re angry. And if we’re honest, that’s part of why it was so easy to convince Luke, Alex, and Reggie to stay at The Hollywood Ghost Club in this episode of Julie and the Phantoms. The boys are still mad and bitter at their former bandmate and friend, Bobby (a.k.a. Trevor), for stealing their songs and making money in the wake of their deaths.

The boys want revenge. They want Bobby to suffer, and they’re willing to do whatever it takes to ensure that happens. “The Other Side of Hollywood,” however, reminds us that even when we get what we want, it’ll cost us. And it certainly costs the boys — in more ways than one.

CURSES AND BETRAYALS

Let’s start with the obvious: the boys get some sort of hex or curse put on them after they visit Caleb’s club. It painfully zaps the boys to the point that they feel like they’re dying all over again. The zaps will only get worse as the series progresses, unfortunately. But Caleb knows exactly what he’s doing when he puts the stamp on them.

It’s implied, of course, that all of the “lifers” who are at The Hollywood Ghost Club are able to see ghosts because they sold their souls to Caleb so they can experience the club when they die. The boys are so enraptured with Caleb, the club, the dancing, the ability to eat real food again, and the prospect of having adventures like traveling the world that they ignore their commitment to Julie. They trade a hypothetical for their real friend.

And it’s easy to understand why. After all, even though they died 25 years ago, Luke, Alex, and Reggie are very much teenage boys whose critical thinking skills haven’t yet been developed (even in death). They’re so fixated on what THEY want that they forgo what Julie actually needs. They died in the prime of their lives — on the cusp of becoming superstars. And that fact has blinded them thus far. They’re focused on the praise and acclaim and fame they could receive if they accepted Caleb’s offer. They could travel the world and be seen all the time, no strings attached (or so they think). They could get back at Bobby. They could feel like their afterlives have a purpose again. 

But they forget one important thing that those of us who are blinded by revenge or our own selfish desires often are: it’s not about us.

The boys made a promise to Julie. They were going to show up to the school and perform with her in front of all of her classmates at the school dance. Instead, they get swept away with the promise of something bigger that they forget what’s in front of them. And while “The Other Side of Hollywood” is mostly plot-building and doesn’t really capture my attention as much as the episodes that’ll follow do, I love that when the guys finally do show up to the empty gymnasium, Julie lets them have it.

She doesn’t just tell them that she’s disappointed; she tells them how much it hurt to know that they KNEW how hard it was for her to sing after her mom’s death and they chose not to care. Ouch. The boys, especially Luke, are wounded by the consequences of their choices. And that’s really the thing about trying to get what we want regardless of the cost — we rarely think of other people or what will happen when we do get the thing we think will satisfy us. Julie tells the guys that joining their band was a mistake. And she reminds them that bandmates and friends don’t treat each other the way Luke, Alex, and Reggie treated her. It’s heartbreaking but a reminder that when you’re hurt, it’s okay to admit it and also demand better from the people you care about.

“The Other Side of Hollywood” ultimately reminds our characters that getting what you want may be easy, but it’s rarely simple and definitely never without consequences.

Hitting the right notes:

• Even though I don’t love Caleb’s songs as much as the others in the show, there’s no denying just how talented Cheyenne Jackson is. Also it’s super weird to watch him as a villain here and the romantic lead in Call Me Kat.
• I also enjoy that this is the first musical number that was shot so that Kenny could show the network just what they could do in the series.
• “I always knew rich people did weird stuff like this.”
• “We found out like two weeks okay, okay? We didn’t have the heart to tell him.” THE BEST JOKE.
• Cheyenne and Charlie’s eyes look insanely bright in this episode for some reason and I’m here for it.
• I want to know how much the boys hated having to eat that food take after take.
• Are we just going to ignore the cute kid sliding over intermittently in the gym to sit closer to his crush or what? I NEED THAT STORY.
• This episode leans a little too hard into the whole “Carrie is a mean girl” trope. Her burns weren’t that great and there’s no way an entire school would immediately be able to follow her to her house. SHE LIVES IN MALIBU. HOW WILL THEY GET THERE? THEY CANNOT DRIVE.
• “Reggie, are you kissing that meatball sub?”
• “That’s what we get for depending on boys.” I love how Flynn is a true ride-or-die bestie in this episode.

What did you all think of the episode? Sound off in the comments below!

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Julie and the Phantoms 1x04 Review: “I Got the Music” (The Haunting of Trevor) [Contributor: Jenn]

“I Got the Music”

Original Airdate: September 10, 2020

Even though they’re ghosts who’ve been dead for 25 years, Luke, Alex, and Reggie are still teenage boys at heart. That means they often get easily distracted or fixated on things that are less important or pressing than others. “I Got the Music” isn’t really a two-parter, but it functions like one since we’ll see the fallout of their choices in “The Other Side of Hollywood” shortly. 

In the meantime, let’s talk about how this episode is a plot-building one and that it also helps us get to know Alex Mercer a little bit better.

FOCUS UP

Alex and Willie’s connection is undeniable and it continues to develop in this episode. I love that Willie is this very chill, very relaxed skater who loves skateboarding in museums and screaming to get his energy out. Alex, however, is not relaxed. As he accurately points out, he struggled with anxiety the whole time he was alive and dying didn’t help. Especially because he can’t seem to control what’s happening to and around him. That’s a hallmark trait of someone with anxiety: the desire for control and the frustration when life doesn’t work the way you want it to.

One thing that does frustrate and almost defeat Alex is the inability to hold objects. When Willie asks him to move a bench in the museum, Alex says that he’s unable. And after one try, he all but gives up. But Willie encourages him to focus — another thing that Alex’s anxiety prevents him from doing. Instead of wandering thoughts and aimless emotions, Alex follows Willie’s advice and channels his thoughts into a singular focus. And it works! He’s able to actually pick up the bench and move it. Later on, Luke and Reggie are surprised when Alex is able to touch and hold things and it makes me happy that he’s continuing to practice mindfulness. 

In addition to this episode being a great one for us to learn more about Alex’s character, we also get a glimpse into the burgeoning relationship between Willie and Alex. I love that their relationship is so pure, supportive, and open. They don’t know each other that well but Willie is a safe, calming space for Alex. At the same time, he also pushes and challenges Alex to step beyond what’s comfortable and into what’s possible. Alex loves his bandmates, I have no doubt about that. But I love getting the chance to see Alex vulnerable with someone outside of the group, and for him to be able to learn that it’s okay to let go of control and exist in the ambiguity. Willie lives his life with freedom and we all want Alex to do the same.

MEET TREVOR

The most important plot of “I Got the Music” is that the boys learn that their former bandmate, Bobby, now goes by the name Trevor. But there’s something even worse than him changing his name: he stole their songs. Julie reveals to the boys that Trevor’s music is what inspired her and her mom to be songwriters; Alex then tells Julie that as it turns out, Luke was really the one who introduced her to music. All the songs that made Trevor famous were ones that Luke had written. The boys are furious, understandably so. And I think one of the most heartbreaking but small things they mention is that their parents will never know how great they truly were; Trevor took sole credit and he could’ve at least shared some of that fortune with Luke, Alex, and Reggie’s families to make sure they were okay after the boys were gone.

Now, we don’t know much about how or why Bobby changed his name and image. I suspect that after all his bandmates died tragically, he endured trauma. Perhaps changing his name and image was a way to disassociate from the pitying glances or concerned fans — a chance to have a fresh start. And we don’t know why Trevor took the songs and passed them off as his own. Maybe it was an accident at first and then the fame and success got away from him. We also don’t know much about how Rose and Trevor became so close. She knew him from Sunset Curve, so did she know that he was stealing Luke’s songs or did she assume he’d written them himself? There’s a LOT I hope that the show unpacks in season two in regards to Trevor/Bobby, but suffice it to say that the boys haunting him seemed on brand for their teenaged ghost selves.

Julie, however, is insistent that the boys let the past be in the past and focus on the present — the fact that Flynn got them a gig playing at the school dance. Unfortunately for Julie, even though the boys promise that they won’t let revenge color their judgement, they really do. We’ll see the fallout in the next episode. But it makes sense: these are teenagers who’ve been scorned and they can’t see the forest for the trees. To them, it doesn’t matter if Trevor stole their songs 25 years ago or 25 seconds ago — they want revenge. So they haunt him and scare him off, but it’s not enough. Revenge is a drug and they needed another hit. So they enlist the help of Willie to try and do more damage. Willie points them in the direction of the Hollywood Ghost Club where we learn that Caleb (Cheyenne Jackson) is already waiting for them.

Be careful what you wish for, boys. You might just get it.

Hitting the right notes:

• While “I Got the Music” ranks a bit low on my list of Julie and the Phantoms favorites, I can definitely sense the nod to the show’s musical predecessor, High School Musical, in both the music and choreography. That’s one, big, show-stopping number!
• I love that originally Owen, Charlie, and Jeremy were supposed to be in this number (Madison mentioned this in a live and the boys rehearsed it) and just imagine how much MORE fun it would have been if they were dancing against the lockers.
• “How’s the band? Still hot? Still talented? Still dead?”
• “Just remember, he’s made of air.” “Cute air.”
• “I’ve always been a little anxious and then I died. Which did NOT calm me down.”
• HOME IS WHERE MY HORSE IS.
• “Oh… he looks like a substitute teacher.”
• “... It’s a little bit about the money though.” “A little bit about the money.”
• “This place is creepy.” “Well, so are we.”

What did you all think of “I Got the Music”? Sound off in the comments below!

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Julie and the Phantoms 1x03 Review: “Flying Solo” (Double Trouble) [Contributor: Jenn]

“Flying Solo”

Original Airdate: September 10, 2020

How long have you and your best friend been close? My best friend — my ride-or-die — and I have known each other for almost 20 years. That’s 20 years of inside jokes, milestone memories, proms, college graduations, and so much more. I love my best friend because no matter how long we’ve been apart, whenever we hang out together it’s like no time has passed at all.

Julie and Flynn are ride-or-die best friends. They tell each other everything and most important of all, they don’t lie to each other. Except that Julie is lying to Flynn in “Flying Solo” and Flynn isn’t having it. Elsewhere in the episode, Alex struggles with anxiety and being a ghost.

DOUBLE TROUBLE

“Flying Solo” picks up exactly where we left Julie Molina last episode — standing on a stage in front of her peers, awkwardly trying to explain why her band just disappeared. When Kayla (Tori Caro) asks if they were holograms, Julie blessedly finds her easy explanation. And luckily, everyone buys it without question. Julie even gets let back into the music program by the principal. There’s only one issue: Flynn confronts Julie about the band she has failed to mention, and Julie tries to lie. But she can’t. 

Flynn is floored. It’s one thing for Julie to connect with music and not be involved; it’s another thing for Julie to be lying to her about the whole thing. Flynn spends this episode hurt and Julie tries her best to navigate the situation. She can’t tell Flynn the truth because… well, the truth involves ghosts. There’s no way she’ll believe her. But she also can’t lie because it’ll drive a wedge even further in their relationship.

So eventually, Julie decides to tell Flynn that the boys are ghosts. Until she sees them with her own eyes, Flynn is ready to text Julie’s dad with the concerning news of Julie’s state. And then she meets them and realizes Julie was telling the truth. But I’m going to back up for a moment here because “Flying Solo” is rooted in Julie and Flynn’s relationship — one that Reggie and Luke learn a little bit more about when they dig through Julie’s dream box and discover a poem written about Flynn.

The boys turn the poem into the song of the episode, and Julie confesses that she wrote the poem when Flynn was helping her deal with her grief. It’s a moment we breeze past because the song itself is so upbeat. But I want to point out that Julie’s song is all about her connection to Flynn as best friends: when one of them hurts, the other does too. We saw that in the previous episode — the thought of Julie being kicked out of music made Flynn cry. It’s safe to assume that these two shared a lot when Julie grieved her mom’s death. Flynn hurt because Julie was hurt. “When I look at you, it’s like I’m looking at me,” Julie sings. 

I love this friendship. I love that “Flying Solo” includes silly inside jokes or references to gossiping together, but it also talks about how Julie’s life isn’t complete without Flynn in it.

And to prove that Flynn is, indeed, the ride-or-die best friend, when Luke asks Julie if she’s joining Sunset Curve (a thing he was trying to get her to agree to the entire episode), Julie almost says yes. And then Flynn steps in, saying: “I think you’re joining her band.” We’re going to see, in the coming episodes, exactly how much of a hype person Flynn is. She comes up with the band’s name, she works tirelessly to support Julie, and when the boys let her down, Flynn is there.

I love seeing this young but deep friendship as the focus of this episode. And I need more Flynn next season.

ANXIETY STRUTTING

This episode focuses on friendship and also gives us more of a glimpse into Alex’s anxiety. While Reggie and Luke are stoked that the school was able to see them perform, Alex is a little less excited. He doesn’t understand the logic of what’s happening in his afterlife — there’s no manual or instructions on what to do or how to ghost. (I relate, Alex. I would like a manual for how to navigate my current life.)

He nervously paces the studio, trying to verbally process why he’s struggling. The truth is that he doesn’t handle change well. I too can relate, and I think it’s really wonderful that the younger audiences watching this are seeing a character who does struggle with anxiety. Alex decides that he needs to clear his head and decides to poof to Hollywood Boulevard where he meets Willie (Booboo Stewart), a — as Avril Lavigne would say — sk8er boi. And in fact, he reveals that’s how he died. Alex is immediately attracted and drawn to Willie, who is warm and also just a very chill presence to balance Alex’s nervousness.

The two decide to have a conversation so Alex can learn everything that Willie knows about their ghostly states. Aside: this is 100% a thing that you’d do as a person with anxiety! We’re fueled by information and trying to absorb all we can to make sense of the world and control it. Anyway, back to our plot — Alex learns a few crucial things from Willie. He learns that people who are alive are called “lifers.” Willie confesses that he’s never really known any other ghosts who can be seen by lifers randomly. And Willie explains that the reason they are ghosts and haven’t crossed over into the afterlife is because there’s some unfinished business. Willie’s not sure what Alex’s unfinished business is, but he suggests that since all the boys are still ghosts together, perhaps their unfinished business is connected.

Willie calls Alex a cute nickname and skates away, but never fear: we’ll see more of him later this season!

I really do love that “Flying Solo” starts shaping our characters a little further: this episode gives us more insight into Flynn and Alex, and we’ll dive deeper into Luke in the weeks to come.

For now, Julie and the Phantoms reminded us of the power of friendship and importance of connection. That’s a message I can fully relate to and support!

Hitting the right notes:

• “Flying Solo” isn’t my favorite on the Julie and the Phantoms soundtrack, but I fully appreciate the song’s focus on the friendship between Julie and Flynn. Plus I loved hearing Madison and the rest of the cast talk about filming in that small space.
• “I don’t think they can see us.” “I wish I couldn’t see you.” Let’s never stop talking about how Owen has the absolute perfect comedic timing and delivery.
• “He’s so nervous he’s almost making me nervous.”
• “DON’T TELL ME HOW TO GHOST!”
• Our friend Allison mentioned this in our podcast episode, but I love that Willie gets the introduction that a traditionally “hot woman” would get with the iconic hair flip.
• “But we’re not alone. Because we always have each other.” “Ugh.”
• I really appreciate the subtle pain we get from Carrie in this episode when she talks to Nick about how hard she worked on her routine. While she is still an antagonist, that moment was a great reminder that she is also a human who worked hard for a year while Julie was grieving. While Julie is our heroine, it makes sense that Carrie would feel betrayed and upstaged by Julie in this moment. It does not excuse her meanness, but it helps us understand her character a little more.
• I just love when Luke jumps up on the piano and starts singing a little bit of “Flying Solo.”
• “Wow... who’s that?” Owen coming in clutch with the perfect deliveries.
• “When she says ‘deep dish’ is she talking about like, pizza, or?”
• “Get woke. These are sensitive times.”
• The fact that Flynn brought eggs to Julie’s house to egg it is so perfect.

What did you all think of “Flying Solo”? Sound off in the comments below!

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Julie and the Phantoms 1x02 Review: “Bright” (This Band is Back!) [Contributor: Jenn]

“Bright”

Original Airdate: September 10, 2020

What makes your life brighter? Is it a person? A hobby? A place? Julie Molina’s life is brighter when there’s music in it. But after her mom’s death, grief dimmed even the thing she loved most and gave her the most life. That is, until a few ghosts entered the picture.

“Bright” is a really solid episode of Julie and the Phantoms that sets up plots for the rest of the season and reminds us not to waste our power.

THIS BAND IS BACK

“Bright” picks up right where the pilot left off — Julie has finished playing and the boys have been behind her, listening. They poof out of the studio and discuss how impressed they are by her talent and also confused they are by why she’s hidden it for so long. We’ll talk more about Julie and her love of music in a bit, but let’s talk about Luke, Alex, and Reggie first.

Throughout the episode, they learn more about their ghost powers and abilities and sadly reflect on their lives and the current state of the world. Reggie misses his family after hearing an emotional Ray discuss his late wife, so the boys go to the beach to see Reggie’s old house. Unfortunately, the neighborhood where the boys used to live is completely demolished and restaurants have taken their place. It’s been 25 years since they last saw their families, and when Reggie and Alex vocalize this, Luke reminds him that they’re longing for families that were broken.

Alex came out to his parents and their relationship was never the same. Luke mentions that his parents regretted buying him his guitar (and we’ll see more of their dynamic later in the show). And Reggie’s parents were one fight away from divorce. While the boys watch over the lives of the living with wistfulness, Luke pulls them back to reality — what they were missing is long gone, and it wasn’t great to begin with. That doesn’t stop Alex and Reggie from feeling lost and disconnected though. Even though their families weren’t the best, they were still something real and tangible to hold onto.

Now that they’re dead, Alex makes a valid point to Luke: what do they really have, anyway? They have no lives. They have no families. They’re invisible to everyone but Julie. The world around them changed so much from 1995 to 2020 and they didn’t even get to be part of it. They’re floating through a world with no real tether. Except for one thing, as Luke reminds them: music. They have their music. They have each other. That’s all they need.

While Julie and the Phantoms’ central character is Julie Molina, Luke, Alex, and Reggie are such integral parts of the show and their character development is just as important as Julie’s. And music is something that doesn’t just connect the boys to each other and to their listeners, but to Julie as well.

DON’T WASTE YOUR POWER

Though Julie has rediscovered her spark for music, she isn’t automatically let back into the music program. Unfortunately her spot has already been filled. And even though Julie is reminded how much she loves music and is inspired by it, she’s not too keen on writing again. It still hurts too much because it reminds her of her mother.

But Luke and Flynn push Julie to find a way back into the music program. Inspired by his passion for music and Julie’s talent, Luke actually strikes up a really important conversation with Julie in her kitchen while he’s longingly looking at all the food in her fridge he can’t eat. He tells her that if Mrs. Harrison and Principal Lessa won’t let her back in the program, then she will just have to find a way to smash the rules and make them listen to her. Julie is skeptical; she’s not really the smashing, kick-the-door-in type of girl. But Luke is insistent on two things: that Julie needs to fight and that Julie needs to fight because she cannot let her power go to waste.

He’s right, too, and she knows it: music is the thing that breathes life into her. She’s not just talented, but she’s fully alive when she’s playing piano and singing. Luke tells her that he can’t watch her waste her life, especially when he’d give anything to be alive. There’s a great moment next when Luke gifts Julie a song. Even if she’s not ready to write, Luke is prepared to help in any way possible — and that’s a reason I love their friendship and relationship. Luke’s present is a song called “Bright” that Sunset Curve never got to record, and he workshops it in the kitchen with Julie. This is one of the first, but not last, scenes that proves Charlie Gillespie and Madison Reyes have such incredible and charming chemistry. When Julie sings, Luke encourages her proudly. He doesn’t need to be the star; he’s happy to give her something personal to him because he wants to watch her shine.

And truly, he continues this throughout the series. When Julie shows up at a pep rally, poised to perform “Bright,” she starts to get nervous. Very nervous. And Luke is constantly hyping her up, reminding her that she’s got this and mouthing the words along before he and the rest of the boys join her on stage to perform. I love shipping and I’ve shipped a lot of couples in my life, but what I constantly look for is a ship that’s healthy, encouraging, and brings out the best in each characters. The Julie and the Phantoms “Juke” ship certainly delivers on all counts. And I can’t wait to watch it grow in season two (yes, I’m manifesting it in my head, okay?).

“Bright” ends with Julie and her ghost boys performing the song on stage and coming to a really fun realization — people besides Julie can see the boys when they’re singing and playing their instruments. And then, after they take their bows, they promptly disappear. Dun dun dunnnnnnnnnn!

Hitting the right notes:

• Musical breakdown: I think originally when I watched Julie and the Phantoms, my favorite song was “Edge of Great,” but right now it might be “Bright.” Madison’s high note coupled with Jeremy and Charlie’s harmony, and Charlie’s grit/growl makes it a pretty perfect song. “This Band is Back (Reggie’s Jam)” is so charming and fun, and I need more of Jeremy singing in season two. And if you haven’t yet tried to run to “Wow,” you’ll find it is a perfect song to run to!
• “This is why no one hugs you.”
• “I’m so happy for you! And me!” This is why Flynn deserves the world.
• You know that gratuitous shirtless scene of Chris Hemsworth in Thor: Ragnarok that’s in there for no other reason than for our own personal enjoyment? I thought about that in this episode when Luke changes shirts. Really there’s no reason we need to see it, but also isn’t there?
• I WANT MORE OF RAY AND REGGIE BONDING.
• “Okay, how am I the emotional one?”
• “It tingles... in WEIRD places!”
• Everyone else caught those little smiles when Julie walks through Luke, right? We ship it.
• We talked about this in our podcast but I’m glad the show doesn’t villainize Carrie for making pop music; Julie complimenting her was a nice touch.
• I can’t express how happy the shot of Flynn on the trumpet makes me.

What was your favorite part of “Bright”? Sound off in the comments below!

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Julie and the Phantoms 1x01 Review: "Wake Up" (Tell Your Friends) [Contributor: Jenn]

“Wake Up”

Original Airdate: September 10, 2020

I am not the target demographic for Julie and the Phantoms, but that didn’t stop me from devouring and falling head-over-heels in love with the series. We’re talking about picking out china patterns and searching-for-a-house-together kind of love. With the kind of charm that director Kenny Ortega is known for, this teen/family show focuses on Julia Molina (Madison Reyes), a young woman who’s grieving the loss of her mom who died a year ago. When three ghost boys named Luke, Alex, and Reggie (Charlie Gillespie, Owen Joyner, Jeremy Shada) who died in 1995 show up in her house, Julie begins to find the courage to play music again.

So let’s dive deep into the show over the course of these reviews and talk about all the things that make it so endearing and important. Oh, and if you’d like to listen to two hours’ worth of a podcast about it, you can also check out our bonus episode of The Community Rewatch Podcast where friends and I covered all things Julie and the Phantoms.

For now, just sit back, relax, and grab a snack... anything other than a street dog, that is.

GRIEF AND HEALING THROUGH MUSIC

The most important thing about the pilot is that we learn Julie’s grieving the loss of her mother. She’s in the music program at her high school and since her mother’s death, Julie has been unable to play. Unfortunately, her grace period is running out and if she can’t actually perform, she’ll be kicked out of the program. When Julie sits down at the piano, she’s unable to play and runs from the classroom.

Later on, Julie’s dad confronts her about her decision to give up on the music program. He knows his daughter well enough to know that music isn’t just what bonded her to her mother — it’s the thing that makes her come alive. And that theme of music being life-giving and healing continues throughout “Wake Up.” When Luke, Reggie, and Alex realize that when they play their instruments, people can hear them, Luke is elated. He tells Julie that it’s the most alive they’ve felt since they died. They’re still able to do the thing they love and were born to do. Luke then makes a pretty poignant mini-speech to Julie about how they could never be able to give up the thing that makes them come alive, no matter what. They’re artists; it’s who they are and music is what they were born to do.

But interestingly enough, Julie lies to the boys when they ask her about the piano in the studio. She tells them that she doesn’t play and that she isn’t a musician. I think so much of Julie in the pilot is incredibly relatable for anyone who’s ever struggled with grief. She keeps her head down and a hat on in the hallways at school, preferring to be as invisible as possible to everyone besides her best friend, Flynn (Jadah Marie). Julie has lost herself. Her grief is very valid and real, of course, but it’s also trapped and immobilized her. Imagine that Devil’s Snare plant from Harry Potter. Julie’s grief is like that; she’s trying to avoid it and fight it but all it does is grip tighter and tighter. The only way to survive a Devil’s Snare, as Hermione Granger will remind you, is to do the exact opposite of what you want to do: stay still. The way we survive grief is to feel its snares tangled around us and feel the weight of that deeply, but to not let it claim us as its next victim. We sit in grief, and we let ourselves feel it. We don’t fight it; we work through it.

But Julie’s pain, like the Devil’s Snare, is squeezing the very life and light out of her. And it’s taking away the one thing in life she was born to do and loves doing: music. That’s what makes the storyline in “Wake Up” extra beautiful. Until the moment Julie sits down at the piano to play her mom’s song, she does not really know how to feel her grief while also expressing it in the art form that brings her the most joy.

Eventually, Julie recognizes the truth in the lyrics of the song her mom created: grief is a part of you. If you’ve ever lost a person you love, you know that the grief never really goes away. But the lyric: “And I use the pain, ‘cause it’s part of me” reminds us of the truth that there is power in our pain and there is purpose beyond it. Julie’s pain and her loss is part of what makes her a fully-realized human being; her grief is part of what makes her who she, Julie Molina, is. There is no one like her. And she uses pain and emotion to connect to herself and others through song. When Julie takes her mother’s advice and takes the first step — the small step on the path toward healing — she is empowered to take the next one. And then the next one. And so on.

“Wake Up” (the song, not the episode) brings Julie from darkness to light quite literally. It’s such a stunningly directed number, and I love that we begin to watch the morning light burst through the studio just like the light that had been dimmed in Julie bursts forth through her song. Madison Reyes is an incredible singer and actress already, and this number made me clutch my heart because of how deeply I felt connected to Julie in the moment.

But that’s not where we end: we end with Luke, Reggie, and Alex watching the performance from behind Julie. They’re as proud and in awe as we are; the girl they thought didn’t sing not only can sing well, but she can channel the kind of emotion and power that moves people (and ghosts). That’s why I love that we get the chance to see Julie’s dad and her little brother, Carlos, react so sweetly and softly to Julie singing again. They’re proud, yes, but there’s something else there too. They’re watching a person they love bloom and heal. It’s a beautiful sight, truly, when you can visibly see someone come into their own as a person.

The episode ends with the boys watching as Julie finishes her song, and when I first watched the pilot, I immediately went on to the next episode. I was enraptured by Madison’s voice and couldn’t wait to see where the story would go.

If you haven’t yet watched Julie and the Phantoms, please do. And then come back next week for my review of “Bright”!

Hitting the right notes:

• Musical breakdown: “Now or Never” is really great, and I appreciate the commitment the boys had while standing under those 90s-style lights. Also I can’t wait to belt this out loudly at a concert someday. “Wake Up” stunned me in the best way possible, and now the only reason I can’t listen to it more often is because it’s my wake-up alarm. I kid you not.
• The clever joke of the hotdog place being called “Sam and Ella’s” was not lost on me.
• If you notice in the background when the boys are eating the hotdogs, you can see a missing poster for Luke that his parents put up. You’ll learn the heartbreak of that during “Unsaid Emily.”
• “Hey underachiever.” “Hey disappointment.” Their friendship is everything to me.
• “You know they’re gonna get married and have a bunch of unholy babies.”
• “I have been crying for 25 years?! HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?”
• “You’re a good brother, but that’s not gonna work.” “I tried.”
• Fun fact: Alex was the first character I connected with! Immediately I knew I was going to love him. Also confession time... I may have thought that the show was going to set Alex up with Julie until we learned in the next episode that Alex is gay. I still want Alex and Julie to have more scenes together as friends though. Maybe in season two, Netflix?
• The final shot of “Wake Up” with the boys appearing in the background gave me chills. It still does.

What did you all think of “Wake Up”? Sound off in the comments below!

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Jenn's Pick: 5 Reasons You Should Be Watching Julie and the Phantoms [Contributor: Jenn]

When you think back on 2020, you probably don’t remember much fondly. It’s hard to recall January, when we were all hopeful and naïve about what the year would bring. And since the beginning of the year, so much media has come out that you might find yourself paralyzed by what to watch. If you’re anything like me, starting a new show in a dumpster fire year may feel daunting. You’ve likely returned over and over again to shows that bring you comfort, choosing to wrap yourself up in their predictability rather than risk watching something new.

While I highly recommend a lot of new shows this year (such as I May Destroy You, Lovecraft Country, Ted Lasso, Never Have I Ever, Little Fires Everywhere, etc.), the one I’m going to focus on is easy to miss because it’s branded as a teen show — Julie and the Phantoms.

You may have seen the trailer and thought, “There’s no way a show about teenagers in 2020 is good.” It is, and you don’t need to be a teenager to appreciate or engage with the content. But the series is more than just good: it’s a hopeful, sweet, endearing piece of media that we need to end this year.

It deals with relevant subject matter in thoughtful ways.

Since Julie and the Phantoms is branded with a teenage audience in mind and its central character, Julie Molina (Madison Reyes), is a high-school student, we see a lot of her life through that lens. Apart from boy drama and high-school classes, the majority of the show’s subject matter centers around the idea of grief and healing.

Julie’s a talented singer and songwriter but when we meet her in the pilot, “Wake Up,” she’s stopped playing music after the death of her mother. She’s on the verge of getting kicked out of her school’s music program because she still can’t play without getting emotional. The fact that grief paralyzes us in various ways is something critical for a younger generation to understand. Grief doesn’t always look like crying (though Julie and other characters express grief in that way too); sometimes grief looks like numbness. Julie lets the thing she loves slip away because the person she loved is gone.

But then three ghosts are introduced into Julie’s life and she begins to play again; soon she’s not just living to get through each day — she’s coming alive again. Grief and healing are really tricky subjects for any of us to navigate because no two people handle pain the exact same way. We see Julie break down, but we also see her happy. We see her talk about getting counseling after the death of her mother, and I think that’s a really important thing for everyone to hear: seeking professional help is okay when dealing with a loss. And it’s okay no matter if you’re struggling with loss or not.

One of the ghosts, Alex (Owen Joyner) talks about how he struggles with anxiety, which is also something really important to see represented on television. He visibly fidgets, panics, and also learns how to cope with his feelings in healthy, productive ways.

Emotions are an integral part of who we are, and it’s important that we learn how to process and deal with them in helpful ways. I’m glad that Julie and the Phantoms doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff and instead embraces it.

Serotonin-boosting media is a necessity for 2020.

Julie and the Phantoms will just make you feel good (I’d bring tissues for “Unsaid Emily” though, just a fair warning), and in this really difficult year, it’s important for us to remind ourselves of hope and joy. The stories in the nine episodes — yes, it’s only nine episodes so you’ll be done with this pretty quickly — are funny, heartwarming, and lead to some lovely character growth.

The fact that Julie is the only person who can see the ghost guys when they’re not performing leads to some early-on hilarity and panic. The boys have their own senses of humor and quirks. And the fact that they died in 1995 means that they missed a lot — leading to one of the funniest exchanges where Reggie (Jeremy Shada) learns that they made way more Star Wars movies than he’s comfortable learning about.

If you need something that will fill you with joy, silly and sometimes cheesy humor, genuinely heartwarming moments, and character growth... this might be the show for you.

The entire cast is adorable, endearing, and incredibly talented.

I talked about her briefly above, but there would be no Julie and the Phantoms without Julie herself, played by newcomer Madison Reyes. When I tell you that this girl knocks it out of the park for being so young, I mean it. The characters tell her that she’s a star, but she really is. What impresses me most about Madison is the amount of space she occupies for being so young — she fills absolutely every scene she’s in. She owns the stage when she steps onto it. There’s nothing about her that shrinks back; she is the lead of this show and her presence is absolutely lovely.

Julie’s ghost band is absolutely wonderful too. And the reason why Julie and the Phantoms as a band have so much chemistry is because they truly were cast as a band. When you watch the behind-the-scenes process, you witness the chemistry unfolding. They were put through the wringer — not just being asked to play and sing together, but doing improv and acting together. The band boot camp truly brought this group together, because the show wouldn’t work if it didn’t feel true and earned.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t talk about the boys. Charlie Gillespie who plays Luke Patterson, the lead singer of the band, is immensely talented. I was consistently fascinated by him as an actor throughout the series but never more so than in “Unsaid Emily.” Not only does he absolutely bring the “lead singer of a 90s band” vibe fully to life, but he also has the ability to communicate Luke’s own softness, grief, and regrets clearly on screen. When he cries, I cry. 

Not only that, but Charlie has the whole “leading man in a rom-com” thing down already for only being 22. You just feel things when Luke looks at Julie. And it’s clear that he understands his character, can communicate the complex emotions of romantic longing and sadness and pride all without missing a beat... or a note. I’m just ready for his career to take off as much as Zac Efron’s did post-High School Musical. He deserves every good thing, and his chemistry with everyone — a wonderful in-show joke — is off the charts, but his gentle understanding of Luke and Julie’s relationship makes the show so watchable.

Owen Joyner as Alex is just absolute perfection too. Alex is a bit anxious and the only one of the band who’s seeming to experience such complicated feelings about being dead. His relationship with Willie (Booboo Stewart) is so pure and sweet, but Owen’s ability to truly feel Alex’s pain, longing, anxiety, and joy is what makes him so wonderful to watch. He is sensitive while also still being grounded in reality. His comedic timing and sarcastic wit are absolute perfection (I relate hardest to his personality, let’s be real here), and it’s what makes Alex so special, relatable, and funny. He has a big and good heart, and he only wants the best for the people he loves.

Plus I dare you not to burst into the biggest grin when Owen Joyner joins the stage to dance during “All Eyes on Me.” I DARE you.

But I also have to mention, yet again, Jeremy Shada as Reggie. Because Luke and Alex have romantic interests in Julie and Willie respectively that are focal points of the first season, we often lose Reggie in the discourse about the Phantoms, but he’s an absolute delight. While not often the brightest, Reggie’s heart and earnestness are what make him so special. He cares a lot about others, and his vulnerability and willingness to just BE with others can often get overlooked. But it’s important that Reggie so sweet and concerned about others. His storyline with Julie’s dad, Ray (Carlos Ponce), is so wonderful and heartfelt. I love Reggie because his comedy is so silly but his heart is so big.

Rounding out the cast is the aforementioned Ray. Carlos Ponce doesn’t always have a lot to do in the show, but that’s okay: his acting is so great that we get the sense of who he is in the scenes between him and Julie; we understand who Ray is not only as a father (incredibly supportive, concerned and loving), but also as a person. He’s grieving the loss of his wife, and he visits the music studio often to talk with her. If the show is renewed for a season two, I need more of him and also Carlos (Sonny Bustamante), Julie’s younger brother. They are both so supportive and sweet.

Flynn (Jadah Marie) is Julie’s best friend and if you’ve ever had a friend who’s been with you since you were young, you’ll feel transported back to your high-school days with these two. From the moment she appears on screen, it’s evident that she and Julie have a supportive-but-also-make-fun-of-each-other bond; I know I was reminded of the fact that my best friend and I have known each other since we were about Julie and Flynn’s age!

Flynn is more than just a ride-or-die friend though; she’s part of the Molina family. Ray asks her to look out for Julie and to tell him if something seems off. She’s like the unofficial third Molina child, and I love that. Flynn tells Julie hard truths and helps before she’s even asked to help. That’s a best friend! Plus, Jadah Marie has such great comedic timing and facial expressions. I need more of her next season!

Most of the cast are virtual unknowns (pause, because I have to briefly mention the one cast member I knew going into the show: Cheyenne Jackson, who has a stellar voice and plays a fabulous villain). But it’s clear that these talented individuals are going places. And I can’t wait to point at my television or movie screens and say: “I knew them when they were in Julie and the Phantoms!” (And I swear, I will write Charlie Gillespie a leading role in a rom-com if Netflix pays me money to do so. This is just a shameless plug for you, Netflix. Hire me.)

The music is incredibly catchy and the choreography is lovely.

Whenever you see the name “Kenny Ortega” associated with a project, you can expect quality and that’s exactly what you get in Julie and the Phantoms. Not only is the choreography so great because of its homages to his past projects like High School Musical, Dirty Dancing, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, but it’s just all genuinely realistic. Everything about the musical performances in the show feels so natural. I also think it’s incredibly important that Kenny Ortega is part of this project because his history with younger actors proves that he doesn’t see their inexperience when he looks at their performance — he sees potential.

Charlie Gillespie and Madison Reyes actually wrote one of the songs in the show, “Perfect Harmony,” for their characters during their down-time on set. Kenny is an incredibly seasoned director and a number of other directors might have said and/or thought: “Cute... but stay in your lane, kids” but Kenny didn’t; he put the song in the show. He encourages his actors to understand their characters, to improvise, to learn and grow and to not be afraid of that.

How do I know that? You can see that spirit shine in the final product of the show. It seems clear that the atmosphere behind-the-scenes was collaborative and supportive — an important space to help younger actors, and seasoned ones alike, thrive.

I dare you to watch/listen to “Edge of Great” without immediately bouncing in your seat. I adore “Wow,” which is performed by Dirty Candy in the show, a teenage band fronted by Carrie (Savannah May), former friend-turned-enemy of Julie and Flynn. That band’s songs feel so Katy Perry-esque, but the show never sets up Dirty Candy vs. Julie and the Phantoms to be an argument of which is the better genre: it just points out that both are valid musical genres, and both can be celebrated!

I doubt you can listen to “Unsaid Emily” without crying, I hope you all experience the joy of rocking out to “Now or Never,” and feel all the emotions well up inside of you during “Stand Tall.”

Representation matters.

In the behind-the-scenes video that Netflix did when the actors were in the casting process, Madison Reyes mentioned that the role models she had to look up to were usually all Caucasian. I know we’ve heard that before, but keep in mind that Madison is only 16 years old — that in the past decade or so, we still haven’t really progressed to the point where teenagers now can remember a time they saw themselves represented on film or television.

Julie Molina and Madison Reyes are proudly Puerto Rican, and that matters. It matters for young women who will see Julie — the lead singer of a band — and recognize themselves. The world of Julie and the Phantoms feels very much like it’s representing the world today. There are characters of color and it’s normal. There’s LGBTQ+ representation (and among POC too!), and it’s normalized. Alex’s storyline, for the most part, is a joyful one; it’s a chance for queer kids to see that happiness is possible (and yes, shh, I know both Alex and Willie are technically ghosts but it is still important). 

It’s important for people to be able to see themselves in the media they consume, and it’s extremely important for them to see the world they live in reflected in television and film. The world isn’t filled with only Caucasian people or straight people or upper-class people. It’s filled with all kinds of people from all backgrounds, and I love that Julie and the Phantoms is making a conscious effort to reflect that.

Hopefully I’ve convinced you to head over to Netflix after you’ve finished reading this to watch Julie and the Phantoms. And Netflix... where’s that season two renewal? Until then, I’ll be bopping along to the songs from this charming show. Sound off in the comments below if you’ve watched the series and let me know your thoughts!

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