Paramount+ subscribers have enjoyed a content-rich few months, with high-profile releases spanning multiple genres. From the intense third season of Taylor Sheridan's Landman to the gripping true crime documentary Handsome Devil: Charming Killer about Wade Wilson, and the recent premiere of the 2025 action thriller Running Man, the streaming platform has maintained steady momentum. Adding to this impressive lineup, the supernatural teen drama School Spirits is set to return for its highly anticipated third season, bringing with it fresh mysteries and character developments that promise to captivate its growing audience.
The upcoming season represents a significant evolution in the series' storytelling approach. According to Paramount's official announcement, Season 3 will consist of eight episodes, maintaining the format that has proven successful for the series while allowing for deeper narrative exploration. The narrative will continue to follow Maddie, portrayed by Peyton List, who after her harrowing journey back to the land of the living now faces unprecedented challenges. The character must contend with disturbing visions while bearing the heavy responsibility of protecting both living individuals and spectral entities, creating a complex psychological landscape that the show has only begun to explore.
Meanwhile, Simon, played by Kristian Ventura, finds himself trapped in the afterlife realm. His storyline will explore the mysteries hidden within the history of Split River High, as he becomes increasingly fixated on uncovering secrets buried in the school's past traumas. This dual narrative structure allows the series to explore both the immediate consequences of Maddie's resurrection and the ongoing mysteries of the supernatural plane, effectively doubling the show's dramatic potential.
Release Schedule and Viewing Times
Fans eager to dive into the new season can mark their calendars for Wednesday, January 28, when the first three episodes will become available simultaneously. The premiere is scheduled for 3:01 a.m. Eastern Time, following the standard release pattern for Paramount+ original content. This early morning drop time ensures that viewers across different time zones can access the episodes simultaneously, creating a unified viewing experience that has become increasingly important in the era of social media discussion and fan engagement.
After the initial three-episode premiere, the series will shift to a weekly release schedule. New episodes will debut each Wednesday morning at the same 3:01 a.m. ET time slot. This cadence allows for sustained engagement and discussion among the show's fanbase throughout the season's run. The final episode, serving as the season finale, is scheduled to premiere on March 4, giving viewers just over five weeks of supernatural storytelling. This hybrid release model—starting with a mini-binge before transitioning to weekly drops—has proven effective for building momentum while maintaining long-term subscriber retention.
Streaming Platform and Subscription Details
As a Paramount+ exclusive series, School Spirits Season 3 will only be available to subscribers of the streaming service. Paramount+ currently offers two distinct subscription tiers to accommodate different viewer preferences and budgets. The Essential plan, priced at $8.99 per month, includes advertisements but provides full access to the platform's content library. For those seeking an uninterrupted viewing experience, the Premium plan at $13.99 per month eliminates commercials and includes additional benefits such as access to Showtime titles and live CBS programming.
It's worth noting that Paramount+ has discontinued its free trial offering, meaning new subscribers must commit to at least one month of service to watch the series. This business decision reflects the streaming industry's broader shift away from acquisition-focused promotions toward retention-based models. However, the platform does provide flexibility through its partnership programs, allowing viewers to integrate the service into their existing digital ecosystems.
Alternative Viewing Options
For subscribers who prefer to consolidate their streaming services, Paramount+ offers convenient add-on options. Viewers can add Paramount+ to their existing Hulu or Amazon Prime Video accounts for $13.99 monthly, integrating the service into their current streaming ecosystem. This option is particularly valuable for households that have already committed to multiple platforms and wish to simplify their billing and navigation experience. The add-on provides the same content access as a direct subscription, ensuring that fans don't miss any episodes regardless of how they choose to subscribe.
What to Expect from Season 3
The creative team behind School Spirits has crafted a season that expands the show's supernatural elements while maintaining its core teen drama appeal. The series has successfully blended coming-of-age themes with ghostly mysteries, creating a unique niche in the crowded supernatural genre. Season 3 appears to be doubling down on this formula, with Maddie's storyline exploring the psychological toll of her experiences and Simon's arc delving deeper into the mythology of the afterlife.
The split narrative structure allows the show to maintain tension on two fronts. Maddie's struggles in the physical world will likely involve her friends and family as she tries to maintain normalcy while dealing with her new abilities and responsibilities. Simon's investigation into Split River High's history suggests that the school's past holds crucial answers about the nature of the afterlife and possibly a way for him to return. This parallel storytelling creates a compelling rhythm, as revelations in one realm often have direct implications for the other.
Production and Cast
The series continues to be led by Peyton List, whose portrayal of Maddie has anchored the show since its inception. List's performance has been praised for balancing the character's vulnerability with growing strength as she navigates increasingly complex supernatural situations. Her ability to convey the emotional weight of Maddie's dual existence—caught between the normal teenage life she once knew and the supernatural responsibilities she now carries—has become a cornerstone of the series' appeal.
Kristian Ventura's Simon provides the emotional core of the afterlife storyline, with his character's determination to uncover the truth driving much of the season's mystery. Ventura's portrayal captures the desperation and hope of someone trapped between worlds, searching for answers that might lead to salvation or further despair. The dynamic between these two leads, even when separated by the veil between life and death, remains the series' most compelling element.
The supporting cast, while not detailed in the current announcement, has previously included characters who inhabit both the living world and the spectral plane. This ensemble approach allows the series to explore how the supernatural events affect the broader community of Split River High and its surrounding area. The show's writers have demonstrated skill in weaving together multiple character arcs, ensuring that even secondary characters have meaningful contributions to the overarching narrative.
Viewing Recommendations
For optimal viewing, fans should ensure their Paramount+ subscription is active before the January 28 premiere date. Those planning to binge the first three episodes should set aside approximately two and a half hours, assuming each episode runs the standard 45-50 minute format for drama series. The weekly release schedule thereafter provides an opportunity for viewers to engage with fan theories and discussions between episodes, enhancing the communal viewing experience that has become integral to modern television consumption.
Given the show's intricate plotting and supernatural mythology, viewers may benefit from refreshing their memory of previous seasons. The series has established specific rules for its ghostly realm and character motivations that will likely prove important in understanding Season 3's developments. Key plot points from earlier seasons, including the circumstances of Maddie's death and resurrection, the rules governing ghostly existence, and the identities of other spectral characters, will presumably factor heavily into the new episodes.
Market Position and Competition
School Spirits occupies a specific space in the current streaming landscape, combining elements of teen drama, supernatural mystery, and horror-lite storytelling. This positioning allows it to appeal to fans of shows like Stranger Things, The Vampire Diaries, and Nancy Drew while maintaining its own distinct identity. The series has benefited from Paramount+'s strategy of investing in youth-oriented content that can develop loyal, long-term audiences.
The January release date positions the show strategically in the streaming calendar, arriving after the holiday rush of new content but before the spring premiere season. This timing gives School Spirits a clearer window to capture audience attention without facing direct competition from major franchise releases. The supernatural teen drama genre has proven resilient, with audiences consistently drawn to stories that blend relatable adolescent experiences with extraordinary circumstances.
Conclusion
With its confirmed January 28 premiere and eight-episode run, School Spirits Season 3 is poised to deliver another compelling chapter in its supernatural saga. The combination of simultaneous episode drops and weekly releases offers both immediate gratification for eager fans and sustained engagement throughout the season. As Maddie and Simon face their respective challenges in the living world and the afterlife, viewers can expect the series to continue evolving its mythology while maintaining the character-driven storytelling that has defined its success.
For Paramount+ subscribers, the new season represents another high-quality addition to a growing portfolio of original content. Whether you're a dedicated fan or a newcomer intrigued by the supernatural premise, School Spirits Season 3 offers a timely reason to explore or maintain your Paramount+ subscription this winter. The show's ability to balance episodic mysteries with season-long arcs suggests that this third installment will be both accessible to new viewers and rewarding for those who have followed the series from the beginning.