The Quill #2: Bingeable TV #2

When my family first got Netflix, I was getting off my Disney high at the time. I thought that since I was going into high school, I should start watching more mature programming. But at the time, none of those shows really appealed to me. The one show I was remotely interested in at the time was very Disney Channel-like. That show was Julie and the Phantoms, created by Kenny Ortega (High School Musical, Descendants, etc).

Julie and the Phantoms centers around Julie (Madison Reyes), a teenage girl who is trying to find her love for music again after the passing of her mom. During this, she accidentally summons a ghost band from 1995, Sunset Curve. They find out when they play their music, living people can see them as if they were alive. Throughout the 10-episode series, Julie along with the three ghosts: Luke (Charlie Gillespie), Reggie (Jeremy Shada), and Alex (Owen Joyner) go through the troubles of starting their band while dealing with crushes, rivals, and a 1920’s ghost cult.

After rewatching the show, I can see why I liked it so much.

The characters were likable, the story was engaging, and the songs were amazing. There were also a lot of topics covered that usually don’t get addressed in regular kids’ media. The topic of grief is a big one, since both Julie and Luke go through the stages in their own unique ways. Another thing is Alex coming to terms with being gay and starting to fall for another ghost named Willie (Booboo Stewert). These topics felt so natural, and more kids need to see this regularly in kids’ media.

Where the show left off, Julie could physically feel the guys, while the villainous Caleb Covington (Cheyenne Jackson) possessed Julie’s crush. Things were going to get crazy, and I was excited to see where this story went. So, I waited. And waited. And waited some more. Until I read the news of its cancellation.

Netflix is notorious for canceling good shows, but this was the first time I was angry about it. Julie and the Phantoms was something special, and it could have been a huge hit. I wasn’t the only one who was mad about it, either. Many people tried to help renew it by signing petitions, but nothing came of it. All of the actors have moved on to bigger and better things, and the show is left with only 10 episodes and an epic soundtrack.

Overall, Julie and the Phantoms is a great show for both kids and adults. If anything, go listen to the soundtrack to support the actors and studio. If we see another musical TV show on Netflix, let’s pray it sticks around for a couple of seasons.