Julie and the Phantoms

Created by Dan Cross and David Hoge, this Netflix original blends family-friendly comedy with supernatural elements. The series follows Julie Molina, a teenage girl grappling with grief after her mother's death, who discovers she can see and hear a trio of ghost musicians from the 1990s. Together, they form a band that helps Julie rediscover her love for music while the ghosts pursue their unfinished dreams. Madison Reyes leads the cast as Julie, with Charlie Gillespie, Owen Patrick Joyner, and Jeremy Shada playing the spectral bandmates. The show ran for one season of nine 30-minute episodes, premiering and concluding on September 10, 2020. With a TV-G rating and an 8.4/10 score on IMDb, it earned praise for its heartfelt storytelling, catchy original songs, and positive LGBTQ+ representation. Despite a passionate fanbase, Netflix canceled the series after one season.[edit]

Julie Molina is a 15-year-old high school student in Los Angeles who has lost her passion for music following the death of her mother, a gifted singer and songwriter. Her mother was her musical inspiration and closest confidante, and her absence has left Julie unable to sing or play piano without breaking down. One night in her mother's old music studio, Julie accidentally summons the spirits of three teenage musicians who died in 1995: Luke Patterson, the charismatic lead singer and guitarist; Alex Mercer, the anxious but loyal drummer; and Reggie Peters, the goofy bassist. The trio died from eating bad hot dogs at a street fair just before their first big break, leaving them as ghosts trapped in limbo for 25 years, unable to move on because their musical dreams remain unfulfilled.

Julie discovers she is the only person who can see and hear the ghosts, a mysterious ability that even the phantoms themselves don't fully understand. She reluctantly agrees to let them use her studio and, after some initial resistance, begins to play music again with them. The four form a band called Julie and the Phantoms, blending Julie's contemporary pop-rock vocals with the ghosts' 90s boy-band energy and harmonizing style. The central conflict revolves around Julie overcoming her grief and stage fright while the ghosts navigate the rules of their spectral existence: they can be seen only by Julie, cannot touch living objects (though they can play instruments), and risk disappearing permanently if they reveal themselves to others.

Throughout the nine-episode season, the band enters a Battle of the Bands competition, deals with high school drama, and works through personal issues. Julie's best friend Flynn supports her musical journey, while a romantic subplot develops between Julie and Luke, as well as a potential relationship between Alex and another ghost named Willie. The season builds toward the band's growing success and the ghosts' increasing visibility in the living world, culminating in choices about whether they can truly achieve their dreams or must face the consequences of their unfinished business.[edit]