Chill Man, Street Dogs Haven’t Killed Us Yet

I’ve spent the entire week trying to defend myself to my roommate. I, a woman in her early twenties, watched all nine episodes of Julie and The Phantoms in one day. Not only did I binge the series, I also laughed and cried constantly throughout its duration. My roommate kept having me repeat to her that it’s a “kids show”, to which I’d respond with the witty comeback; “I don’t care”.

First off, I’m a sucker for TV shows about musicians. I like when there’s an extra musical element to a show, which all the characters are involved in - that’s probably why I’ve watched Big Time Rush four times and why my bat mitzvah theme was Glee. We’re talking about ghosts here - musical ghosts.

So, why should you watch Julie and The Phantoms?

The concept might seem absurd at first, but the plot quickly draws you in. In 1995, Sunset Curve, a band composed of four musicians, was supposed to play at The Orpheum. However before they go on stage, three of the members eat bad hotdogs and die. Like I said, crazy. But, twenty-five years later, a high schooler named Julie brings their spirits to life by playing their old mixtape. Now the band is back, but only Julie can see and talk to them. That is, until they all figure out that when they play music, they become susceptible to other people. Essentially, the boys will vanish if they fail to complete their ‘unfinished business’ - playing at The Orpheum - but they cannot do it without Julie. There is WAY more to the plot, but I don’t want to spoil too much for you.

One reason to watch this series is the acting talent it showcases. Julie, played by Madison Reyes, has such a dynamite voice that you cannot help but smile while listening to her. Additionally, the band members of Sunset Curve know how to put on a show; every musical number is entertaining and lively. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll shake your booty.

The supernatural element draws you in immediately. Countless questions arise: Why can only Julie see the boys? Why can an audience only see and hear them while they’re playing their instruments? How are there so many ghosts roaming around? It turns out, there are rules to being a phantom that the audience doesn’t know - we’re learning along with the boys as the story unfolds. The final episode of Season One left a colossal cliffhanger that will surely be explored in the next season. One character, Caleb Covington, supposedly knows everything about being a ghost, but even he is stumped about the situation with Sunset Curve. Also, a ghost relationship develops between Alex, the band's drummer, and a boy named Willie. Willie is a skateboarder who uses Hollywood as his playground. He also helps out the boys with their “ghost-issues”. It’s evident that him and Alex care a lot about each other, and I hope that their relationship is explored further. On the other hand, I will admit that the romance between Julie and Luke is a little weird to me, since Luke is a ghost who died 25 years prior to them meeting. I understand that he’s still a 17-year-old, but he’s a ghost! They can’t even hold hands.

Something I appreciate within the story is that all the characters are connected in some way. Julie’s mom recently passed away and she first meets the boys while sitting in her mom's old studio. She later finds out that the studio was the old rehearsal space for Sunset Curve, and that some of their old stuff is still in the attic. Additionally, there is speculation that the boys knew Julie’s mom, even though they deny it. Even more interestingly, it is revealed that Julie’s ex-best friend's dad was the fourth member of Sunset Curve in the 90s. He unknowingly dodged a bullet with the deadly hotdogs because he was a vegetarian. He subsequently changed his name and recorded a bunch of songs that he stole from another member of the band. The way that all the characters are tied together is very smart; at first you think one thing but it's revealed that the stakes are higher, and more complicated. 

Finally, the series was directed by Kenny Ortega, so you know it's a must see. Whether you want a dose of nostalgia, or to see what Ortega’s up to these days, everyone should be watching Julie and The Phantoms. It also helps that the band members are CUTIES. Between Luke’s arms, Alex’s dance moves and smile, and Reggie’s humor, there is a band member for everyone. Plus, Julie’s best friend Flynn is a truly wonderful supporting character; she tries so hard to keep her friend happy, and it’s beautiful.

If you’re not interested in watching the show, you should at least listen to the soundtrack. The cast has amazing voices and most of the songs are bangers. But, you should watch the show simply to see the elaborate performances because they are utterly incredible. 

I’m not afraid to admit that I got emotional during this series. It’s both funny and genuinely heartwarming. There are amazing one-liners and the characters are well developed. This show is all I’ve been thinking about for the past week and I am listening to the soundtrack while typing this article.

I’m going to go watch it again. ;)