Julie and the Phantoms - A Netflix Series Review

Carry the music everywhere you go. Music brings people together.

Julie and the Phantoms is a 2020 Netflix series. Having given up music after the death of her mother, Julie meets three musical ghosts who have been dead for 25 years. Agreeing to help one another, they become the band that they always dreamed to be. While Julie is starstruck, the ghosts are caught in a dilemma of their own.

Julie and the Phantoms has heart. Ever since I saw the preview, I was looking forward to this series. The music is performed by an incredibly talented cast. While watching I found myself dancing, laughing, and even tearing up. In this amazing Netflix series, viewers learn the value of friends, family, and moving on.

I am astonished to learn that this is Madison Reyes’s screen debut. She was outstanding in her performance as Julie. Reyes had a beautiful singing voice. Her emotions were compelling to watch. Julie learns a series of lessons that help her gain confidence. Because of her stoic spirit, Julie has become a figure for viewers to look up to. I know that Reyes is going to go far.

Charlie Gillespie, Owen Joyner, and Jeremy Shada hit the mark in their performances. They were the ultimate comedic team perfectly interacting with each other. As the ghosts, they had a unique direction in their scenes. I love media that involves ghosts because anything can happen. They have special abilities to play their music, but not be seen - sometimes.

I love how each member of the band has a story. They are each given a subplot about how their deaths have impacted them. Aside from comedy, the actors were excellent in their range of emotions along with their friendship with each other. Their musical talents were noteworthy, too.

Flynn (Jadah Marie) and Willie (Booboo Stewart) were my favorites of the supporting characters. Friendship is one of the best themes. Another theme that I am glad has been developed over the years is the representation of the LGBTQ community. Alex (Joyner) and Willie’s scenes made me smile.

Other credits to include are Sacha Carlson, Savannah Lee May, Cheyenne Jackson, Carlos Ponce, Sonny Bustamante, Alison Araya, and Marci T. House. I cannot forget to mention the ensemble of talented individuals who danced, sang, or played as a noteworthy character. Each character has something that is holding them back from enjoying life.

The music is one of the most important parts of Julie and the Phantoms. The cast worked incredible hours to achieve dance-hopping numbers. A few songs to mention that made me tap my feet are ‘Now or Never’, ‘Wake up’, ‘The Other Side of Hollywood’, and ‘Stand Tall’. I could listen to these songs over and over because they are so catchy.

Julie and the Phantoms does not fail to disappoint. However, some of the dialogue comes off as cheesy. Julie’s romantic subplot was a little strange and raised questions about her decisions. There was one reveal about a certain character that didn’t feel necessary. It was also never given closure. But hopefully, this will be a notable plot point in season 2.

Dan Cross and David Hope created a series for anyone who is feeling lost. The story is a powerful blend of comedy, drama, and embodies a significant message. Music brings people together. Never give up your greatest passion. Julie and the Phantoms is a fun series to enjoy and have a dance party with your friends.

I cannot wait for season 2 to air because we are left on a huge cliffhanger! Go and binge-watch Julie and the Phantoms on Netflix.