Exclusive: Kiara Pichardo talks Paramount+'s "School Spirits" Season 2
Currently playing on Paramount"+ is season two of its hit original drama series "School Spirits." Produced by Awesomeness Studios, Season Two Premiered Thursday, January 30 with Three Episodes, Exclusively on Paramount
The cast includes stars Peyton List as Maddie Nears, Kristian Ventura as Simon Elroy, Canadian Spencer MacPherson as Xavier Baxter, Kiara Pichardo as Nicole Herrera, Sarah Yarkin as Rhonda, Nick Pugliese as Charley, Vancouver-based Rainbow Wedell as Claire Zomer, Josh Zuckerman as Mr. Martin and Milo Manheim as Wally Clark.
Following the premiere, new episodes of the 8-episode season will be available to stream weekly on Thursdays, on Paramount+. Picking up from the shocking season one finale, the premiere episode “Whatever Happened to Maddie Nears?” follows Maddie Nears (Peyton List) as she works to bring a doubting Simon (Kristian Ventura), her only connection to the living world, back on board to help her track down and collect her missing body.
Photo by David Higgs
Throughout the season, Maddie Nears is still stuck in the afterlife with the knowledge of what happened to her, and must unite her friends in the spectral and living worlds in order to reclaim her stolen life.
Kiara stars as ‘Nicole’ who is the best friend to Peyton Lists’ ‘Maddie.’ Season One initially premiered on Paramount+ and then had a second life on Netflix where it did incredibly well and built an even larger fanbase.
Pichardo’s previous acting credits include Netflix’s original teen drama The Society (2019) and Mother/Android (2021).
Blackfilmandtv.com caught up with Pichardo as she spoke on what to expect from Nicole in Season 2 of School Spirits.
What are we getting from Nicole this particular season?
Kiara Pichardo: Well this season, for those who've watched the first one, Nicole's a lot more confident in this season and she's a lot more open-minded with the fact that, okay, maybe Maddie is a spirit, which in season one you'll find that she was in super denial. And just felt like her friend ran away and she just wanted to find her.
But this season, it's all about finding Maddie and getting her back. The first season of any show, people watch with caution because you don't know if it's going to come back. But now that we're here, it's a level of confidence for everybody involved, and that gives a chance for the writers to flesh out your character.
How has she grown from season one besides what you just mentioned?
Kiara Pichardo: Well, like I said, more confident and she's also making more friendships because in the time of the season one, it was just sort of Simon and Maddie, but now she has Claire kind of in her circle and Xavier and it's just sort of developing those relationships, which we didn't really get to see in season one.
For those who haven't watched the show, how do you sell the show and for those who are now catching up?
Kiara Pichardo: Okay, if they're new, it's a who done it murder mystery type of show. We don't know what happened to Maddie, but we're here trying to figure it out. If you like that kind of genre, this one's for you.
At what point did you feel comfortable playing the character?
Kiara Pichardo: In season one, I feel like I felt comfortable right off the bat. I think what helped was the cast and crew because they were very inviting and very comfortable. No one was like, you know, standoffish or anything. Like everyone was just so welcoming and so kind. I think right off the bat, I felt comfortable. And we also it helped that we all got along like really, really well.
With this particular show, with the people you work with, what part of your skill set as an actress has improved? Or if it needed improvement, like what have you learned so far?
Kiara Pichardo: Well, I've cried. Okay, crying. I had a scene in episode seven of season one where I had to cry on cue. I've done it before for theater shows, but it's usually the scenes in the theater shows. I have a moment before I go on stage to build it up versus on set. Everything's a little more fast paced. You can cut, but it's like, you don't want to waste time. And I sort of learned a little bit more in that area in season one. I think, having fun and improving. Like I've always improved, obviously, in shows of theater, because you kind of have to keep going, but it's different on set because you can cut all the time. But just having fun, I've learned to have a little more fun with the lines.
Going back, what made you say yes to taking on the show?
Kiara Pichardo: Well, the writing was great, but also I resonated so much with Nicole because she reminded me of me when I was in high school. So I was like, oh, this is easy. She's into photography, she draws, she paints. These were all things I did in high school. So it was very much drawing from that memories of me when I was in high school.
Now, for anybody who's going to ask, is your character Latina on the show?
Kiara Pichardo: Yes, she's Latina. Her show is Nicole Herrera. I don't know if it's Mexican or Puerto, but she came from Boston. They did put that in the show. I think when I auditioned for it, it was open.
How was it working with the rest of the cast?
Kiara Pichardo: We bonded from day one. That's what made it such an amazing experience is the fact that we all clicked so well. We had chemistry and we were great on camera, but also off camera. Like we hung out every weekend in the green rooms. It was like playing board games, making funny videos, photos. It was really, really nice.
So when you're not on the show promoting this, which is now airing, what do you do to stay humble?
Kiara Pichardo: I go to church. I'll be praying. Nothing really changes, right? It's a show. It's a great show. God is good. Was blessed with it, but you just keep going, you don't change.