Julie and the Phantoms is everyone’s new favorite show. This show has the unique ability to capture your heart in seconds, no matter your age. Behind the scenes videos and interviews with the cast have millions of views on YouTube. The soundtrack is doing extremely well on music streaming services. Everyone is talking about Julie and the Phantoms. If they’re not talking about it, they’re listening to someone talk about it. We’re all obsessed. That’s why I wanted to take the time to discuss some reasons why we need a second season.
In no particular order, here are 5 reasons why Netflix needs to renew Julie and the Phantoms for a Season 2:
1. The Cliffhangers
The most obvious reason that Julie and the Phantoms needs a second season is because of all the cliffhangers from the first season. There are so many questions to be answered. We need to know how Julie can touch the Phantoms and vice versa.
There’s even bigger cliffhangers than that a second season would answer. We still don’t really know what Caleb’s connection to the guys is, but it looks like he’s set his eyes on Julie as a way to get to them now.
Arguably the biggest cliffhanger from Season 1 is that Caleb inhabits Nick’s body now, but we don’t know to what capacity and if Nick can fight back. Similarly, there’s plenty of questions about Willie’s fate in the afterlife. My fingers are crossed that Caleb won’t destroy Willie for helping Alex and the guys. Only a Season 2 could give us clarity on that front.
Then there’s the fact that Carlos knows the guys are ghosts, Bobby’s having some serious spooky déjà vu, and Carrie might have a change of heart. All of this begs the question of whether Julie and the guys’ lie about a hologram band will fall apart in Season 2 because there are a lot more people watching now.
They may be able to explain away Carlos’ proof as a kid wanting to believe in ghosts, but like Reggie said, adults should listen to kids more. More so, some people know more than they’d like to admit about the Phantoms. I’m looking at you, Bobby. Hopefully Netflix doesn’t leave us hanging on all of this.
2. Willex (and the Other Ships)
I’m a firm believer in Willex supremacy. They’re the main romantic couple of Season 1 of Julie and the Phantoms, and this makes me love the show even more. Sure there is a whole lot of chemistry between Julie and Luke, but any chance of them actually being together is impossible up until the final moments of the season. As for Nick and Julie… well, he tried.
We need a Season 2 for more Willex… and to give other couples a chance to bloom, I guess. But mostly Willex. Alex could write a song for Willie. Maybe there’s even a Willex duet in the cards. I wouldn’t put it past Kenny Ortega.
There’s so many more adventures for Alex and Willie to go on. So much so, Owen Patrick Joyner, who plays Alex, mentions how he wants the couple to go on more adventures in basically every interview. Booboo Stewart is just as excited to explore their future.
It would also be nice to see them as an actual couple in the second season. We get glimpses of that in Season 1, but more episodes gives them more time. It’s simple math. Also, we need to see Julie meet Willie. I don’t know if she’d be able to see him in the same way she can see the guys, but that’s a great question for Season 2 to answer.
Alex and Willie make each other better even though Caleb Covington tries to keep them apart. Just like them, Julie and Luke make each other better. Reggie, Alex, Luke, and Julie bring out the best in each other. Flynn and Julie do the same. There’s not enough good things to say about the Molina family and how they’re always picking each other up. There’s so many healthy and supportive dynamics on Julie and the Phantoms that’s its overwhelming. We desperately need more of that.
3. Representation
Speaking of Willex, the importance of seeing this gay couple on TV cannot be understated. Kenny Ortega often speaks highly of Alex, Willie, and the much-needed representation they bring to TV. Here’s just a little of what Ortega said in a must-watch interview with PopBuzz:
“Alex’s life is complicated, and he’s an anxious young man but not because he’s gay.”
In the same breath, it’s just as important to see Julie Molina and her family on such a large platform. Julie and Flynn’s friendship shouldn’t be left out of conversations about JATP either. It’s still rare to see two women of color as best friends on TV.
Madison Reyes spoke about the importance of seeing herself reflected on screen in the first episode JATP’s Behind the Band series. Here’s what she had to say:
“Growing up, it was very rare that I saw a Hispanic girl that looked like me. My role models were Caucasian. So if I got the role, I get to be the role model for that little girl who’s also in my position.”
Representation can only get better when there is more of it. Julie and the Phantoms is giving us more representation, and it would be a great disservice if Netflix pulled the plug on it now. JATP isn’t the first show targeted towards a younger audience to represent the world as we see it, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be celebrated because of it. Julie and the Phantoms reflects the world as it should be. We want to see more of that in a Season 2!
4. Music
Kenny Ortega has said on multiple occasions that he wants to do it all with this talented group — including a tour. That means we need a Season 2 for sure. More episodes means more music to play on tour. I would jam out to “Now or Never” and cry my eyes out during “Unsaid Emily” with other Fantoms right now if it was safe and possible to do so.
However, it’s understandable to believe Netflix won’t financially support a tour until it makes the most sense to do so. Another season with even more viewers and more songs could make that possible.
More songs also means more opportunities to see this cast shine. This could mean Alex and Reggie could have their very own “Unsaid Emily,” letting us know more about their lives before that street hotdog decided their fates. There would also more chances for the cast to write songs like Madison Reyes and Charlie Gillespie wrote “Perfect Harmony.” It’s impossible not get excited thinking about all the new music a second season would deliver.
The reason why Fantoms keep listening to the Julie and the Phantoms soundtrack is because those songs stand for something. Yes, they’re fun, catchy, and well produced on every level, but there’s more to it than that. They lean into hope, love, vulnerability, and optimism when we all could use a little more of that. Imagine how our appreciation of JATP and its music will grow with a Season 2. Come on, Netflix!
5. More Stories to Tell
I saved the simplest reason for last: there are more stories to tell. Season 1 is only the beginning or a much larger tale. A second season would open the door for bigger and better stories, romantic and otherwise. Julie and the Phantoms is about so much all at once: chosen families, the power of music, perseverance, survival, love. This is why this show has such a wide audience despite being targeted towards a younger one. Even though there are ghosts, the characters’ experiences are so familiar. That’s special. That deserves another season.
Season 1 of Julie and the Phantoms laid the groundwork for so much more — so many more stories and so much more music. It would be a shame to keep the Fantoms guessing on all of this.
Why do you think Netflix needs to renew Julie and the Phantoms? Let us know in the comments below!
Julie and the Phantoms is steaming on Netflix now. Tell your friends!
