School is officially back in session at Split River High — and according to Miles Elliot and Ci Hang Ma, School Spirits Season 3 is diving into its darkest, most emotionally intense chapter yet.

Ahead of the January 28 return of School Spirits on Paramount+, the two actors sat down with Entertainment Affair’s Raffael Alejandro to talk about how the tone shifts in Season 3, what fans will finally learn about Yuri and Quinn, and why this season feels heavier, scarier, and more personal than anything that’s come before.

Both Elliot and Ma agree that Season 3 doesn’t simply raise the stakes — it pushes the entire series into more mature, unsettling territory. The mystery surrounding Split River High deepens as the veil between worlds grows thinner, and the emotional consequences for both the living and the dead become harder to ignore. As Elliot puts it, the show moves into “darker, scarier, heavier” territory, while Ma notes that each season continues to expand the world in ways that feel bolder and more intense.

For Elliot, Season 3 is especially meaningful as Yuri steps further out of the background. Introduced in Season 2 as a quiet, introspective spirit who spent much of his afterlife at the pottery wheel, Yuri quickly became a fan favorite. This season, viewers finally get to see more of who he truly is. Elliot teases that the writers dig deeper into Yuri’s emotional core, offering more insight into his past and the scar that has defined him. It’s familiar territory for fans who connected with Yuri last season — but explored with greater depth and vulnerability.

Ci Hang Ma’s Quinn also takes a significant leap forward in Season 3. After making a strong impression in Season 2, Quinn’s journey now focuses on self-discovery and authenticity. According to Ma, viewers will see Quinn’s personality shine more fully as they grow braver in expressing who they really are. That confidence leads Quinn to take bigger emotional risks and to show up more fully for the people around them, creating one of the season’s most rewarding character arcs.

Quinn’s story also carries a deeper cultural resonance. As a genderqueer character, Quinn offers representation that feels grounded and human rather than performative. Ma explains that one episode in particular allows Quinn to articulate what it feels like to exist outside traditional gender binaries — a moment that may resonate strongly with viewers who see themselves in the character, while also offering understanding to those still learning.

Season 3 also introduces new faces that further complicate the world of Split River High, including characters played by Jennifer Tilly, Ari Dalbert, and Erika Swayze. Both actors praise the new additions, noting that the series has a knack for bringing in fresh characters who immediately feel like they belong, while still allowing longtime favorites to grow.

Season 3 of School Spirits premieres January 28, with three episodes launching at once, followed by weekly releases, exclusively on Paramount+.