School is officially back in session at Split River High, but the afterlife is anything but quiet. With School Spirits returning for its third season on January 28 exclusively on Paramount+, the hit series dives deeper into its most haunting questions yet — and the emotional evolution of its beloved characters is front and center.

Entertainment Affair’s Raffael Alejandro caught up with Nick Pugliese and Sarah Yarkin, who reprise their fan-favorite roles as Charley and Rhonda, to talk about how their characters continue to change, what Season 3 unlocks emotionally, and why returning to Split River feels both familiar and brand new.

For Pugliese, Charley’s journey is far from complete. While Season 2 gave the impression that Charley had reached a place of emotional clarity, Season 3 challenges that sense of resolution. He explained that just like real life, growth doesn’t happen in a straight line. New relationships and unresolved insecurities resurface, forcing Charley to confront parts of himself he thought he had already figured out. It’s a continuation that feels honest and deeply human, even within the show’s supernatural framework.

Yarkin described returning to Rhonda each season as a uniquely personal experience. Although only a short amount of time passes for the characters within the story, the actors themselves return after living a full year of their own lives. Revisiting Rhonda becomes a blend of memory and rediscovery — remembering who she was emotionally while also approaching her with new perspective and maturity. That layered experience has allowed Rhonda to slowly peel back her defenses, revealing vulnerability beneath her signature cynicism.

Season 3 pushes that vulnerability even further. When asked whether Rhonda’s emotional growth could lead to romance, Yarkin was careful not to give anything away, but she did confirm that Rhonda continues moving toward connection. Whether that connection becomes romantic or remains deeply personal, it’s clear the character is no longer standing still.

Pugliese opened up about filming Charley’s romantic scenes, admitting that the first moments were nerve-wracking. Trust came quickly, though, and with it a sense of ease that allowed the emotion of those scenes to land authentically. The result is a storyline that feels tender, earned, and grounded in genuine connection.

Off camera, that trust extends to Pugliese and Yarkin’s working relationship. Both joked about “hating” each other before immediately breaking into laughter, insisting they actually wish all their scenes were together. Their shared sense of humor, they admitted, has even gotten them into trouble on set when laughter took over mid-scene — more than once.

Season 3 of School Spirits premieres January 28, 2026, with three episodes at launch followed by weekly releases, streaming exclusively on Paramount+.