School Spirits: Kristian Ventura on Simon’s Instincts, Season 3’s Physical Toll, and Crossing Over To The Other Side
From the moment School Spirits premiered, Kristian Ventura knew the show was something special. Like many fans, he remembers being instantly hooked, drawn to its emotional weight, eerie tone, and the way it blends teenage life with the existential horror of being stuck in the afterlife.
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Sitting down to talk about the series, Ventura opened up about how playing Simon has shaped him as an actor and as a person, and why Season 3 pushes the character into darker, more physically demanding territory than ever before.
What Playing Simon Taught Him About Life
Looking back on Simon’s journey, Ventura says the biggest takeaway is the character’s instinctual nature.
“In the first two seasons, Simon sacrifices everything,” he explained. “His time, his school life, even his health, all to save his best friend.”
What stands out to Ventura is that Simon never stops to debate his choices.
“When Simon senses danger, he doesn’t think about whether he should act. He just goes,” he said. “That jump in him is the purest form of understanding how you really feel about something.”
Ventura admits that off screen, he tends to overthink.
“In my own life, I’m always weighing the pros and cons,” he said. “But I’d like to be more like Simon. When your reaction is slow, you’re probably lying to yourself.”
It is a mindset that has stayed with him long after filming wrapped.
A More Demanding Season Than Expected
Season 3 surprised Ventura in ways he did not see coming, especially physically.
“I did not expect to be drowning in a water tank, getting yanked to the ceiling, falling down stairs, getting hit,” he said. “I was like, this is not School Spirits. What exactly are we filming?”
The stunts and nonstop movement changed how scenes were approached.
“You’re out of breath all the time,” he explained. “You don’t get much time to ease into an emotional scene. It’s action, panic, and then you’re expected to feel everything your character is feeling.”
That exhaustion, however, ended up helping his performance.
“When you’re bruised and tired, it’s hard to fake it,” Ventura said. “If the line is ‘get me out of here,’ you mean it, because you really want to get out of there.”
Finally Learning More About Simon
One of the biggest developments this season is how much more audiences learn about Simon’s personal life.
“Now that he’s stuck in the afterlife, secrets start to surface,” Ventura teased. “We finally get a glimpse of what his home life is like, and when I read it, I thought, that explains a lot.”
Understanding where Simon comes from adds new context to his self sacrificing behavior.
“It explains why he jumps into danger so fast,” Ventura said. “Why he gives so much of himself away.”
For fans who have wanted deeper insight into Simon, Ventura confirms that Season 3 delivers.
Why School Spirits Feels So Real
Ventura also reflected on why the show’s depiction of the afterlife resonates so strongly.
“There’s this misconception that when you die, you reach some higher state,” he said. “But in School Spirits, you’re still you.”
Whether it is Wally, Rhonda, or Simon, the characters remain stuck with the same flaws, fears, and unresolved issues.
“Time doesn’t magically fix you,” he said. “Even if you’ve been there for decades, you still have the same problems.”
That realism, he believes, makes the show emotionally honest.
Character Swap
When asked which character he would want to swap roles with, Ventura did not hesitate.
“Mr. Martin,” he said immediately.
Ventura praised Josh Zuckerman’s performance, calling it impossible to replicate and borderline otherworldly.
“He makes choices you’d think would look ridiculous in real life, but on camera, it’s brilliant,” he said. “I study how he delivers his lines. He’s a very rare actor.”
What Simon Would Say to the Living
If Simon could speak directly to the living world, Ventura believes the message would be simple and haunting.
“What’s taking you so damn long?” he said.
Despite the humor that runs through the show, Ventura emphasized the true terror beneath it.
“The idea of never being able to return to your body is terrifying,” he said. “I think Simon is scared more than he lets on.”
It is that mix of fear, humor, and emotional honesty that keeps fans coming back.
As Ventura put it, School Spirits may be about the afterlife, but at its core, it is a reminder not to waste the time we have.
Watch season 3 on Paramount+ now!
