Edge of Great is the seventh episode of the first season of the Netflix Original Series Julie and the Phantoms and the seventh episode overall. It premiered on Netflix on September 10, 2020. It was written by Nora Sullivan and Leilani Downer and directed by Kabir Akhtar.
Plot[]
Carlos and Tia Victoria looking for ghosts.
Carlos is seen in the dark of his house using his iPad to see ghosts. He thinks he sees a ghostly figure, however, when the lights come on, it is just Tia Victoria. Victoria exasperatedly tells Carlos that ghosts aren't real, unaware of the three ghosts in the living room watching their interaction.
Luke worries aloud that Julie's dad is going to make her quit the band. Reggie, who is more focused on being offended on behalf of Carlos, begins turning off the lamp light, messing with the blinds and covering himself with a white sheet. Carlos tries to take a picture of the chaos, but the camera is in selfie mode and Victoria frantically pulls him away from the living room. Alex and Luke are disbelieving but don't do anything to stop Reggie's antics.
Outside the house, Ray reprimands Julie for sneaking out even after missing classes and skipping a test, prompting Julie to apologize. Julie defends the band, stating that the boys helped her get back into the music program and that she's passionate about it. Understanding, Ray decides to let her continue with her band so long as she keeps up with school and keeps him in the loop.
Argument over, Ray asks if he will ever meet the phantoms and Julie makes the excuse that the trio lives somewhere else and that "being seen isn't really their thing." Baffled by the technology of holograms, Ray doesn't ask many questions but states that he appreciates them for bringing music back to Julie. Victoria then runs out onto the driveway, insisting that the Molina's house is haunted. Ray thinks that she's exaggerating to convince them to move houses, but Victoria is inconsolable and runs away. Julie is exasperated at the ghosts responsible.
Julie walks downstairs the next morning to hear Ray and Reggie humming Finally Free while making breakfast, although Ray was unaware of Reggie's presence. Ray starts to talk about how he wants to make up for interrupting her conversation with the manager. He tells her of his plan of performing at a garage party they will host with some help from Flynn, who he called. At her lack of enthusiasm, Ray tells her that the performance can be professionally filmed and put on YouTube. Reggie leaves to go tell the guys of their new gig.
At school, Julie is surprised to see Luke, who explains he wants to talk about their set list, suggesting that they perform "Great" first. Conscious of them being in public, Julie mimics a phone call, explaining to an indignant Luke that she doesn't want to look like she's talking to herself. Julie agrees to the song with a comment that it's a "great choice." Conversation now stilted, Luke stammers, but eventually tells Julie that he knows he isn't the easiest person to work with and wanted her to know that she makes him a better writer. Smiling, Julie states that they make each other better.
Julie protests Luke's following suggestion to skip school to go rehearse music, citing her promise to her dad to prioritize school and her promise to Nick to be his partner for dance class. The pair's conversation is then interrupted by Nick. Julie turns her attention to him, however, Luke doesn't teleport away. Instead, the ghost comments on Nick's performance outfit.
Nick expresses his feelings of nervousness but states that Julie is "his secret weapon." At that comment, Luke teasingly comments about his crush on Julie, prompting her own sarcastic response. Nick is a bit confused, but continues to compliment her skills. Julie brushes off the compliments, not really focusing on the interaction as she is distracted by Luke's goading presence. As Nick leaves, Luke's attempts to further tease are shut down by Julie's assertion of boundaries. As she walks away, Luke jokes that her not skipping for rehearsal will lead to the phantoms carrying the performance "like we always do." Julie, although amused, refuses to acknowledge his departing jokes.
In dance class, the performance is about to begin. Julie reassures Nick's nervousness, although she accidentally calls him Luke. Julie sheepishly covers her mistake and tries to focus on their ensuing performance. In the middle of the dance, however, Julie falls into her thoughts about Luke, imagining a dance with him and performing Perfect Harmony. At the end of the song, she snaps out of her trance and, judging by Nick's reaction, the dance went perfectly. Julie quickly departs, leaving Nick confused by her abrupt exit.
Back at the Molina house in the music studio, the boys are casually workshopping Edge of Great. Luke, writing in his notebook, tells the two that with the echoes in the chorus and Julie's entrance with the melody, the song will be perfect. A sound outside the garage door reveals the presence of Willie spying on them. Confused, the boys let Alex try and confront him.
Alex tells Willie that he has been acting weird since the phantoms went to Caleb's club. The drummer is left feeling hurt after Willie tells him they "never should have met," and skates away.
Back at Los Feliz High School, Flynn finds Julie playing the melody of Perfect Harmony on the piano. Julie explains that she was feeling overwhelmed and Flynn thinks she is talking about Nick, who was Julie's long-time crush. Julie explains that she was thinking about Luke the entire dance. Flynn states that she called it, but expresses concern over her crush on an intangible ghost. Flynn emphasizes that Luke, unlike Nick who was very alive and likes her, wasn't real. Flynn advises Julie to invite Nick to the garage party and try to avoid making eye contact with Luke in order to mitigate her doomed crush.
Still upset, Alex continues to rehearse Edge of Great with Luke and Reggie in the music studio, only to let his anxiety bleed out into his drumming, causing Luke and Reggie to feel concerned. Luke reassures him that he's a great drummer and guy, advising him to focus on the music. The conversation turns when Reggie points out that passion can be useful in performing—citing Luke and Julie as an example—to which Alex agrees. Luke defends himself by demonstrating his performance chemistry with Reggie, who is visibly affected. Alex confirms the chemistry. They go back to rehearsing.
Later that day, the garage party begins. Carrie has invited herself over to the garage party, much to Nick's dismay. She remarks that Julie was one of her oldest friends and probably forgot to invite her. It's then that she reveals that she is suspicious of "the holograms" of Julie's band, though whether this is genuine suspicion or simply pettiness is unknown.
Flynn introduces the band, Julie and the Phantoms, and the group performs Edge of Great. Julie tries to follow the advice of Flynn and avoid making eye contact with Luke. Julie "vibes" with the band except Luke. Luke seems hurt but brushes it off and motions Julie to sing with him. Julie turns around and rejects him. Julie sings to the crowd and touches hands with Flynn. Julie sits on the piana and Luke walks up to her. He riffs a quitar solo and Julie gives in and makes eye contact. In the end of the song, Julie sits down and Luke follows. All boys disappear except Luke. Julie and Luke sing while looking deeply into each other's eyes. Luke vanishes and Julie snaps out of the moment.
Throughout, Ray and Carlos are shown filming the performance and enjoying the music with the rest of the crowd, which includes Nick and Flynn. Although not shown, Julie and the Phantoms perform the rest of their set list.
After the party, the Molinas and Flynn eat pizza. Flynn compliments Julie, but quietly comments on the failure of their no eye contact plan. Carlos inquires on how the holograms work and it's only thanks to Ray sending him to go clean and Julie quickly changing the subject to Ray's cameras that she was able to avoid that conversation. Outside of the Molina's house, the phantoms are casually playing basketball, demonstrating a slight mastery of their tactile tangibility.
Suddenly, they feel a sharp jolt that cause them to collapse in pain. Willie appears and tells the trio that the shocks are from their stamps they received from Caleb. Walking through Hollywood's streets, Willie reveals that Caleb wants the boys under his control because they're the only ghosts that can be visible to lifers without his help. He reveals that Caleb owns his soul and "everybody's soul at the club." There was no way Willie could have stop them from getting the stamp from Caleb. With the stamp, he explains, Caleb makes them choose between spending eternity in his house band and ceasing to exist.
Willie's only solution is if the boys complete their 'unfinished business' that would allow them to cross over and escape the trap of Caleb's stamp. Alex is unsure whether to trust anything that Willie is saying. At this, Willie confesses that he cares deeply about him and feels regret at ever bringing him (and his friends) to Caleb in the first place.
After Willie leaves, Alex apologizes to the other two for accidentally leading them to Caleb. Luke dismisses this, stating that they all wanted to get revenge on Bobby. He protests when Reggie talks about informing Julie, arguing that this is just another case of loss to pile on top of her. Luke instead tries to focus on what their unfinished business is, much to Alex's dismay. According to him, there was so many things Sunset Curve wanted to do. Realizing where they were, Luke states that, especially on the night they died, the group has always wanted to play at the Orpheum. The trio feels one more painful jolt as they contemplated how they were ever going to be able to book the Orpheum again.
Songs[]
| Title | Sung By | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Perfect Harmony | Julie + Luke | 3:24 |
| Edge of Great | Julie and the Phantoms | 3:01 |
Cast[]
Main[]
Also Starring[]
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Co-Starring[]
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Trivia[]
- The beginning of Edge of Great is a continuation of the night of Finally Free.
- When Luke is demonstrating that he has chemistry with everyone he sings with, everything from Luke putting his fingers on Reggie's lips to the end of the scene was ab-liped. The finger kiss was improv and the reactions were genuine including the subsequent in character dialogue.
- The finger kiss was the idea of a crew member, who thought it would be funny.
- https://youtu.be/Ibsm5FqVfU8
- Edge of Great shows a snippet of Flynn's rapping/rhyming talent within canon. Her rapping in I Got the Music is agreed to be a part of Julie's fantasy.
- Time to put your hands up/ do a little dance, yup./ Here's the new anthem/ for Julie and the Phantoms
References
Template:Season 1