Julie Molina

**Julie Molina** is the main protagonist in *Julie and the Phantoms*. Julie is the lead singer for the band **Julie and the Phantoms**, she also plays the keyboard. When performing her music, Luke, Alex, and Reggie become visible to living humans.

She is portrayed by Madison Reyes.

## Biography

### Early Life

Julie was born sometime between 2004 and 2005, to Ray and Rose Molina. She has a younger brother named Carlos and a maternal aunt named Victoria.

Julie's mother helped ignite her passion for music. Rose taught Julie how to play the piano and they wrote songs together. Julie keeps a "dream box" where she places song lyrics and how she feels.

At age 6, Julie met and became best friends with Flynn and they decided that they were going to be in a duo when they got older that Flynn named "Double Trouble" in seventh grade.

When they were kids, Julie became friends with Carrie. Julie would spend time at Carrie's house listening to what she thought was Carrie’s father, Trevor’s, music, thus introducing her to rock music. Julie would later find out this wasn't the case. At some point, Julie and Carrie had a falling out for an unknown reason and haven't been friends since.

Once entering high school, Julie was placed in Los Feliz High School's special music program for talented students.

Sometime in 2019, her mother passed away from unknown circumstances. Her mother's death has had a profound impact on Julie, losing her passion for music and struggling to keep her position in her school's music program. Julie stopped playing the piano and singing after her mother's death. She no longer looked into her dream box as it is filled with objects and song lyrics that remind her of her mother and she was signed up by her dad to attend therapy sessions with a Dr. Turner three times a week. Flynn was one of the only people Julie didn't shut out during this time, Flynn was there to help her through it all. This lead to Julie writing a poem for her.

Julie harbored a long-time crush on Nick, a popular student at Los Feliz High School.

### Season 1

Julie, still feeling the effects of her mother's death almost a year after her mom's death, finds it difficult to enjoy playing music. Her best friend, Flynn, remarks that she needs to play or risk being kicked out of her school's music program. However, when music teacher Mrs. Harrison calls on Julie to perform, Julie prepares to play the piano, but freezes and walks out of the schoolroom.

When Julie gets home, Ray, her father, talks to her about moving and packing their things as a way to deal with her grief of losing her mother.

She encounters Luke, Reggie, and Alex, the ghosts of **Sunset Curve**, after playing their demo CD she found while cleaning up the garage that her mother turned into a music studio. After a moment of fright, she realizes that she is the only one who can see the trio, however, everyone can *hear* them when they play music. Julie helps them realize that they died 25 years ago in 1995, not yesterday as they believe.

At first reluctant to let them haunt her garage, she was eventually persuaded to let them stay after a conversation with Luke who made her realize that they just want to play music again. Reggie asks if Julie plays the piano, but Julie denies it and claims that the piano was her mum’s. Luke says that Julie’s mother was a talented songwriter based on the song he saw written in the studio. Indirectly inspired by the ghosts who like to play music, she begins to perform again with the song her mom wrote her called *Wake Up*.

Newly motivated to rejoin her music program, she tries to convince her music teacher to let her back in, but her spot was already filled by a new student (later found out to be a boy who plays cello).

She quickly establishes boundaries so that the ghosts do not go into her bedroom without permission. Luke convinces Julie to take things into control and force them to let her back into the music program, inspiring her to perform during the spirit rally. Luke gives her his song that he wrote called *Bright*, saying that it was "perfect for her range" and that he wouldn't have given it to her if he didn't think she would rock it. As she performs the song, the boys soon materialize onstage, leading them to discover that people can see them when they perform with Julie.

As a result of their impromptu performance, everyone in the school thinks that the ghosts are Julie's new hologram band. From her performance, Julie was re-accepted into the music program by Principal Lessa who remarks Julie better remember her when she wins a Grammy. Flynn gets upset at Julie for not telling her that she's in a band with three strangers. Still riding high from their performance and the fact that they can be seen, the Phantoms try to convince her to join their band.

Julie rejects their offer, informing them that she's too occupied with trying to make up with Flynn to focus on something like a band. Luke is incredulous that she would pass up the chance to not make music with them, citing the fact that he and Reggie already put music to her poem about Flynn and that it sounds awesome. This attempt to convince her fails as Julie becomes irritated at the lack of respect for her boundaries and leaves Reggie and Luke in the studio alone.

Julie finally finds Flynn outside her house and tries to apologize for lying to her. When she refuses to explain further, however, Flynn becomes more certain that they shouldn't be friends. At this, Julie blurts out the truth: the boys are ghosts. Skeptical and concerned, Flynn goes to text Julie's dad about Julie's newfound belief in ghosts. Julie stops Flynn and convinces her to come back in 30 minutes so that she can prove it to her.

Later that afternoon, Julie greets Flynn outside of the garage, warning her that the song isn't perfect, but that the band is ready. Still skeptical, Flynn reluctantly goes along with what Julie is saying, readying herself to be proven right and text Julie's dad. Flynn softens her stubbornness as Julie begins performing *Flying Solo" but soon goes into shock when the three boys appear out of nowhere. Standing now, Flynn realizes that there isn't any hologram equipment anywhere and yet the phantoms are still intangible. Flynn realizes that Julie was telling the truth, and the two girls' friendship is saved. When Luke asks Julie to join their band, Flynn quips that if anything, the phantoms are joining Julie's band, much to Julie's amused agreement.*

Julie walks into school in a good mood and has a daydream about her singing and dancing to *I Got the Music* around the school. The imagined song performance is filled with multiple costume changes and multiple dance numbers, with numerous students joining in with the fun. Once the performance is over, Julie appears in her first set of clothes and walks up to her locker with earbuds in. Flynn happily acknowledges that Julie is back to her old self, and asks about the band. Julie says that the whole weekend consisted of her and Luke writing songs together, just like how it was with her mom

The pair enter the music room and Julie gives her a sample of two upcoming songs that she and Luke worked on, *Edge of Great* and *Stand Tall*. Flynn asserts the existence of Julie's crush on Luke, and although she protests, stating that the they're just friends, she easily concedes that Luke has a perfect smile. The two girls acknowledge that Luke is a ghost, but a rather cute ghost made out of cute air.

Back at the studio Julie informs Luke and Reggie about their gig at the school dance, both also don't see the appeal, but they realize that they have to start somewhere. The trio begin to hypothesize about their future as band, with Reggie mentioning that in the future he wants to release a country album, where he plays the banjo, and Julie supportively says she can learn the fiddle with him. Luke then mentions being inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which is his dream. They begin to rehearse without Alex, unaware where he went off to.

At the dance at Los Feliz High School, Julie is with her fake hologram projector waiting for Luke, Reggie and Alex to show up. Flynn mentions to the crowd that the Julie and the Phantoms band will perform later. Julie is surprised at the new name, 'Julie and the Phantoms.' Flynn explains she thought of it in French class and already registered the name in various forms of social media. Flynn quickly disappears when Nick walks up to Julie to talk to her. Nick admits that he's been waiting to hear her play again since first hearing *Bright*, as the song had been stuck in his head for weeks. Carrie interrupts the pair's conversation, sniping about the bored crowd and Julie's lack of sophistication. Nick shoots an apologetic glance at Julie before following Carrie back toward the gym floor.

Enough time has passed to the point that Flynn is stalling for Julie, who refuses to perform without the phantoms. Nick sits down next to Julie and she gives the excuse that the hologram machine is not working. Nick reaches for it despite Julie's half-hearted protest, and he plugs it in to see that it lights up perfectly. Nick, thinking that Julie was using the machine as an excuse not to perform because she was scared, encourages and compliments her music. Julie smiles and Nick immediately goes to introduce Julie to the crowd. Put on the spot, Julie uses the excuse of bad Wifi and an inability to connect with the phantoms as to why she can't perform.

When everyone except Flynn leaves to go to Carrie's party, Julie is left humiliated and worried about what trouble the phantoms could have gotten themselves into. Flynn, comforting her, sets out to go to get ice cream from the cafeteria, with a brag about how admin gave her the keys. The phantoms finally arrive and immediately apologize to Julie for leaving her, only then go on to lie about it having nothing to with getting revenge on Bobby. Julie, feeling angry, abandoned, and humiliated, quits the band.

The day after the school dance Julie is late to arrive to her dance class, much to the disapproval of her teacher. Having overslept at Flynn's house from their sleepover after the dance, Julie missed her first three classes. She is still annoyed at Luke, Alex and Reggie for abandoning her at the school dance the night before. Flynn comforts her and switches the subject to Nick, who she notes talked to Julie at the dance. At that moment, Nick and the lacrosse team enter the gym with Coach Baron, who signed the team up for the class so they could improve their coordination. Nick partners with Julie and the dance teacher announces that they will perform the dance "this Friday."

Nick fumbles the more complicated steps in the dance, though Julie reassures him it's fine. In making conversation, Nick mentions that he broke up with Carrie since the dance due to her "not being the nicest person."

After school, Julie enters the music studio to find the phantoms apologizing in harmony. They sincerely apologize before Luke tells Julie about the gig that he booked at Eats&Beats. Julie, still angry about being stood up and feeling used, accuses Luke for being too obsessed with his past to truly care about the music they were making. Luke argues that he does care, emphasizing the potential the band has for greatness that he won't let slip away again. Disbelieving, Julie accuses Luke of being selfish and too hung up about both himself and his dreams to care about other people. Stunned, Luke says nothing as Julie walks away. Alex tries to say that Julie didn't mean it, but Luke teleports out of view.

Alex and Reggie meet with Julie when she's doing her homework to tell her about Luke's mom. They take Julie to his mom's house and explain that he left his family on bad terms and never made up with his parents. Realizing how it feels to not be able to talk to someone you care about Julie understands why they did what they did and forgives them.

Later when Julie walks into the house she is confronted by her dad asking why she missed her first three classes. Explaining that she overslept, Julie reassures her dad that nothing was going on in those classes anyway and that it won't happen again.

At that moment, Tia Victoria rushes to the Molina household in order to confront Julie about missing classes and her calculus test. She pushes Ray to punish her, resulting in Julie being grounded and sent up to her room to study. Ray is a bit frustrated in Victoria's presence, but expresses his appreciation of her help in parenting Julie and Carlos with Rose gone. Victoria, at the bequest of Ray, stays a couple of hours to look after Carlos.

The phantoms enter Julie's room with her permission. Julie explains that she is grounded and won't be able to make it to their gig as her aunt is right downstairs. Luke suggests she sneak out the window to which Julie agrees. Opening a chest full of old ticket stubs and her mother's clothes, Julie is inspired to wear her mom's leather vest, which has a dahlia pin on it.

At Eats&Beats, Julie arrives on time to see **Dirty Candy** perform *All Eyes on Me*. Flynn supposes that Carrie's dad used his connections to get her on the list but the accuracy of that is debatable. Unbeknownst to **Dirty Candy** and everyone else except Luke, Reggie and Julie, Alex joins the girl group onstage, dancing along to their choreography. After the performance, Carrie spots Flynn and Julie and makes her way to them along with the rest of the **Dirty Candy** crew. Carrie snidely mentions to Julie that Nick wasn't there and Julie shoots back that she was there to perform.

Reading from Luke's bad handwriting, an employee announces the closing performance is "Julie and the Fat Ones." On stage, Julie awkwardly corrects him before performing *Finally Free*. The crowd is delighted by the song and by the hologram "gimmick."

Carrie knows the record executive called Andi Parker from Destiny Management at the cafe by name due to her connection through her father. Carrie lists out who Andi represents (Shawn Mendes, Selena Gomez), then suggests **Dirty Candy** as her new clientele. Andi, however, was more interested in Julie and the Phantoms. As Andi introduces herself to Julie, however, she is interrupted by Ray, who catches Julie out of her room.

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 play *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. Julie states that they make each other better.

Julie protests Luke's suggestions 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 commenting 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 sarcastic response. Nick, a bit confused, 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 tease more 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.

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.

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. Perhaps because of his earlier conversation with Alex and Reggie, Luke is hyperaware of Julie's avoidance of him while performing. To get her attention, he riffs a guitar solo that compliments her vocal melody. Furthermore, he goes to the piano and sings with her even when Reggie and Alex have disappeared, finally getting Julie to make significant eye contact.

At Los Feliz High School, **Julie** is taking pictures with some of her peers at their request. Nick compliments Julie on her performance and tells her that her band is "going to go big." He then apologizes for not staying for the whole set, with the excuse of a lot of homework.

Hesitating, Nick asks Julie, whether they could be study partners, to which Julie gently refuses. Nick then asks if she would like to go on a date with him. Julie is surprised and expresses that she is flattered. Nick, already sensing her tone, asks if she likes someone else, to which Julie confirms. He was disappointed at having missed his chance but accepted of her rejection. He awkwardly walks away.

Flynn, who was watching from afar, excitedly approaches **Julie** to see what the interaction was about, only to find out that she rejected him. Julie explains that whatever feelings she has toward Luke isn't going away and that it would be unfair of her to start dating Nick knowing that. Flynn is proud of her reasoning, though she mentions that Julie likes someone who doesn't exist. He exists to her, Julie defends, and says that they connect through their music and through the loss of their moms. Julie admits to Flynn that she wishes she could help him. Her friend suggests writing him a song, and Julie, getting an idea, declares her a genius. Julie goes to leave, but then turns right back to class when Flynn reminds her that she still has school.

After school, Julie walks up the driveway of the Pattersons' house, nervous. Just as she was about to ring the doorbell, Luke teleports next to her, startling them both. Julie explains that she was curious about him and visited the house while he was there on his birthday. Luke points out Julie's hypocrisy and talks about what happened to boundaries, and Julie apologizes, citing her worry about him. Julie tells him that she understands what it feels like to want to talk to someone who can't possibly hear you. Luke shifts, saying that he wouldn't even know what to say to his mom. Julie helps him realize that he does know, he wrote a whole song about what he would say.

Deciding to trust her, Luke rings the doorbell for Julie to answer. Mitch Patterson, Luke's dad, answers the door and Julie tells him that Luke used to play in her family's garage and found one of his songs. Mitch quickly invites her in and Emily, Luke's mom, enters and greets her warmly. Mitch tells his wife about Julie's connection with Luke and Julie presents Luke's song, which he titled 'Emily.' Shocked, Emily and Mitch immediately begins reading the paper containing the lyrics of *Unsaid Emily*.

Moved to tears at the song, Emily and Mitch thank Julie for showing them his song. Tearing up herself, Julie tells Luke's parents that she writes music where he did, and that it's still a happy, magical place. Julie consoles the couple with the reassurance that Luke found his passion and happiness in music, which not many people get to do. Emily and Mitch nod understandingly. Trying to gather himself, Luke teleports away as his parents thank Julie again. Exiting the house, Julie realizes that Luke had already left.

She spots him again in the evening outside of her house, on her porch. Julie apologizes for overstepping, but Luke explains that he needed to leave but also wanted to thank her. He explains that he didn't have many regrets except for running away from his parents, especially his mom. Julie reassures him that he makes her feel closer to her mom and she wanted to do the same. Luke and Julie try to reach for each other, only for their hands to pass right through. Realizing the situation, the pair awkwardly turns to side. Luke quips on their "interesting little relationship," making Julie smile.

Remembering she had good news, Julie tells Luke that the video her dad made of their Edge of Great performance is trending on YouTube. At Luke's blank face, Julie explains the news makes it probable they'll get calls from managers. Luke, instead of being happy about this development, knows that he and the phantoms won't be in the world for long. He tells Julie that they have "unfinished business" and Julie realizes that involves playing at the Orpheum.

When the phantoms teleport back to the garage at the Molinas' house, the three boys reassure a visibly jittery Julie that everything is going to plan. They band eagerly waits for Tasha the assistant to call Julie. She does and asks questions about the band and whether the group would like to perform. Julie does her best to answer casually as the four teenagers start excitedly celebrating, at one point lifting Alex up into the air.

Later on in the day, Julie asks Luke if they could talk privately and he agrees, Alex and Reggie hanging back. Closer to the garage door now, Julie asks if she could ask Luke for a favor to which he responds that of course she could. Julie asks that if he sees her mom when they cross over that if he could tell her that Julie loves her and to thank her for bringing the phantoms to Julie. Outside the door, Carlos turns off his phone and presumably stops the recording. Luke readily agrees to her request. After a beat, Luke calls a band circle. Holding each other's hands, with Julie's hands floating over Reggie and Alex, Luke begins his speech, declaring Julie a star and the phantoms will be watching over Julie, no matter where they go, and motivating the band to "give them a show they'll be talking about until the sun comes up." The "legends" dialogue motif is inserted here, shouted as the band does a Team Hand-Stack.

At the sound of the car horn, which Julie explains is her dad giving her a ride to the theatre, Julie glances at the band before exiting, missing Carlos.

As show time approaches, Julie becomes anxious when the guys don't appear. She reveals to Flynn how they were getting jolts pretty bad and knows they wouldn't stand her up again; she came to the conclusion that maybe they ran out of time. Flynn apologizes about the situation at hand. Julie decides to acknowledge the fact that the phantoms didn't cross over and that they are gone. She gets emotional that she never got to say goodbye. Flynn gets up to hug her best friend as it is now show time.

Instead of going up to the stage, an emotional Julie runs out of dressing room and out of The Orpheum. She stands in the alleyway outside of The Orpheum and looks up at the sky, talking to her mother. She tells her mom everything that has happened today, hoping to receive a sign from her mother, hoping she could help her understand what her path needs to be and what she is meant to do now that the guys are gone and she can't perform on her own.

A woman in the alley sees Julie crying and hands her a flower: a pink dahlia, which was her mom's favorite flower. Julie takes it as a sign. She goes back inside and on stage and starts to perform *Stand Tall*. While she sings, Alex appears on the stage and starts playing with Julie. A moment later Reggie joins in and plays as Julie starts singing again. Luke tries to join but keeps glitching. Alex and Reggie watch with Julie, all concerned about Luke having difficulty showing up. Luke eventually fully appears and joins the others, singing and playing. Julie and the band sing the song and rock out and feel happy to be performing with each other and have a good time.
## Background

### Personality

Julie is headstrong, determined, loyal, caring and has an amazing voice. As said by Reggie, she “has a voice of an angel”. She values friendship, her family, and music over everything else. She's not afraid to stand up for herself and speak her mind when she gets annoyed. She can be nervous or sometimes shy to people but her confidence rises when she’s singing or playing music. She's very creative, talented and artistic.

In the first season, Julie carries a deep grief from the death of her mother, which has affected her ability to perform music. This grief is present even past the first episode, when she decides to play music again. It influences how Julie perceives her interactions with other people.

Julie is committed to what she deems matters. She tries to keep her promises, which include attending and doing well in school as a promise to her Dad, telling Flynn about ghosts because she doesn't want to keep a secret, not ditching school to be a dance partner for Nick, and feeling hurt when the phantoms bailed on her at the school dance.

However, Julie also has shown no trouble with breaking the rules once in a while. In the instances when she doesn't do things by the book, she is usually motivated by two things: a need to mitigate the chaos caused by the phantoms (climbing over Carrie's fence to stop the phantoms' pranking, replacing the opening band so the trio can perform at the Orpheum) or for her own music (performing Bright at the assembly without permission, sneaking out to perform Finally Free).

### Appearance

Julie is 5'4" inches (162.56 cm) tall. She is Latin-American with curly dark brown hair down to her mid back, brown eyes and light brown skin. She often styles her hair with hair clips and headbands. Her wardrobe is described by Soyan An as "effortlessly chic." Her style is comfortable and artistic, with both her jeans and sneakers featuring her colourful drawings. As she steps out of her comfort zone and performs with the band, Julie takes to her mother's wardrobe of 80's and 90's looks. Julie is frequently seen wearing butterflies or butterfly motifs- in her hair, on her blouse, shoes, and a patch on her jumpsuit. She wears a gold choker with moons on it, a gold necklace that says “Julie", and a gold Virgin Mary necklace, as well as many bright woven and beaded bracelets. Sometimes she wears glasses.

## Relationships

### Family

* **Ray Molina** (father)
* **Rose Molina** (mother)
* **Carlos Molina** (younger brother)
* **Victoria** (maternal aunt)

### Friends

* **Alex Mercer** (bandmate/friend)
	+ See also Alex and Julie
* **Luke Patterson** (bandmate/friend/crush)
	+ See also Julie and Luke
* **Reggie Peters** (bandmate/friend)
	+ See also Julie and Reggie
* **Flynn** (best friend)
	+ See also Flynn and Julie
* **Jocelyn Osorio** (best friend)
	+ See also Julie and Jocelyn
* **Nick** (former crush/friend)
	+ See also Julie and Nick

## Trivia

* Julie sometimes speaks Spanish in her home
* Julie grew up listening to rock music with her mom
* Julie has an 'A' in her history class, as mentioned by Nick when he asks to be her study partner
* She and her mom used to write songs together
* *Wake Up* is the first song she sings in almost a year since her mother's death
* Carrie and Julie used to be friends, but they had a falling out for an unknown reason
* After her mom died, she went to therapy with Dr. Turner "three times a week"
* The only people she’s told about the ghosts are Flynn and Carlos (Carlos found out on his own)
* The vest she wears when she was performing *Finally Free* (song) is the same vest her mom, wore when she met Alex, Luke, and Reggie the night they died