Caldwell Academy
starring: GRACE SWANSON & NOAH FEARNLEY
A whirlwind romance unfolds at an elite academy where passion and ambition collide in a world of privilege, competition and social drama.
REVIEW
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Well this is a super vertical from the team at @superlab__
Yes the 🐘 in the building is that a lot of the cast here looks way too old for school. But this is verticals so suspend logic and settle back for a good enemies to lovers story. @adamsantacruz makes it look simple, but so many verticals fail to explain why the couple are clashing or explain why they connect and fall for each other
@gracewswanson is super as brittle Eden trying so hard to hold it together she constantly looks like she might break. Which is where @noahfearnleyy apparently carefree Beckett comes in, as he gently pushes her to let go
Any anyone in doubt of why Noah F's star has ascended - watch episode 26. Masterclass. This is why I got obsessed with verticals, the sheer talent of people working in crazy conditions
@mariah_moss now always needs to play morally questionable characters, so much more fun to watch over the damsels in distress. Love this new direction. More please
@adamsantacruz not only wrote this and killed it with some lines but is ridiculously swoonworthy as damaged Henry who juat needs someone to rescue and love him
And that better be @mmactuj Laila. I LOVE her. We need a lot more Laila in the sequel please. And her beret
Plus I want more of @josiraya Jess you really can do better than Sloane
Will @griffinwinter_ Julian be less of an ass?
There better be a sequel, so much unresolved.
Well done to all the team, incl director @thepallier and @enzymefilms
Just 2 quibbles, do think Eden was too quick to believe Beckett let on about the votes. We had had that relationship issue before
And I didn't like the pink hue of the parties. Couldn't see what was going on and started wondering if the team were sponsored by Phillips Hue. And yes this is me being hard work
But overall top work, and if @superlab keep going like this we are in for some truly excellent verticals.
💖 Top swoonworthy moment:
Grace Swanson and Noah Fearnley are two of the best at doing bickering, opposites attract, enemies to lovers. And this is so well done. But I found myself shipping Laila and Henry - cos Henry is all emo and troubled and needs the sunshine that is Laila!
🦹🏼♂️ Top villain award:
Mariah Moss nearly steals the show as Sloane as she marches around campus with her posse. A lesson in less is more. Will Sloane be redeemed? She is rotten to Jade. We need a Season 2.
😂 Comedy gold:
Some awesome lines - favourites are in episode 23 with the Oval Office reference and Sh*tney Spears. ASC you rule.
🎺 Unsung hero:
Character wise Laila
Fashion wise Laila’s beret
Bit gutted she put contacts in and took the beret off for Homecoming.
✍🏼 DETAILS
Director: Thomas Pallier | 2026
Available on Superlab / TikTok