While most episodes of “Ghosts” don’t really require much background on previous events to enjoy, this is one in which viewers might benefit from a quick reminder about the past…
In Season 1, Episode 3 (“Viking Funeral”), Creepy Dirk (Arthur Holden) is elected Ghost Representative, a largely ceremonial office among the deceased that Sam has no need nor wish to honor. In the four seasons since the cholera victim’s ascension, we’ve heard nary a peep about the position, but that’s about to change.
In Season 4, Episode 19 (“Pinkus Returns”), Trevor Lefkowitz (Asher Grodman) discovers he has a daughter. He proceeds to make an even bigger fool of Sam (Rose McIver) than usual by texting his daughter the news that the man who raised her isn’t her biological dad.
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Abby, I Am Your Father
In my review for “Pinkus Returns” last season, I highlighted the fact that it is never-endingly odd that so many friends and relatives of those who died on the Woodstone property always seem compelled to return to it. This is still true, of course, but it’s also true that you sometimes simply have to accept plot developments at face value to enjoy the fun of a genuinely creative story.
This is especially true regarding Abby’s return to Woodstone in this episode. Suddenly unemployed and apparently posting about it (seriously, who posts to social media about getting fired?), Abby (Gideon Adlon) is remarkably quick to accept a job working under the following circumstances: (a) it’s in the middle of nowhere, (b) it’s on the property where her father died, (c) it’s not paying much, and (d) her employers are off-putting meddlers who seem strangely intent on intruding in her social life at every possible turn.
However unappealing such a job offer would sound to me, her accepting of that ridiculous concept leads to some great moments. I particularly enjoyed watching Trevor shift from his T-Money playboy era to protective father mode the second he realizes that Neel (Al Mukadam) has Abby in his sights as his next sexual conquest. Of course, as often occurs, Trevor begs Sam to interfere, leading her to resist such requests until relenting and seeming like a total weirdo.
The moment that Sam finally reveals the truth works really well. It’s a scene that could be easy to overplay with continued disbelief on Abby’s part or begging on Sam’s, but instead, the writers wisely chose to simply delve straight into the Arondekars trying to prove Trevor’s presence to Abby. After five seasons of watching Trevor move small objects around the mansion, asking him to prove his presence to his daughter by moving a slightly larger object (a moderately-sized tumbler) certainly seems fitting.
Overall, I’m exceptionally pleased with these developments. It’s always cringe-inducing when Sam is forced to explain away her odd, ghost-motivated actions, but it’s extremely satisfying whenever she finally decides it’s time to add to the ghost-aware community. As of now, this relatively small list only includes Sam, Jay (Utkarsh Ambudkar), Bela (Punam Patel), Kyle (Ben Feldman), and now Abby (please shout at me in the comments if I’m forgetting any!).
The Election
As is customary in most episodes of “Ghosts,” “Bring Your Daughter to Work Day” also features a B plot that is as absurd and seemingly banal as it is perfect. After losing his last chance at elected office in Season 1, Isaac is convinced that now is the perfect moment to finally be elected Ghost Representative. He proudly announces his candidacy, and in typical Isaac fashion, he assumes the rest of the upstairs ghosts will fall in line behind him.
Unsurprisingly, however, the rest of the manor’s inhabitants aren’t exactly pleased with the idea of giving him an additional soap box from which to proclaim his greatness. In their hour of desperation, Alberta (Danielle Pinnock) and Sasappis (Román Zaragoza) attempt to aid Flower (Sheila Carrasco) in her debate prep, after the brainless hippie mistakes elective office for hat-throwing as sport.
Rather amusingly, she fails debate prep at every turn until Gabe (Dustin Ybarra), the perpetually inebriated member of Jay’s kitchen staff, walks through her. As we know from previous episodes, those who walk through Flower typically find themselves immediately “elevated.” However, in Gabe’s case, it seems to have the opposite effect, causing Flower to quickly sober up and temporarily sound like the smartest ghost on the planet.
This is a fantastic combination of plot machinations. In the short span of time dedicated to this B-story, we have Isaac making a fool of himself, Flower acting both outrageously stupid and shockingly smart, Thor not even understanding that she’s smart, and a unique and fun twist on previously established ghost powers. It’s a mix of character-driven foolishness and mythology-building storytelling that reminds us that “Ghosts” is remarkably skilled at turning throwaway subplots into highlights.
Rating: 9.1 / 10 – This episode didn’t quite have the same emotional punch as the episode where Trevor finds out about Abby, but it’s an excellent addition to that continuing story. The election side plot also seems like gold, and I hope to see Isaac struggle among the cholera ghosts soon.
Random Notes:
– It certainly seems like Abby will be hanging around for a bit, and after this episode, I hope we’ll eventually see her interact with the attic ghost, Stephanie (Odessa A’zion). Something tells me someone might just notice an uncanny resemblance between the two.
– Now that Abby knows about Sam’s ability to see the ghosts, does anyone else think it’s far past time for Sam and Jay to just fill Pete’s daughter in on the truth?
– We have now seen Gabe smoking marijuana, both in the car and on the job. At what point, does Jay terminate his employment?
– If Jay and Pete (Richie Moriarty) had witnessed Trevor’s visceral response to Neel inviting Abby on a date, they surely would have commented on the similarities between his reaction and those of Darth Vader after being informed of Padme’s death in “Revenge of the Sith.”
– Do Flower’s genius capabilities work after she passes through anyone who is already under the influence of cannabis? Or is this phenomenon specific to those with a high tolerance, like Gabe? Smart Flower has a hypothesis, but it seems wise to test. If Jay ever hears about this, he’ll need to add this to his Ghost Notes.
– Has anyone else tuned into the other “Ghosts” shows? Most readers likely know that the CBS series is based on a BBC One show of the same name, but you might be less familiar with the Australian, German, French, and Greek versions. I started watching the Australian version this last week and have found it similarly delightful.
Best Lines:
Trevor: “The ice cream doesn’t melt, but the panties do.”
Hetty: “Thorfin, those are Brussels sprouts.” (This line very much reminds me of my absolute favorite line in the 2024 film “Abigail” as spoken by Dan Stevens’ character Frank: “Sammy, those are f**king onions.”)
Flower (in reference to Joan’s noted absence since her night with Sasappis last season): “She was so satisfied, she still hasn’t come back. That’s impressive.”
Hetty: “I think she’s delicately asking if you have a weird obsession with her, which honestly the facts support.”
Hetty (in reference to Sam’s eternal awkwardness): “Yes, you’re not a freak who can see ghosts. You’re merely an annoying etiquette hawk. Well played.”
Flower: “My whole vibe was about affecting change. Us hippies, we weren’t just doing acid and having orgies for fun; we were doing those things to protest Nixon.”
Thor (in reference to Neel inviting Abby on an ice cream date): “Ice cream mean sex.”
Hetty: “It’s Smooch City. He [Pete] told me and now you have to know.”
Nancy: “I heard there was a seminar on sexual harassment and that is a subject I am always looking to improve on. And by improve on, I mean get better at doing it. Great tush by the way.”
Sam (also in reference to her eternal awkwardness): “That’s just a series of coincidences”
Thor: “It really sound nuts when she say it out loud.”
Hetty: “She just blurts it out. Meanwhile, my mother was institutionalized for menstrual cramps.”
Jay (to Bela after she lusts for Trevor the thousandth time): “You need to either get or fire a therapist.”
Isaac: “I shall move to the basement and ingratiate myself with those hideous ghouls, and I shan’t return until they’ve chosen me to run against Flower in the general election.”