Alberta-centric episodes never disappoint. 

Ghosts Season 2 Episode 18 delved deeper into Alberta’s murder, uncovering a shocking potential turn of events as her descendant, Alicia, visited the Woodstone Mansion. 

Alberta was delighted at the chance to get to know Alicia, her baby sister Reese’s kin, but things didn’t unravel as expected. 

For starters, Alicia set her sights on Creepy Todd, making some cringe-inducing goo goo eyes his way, though, to be fair, Sam did normalize him on the podcast and edit out all of his weird quirks, so on the surface, Todd seemed like a regular dude… maybe even a catch. The duo had a lot in common, including digging deeper into Alberta’s past, but Alberta couldn’t stand by and watch the only relative that she’s met in decades fall into the hands of her stalker. The solution? Illuminate Todd’s eccentric nature to Alicia. The ghosts, and Sam,  devised a plan to “cod block” any potential romance by telling Alicia everything there is to know about Todd… including that he has a back tattoo of Alberta, that he lives with his mom, and that he has Alberta’s toenail framed in his museum. 

That’s all Alicia needed to hear to understand that the image she had of Todd based on the podcast was far from the reality of the situation. Sam was a good friend for sparing Alicia from going down that path, while Alberta felt like a good “mom” for helping her dodge the bullet. It’s the least she can do.  

Though, she quickly learned that parenting wins are short-lived as Alicia decided she was going to give up her established career as a lawyer to pursue singing. You would think that Alberta would be tickled by Alicia’s interest in the craft and following in the family’s footsteps, but Alberta is a real one who didn’t want to see Alicia destroy the great life she’s built for herself for a career that could be filled with disappointments. She knew all too well how hard it was to break through in the industry. 

But when she finally heard Alicia sing, there was no denying that the soulful talent ran through her veins. Alberta’s spirit lived on in her, and the only shame was that Sam and the ghosts were the only people to witness that magical duet. Just imagine if Alicia knew that she was harmonizing with Alberta’s ghost! 

At that moment, Alberta realized that Alicia had the gift and she needed to take a shot and pursue her dreams!

Thankfully, we were able to witness the moment as well, which brought the storyline full circle. 

Had the episode ended right then and there, it would’ve gone out on a heartwarming note, but Alicia decided to guest on the podcast about Alberta’s murder, and the foursome—Jay is now included and very eager for his time on the mic—pieced some clues together and made a shocking discovery.

“Alberta’s Descendant” – Alberta is thrilled when a living relative, Alicia (Ashley D. Kelley), visits Woodstone to learn more about her, but things take a turn when she hits it off with Todd (Rodrigo Fernandez Stoll), Sam’s podcast co-host. Also, Nigel uses his knowledge of Trevor and Hetty’s secret tryst to try to blackmail Hetty, on the CBS Original series GHOSTS, Thursday, March 30 (8:31-9:01 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+. Pictured (L-R): Rose McIver as Samantha, Alicia as Ashley D. Kelley, Devan Chandler Long as Thorfinn, Richie Moriarty as Pete, Danielle Pinnock as Alberta, Sheila Carrasco as Flower and Rodrigo Fernandez-Stoll as Todd. Photo: Bertrand Calmeau/CBS ©2022 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Alicia revealed that Reese, Alberta’s sister, dated Earl after Alberta’s death, which was news to everyone. And Reese’s real name was Teresa, which means that she could be the “T” from the love letters, and thus, she could be the accomplice in Alberta’s murder. 

Hearing the poor woman utter, “My own sister murdered me,” sent chills up my spine, but that just means that this is one hell of a good murder podcast—and even better promotion for the B&B. 

Could Alicia be the key to solving Alberta’s murder? And will it turn out to be an inside job—a crime of passion, love, and desire?!

The other exciting development in the episode involved Hetty coming clean about her dalliance with Trevor. And to that, I say, about time! 

Nigel, Isaac’s boyfriend, walked in on Trevor and Hetty’s lovemaking in a previous episode, so he felt that he had the upper hand by threatening to expose them to the group unless they agreed to give him what he wanted—a room with a TV.

While Hetty was more than happy to oblige to his demands, Trevor wasn’t as enthusiastic, and he began to realize that Hetty wasn’t just keeping the relationship a secret because it was “hot,” she was effectively doing so because she was embarrassed by him.

Understandably, a woman like Hetty wouldn’t be comfortable admitting that she actually has feelings for Trevor, but I love that he understood his own value and stood up for himself by putting an end to their “fa doodling” because being kept a secret on purpose was hurtful. He deserved better… even if there aren’t that many options around. 

The moment led to some great character growth for Hetty as she finally mustered up the courage to tell the other ghosts that she was sleeping with Trevor. 

And the surprise on their faces was well worth the wait and thoroughly enjoyable. I especially love the support she got from Isaac, who was genuinely happy for her. Their friendship is so genuine. And I personally cannot wait to see how this relationship progresses now that everything is in the open because while it may be unconventional, there’s a real connection between Hetty and Trevor that deserves to be explored outside of the bedroom. 

And that, dear Nigel (or as Hetty referred to him, British twerp/dirty little teapot), is a checkmate! This rivalry is just as thrilling as I expected. 

As for the funniest moment in the episode, it was Thor weighing in with advice as he is the father of an adult male baby ghost. Just say that in Thor’s accent, and I promise, it’ll keep you laughing for hours. 

What did you think of the episode?

Ghosts gets better and better with each passing week, delivering yet another home-run episode. 

While I love all of the ghosts equally, I’ve found that I enjoy Alberta and Hetty-focused episodes the most, so Ghosts Season 2 Episode 17 was a true delight.

Though, much like Hetty, I’m thankful that Elias’ return from the underworld was short-lived—that man was insufferable. 

And during his short visit, he essentially created hell on Earth for everyone involved. It’s not surprising that Hetty hated his guts and even hesitated to save Pete’s life if it meant spending the rest of eternity in her ex’s presence. Let the lady think on it! 

Eventually, Hetty did the right thing by Pete, although, I hardly think her decision to forgive Elias had much to do with saving Pete and everything to do with saving herself. She wanted to help, sure, but when it came down to it, the only thing that truly helped her forgive her late husband was the knowledge that it would also help set her free from his grasp. She’s been harboring so much hatred and resentment toward him, allowing him to still have a hold on her, which was only hurting her in the long run.

I was expecting Elias’ return to somehow impact her dalliance with Trevor, possibly unearthing the unconventional—yet wickedly fun and unexpected—relationship with the rest of the ghosts, or, at the very least, making Trevor jealous. Both Hetty and Trevor are downplaying their tryst, but it’s clear that they have some very real feelings for each other, and I want the series to explore that plot line deeper. Frankly, Elias’ arrival would’ve been the perfect backdrop for it.  

Unfortunately, Trevor was far removed from the drama throughout the half hour, but to be fair, a lot was going on at Woodstone Manor—there were more pressing issues in the kitchen that we’ll get back to in a second.

Elias revealed that his whole “I’ve changed” shtick was a complete lie because, as we know, people, especially men like him, don’t change. He was trying to trick Hetty into signing the forgiveness papers so that he could score a “get out of hell” free card, and when she caught on, he used his devious ways to trick poor Pete instead. The former troop leader is such a good person that he willingly sold his soul to the devil to save his grandson little Pete after he found out about his tragic accident. Turns out, that was also a trick on Elias’ part—yes, hell apparently is all emails and meetings that should’ve been emails—because he’s a sneaky bastard who did more than prove that he’s right where he belongs in the fiery depths of the underworld. 

Even after Hetty agreed to forgive him and formally sign the contract, Elias still attempted to drag Pete back down with him, and it was genuinely nice to see Pete fight back with a jab between the eyes and a shot at the genitals. It was equally as hilarious to realize that Elias decided hell was better than staying at the Manor where he would be bullied by Thor, though, it makes sense because you know Thor would’ve genuinely enjoyed it. Violence is his favorite pastime. 

“Weekend from Hell” – Elias Woodstone (Matt Walsh) returns to Woodstone seeking Hetty’s forgiveness so he can stay out of hell for good. Also, Jay struggles to repeat an inspired culinary creation that he came up with after walking through Flower, on the CBS Original series GHOSTS, Thursday, March 9 (8:31-9:01 PM, ET/PT) on CBS Television Network, and available to stream live and on-demand on Paramount+. Pictured (L-R): Asher Grodman as Trevor, Sheila Carrasco as Flower, Utkarsh Ambudkar as Jay, and Roman Zaragoza as Sasappis. Photo: CBS ©2023 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Highest quality screengrab available.

As mentioned before, a lot was going on at the Manor, and over in the kitchen, Jay got “Flowered” a.k.a he walked through Flower and got high, and then made a really exceptional meal for the guests that he had absolutely no recollection of cooking. The ghosts could’ve prevented it by just warning Sam, but as we’ve learned, they’re all pretty bored and always looking for some kind of entertainment, particularly Sass! He’s the naughty one that’s always suggesting they let a questionable situation play out just for fun. 

When the guest revealed that she called the Menu Hunter, a well-known TV food critic, to check out Jay’s cooking, he was understandably nervous. The ghosts suggested simply recreating the situation that led to the magic in the first place, but Jay was having what Flower referred to as a crisis of confidence—he didn’t think his cooking was good enough to impress the Menu Hunter—and no amount of drugs could fix that. 

While Sam always does her best to include Jay in all ghostly activities, this time, she tapped into her inner nerd to give him an inspirational pep talk, which was a welcome change of pace. And while his lamb chops may have been the best she’s ever had, once Elias walked through her with his powers of horniness, well, let’s just say it was a meal she’d never forget and vividly enjoyed. 

There really never is a dull day in that place. 

Other Memorable Manor Moments

• Elias saying that Chumbawumba’s “Tubthumping” was the worst thing about hell was only made funnier by Trevor’s admission that he loves the song. Hetty’s past and current lovers couldn’t be more different, but I guess that’s for the best. 
• Poor Jay was just trying to have a bonding time with the ghosts and had no idea that all hell was breaking loose around him. 
• Alberta saying that Hetty can’t “let Pete go down on us” was too damn funny, but it was nice to see everyone stand up for Pete and urge Hetty to do the right thing by one of her own.
• Flower suggesting that “more drugs are usually the answer” is so on brand. 

What did you think of the episode?

External validation… everyone needs it—ghosts and humans alike. The need for it was explored on Ghosts Season 2 Episode 16 in a pretty comical yet heartfelt way as is always the case with this beloved sitcom. 

The ghost of the hour was Isaac, who was eagerly awaiting an answer from a book publisher about the novel about his life that Sam pitched. She wasn’t overly confident about it considering his life story wasn’t as intriguing or accomplished as his arch-nemesis Hamilton (his distaste for Hamilton is so funny every single time), and when the book publisher rejected the idea, it wasn’t entirely surprising. 

However, her decision to lie about it and tell the ghosts that they wanted to publish it definitely was. This isn’t Jay’s first rodeo, so he immediately strapped in for the wild ride to come. 

Sam was pretty confident that she could keep up the rouse as there was no way for the ghosts to actually figure out the truth, but the thing about lies is that they take on a life of their own. Plus, she may have slightly underestimated just how crafty the ghosts have become. 

Trevor posted the good news on Sam’s Facebook page, making her lie public to the world, including her old journalism buddy Isabel, who was staying at the B&B while working on a piece. Isabel and her husband conveniently knew the publisher on a personal level, so she offered to call him to chat about the book, which prompted Sam to confess that she made it all up. 

Isaac was defeated, naturally, as the book was a way to prove to himself that he was a significant person. However, he couldn’t fault Sam either as he understood why she felt compelled to keep the lie going when she began to receive praise for it, even enjoying rubbing it in Isabel’s face. 

Though that kind of validation isn’t necessary nor does it make you better than anyone else, it’s definitely nice to have. There’s nothing wrong with a little ego boost, though it’s important to also be able to deal with rejection appropriately. 

Sam’s intentions may have been good as she was trying to spare Isaac’s feelings, but in the end, they both proved that they could handle hearing the word “no.”

But in a surprising turn of events, the publisher, after seeing the Facebook post and thinking a competitor was interested in the book, had a change of heart and decided to publish it. 

“Isaac’s Book” – Sam struggles to keep Isaac’s spirits up after she hits a wall trying to publish a biography about him. Also, Trevor and Hetty conspire to keep their relationship hidden and Thor tries to prove to Flower that he can control his anger, on the CBS Original series GHOSTS, Thursday, March 2 (8:31-9:01 PM, ET/PT) on CBS Television Network, and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+. Pictured (L-R): Brandon Scott Jones as Isaac and Rose McIver as Samantha. Photo: CBS ©2023 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Highest quality screengrab available.

And honestly, it’s probably a wise choice. Isaac may not be “in the room where it happened,” but he’s surely lived a life worth writing and reading about. He’s a gay revolutionary war hero—there’s definitely going to be interested in that. 

As for Sam, well, she’s in luck as she has direct access to the source making this one of the best accounts from that time period. 

Getting the book deal doesn’t make Isaac and Sam better than anyone else, but it’s nice to see them get a sliver of success against the people that “bring out the worst in them.” Move over, Hamilton!

Isabel’s life likely isn’t all that it’s cracked out to be if she has to brag about it and belittle others to make herself feel better about it anyway. 

Not to mention that Sam also has a fallback plan with the B&B, along with a great group of friends in the ghosts that all have intriguing stories to tell and me her life lively and colorful. 

While Sam was dealing with Isaac’s book and her blast from the past B&B guests, Thor was trying to work on his anger to make Flower happy. I can’t blame Flower for the request since this is her first real relationship in a long time, but I’m glad that she finally realized that what attracted her to Thor in the first place was his personality—anger included. 

You should never want to change anyone you’re in a relationship with—if you do, you probably shouldn’t be in said relationship. 

But it was hilarious to watch Thor try to work on his anger and keep it in check especially when a Dane walked into the B&B. It was the ultimate test, and not only was Soren triggering, but he took it a step further to declare that the Danes were better than Nore, which is where Thor truly lost it. 

Thankfully, Flower realized that she was attracted to Thor’s angry personality, and she didn’t want to end up dating Pete—no offense Pete. 

As for Hetty and Trevor, well, their relationship is going strong, but it’s definitely not a secret anymore now that Nigel and Nancy walked in on them mid-hookup. No amount of crude jokes about Sam’s melons will save this one. Will Nigel and Nancy spill the beans or will they keep Hetty and Trevor’s romance a secret for now?

And the best joke of the episode goes to Sam saying that she can’t visit the local Starbucks because it’s a former hospital for the criminally insane. Honestly, this explains why she chooses to just stay at the manor most days! Can you imagine all the ghosts she runs into while running errands? As much as I love the ghosts, I definitely don’t mind seeing Sam venture outside of the manor to interact with a few others. Maybe we’ll get that in upcoming installments. 

What did you think about the episode?