

Ghosts
Ghosts Review – Alberta’s Murder Mystery Podcast (202)
Ghosts had a strong debut season, but “Alberta’s Podcast” is the best episode to date, never missing a beat and proving why the single-camera comedy is one that needs and deserves to be on your must-watch list.
Not only was the 20-minute episode hilarious, but it also tackled two important subject matters affecting women in the both past and present-day: female pleasure and body image.
The main focus was obviously on Alberta, given the name, as Pete both suggested that they turn her murder mystery podcast (it’s literally just radio). And honestly, why did no one think of it sooner?
Alberta is a larger-than-life personality that deserves to be a household name that’s remembered and celebrated long after her death. But it’s also a clever way for the series to delve further into her backstory as her murderer has never been revealed.
However, Alberta realizes rather early on that in order to be a star, you have to be willing to be honest and raw about all of your life experiences, even the ones you’re ashamed of.
When Sam pitches the podcast to her editor, he informs her that she needs a co-host that’s also an expert, and there’s no one better than Todd. Yes, creepy Todd Pearlman, the curator of the Alberta Hayes museum. Alberta is aghast at the idea that the man who collected her toenails and wanted to have her cloned would now be involved, but that concern faded quickly when Jay found her diary in a secret compartment, which revealed that Alberta was the one thing she’s always claimed to hate: a rat. What a twist of the plot!
Dannielle Pinnock’s performance is incredible in this episode as she goes through a rollercoaster of emotions ranging from shame to eventually realizing that her biggest flaw was actually the thing that humanized her and made her relatable to the common folk.
Her vulnerability gave way to the most grounded version we’ve ever seen of Alberta, who admitted that her confidence was simply an armor that she wore. And honestly, we all need to be our own loudest fans because there’s no shortage of people trying to tear us down in this world. I hope Sam found a way to convey that very inspirational message to the world.
While Alberta could have had a million reasons to turn on Clara, the series chose to tackle body image, underscoring that while things may be much different than they were in the 20s, our obsession with being thin hasn’t changed. And though Albert never allowed herself to be defined by her weight, it was the thing stopping her from living out her dreams as she was constantly overlooked for “not looking the part” drummed up by some white male with way too much say in the matter.
When Alberta finally got sick of playing second fiddle and singing back up for someone less talented, she decided to play dirty and ratted out Clara for bootlegging.
While Sam and Todd record their first podcast episode, he pulls up a photo of Clara, and all of the ghosts realize that they’ve seen her before the night of Alberta’s death at the manor.
And just like that, they have their first suspect. Did she kill Alberta as revenge for stealing her gig?
Sam has to be really careful as to how she weaves in all this information that she’s getting from Alberta and the ghosts as a first-person account, but honestly, could you imagine the content we would have for these podcasts if we had access to a ghost? It’s genius.
I can’t wait to explore this storyline ever further. As for Sam, she could totally make a decent living by profiling each of the ghosts with their own season of the podcast. Not to mention, it’s a great way to put the B&B on the map.
Elsewhere in the episode, Flower taught Hetty about her power of self-pleasure.
I never thought we’d see the day when Hetty goes for it on top of a washing machine, but it just goes to show you that Ghosts isn’t afraid of pushing boundaries and telling important stories.
Hetty had no idea what transpired on that washing machine at first, but she came down a whole new person right after. Isaac even asked her if she was “ill.”
Once Hetty realized that what she had done was sexual in nature, she felt ashamed because that’s what she was taught to believe back in the day. She thought it was weak and immoral because women were taught shame as a form of control.
That’s when Flower took it upon herself to have a one-on-one chat with Hetty and inform her that there’s nothing wrong or shameful about feeling good in her own body, nor did she need a man’s approval to do any of it.
It’s nice to see Hetty continuing to come out of her shell as she learns that the modern world is much kinder to women, and overall, much more inclusive. It’s still a work in progress, and we have a lot of strides we need to make, but in comparison, women have more liberties than ever before. And hopefully, we’ll only keep moving forward instead of backward.
And can you imagine existing for so many years and never truly knowing about self-love? Hetty has a lot of catching up to do.
The best part? She doesn’t even need the washing machine for more “magical encounters.”
Ghosts nailed this episode from every angle, including storytelling, jokes, and important plot points.
Ghosts
Ghosts Season Finale Recap – [Spoiler] Gets Engaged (222)

We were on the brink of an emotionally touching season 2 finale of Ghosts when all of a sudden—bam—a cliffhanger no one saw coming, though, a moment we’ve been dreading since bonding with the ghosts.
On Ghosts Season 2 Episode 22, Sam and Jay fought to keep the Woodstone Mansion after a woman named Kelsey arrived claiming to be the daughter of David Woodstone and therefore, the rightful heir to the fortune.
In one moment, Sam’s whole life came tumbling down as she faced the possibility of losing the ghosts forever.
A DNA test later confirmed that Kelsey was telling the truth, which meant that they would be forced to move out of the B&B and give it all up to her.
And that’s when being able to see ghosts actually came in handy. When Jay mentioned that David knocked up Kelsey’s mom, an exotic dancer, at Scores, Trevor immediately shut down the possibility by explaining that his buddy was banned from the establishment.
With reasonable doubt at play, Sam and Jay decided to get the truth directly from the source: David himself. It was a long shot, sure, but when they rolled up to the gentleman’s club where he died (he had an aneurysm with his head stuck between two boobs in case you’re curious!), they found him still stuck between worlds… though he was certain that spending eternity at a strip club was pure heaven so there’s that.
David then confirmed that there was no way Kelsey was his daughter because he was sterile, or, as he so classy explained it, “shooting blanks.”
Armed with the truth, Sam and Jay confronted Kelsey, who ended up cracking and revealing that the Woodstone estate attorney was the mastermind of the plan. With his gambling debts looming large and a massive offer from the Four Seasons to buy the mansion, he decided to trick Sam and Jay into essentially giving up the house. What a sneaky snake.
If it wasn’t for the ghosts, Trevor in particular, they would’ve never even known that they were being played.
Nearly losing something—or someone—you love always puts things into perspective, so Sam was feeling a bit sentimental and reminisced on how much the ghosts meant to her. They were her family who have seen her go through the good times and the bad. Even Jay has bonded with them in some way, though it’s unfortunate that he misses so much of the action because he can’t see them.
And at that moment, the cliffhanger of all cliffhanger’s happened as one of the ghosts got sucked off! The look of sheer horror on Sam’s face seems to be cause for concern, but the truth is, there are so many ghosts living inside that mansion that it doesn’t have to be any of the core ghosts.
I can’t imagine that the creative forces would want to eliminate one of the ghosts just as the series is finding its groove and entering its prime.
Then again, they have all been growing and becoming better humans, and that means that eternity isn’t exactly forever.
Alberta finally forgave Hetty for keeping the identity of her killer secret. Hetty thought she was doing the right thing by protecting her son, but she now saw the error of her ways and realized she did her friend a huge disservice. Alberta wanted “blood,” but when the Ghost Court ruled to banish Hetty to the forest, she couldn’t imagine a life without her. Maybe that was the outstanding issue keeping Albert and Hetty tied to the mortal coil.
There’s also Isaac, who finally took the next big step in his relationship with Nigel by proposing to him! While this is obviously cause for celebration, it might also be what sets Isaac free as he’s struggled with accepting his sexuality through much of his post-death life. Or it could be Nigel, which would be a bummer for Isaac as he finally opened up to someone and entrusted them with his heart.
At any rate, it could be any of the ghosts, but I don’t want to panic prematurely. This could all be a false alarm!
Other Thoughts
- Now that Isaac is $10k richer, he can definitely afford the King-sized bed!
- Thor’s comment hoping that David didn’t get “sucked off” at the Gentleman’s Club is one of the reasons Ghosts is the best comedy on television.
- Why would Jay think eating strip club sushi was a good idea? And why didn’t the ghost who died after eating it warn Sam?
- Jay saying he hopes Trevor was the ghost that got sucked off is just cruel.
Ghosts has one of the greatest ensemble casts with every single actor really coming into their character this season. I can’t wait to see what the third season has in store for us!
Ghosts
Ghosts Review – Alberta’s Descendant (218)

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
Ghosts Recap – Weekend From Hell (217)

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?
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