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?

Thor and Flower’s first date did not disappoint on Ghosts Season 2 Episode 15. 

With Valentine’s Day blowing in all the romantic vibes, Thor went above and beyond to plan the perfect date, with a little help from the ghosts, Sam, and reality TV. Look, we can knock The Bachelor all we want, but unknown country artists are the key to a long-lasting relationship. 

Jay even got in on the fun—I use that word loosely—by cooking a four-course meal that paid tribute to Thor’s Viking culture. And I’ve never heard that many funny testicle jokes and references. How do they film this with a straight face?

While Thor hasn’t ever been on a proper date, turns out, he’s actually pretty good at planning one because the night went off without a hitch. Jay probably wouldn’t agree, considering he had to try rams’ testicles… twice… and the cab only enhanced the flavor, but everything else was perfect. Thor and Flower laughed, they opened up to each other with Thor telling her a powerful story behind the testicle dish, and they sealed it all with a passionate hallway makeout session. 

Unfortunately, the next morning, Flower didn’t remember a thing. Now, at this point in the episode, I was truly wondering about Flower’s character and her memory loss. I assumed she just forget what was happening at the moment on occasion when the hallucinogenic mushrooms kick in, so I was surprised that her memory fog turned extended to a whole evening. At this rate, it would be hard to keep the character consistent. 

It made a lot more sense when it was revealed that she was simply faking the memory loss because she didn’t want to admit that her date night with Thor went really well. It was a heartbreaking turn of events considering he went above and beyond for her a second night, re-planning everything to go exactly the same as on their perfect night. Sam and Jay canceled their Valentine’s Day plans again, Jay had to eat testicles again (and they weren’t any better the second time), and Alberta and Pete had to be involved. 

However, it was a huge turning point in the series in terms of the audience getting to know Flower. We only see her as this hippie who lived a carefree life with a cult and participated in throuples and orgys, but this moment of fear allowed Sam to dig deep and find out what was really going on. Flower admitted that she didn’t do one-on-one dates because she was terrified of losing a good thing. We then saw a flashback of Flower, who even revealed she went to law school, spending her final one-on-one date with Michael, her one true love who passed away from an illness. It explains a lot about Flower, including why she has tried to push off a date with Thor and why she ended up with a commune and numbing the pain with drugs. 

Sam is grateful that Flower felt comfortable enough to share the story with her, but she informs Flower that Thor deserved the truth as well. 

Once she opened up to him, Thor assured her that for starters, he can’t die (though he can get sucked off, which is kind of the same thing in ghost terms but we don’t need to bring the mood down just) and that he’s also experienced pain and loss in his life so he understands her fears and concerns. Instead of avoiding any good to minimize the bad, he suggested that they just weather the bad stuff together, which is honestly a solid plan. The best time to live a little and risk it all is in the afterlife. They have an eternity to spend together! 

This truly is one of the most exciting couples on the series right now. Though, Hetty and Trevor are also quite entertaining because it’s such an unexpected pairing. At this point, they are just friends with benefits, but I can see that turning into something more. 

Trevor was the one who suggested that Hetty plan a rival party on the same night Nigel was throwing his welcome tea. And while it was definitely a petty move, it was very Hetty-like, and honestly, Nigel deserved it. He purposefully snubbed her with a last-minute invite, even extending an invitation to the “basement dweller” Nancy before the lady of the house. 

I want Nigel and Isaac to work out because they make a good couple, but Nigel needed to be put in his place! He can’t go around trying to push Hetty away simply because she’s Nigel’s BFF, nor should he try to insert himself into their activities. Absence makes the heart grow fonder because no one likes a possessive significant other. Nigel and Isaac should have friends, hobbies and likes outside of each other—it’s the only thing that makes for a healthy relationship. 

However, I can’t wait to see how Nigel and Hetty will square off behind Isaac’s back while pretending that they buried the hatchet to his face. 

As for Sam and Jay, after giving up their Valentine’s Day dinner for two nights in a row, they finally had a date night without any interruptions. Well, sort of. It’s hilarious seeing Jay involved in activities without actually seeing the ghosts—I love that he’s included and that the ghosts rely on him so much—but I wish he could see them and be fully present. He’s done so much for them, but he doesn’t get the benefit of interacting with them. Then again, seeing how needy they truly are (she can’t get a moment to herself!), maybe he’s the blessed one. 

What did you think of the episode?