Despite the enjoyable nature of Ghosts season 4, it’s crucial for season 5 to curb the excessive use of cliffhanger endings in the CBS sitcom. The diverse cast of ghosts from different historical periods is what keeps viewers hooked each week on this CBS series, as the comedy unfolds when these characters from distinct eras coexist under one roof, leading to a chaotic and entertaining spectacle. While humor remains the show’s primary strength, Ghosts season 4 demonstrated that the sitcom also possesses a dramatic element.
The final scene of season 4’s episode 14, titled “Alexander Hamilton and the Ruffle Kerfuffle,” was a callback to an old plot point. It was revealed that Jay had inadvertently sold his soul to Elias, Hetty’s ex-husband who had become demonic. Disguised as a human and posing as a publicist, Elias orchestrated the deal without Sam being informed. As a result, unaware of Elias’s scheme, Jay entered into a Faustian pact that guaranteed his restaurant’s success in exchange for his eternal soul.
Ghosts Season 5 Can’t Have Yet Another Cliffhanger Ending
Season 4’s Twist Ending Felt Particularly Forced
Essentially, unlike its British counterpart, the American adaptation of “Ghosts” doesn’t emphasize financial matters as much. However, Jay’s fear of bankruptcy was a significant factor in his decision to work with Elias. At first, it seemed like a good move as Jay’s restaurant, Mahesh, garnered positive reviews and built a loyal customer base. A prominent food critic even requested an interview during Sam’s book launch at the restaurant. But things took a turn for the worse when Elias revealed himself in episode 4, season 4, titled “The Devil Went Down To Woodstone.
As a devoted fan, I found the plot intriguing and the twist quite captivating in Ghosts season 4, especially with Sam’s book launch, Alberta and Pete’s heartwarming reunion, and Patience’s hilarious antics. However, it felt frustrating that Elias’s elaborate plan was unveiled just in the last few minutes of the episode, which seemed to keep alive a bothersome sitcom trend regarding pacing.
The twist about Jay selling his soul to the devil had such potential and deserved its own dedicated episode rather than being crammed into a last-second revelation. Regrettably, it seemed that the show’s compulsion to end each year with a cliffhanger overshadowed this opportunity for a more satisfying conclusion.
Ghosts Doesn’t Need Its Cliffhanger Endings
Season 3’s Ending Featured A Similarly Unnecessary Twist
To be sure, it’s not essential for “Ghosts” season 4 to conclude with a cliffhanger. The sitcom boasts enough charm to draw in viewers steadily throughout the year without resorting to sensational rating stunts. In fact, many esteemed shows have leaned more heavily on big-name guest appearances and other low-cost gimmicks than “Ghosts” or the original BBC sitcom ever did. It’s quite vexing that each season of Ghosts seems to feature a cliffhanger ending, as this device doesn’t enhance the show and, most significantly, often squeezes engaging storylines into narrower, more congested timeframes.
| Ghosts Actor | Character Name |
|---|---|
| Brandon Scott Jones | Isaac Higgintoot |
| Roman Zaragoza | Sass |
| Danielle Pinnock | Alberta |
| Rebecca Wisocky | Hetty |
| Richie Moriarty | Pete |
| Asher Grodman | Trevor |
| Devon Chandler Long | Thor |
In a surprising turn of events, Season 3 concluded with Isaac abandoning his marriage to Nigel just as Pete announced his love for a long-distance girlfriend, causing Isaac to reconsider. After spending three seasons grappling with his sexuality, it was unexpected when Isaac decided he didn’t want to commit in the end. The finale could have delved deeper into the emotional fallout of this decision, but instead, it took an abrupt turn as Isaac was kidnapped by Patience. This storyline was eventually resolved in Season 4’s opening episode.
Ghosts Season 4’s Cliffhanger Ending Cheapened Its Story
Season 4 Featured Some Genuinely Poignant and Moving Stories
The sudden introduction of Jay’s predicament in the final moments of the finale felt rushed and unimpactful, like an added detail instead of a central plot point. It would have been more effective if it had been developed over a longer period, allowing viewers to truly feel the weight of his situation. In “Ghosts,” the emphasis on Patience’s hypocrisy served well in keeping viewers guessing about the big twist, but at the cost of diminishing Elias’s presence and development.
In some instances during the fourth season of “Ghosts”, less emphasis was required on grand, dramatic turns to make a strong impact, and several storylines would’ve been more fitting as season finales rather than Jay’s sudden predicament in the closing moments. The emotional resonance of Trevor reuniting with his granddaughter for the first time in “Pinkus Returns” (episode 19) and Alberta saving her great-grandniece’s marriage in “The Bachelorette Party” (episode 15), felt more authentic and impactful compared to Jay’s situation, as these storylines didn’t appear rushed or artificial.
Among many potential climaxes for season 4, the heartfelt farewell between Pete and his daughter in “A Very Arondekar Christmas Part 2” (episode 9) stands out as a strong choice. While the story arc of saving Jay’s soul in “Ghosts” season 5 could be engaging, it might not be ideal to reserve the show’s most significant twists for the final moments of each season. This practice keeps viewers wondering if everything is resolved at Woodstone Mansion, and unnecessarily heightened drama can undermine the show’s sincere emotional impact.
Ghosts Season 5 Should Leave Its Characters In Peace
The CBS Sitcom Doesn’t Need Twist Endings To Bring Viewers Back
It’s reasonable to expect that the fifth season of Ghosts won’t end with another cliffhanger finale, given how many we’ve had in a row. The show doesn’t necessarily need such dramatic plot twists at the end of each season, especially since most of the big reveals from previous Ghosts season finales have been false alarms. For instance, Patience’s kidnapping of Isaac was resolved within half an episode, the ghost who got pulled into the afterlife in season 2 wasn’t Flower, and it’s unlikely that Jay will actually be sent to Hell for all eternity as suggested by the twist at the end of season 4.
The unexpected turns in the series can undermine viewers’ trust, and since Ghosts doesn’t rely heavily on plot twists, these unnecessary surprises become annoying. Jay is one of the most intricate characters in Ghosts, struggling to help Sam while dealing with his own inability to interact with ghosts. Utkarsh Ambudkar’s character deserves a more developed storyline than the sudden revelation at the end of season 4, so for Ghosts season 5, it’s essential to focus on character development rather than twists that may be exciting in the moment but lack significance in the grand scheme of the CBS sitcom.
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2025-05-31 19:58