AlthoughGhostsseason 4 is still providing plenty of laughs and character growth, the CBS sitcom is missing an ingredient that elevated its earlier seasons. Theghosts ofGhostscan be an annoying bunch, particularly when they are making unreasonable demands of the Woodstone B&B’s human residents, Sam and Jay. However, the group is also pretty sympathetic and, while Pete can now travel around the world, it is tough not to feel bad for the ghosts who are trapped in the grounds of the estate for eternity.
Ghostsusually humanizes its undead heroes by filling in unexpected details of their backstories, revealing the people they once were via occasional glimpses.Ghostsseason 4’s new character Patiencethe Puritan may not have been all that sympathetic, but the sitcom gave viewers an apt idea of who she was in the season 4 premiere’s cold open. The opening scene of “Patience” was a flashback to Mary Holland’s Patience getting kicked out of a 1600s Puritan colony for being too humorless and dour. Not only did this make the character somewhat tragic, but it also gave viewers fair warning.
Alexander Hamilton’s Ghosts Season 4 Arrival Will Be Via Flashbacks
Nat Faxon Will Play The Founding Father In A Flashback
Thanks to the opening scene of “Patience,” viewers knew that Holland’s new arrival was a tightly wound stick in the mud long before she became trapped beneath the mansion. As such, it was no shock whenGhostsseason 4 revealed she had only gotten worse after her death. This example showcases just how much flashbacks can illustrate the lives of the show’s characters and, by extension, show viewers what they were like before they died. This is why it is such a shame thatGhostsseason 4 relies on flashbacks a lot less than earlier seasons, judging by its early episodes.
Although flashbacks were relatively commonplace in earlier seasons, only two appear in the first 9 episodes of season 4. There was one to introduce Patience in episode 1’s cold open and another very brief one in episode 8, “A Very Arondekar Christmas Part 1,” when Sass fondly remembered Thor learning Lenape to communicate with him once he was dead. AlthoughGhostsseason 4’s Alexander Hamilton cameobeing confined to a flashback might have surprised some viewers, this trend proves that it is surprisingly good news.
Why Ghosts Season 4 Has Seemingly Scaled Back On Flashbacks
Seasons 1-3 Featured More Frequent Flashback Sequences
In comparison to seasons 1-3,Ghostsseason 4 is less reliant on flashbacks. Season 1, episode 7, “Flower’s Article,” episode 8, “D&D,” episode 9, “Alberta’s Fan,” and episode 14, “Ghostwriter” all included flashbacks, as did season 2, episode 6, “The Baby Bjorn,” episode 7, “Dumb Deaths,” episode 12, “The Family Business,” and episode 15, “A Date to Remember.” Furthermore, episodes like season 1, episode 16, “Trevor’s Pants,” season 2, episode 21, “Whodunnit,” and season 3, episode 8, “Holes Are Bad,” featured central flashbacks that shaped their entire stories.
Devon Chandler Long
Thor
Ghoststraditionally used flashbacks both for brief cutaway gags and for major plot points, depending on the episode. However, season 4 has only used them twice and both were for brief character interactions. AlthoughPete’sGhostsseason 4 plotproved the show can tell a compelling story without flashbacks, they are still the best at illustrating the lives of the show’s heroes. Without the flashback to 1777 at the beginning of “D&D,” viewers would never have gotten to know and love Isaac.
How The Remainder Of Ghosts Season 4 Can Incorporate More Flashbacks
Ghosts Season 4’s Upcoming Sass Backstory Can Feature More Extensive Flashbacks
Fortunately, it is not too late forGhostsseason 4 to bring back flashbacks. The news that Nat Faxon’s role as Alexander Hamilton will be confined to a flashback is good in this regard, since the sitcom would not bring inThe Connersstar for a momentary cameo. The showrunners also revealed toTVLinethat season 4 would finally reveal Sass’s backstory, meaning viewers are likely to receive another flashback-heavy episode like “Whodunit.”
Faxon’s role as Hamilton can finally explain the chip on Isaac’s shoulder and make the flawed ghost more relatable and redeemable.
“Holes Are Bad” and “Trevor’s Pants” both succeeded because they devoted lengthy flashbacks to fleshing out the characters of Hetty and Trevor respectively, revealing their unexpectedly sympathetic origins. WhileGhostsseason 4 has wasted some supporting stars, it is not too late for the show to reverse this trend. Faxon’s role as Hamilton can finally explain the chip on Isaac’s shoulder and make the flawed ghost more relatable and redeemable, while Sass’s story can give viewers new insight into the Lenape storyteller.
Sass is a perfect example of a character who could use a flashback episode, as his stories often feel like afterthoughts. His outrage over Thor sharing his embarrassing secret in “A Very Arondekar Christmas Part 1” was barely addressed, and his brief affair with a girl in Jay’s dream turned out to be an embarrassing mistake. ForGhostsseason 4 to give this supporting character the spotlight he deserves, the show must bring back its flashbacks in future episodes.
