Hetty, portrayed by actress Rebecca Wisocky, 52, is the ancestor of the series lead character Sam Arondekar, played by Rose McIver, 35.
The uptight lady of the manor was the wife of the original owner of the Woodstone country estate built during the New York Gilded Age.
During the episode, a flashback reveals that in 1895 Hetty is informed that her husband Elias has disappeared and has left all of his legal troubles, such as child labor used in his factories, to her.
After the police arrive to question her, Hetty locks herself in the library – where she and her husband had recently placed one of the first phones in the area.
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Back in the present, Hetty claims that she died of an accidental overdose while celebrating Elias’ absence as she quipped, “I used to always say, you could never have too much morphine, but apparently, that is not correct.”
The truth is revealed after she unwraps a telephone cord, which she used to hang herself, that’s been hidden beneath her dress collar and uses it to pull the ghost, Flower, to safety in the episode’s B-plot.
In the episode’s final minutes, Hetty confessed to Sam and fellow ghost Isaac that she thought her death would protect her son by ensuring his wealth but she didn’t give him what he really needed, a mother’s love.
She stated that she saw no way out before admitting that while her life was about keeping up appearances, behind the scenes she was unhappy and didn’t know how to ask for help.
Issac replied, “You were in a hole. And sometimes, you need help getting out of those.”
Hetty, played by Rebecca Wisocky, revealed to Sam and Issac that her suicide was an attempt to help her son but it robbed him of what he needed the most, a mother.
Hetty, played by Rebecca Wisocky, revealed to Sam and Issac that her suicide was an attempt to help her son but it robbed him of what he needed the most, a mother.Credit: Getty
While guesting on CBS Mornings, Rebecca hinted at the cause of Hetty’s death
While guesting on CBS Mornings, Rebecca hinted at the cause of Hetty’s deathCredit: Getty
FAN REACTIONS
Fans responded to the episode on X, formally Twitter, and revealed that while they loved the Ghosts episode they didn’t expect the dark turn of Hetty’s suicide.
One fan tweeted, “Very good episode of Ghosts. First of all, poor Hetty. I didn’t expect it to get that dark?? I love that this show can do that though despite being a comedy and it’s not weird. 2nd, Flower is back!”
“Wow, we finally learned how Hetty died & it’s devastating. Wasn’t expecting that from her character which I think makes it even more shocking,” another person wrote.
While guesting on CBS Mornings, Rebecca Wisocky hinted at the big reveal surrounding Hetty’s death.
She told the hosts, “There are two ghosts [that] we don’t know how they died yet, Hetty and also Sasappis played by Román Zaragoza.”
“This week you find out how Hetty died and when I read it, it really took my breath away,” she confessed.
The actress added, “I think it’s going to be a surprise and will provoke lots of conversation.
“A whole lot happens, you find out what exactly was going down in Woodstone mansion in 1895.”
