Knowing that Patience has lived on her own in the deep, dark soil of Woodstone’s grounds is enough for the series to dig deep into some more horror elements for Season 4. Sure, Ghosts is a comedy and horror might seem like the polar opposite of the CBS sitcom, but if done right, they can be intertwined to build toward tension and its eventual release. Both share common elements of suspense and absurdity, while also aligning most strongly with timing. The final scene where Isaac gets pulled back into the darkness by a vengeful ghost is the perfect blend of both elements, delivering a well-timed jump scare and a punchline from Nancy that softens the fright.
Ghosts has never had a problem mixing horror with comedy, but they’ve been light on it. With the arrival of Patience in Season 4 and expanding the Woodstone lore of soil ghosts who now exist, the series has the potential to subvert expectations for the audience to create surprise and impact. We’ve seen it a few times in the series — the best examples being the campy, slasher horror nightmare that took attic girl Stephanie’s (Odessa A’zion) life and even how Crash (Alex Boniello) can separate his decapitated head from his body. Introducing more horror elements has the potential to keep viewers engaged, but also increase the suspense from the world they live in.
In “Isaac’s Wedding,” the effects of Pete’s (Richie Moriarty) power let him leave the property and explore life outside Woodstone. But while in St. Lucia and meeting a sweet, Loni Anderson-looking babe, the Scoutmaster’s hand starts to disappear.
In understanding the limits to his power, the further he is away from the mansion, parts of him vanish into oblivion — that is until he returns home and is back to his former self. This alone is a horror element not just for the audience, but for the characters too. In the episode, “The Traveling Agent,” he is forced to confront his fears and face challenging situations, like the dead Black Friday customers at the Target-looking department store and a violent gang of ghosts, whose leader was a butcher killed by a meat cleaver to the head.
We not only relate to Pete’s fears — it’s these kinds of details that can help explore darker themes and topics for sharpened depth in unpredictability. Think about it: They can walk through walls, but sit on couches? A hole to hell opened up in their living room? There is a lot more to explore, and incorporating more horror diversifies Ghosts’ appeal to create more profound opportunities for character development and plots that continue to leave audiences gasping.
