In Ghosts season 4, episode 10, Hetty learns that her grandmother was secretly, shamefully Irish, making her Irish as well. In Ghosts season 4, episode 16, Jay’s cousin Sunil is staying at Woodstone Manor over St. Patrick’s Day to lift his spirits after being dumped. When she walks in, Hetty is shocked that Sunil can see and hear her, although he is completely unaware of Alberta and Sas. He offers her some coffee, and she cleverly declines by saying, “It goes right through me.”
Hetty and some of the ghosts speculate about why Hetty can be seen now after being dead for nearly 150 years. Pete theorizes it’s because she now knows she is Irish (and has learned to see the Irish as people), which is why she can be seen on St. Patrick’s Day, the most famous Irish holiday. Pete reveals the concept of “tiers” for ghost powers, and whether Hetty stays visible will determine what tier her power is. Tier One is “godlike powers,” Tier Two is “neat but not really that useful,” and Tier Three is hardly ever needed.
Sunil excitedly tells a confused Jay and Sam that he’s had the most wonderful time connecting with their “guest,” Hetty. Over lunch, Sunil admires how present Hetty is, noting she hasn’t checked her phone once. They form a connection, as Sunil is metaphorically an old soul and Hetty is one. Things are going so well that Sunil invites Hetty to meet up again next weekend. When Sunil reaches for her hand, he obviously passes right through hers. Disturbed and confused, Sunil is even more alarmed when Hetty walks through a closed door.
Later, Hetty is filling in Sam and Jay in the kitchen when Sunil walks in, and asks Hetty in terror what she is. Hetty reveals her true identity as the Lady of the Manor and a ghost. Hetty thanks Sunil for allowing her to make a real connection for the first time in her life or afterlife and tells him that even if he feels out of step in modern times, “a wonderful man never goes out of style.”
At midnight, the ghosts, Sam, and Jay gather to see what will happen to Hetty. Hetty is not sucked off, but she goes back to usual self, where the livings apart from Sam cannot see her, at least until next St. Patrick’s Day, hopefully.
