While CBS’s Ghosts is a deservedly popular sitcom, one of the show’s most unfortunate narrative tropes needs to stop before season 4 wraps up. Ghosts is a remake of the British sitcom of the same name and began airing on CBS in 2021. As in the original, the various ghosts of Ghosts are arguably the real stars of the series, constantly getting into scrapes as Sam supervises. However, while this makes the show one of the most likeable on television, it doesn’t save it from repeating a mistake that can undermine sitcoms.
Although Ghosts season 4 will see the series bring Thorfinn, Hetty, and Pete back to screens soon, their fates aren’t the ones that have viewers worrying. The Continental Army officer Isaac, who has generally been a minor villain in the house’s undead milieu, was kidnapped by the creepy Patience during season 3, episode 10, “Isaac’s Wedding.” Shortly after Ghosts season 3’s missing character Flower returned, Isaac and Nigel broke up due to Isaac’s inability to stay faithful. Isaac was then dragged through a wall by Patience, a creepy specter who was obsessed with him. This resulted in an unusual ending, ill-suited to the sitcom format.
Ghosts Season 4 Doesn’t Need A Cliffhanger Ending
Although the breakup in “Isaac’s Wedding” was well handled, Ghosts season 3 didn’t need a cliffhanger ending after the event. Cliffhanger endings are designed to keep viewers coming back, but they’re unnecessary in a series that is usually an episodic sitcom rather than a serialized show. Ghosts does have longer character arcs, like Nigel and Isaac’s relationship, but it isn’t primarily concerned with dramatic events. Ghosts is usually a light-hearted comedy, so sudden dramatic stings can feel like a cheap ploy in this context. Moreover, the success of Ghosts proves these measures are wholly unnecessary.
Unlike a lot of sitcoms, Ghosts has grown progressively more popular since the show began. The pilot earned 5.52 million viewers back in 2021, whereas “Isaac’s Wedding” commanded an audience of 5.95 million. The first episode of Ghosts season 3 fared even better with 7 million viewers. It is clear that the series is popular, so Ghosts doesn’t need cheap cliffhanger endings to keep viewers coming back for more. What makes this frustrating is the fact that the show’s original inspiration, the BBC series, was less invested in this strategy. In its five seasons, BBC’s Ghosts only featured one cliffhanger.
Ghosts Should Take A Cue From The Original UK Show
In the penultimate outing of BBC’s original Ghosts, the country house’s adjacent Gatehouse catches fire and burns to the ground. Since the central couple were using the funds from renting the Gatehouse to refurbish the crumbling manor, they are left without a plan for their future. This cliffhanger ending felt a lot like CBS’ Ghosts season 2 finale, which revealed that one of the ghosts was being taken to the afterlife but didn’t show which one. Both endings promised to upend the status quo of the series, forcing viewers to return next season and find out the outcome.
The difference is that BBC’s Ghosts only pulled this trick once after building up four years of audience goodwill. Earlier seasons, like season 3, could have ended with tantalizing open questions like whether the couple fell for a scammer. However, the British version of the series resisted this temptation and wrapped up these storylines before ending the finale. In contrast, Ghosts seemed desperate to keep viewers invested even though the show is faring well with audiences. Since the series began, CBS’ Ghosts has boasted an impressive audience share, and this has only improved in recent outings.
Ghosts’ Cliffhanger Endings Tempt A Terrible Sitcom Fate
The reason that BBC’s Ghosts often ended with a sweet, heartwarming send-off is it was rarely clear whether the series would be renewed. British shows have shorter seasons than American sitcoms, with BBC’s Ghosts having only six episodes per outing where CBS’ Ghosts has 18, 22, and 10. It is really tempting fate to end every season with a huge cliffhanger, considering any of these seasons could be the show’s last. This means, that with no resolution, viewers would be left frustrated by an unanswered mystery.
It is fair for shows that risk cancelation to try and keep viewers invested via cliffhanger endings, but this is more understandable when the series is a procedural or a drama rather than a sitcom. For viewers watching either version of Ghosts, there is no impetus to give up on the series. This is reflected in the CBS show’s impressive ratings. As such, Ghosts season 4 should borrow from its UK inspiration and drop this unnecessary approach to each outing’s ending. There is no need for a series as fun as Ghosts to string viewers along, let alone risk an underwhelming ending.
