Another Post About Ghosts (2021-)

When I wrote my previous post about the US version of Ghosts (2021-), I had only watched a handful of episodes. Just enough to get the idea and see if the show was worth continuing to watch. Having been charmed by it, I decided to keep with it, and suddenly, there I was last week, having realized that I had binged the entire series (well, right up to the most recent episode of the current season, at any rate).

I can now attest that, yes, Ghosts is 100% worth the watch. In fact, it’s displaced Cadfael as my costuming comfort object for when mainlining episodes of The Venture Brothers just isn’t quite scratching that historical itch.

1. The costumes are great

As I pointed out in the previous post, the costumes worn by the ghosts are excellent.

Matthew Baynton, far left, is one of the co-creators of the original UK version. He appears in an episode of the US version as a pretentious British actor.

2. There’s a lot more costuming content too

The ghosts don’t get costume changes, per se. But every few episodes there will be a flashback to one ghost’s life before death and this is where the costuming content really shines.

Heddy has the most costume changes of all the ghosts. In life she was married to a fabulously wealthy robber baron and lived in the mansion during the late-19th century.

This is from an episode that flashes back to Heddy’s life pre-marriage. Judging by the natural form style gown, this is in the 1870s, when Heddy would have been in her teens or early-20s.

Check out the sweep on this gown! Love it!

Heddy isn’t the only ghost with a fabulous wardrobe. Alberta was a popular jazz singer who died in the prime of her career. We occasionally get a glimpse into her dazzling Prohibition Era clothing, too.

Thorfinn’s wife who appears in a flashback to his life in 9th century Norway. Her outfit is pretty darn good for a one-off character. This was the outfit that convinced me that the costume designer, Carmen Alie, actually gives a crap about historical authenticity.

The show also adds new ghosts from different historical periods along the way, too.

Heddy’s maid makes an appearance in one episode (along with her philandering husband). The maid’s outfit is really superbly done. Again, there’s no reason to have spent that much care on the costume of a one-off character, but they did.

Stephanie, the “Attic Ghost”, makes the occasional appearance to cause chaos. She died in the mid-1980s, during her prom night, and even though this isn’t a historical period that we cover, I have to point out how great everything is about her outfit. Right down to the white pumps. If you lived through the 80s, you know.

3. The writing is so solid

Seriously, the writing team for this show is fabulous. The showrunners, Joe Port and Joe Wiseman, both produced popular shows Me, Myself and Irene and the first season New Girl, neither of which I ever had any desire to watch, but now I’m wondering if maybe I’m missing out.

4. The actors all have great chemistry

They’re all great, but I need to single out a couple here for special praise.

Nancy, one of the cholera ghosts from the basement (played by the utterly unhinged and hysterical Betsy Sodaro), is probably my favorite character on the show. Anyone who knows me will understand why.

Another standout favorite of mine is Isaac, the Revolutionary War-era ghost. I don’t know if it’s his writing, or the way he’s played by Brandon Scott Jones, or if it’s just a mix of both, but every scene he’s in is quality.

Sasappis, the hopeless romantic who died in the 16th century and is still waiting to meet that special someone, is also the voice of snark in the show. I love how Román Zaragoza delivers every sarcastic line, every withering stare, and yet somehow retains Sass’s sweet side.

And last but not least, Jay (Utkarsh Ambudkar), who can’t even see the ghosts, but is one hell of a team player. Also, his writer is clearly an old school D&D nerd, which wins massive points for both relevance and accuracy.

If you haven’t watched Ghosts (2021-) yet, do it! And then tell us all about it in the comments!

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1 thought on “Another Post About Ghosts (2021-)”

ED says:

December 4, 2024 at 7:41 am

I look forward to the third season of this show arriving on this side of the Pond: it’s one of those rare remakes that made me love it quite as much as the original.

Also, I dearly hope we’ll get a little more insight into the interpersonal dynamics of the neighbour household that hosts the ghosts of Thorfinn’s little boy, the World’s Most Unpuritanical 17th Century New Englander and a mid century housewife who would really, really like her son to stop throwing orgies in the family home.