S01.E01: Pilot/S01.E02: Hello!

[AnimeMania]

What is the Viking doing there?

Spoiler

The next episode will focus on the Viking and maybe you will get some answers.

[Whimsy]

18 hours ago, Cress said:

One of the basement ghosts had his hair covering up his face, and he kind of looked familiar. Is it because he's someone recognizable if his face was uncovered? I wonder if Sam will ever ask them their names and stories.

I think it’s this guy you’re referring to?  He’s the only one of the basement ghosts I recognized from other projects. 

[Cress]

No I mean the guy with the bushy beard and his hair over his face. I'll see if I can attach a picture.

Edited October 13, 2021 by Cress
added another pic

[AngieBee1]

Though obscured, he looks slightly like Timothy Omundson from "Psych" and "Galavant", though I know it's not him.

[The Crazed Spruce]

17 hours ago, SmithW6079 said:

The premise is that these people died in the house or on the grounds, yes? The Viking doesn't make sense, and neither do the flapper and the Wall Street guy (I think she'd have been more likely to die in Harlem and him somewhere out in the Hamptons).

The Viking very likely died on the land long before the house was built.

Spoiler

We'll find out for sure in this week's episode.

And as for the other two, they probably attended parties at the mansion, and died there. I'm sure they'll reveal their back stories somewhere down the line.

[tennisgurl]

I have never seen the original UK version of this so I have nothing to compare it to, but I thought this was a lot of fun. I love Rose McIver, who just cannot avoid the undead, and while the characters are mostly pretty broad, it is only the first two episodes. There is plenty of time to actually explore the characters more than jokes about their time period and basic traits, and it is a wacky comedy after all. This made me laugh, so I cant complain. Like I said, I have never seen or even heard of the British version but I did look it up and I think its interesting how they translated it for an American setting with the differences in the two countries histories. I am curious as to how everyone ended up at the house, but we will probably find out as we get backstories. We can presumably guess that the Viking died on the spot where the house was built, the singer and the Wall-Street guy might have been there for parties, they have to save up for the backstory episodes. I am definitely going to be back. 

The poor Cholera victims were creepy and hilarious. "At least they left the light on..."

I might be giving the show a bit too much credit and its just for the sake of a joke, but its actually pretty clever that the Viking guy is really into cleanliness. The Vikings were actually quite clean as a culture, especially compared to their European contemporaries. People at the time even commented on how weird it was that they bathed so much. 

The main living couple is pretty likable so far and I like how quick they are to accept that this is happening. No spending half the season thinking that this is just a side effect of a brain injury, they are on board by episode two. If the wife is a writer she should just consider traveling the world talking to ghosts and getting their life stories, she could pass them off as historical fiction or say that she "found" diaries or documents and make a killing while ghosts get to tell their stories. 

Edited October 12, 2021 by tennisgurl

[Cress]

5 hours ago, tennisgurl said:

The poor Cholera victims were creepy and hilarious. "At least they left the light on..."

I also liked how they were sarcastic about Mr. Fix it, and one guy said, "I know we're already dead, but he's trying to kill us." 😄

[treeofdreams]

On 10/10/2021 at 9:54 PM, Cress said:

One of the basement ghosts had his hair covering up his face, and he kind of looked familiar. Is it because he's someone recognizable if his face was uncovered? I wonder if Sam will ever ask them their names and stories.

Cholera victims:

Cody Crain https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5131713/?ref_=tt_cl_t_17

Nigel Downer https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4504376/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t20

Stuart Fink https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6366455/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t21

Arthur Holden https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0390161/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t23

Cat Lemieux https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0501289/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t25

 

Edited October 14, 2021 by treeofdreams

[Scarlett45]

I saw this when it aired and had such a busy week I forgot to comment. 
 

I think this could be really cute. It’s a comedy but I would like to get more in-depth backstories on the Ghosts and why they are stuck to the house. 

[SoMuchTV]

Maybe I missed it or maybe I’m getting ahead of things, but the elderly aunt who died in the house - why isn’t she one of the ghosts now?

[possibilities]

She went to the afterlife. I don't think we've been told why some are stuck in the house and others "ascend". 

[Snow Apple]

Yup. I think they were gathering around her bed to either welcome her or see if she moves on. I may be remembering wrong though.

[Whimsy]

1 hour ago, Snow Apple said:

Yup. I think they were gathering around her bed to either welcome her or see if she moves on. I may be remembering wrong though.

No, you're right.  It was actually one of the funnier bits of the episode, to me.  All of the ghosts were welcoming her, introducing themselves, very excited for someone new to talk to and she went *poof* up to the light and they all groaned and were disappointed.

[TVForever]

On 10/8/2021 at 9:42 PM, Cress said:

Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to put spoilers about the BBC show. I'll refrain in future and just discuss the US show in the episode threads. I'll start a separate Compare/contrast thread in the forum. Ichbin, I'll reply to you on the new thread, so we can compare shows without spoiling people who haven't seen both.

 

Thanks. I'll definitely check in on that thread, because comparing the two versions is half the fun!

[Rebky]

Re-watching and loved the scene of the cholera victim in the basement informing the actress who played a zombie that zombies do not exist. 😄

 

 

Edited October 15, 2021 by Rebky

[ctlady]

On 10/8/2021 at 1:13 AM, EllenB said:

I hope they'll tone down some of the acting in future episodes, and that the O-T-T was just a device to establish the characters. I thought the main live male character was more annoying than any of the ghosts; he needs to dial it WAY back.

Just saw the first two eps last night and totally agree with this.  Maybe as the actors ease into their roles a bit they'll find a rhythm

On 10/8/2021 at 1:13 AM, EllenB said:

The pantsless ghost needs to be set free ASAP because he's a keg of offensive dynamite waiting to ruin the show. Or the actor's not good enough to navigate the very fine line between funny and offensive

I didn't mind him in the least.  Call me thick skinned (or someone who grew up in an era where tv didn't cave to 'woke' PC-ness), but I thought his mannerisms and language fit the brash, arrogant personality of the character.  I'm guessing due to his sans-the-pants-and-briefs that he may have died during a quickie in the Hamptons!

On 10/11/2021 at 3:51 PM, SmithW6079 said:

think Upstate New York. For some reason I want to say near Fort Ticonderoga, given the Revolutionary War ghost

I looked up Bethel, NY - the site of Woodstock where the hippie chick had been until she got lost in the woods and attacked by a bear - and it's more southern NY.  I don't know if it was mentioned how long of a ride it was to the estate from the city or whether they traveled north or south.  

I really like the twist that the wife can now see them and can act as a mediator between the dead and the living. I don't know of the UK version, so this was a surprise to me and thought it was going to be really hard to pull this show off where no one can see these ghosts.  But she's going to have to put some boundaries down - like no ghosts in the bedroom or shower.  

[TVForever]

1 hour ago, ctlady said:

 

I didn't mind him in the least.  Call me thick skinned (or someone who grew up in an era where tv didn't cave to 'woke' PC-ness), but I thought his mannerisms and language fit the brash, arrogant personality of the character.  I'm guessing due to his sans-the-pants-and-briefs that he may have died during a quickie in the Hamptons!

Same here. He's an almost amusing throwback to the "Greed is good" 1980s .When he wanted Samantha to check on his stocks, Enron, Radio Shack, and Blockbuster Video, I actually chuckled! Those awful Masters of the Universe types were a special bunch, weren't they?

[possibilities]

I hate him the way I'd have hated him when he was alive. Not a comment on the actor or even the writing. It's very effective.

[SmithW6079]

11 hours ago, ctlady said:

I looked up Bethel, NY - the site of Woodstock where the hippie chick had been until she got lost in the woods and attacked by a bear - and it's more southern NY.  I don't know if it was mentioned how long of a ride it was to the estate from the city or whether they traveled north or south.  

I'm from downstate New York. Anything north of the Bronx is upstate. 😁

[marypat57]

The Bronx is as far “north” as I’ve ever lived, so I totally get what you say about “upstate”, @SmithW6079!
 

I am enjoying this show so far.  Did we ever get an explanation about how “pantsless” met his demise?

[giovannif7]

33 minutes ago, marypat57 said:

(snip)
 

I am enjoying this show so far.  Did we ever get an explanation about how “pantsless” met his demise?

I don't remember hearing an explanation yet, but given the era he's from I immediately assumed it was some sort of drug-enhanced auto-erotic misadventure.

I'm enjoying the show a lot as well. I'm especially enamored with Devan Chandler Long, who plays the Thorfinn the Viking. I loved him as Flex Mentallo on Doom Patrol, and I'm really appreciating his surprisingly moving work here on Ghosts as well. I was not happy when I thought he was going to ascend off the show, although the 12-year-old in me was snickering all through the conversation about how lovely it would be to see the big guy get "sucked off." I'm relieved he will be sticking around.

[kwnyc]

We watched the first four episodes in a row, and you can see it gelling well. We're here for awhile.

Also, now have to watch the BBC original! (I had not twigged, until I saw "Miranda" that Miranda Hart had created "Call Me Cat." 

[4merBachAddict]

Just re-watched the pilot & noticed a 'Fonzie type' ghost - never saw him again. Anyone know what what happened to him?

 

[Cress]

On 12/25/2021 at 2:10 PM, 4merBachAddict said:

Just re-watched the pilot & noticed a 'Fonzie type' ghost - never saw him again. Anyone know what what happened to him?

 

No we don't know what happened to him since he lost his head. Well, we did see his headless body walking around in the background of the Halloween episode, but nothing else. I do hope the show will someday give more story on him, like how he got beheaded. Most of the other ghosts have had backstories and flashbacks.

[Kiddvideo]

I hadn’t noticed it before, but when Sam was being loaded into the ambulance Pete was empathizing with Jay because Pete had argued with his wife the last time he saw her, and he knew the regret Jay was facing. Pete couldn’t remember what the argument was about, but he now realized nothing was more important than his love for his wife. But then Pete (getting more and more worked up), “Oh, I remember now! She ate all the donut holes, and she doesn’t even like donut holes. She did it just to spite me.” But then he remembered he was suppose to focus on the love and not the anger he obviously still felt about the donut holes. 😂

 

[zoey1996]

I watched this from the beginning, but since it’s on Roku (or another streaming service I get), I just rewatched these episodes. As funny (or funnier) this time around!

[LexieLily]

Many thanks to @Annber03 for recommending this show to me! 

Flower has scratches on her back, and that tracks if she was mauled to death by a bear, but the one that apparently died via an arrow-shot to the neck? Pete? Shouldn't he have dried blood on him or something? A lot of these people, actually, seem entirely too clean and put-together for how they died: mauled by a bear (Flower), shot through the neck by an arrow (Pete), maybe poisoned that led to a heart attack (Alberta) and whatever happened to the Viking that probably wasn't good, either. None of their clothes are ripped! The only blood I saw was from the weird ghost who's head fell off and the other ghosts went about their business as usual. Hee!

Isaac's one-track mind about what happened to Hamilton and Alberta's one-track mind about her being murdered cracked me up (her request for Sam to have a dinner party with the ten most likely people to have murdered her was very "And Then There Were None," which made me laugh), and I LOLed at the ending of Isaac dictating his memoirs to Sam. These ghosts are going to be able to have a lot of fun now that Sam can see and hear them and they have a connection to the living world! 

I loved how, despite their clear annoyance at first about Sam/Jay moving into their mansion and turning it into a B&B, all the Ghosts were upset when Sam got hurt and hoped she was okay. Even Trevor, who unintentionally started all of it with the vase. (Trevor does seem like sort of a tool, but hopefully that will change XD).

Jay was remarkably chill about the fact that his wife can now see, hear, and communicate with ghosts. Loved his "I'm watching you" gesture when he and Sam left the living room after the Ghosts all introduced themselves and told Sam/Jay what they wanted.

One of the low-key funny bits to me was how apparently these Ghosts have special meetings each week where each Ghost can lead a discussion on the topic of their choosing, and next week the Viking is going to talk about different types of cod! :D.

Edited February 16, 2023 by LexieLily

[Mabinogia]

1 hour ago, LexieLily said:

One of the low-key funny bits to me was how apparently these Ghosts have special meetings each week where each Ghost can lead a discussion on the topic of their choosing, and next week the Viking is going to talk about different types of cod! :D.

If the show ever wanted to do webisodes of some of these meetings I would not object. lol

[Annber03]

8 hours ago, Mabinogia said:

If the show ever wanted to do webisodes of some of these meetings I would not object. lol

Ooh. Yes. I would totally watch those :D.

10 hours ago, LexieLily said:

Isaac's one-track mind about what happened to Hamilton and Alberta's one-track mind about her being murdered cracked me up (her request for Sam to have a dinner party with the ten most likely people to have murdered her was very "And Then There Were None," which made me laugh), and I LOLed at the ending of Isaac dictating his memoirs to Sam. These ghosts are going to be able to have a lot of fun now that Sam can see and hear them and they have a connection to the living world! 

This is part of the fun of going back and watching the pilot/early episodes of a show once you've gotten to know the characters - it's great to see these details early on and know what becomes of those little threads and details. I too love how quickly they went from, "Let's get them out of here!" to "...oh, no, wait, actually, it might be fun/useful to have them around." Mind, I think it also helps that Hetty and Sam have that familial connection, but still... 

Rewatched these two episodes recently, too - I still love Pete's speech about the last time you see those you love. It's genuinely poignant and moving and gets me all choked up every time. I think that's the moment, when I first saw this episode, when I officially decided I was in on this whole ride. I really like it when a show can balance the humor and the heart like that, and this show does that so very well. 

I also forgot about the fact that Isaac found Jay very attractive early on in the show :D. Understandably so, mind, hehe. I wonder if he still feels that way about Jay to some extent. 

Look forward to reading more of your thoughts as you continue to check out the show :). 

[Johannah]

19 hours ago, LexieLily said:

Many thanks to @Annber03 for recommending this show to me! 

Flower has scratches on her back, and that tracks if she was mauled to death by a bear, but the one that apparently died via an arrow-shot to the neck? Pete? Shouldn't he have dried blood on him or something? A lot of these people, actually, seem entirely too clean and put-together for how they died: mauled by a bear (Flower), shot through the neck by an arrow (Pete), maybe poisoned that led to a heart attack (Alberta) and whatever happened to the Viking that probably wasn't good, either. None of their clothes are ripped! The only blood I saw was from the weird ghost who's head fell off and the other ghosts went about their business as usual. Hee!

...

I get what you're saying, but for a television show that has to reapply the makeup every day, it would be very hard to recreate it exactly and then the fans would be constantly remarking how that drizzle of blood was longer/shorter/more crooked... last week.  You have a point about Thor's clothing not being messier, but the other's, I think, are fine.  If their bodies are as they were at death, Flower died during the first swipe by the bear, before her clothes were ripped - - and other fanwanks for the others.  🤪

Keep watching and sharing your thoughts!  For me, it's like reading the end of a book and then going back to read how they got there.  Fun!

[LexieLily]

On 2/17/2023 at 10:22 AM, Johann said:

Keep watching and sharing your thoughts!  For me, it's like reading the end of a book and then going back to read how they got there.  Fun!

Ha, will do, for sure. I've watched episodes three and four this week so far and commented :)

[Bastet]

I'd never heard of this show (or the UK version) and don't believe in ghosts, but for some reason decided to give it a look on Paramount+ last night and watched the first two episodes.  It's fun.  I'm not familiar with any of the cast members other than the actor playing Hetty from a guest shot on a comedy episode of Major Crimes, but I think everyone is doing a good job with a silly premise.

Now, I was drinking last night, so maybe I won't be as charmed today when I watch some more, but I've added this forum to my Home Page and will read each episode's thread after I've watched.

I love that so many people quoted my favorite line, Trevor describing the internet as "for looking up stock prices and porn".

[SoMuchTV]

1 hour ago, Bastet said:

I'd never heard of this show (or the UK version) and don't believe in ghosts, but for some reason decided to give it a look on Paramount+ last night and watched the first two episodes.  It's fun.  I'm not familiar with any of the cast members other than the actor playing Hetty from a guest shot on a comedy episode of Major Crimes, but I think everyone is doing a good job with a silly premise.

Now, I was drinking last night, so maybe I won't be as charmed today when I watch some more, but I've added this forum to my Home Page and will read each episode's thread after I've watched.

I love that so many people quoted my favorite line, Trevor describing the internet as "for looking up stock prices and porn".

Wow CBS really needs to step up their game if someone who frequents a site devoted to tv hasn’t heard of this show until now!  Granted it did get overshadowed by all the love for Abbot Elementary. I think you’re in for a treat, based on what you’ve liked so far. 

I will give pretty much any new network sitcom a chance, and this is by far my favorite of the recent ones.

As you mentioned, it’s based on a British show of the same name, that’s available on hbo+. If you want to watch that before, after, or alongside this one, there are some parallels but enough differences that spoilers aren’t an issue. 

[Bastet]

6 minutes ago, SoMuchTV said:

Wow CBS really needs to step up their game if someone who frequents a site devoted to tv hasn’t heard of this show until now!

Oh, it's long been clear I watch far less TV than most posters here, so my not having heard of it doesn't speak to any sort of promotional fail.  On network TV, I mostly only watch football and Jeopardy!, so there are plenty of shows I don't see promos for (or do but don't pay attention to).

[Annber03]

9 minutes ago, SoMuchTV said:

Wow CBS really needs to step up their game if someone who frequents a site devoted to tv hasn’t heard of this show until now!  Granted it did get overshadowed by all the love for Abbot Elementary. I think you’re in for a treat, based on what you’ve liked so far. 

I will give pretty much any new network sitcom a chance, and this is by far my favorite of the recent ones.

Seconding all of this. I literally checked this show out on a whim, saw a couple ads for it and was like, "What the hell, I'll give it a look." So glad I did. 

I'm really happy to see you joining in the discussion here, @Bastet! I look forward to your thoughts as you make your way through the show.