Jay Declares Woodstone Mansion’s Most Annoying Spirit In Ghosts Season 4, Episode 20 (& He’s Right)
Warning: Spoilers ahead for Ghosts season 4, episode 20, “I Know What You Did Thirty-Seven Summers Ago.”Sam’s (Rose McIver) ability to see the dead in Ghosts has been a game-changer for the spirits of Woodstone Manor. Sam’s husband Jay (Utkarsh Ambudkar), who can’t hear the ghosts in CBS’ Ghosts, often points out that they are inconveniencing themselves for the sake of the dead, but it’s clear that Sam sees the spirits as her family. The ghosts love her back, although their help often causes more harm, like when Trevor (Asher Grodman) over-orders shrimp for Bela (Punam Patel) in Ghosts season 4, episode 11.
In season 4, episode 20, Sam puts the future of Jay’s restaurant on the line to help Stephanie (Odessa A’zion), Woodstone Manor’s most annoying and inconsistent spirit. Stephanie died in 1987 on the night of her prom, killed by a chainsaw murderer. Like most teens, Stephanie sleeps most of the time, which, as a ghost, means most of the year. When she is awake, she is caustic and cruel, with a penchant for pointing out people’s weaknesses. Jay is right when he says it’s okay to put themselves first sometimes — especially with peripheral ghosts like Stephanie.
Jay Points Out That Stephanie Isn’t Even A Main Spirit, So Sam Doesn’t Have To Do Her A Favor
Sam Sees The Ghosts As Family, But That Shouldn’t Include Stephanie
Jay is excited the mayor is hosting an event at Woodstone Manor because he can grease the wheels to expedite the reopening of his restaurant, Mahesh. Mayor Tad (Justin Kirk) shares that he was Stephanie’s prom date 37 years ago — he tried to save her but was knocked unconscious. However, Stephanie is furious to see Tad, claiming he sacrificed her to save himself.
Related
Ghosts, which originally began on the BBC, is getting yet another international remake. It joins a list of other sitcoms with several international remakes, including The Office and Superstore. One sitcom I’d love to see a remake of (international or not) is 30 Rock. A TV show about making TV is a fantastic premise, and I’d love to see a version in the present day. However, considering Tina Fey is working on a new comedy for NBC with Tracy Morgan right now, I think it’s more likely that we’ll see a 30 Rock reboot in the near future instead.
Sam wants to expose the mayor, but Jay points out that this could have real repercussions for their businesses. They’re always putting the dead’s needs first, but Stephanie isn’t even one of the “main” ghosts. Eventually, Jay caves after seeing how Tad has built his political identity around the concept that he “doesn’t run away” from problems. As Sam and Jay confront Tad at his event, Sam learns that Stephanie lied and Tad’s version is the truth.
|
Main Ghosts Ghost Characters & Their Relationship Statuses |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Character |
Period/Occupation |
Relationship Status |
|
Thorfinn |
Viking |
In a relationship with Flower. Thor’s last two girlfriends were sucked off. |
|
Sasappis |
Lenape Native American (1500s) |
Single and a virgin. Loved Shiki from afar when he was alive. Previously in a relationship with Jessica, a ghost bound to a car. Now dating Joan. |
|
Isaac Higgintoot |
Revolutionary War captain |
Previously engaged to British solider Nigel Chessum but called off the wedding because of his attraction to Chris. |
|
Henrietta “Hetty” Woodstone |
Gilded Age socialite & Lady of the Manor |
Used to be in a secretive on-again, off-again relationship with Trevor. Had a date with Jay’s living cousin Sunil. |
|
Alberta Haynes |
Prohibition lounge singer |
Single. Used to be in a relationship with a poltergeist bound to a B+B guest. Suddenly attracted to “bad boy” Pete. |
|
Flower |
Hippie |
In a relationship with Thor. |
|
Pete Martino |
Travel agent & Pinecone Troop leader |
In a relationship with a St. Lucia ghost, Donna. Now in a love triangle with Alberta, who he previously had an unrequited crush on. |
|
Trevor Lefkowitz |
Stockbroker |
Used to be in a casual relationship with Hetty. Had a thing with Jay’s living sister. Stephanie is attracted to Trevor since they were born the same year, but he sees her as too young. |
Later, Stephanie confesses she is pissed at Tad for moving on from her with her best friend within a week of her death, as she saw them together at her vigil. Yet Stephanie is moved when Tad says it was Stephanie’s loss that brought him and his now wife together, and they named their daughter after her. Inexplicably, Tad buys Sam’s flimsy excuse that they were high (since his event was on 4/20), and he even agrees to call the permit office to get Mahesh reopened after the events of Ghosts season 4, episode 15.
Stephanie Lying About Her Death Despite Mahesh’s Fate On The Line Backs Up Jay’s Original Decision
Sam Should Have Remembered Stephanie Is A Known Liar
Even if Stephanie had been telling the truth, Jay’s instincts were right: There was no upside to making an enemy of the mayor. After all, is it really so egregious that a teenage boy would run away from a chainsaw-wielding killer? Sam puts Jay’s restaurant in jeopardy to get a modicum of justice for a ghost she hardly ever sees. And as Hetty (Rebecca Wisocky) and Isaac (Brandon Scott Jones) point out, Stephanie’s defining characteristic is lying, so perhaps Sam should have weighed that in their decision.
Related
Star Sheila Carrasco Explains How Ghosts Season 4 Begins Flower’s Redemption
ScreenRant interviews star Sheila Carrasco about Flower turning the tables on Trevor and Hetty, as well as Jay’s dinner fiasco in Ghosts season 4.
Sam has major boundary issues when it comes to the ghosts, like when she prioritizes Alberta’s romance over her ability to get a solid night’s sleep in “The Polterguest.” Sam can’t help but meddle in Ghosts, but going forward, she should only put herself and Jay at risk for the ghosts who actually have her back. Luckily, everything resolved itself in true sitcom fashion, and Mahesh will hopefully have a grand reopening soon. Maybe Sam will have more of her guard up when we next see Stephanie in Ghosts, but Sam admittedly has a soft spot for all spirits.
New episodes of Ghosts air Thursdays at 8:30 p.m. ET and stream the next day on Paramount+. Season 4, episode 21, “Kyle,” will air May 1, 2025, written by the showrunners Joe Port and Joe Wiseman.
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8/10
- Release Date
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October 7, 2021
- Directors
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Christine Gernon, Jaime Eliezer Karas, Katie Locke O’Brien, Nick Wong, Jude Weng, Pete Chatmon, Richie Keen, Alex Hardcastle, Kimmy Gatewood, Matthew A. Cherry, Cortney Carrillo
- Writers
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Emily Schmidt, John Timothy, Lauren Bridges, Sophia Lear, Guy Endore-Kaiser, Rishi Chitkara, Julia Harter, Skander Halim, Zora Bikangaga
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Rose McIver
Samantha Arondekar
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Utkarsh Ambudkar
Jay Arondekar
