Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Ghosts season 4, episode 14, “Alexander Hamilton and the Ruffle Kerfuffle,”
Although Ghosts often partakes in a sitcom trend that I find frustrating, season 4, episode 14 subverted this with a surprising call-back. Ironically, considering how much the ghosts of CBS’ Ghosts talk about their personal histories, the sitcom isn’t great at keeping track of its own history. While Ghosts season 4’s many Pete storylines all built on season 3’s revelation that he could leave the grounds of the Woodstone Mansion temporarily, a lot of other character details and plots from earlier episodes and seasons are swiftly forgotten by the main characters.
After Ghosts season 4 answered Thor’s backstory mystery, the therapy sessions that Sam shared with the ghosts wherein she aired all of their grievances to a professional were never mentioned again. Similarly, although Isaac’s book was mentioned in season 4, episode 6, “The Primary Source,” the sitcom has not addressed the plot since then. As such, I was surprised and delighted when season 4, episode 14, “Alexander Hamilton and the Ruffle Kerfuffle,” brought back a plot point that I assumed would be abandoned entirely.
Ghosts Season 4, Episode 14 Explores The Fallout From Carol's Mobster Family Story
Ghosts Season 4 Episode 14 Brought Back The Previous Episode’s Plot
In the preceding episode, “Ghostfellas,” Pete accidentally got Jay into some serious trouble when he shared his widow Carol’s tomato sauce recipe with the chef. Jay was so impressed with the result that he immediately added it to his restaurant’s menu, only for Carol’s nephew Anthony to soon hear about this and demand that he remove the dish. Jay complied, but it was already too late. Carol’s nephew was revealed to be a mobster who soon took over Jay’s restaurant, scaring away customers and running up an outrageous unpaid tab.
While “Ghostlfellas” did end with Sam and Jay successfully scaring away Anthony, it took the worst Ghosts supporting character Carol a long time to help them out in this endeavor. As a result, the name of Jay’s restaurant was dragged through the mud as the venue came to be seen as a mob hangout for reasons beyond his control. I assumed that Ghosts would never mention the mobster who threatened Jay’s livelihood again since “Ghostfellas” ended with Anthony leaving the couple alone, but “Alexander Hamilton and the Ruffle Kerfuffle” proved me wrong.
Jay's struggles were attributed in part to the events of the preceding episode, proving that the story did impact the world of the sitcom after its conclusion.
Carol’s mobster family taking over Jay’s restaurant had tangible consequences, as Jay mentioned that it was a major factor in the restaurant’s reputation struggles. “Alexander Hamilton and the Ruffle Kerfuffle” centered on a flashback narrated by Isaac, who explained how pettiness once cost him the chance to sign the Declaration of Independence. However, this plot only began because Jay was feeling hopeless thanks to the restaurant’s struggles. These struggles were attributed in part to the events of the preceding episode, proving that the story did impact the world of the sitcom after its conclusion.
Sitcoms Tends To Have Very Little Connection Between Episodes, Including Ghosts
Most of Sitcom Plots Are Intentionally Self-Contained
There is an annoying tendency for sitcoms to reset the status quo back to normal at the end of every episode, no matter what happened the week before. Since Ghosts season 4’s Alexander Hamilton flashback is its main focus in episode 14, the show could have left any of the fallout from “Ghostfellas” unmentioned to make its plot more streamlined. This is an understandable approach, since it means any episode can be viewed in isolation and viewers don’t need to have seen earlier outings to understand the plot.
Related
Ghosts Season 4 Said What Everyone Was Thinking About A Major TV Controversy
Ghosts season 4 episode 12 took a jab at a highly awarded "comedy" show, and the sitcom hinted at a longstanding Emmys controversy in the process.
3
However, it also means that nothing ever feels like it matters all that much. Abbott Elementary’s local transit strike brought the world of the sitcom to a halt for an episode, but this plot was over by the cold open of the next outing. A cat with the bubonic plague ran throughout the titular hospital in one outing of St. Denis Medical, but later episodes ignored this catastrophe after the pet was caught and quarantined. This approach is so commonplace that it would have been no shock if “Alexander Hamilton and the Ruffle Kerfuffle” didn’t mention Carol’s nephew at all.
What Other Lingering Storylines That Ghosts Season 4 Needs To Revisit
Ghosts Season 4 Left Pete’s Romance Unfinished Earlier In The Outing
However, in this episode, even fixing the issue still left Jay and Sam picking up the pieces. This might require more attention from viewers, but it also makes the show’s stories more relatable and easy to empathize with. Without any serialized plots or continuity, sitcom storylines can feel low-stakes since viewers know that things will always revert to normal, and Ghosts season 4 is no exception to this rule.
| Ghosts Actor | Character Name |
|---|---|
| Brandon Scott Jones | Isaac Higgintoot |
| Roman Zaragoza | Sass |
| Danielle Pinnock | Alberta |
| Rebecca Wisocky | Hetty |
| Richie Moriarty | Pete |
| Asher Grodman | Trevor |
| Devon Chandler Long | Thor |
As such, Ghosts can and should follow up the other storylines that have been left by the wayside throughout season 4. Bela’s role as the restaurant manager deserves more screen time, and viewers should get to find out what happened to Pete’s tropical girlfriend after he discovered she was accused of killing her husband during her life. Pete’s search for a love interest who would like Sass needs to come back in Ghosts season 4 as the show continues this streak of semi-serialized storytelling.
Enjoy ScreenRant's primetime coverage? Click below to sign up for our weekly Network TV newsletter (make sure to check "Network TV" in your preferences) and get the inside scoop from actors and showrunners on your favorite series.
SIGN UP NOW!
Success!
Your Rating
Rate Now 0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Ghosts (US)
TV-14
ComedySupernatural
8/10
196 9.4/10
- Release Date
- October 7, 2021
- Network
- CBS
- Directors
- 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
- Emily Schmidt, John Timothy, Lauren Bridges, Sophia Lear, Guy Endore-Kaiser, Rishi Chitkara, Julia Harter, Skander Halim, Zora Bikangaga
Cast
-
Rose McIver
Samantha Arondekar
-
Utkarsh Ambudkar
Jay Arondekar
- Creator(s)
- Joe Port, Joe Wiseman
