Ghosts Review: Pete’s Wife (Season 1 Episode 6)

Prepare for a ton of archery puns because Ghosts Season 1 Episode 6, “Pete’s Wife,” hits the mark!

This show cannot and will not miss. It continues to utilize the chaotic molotov of technological discoveries, emotional dynamics, and pop culture references at its disposal to wreak havoc on every inch of this spooky manor.

Ghosts has complete knowledge of the arrows in its quiver, from the best ghosts to pair together to the heartstrings to pull at when we least expect it. The result is another condensed episode arc with perfect aim and phenomenal comedic timing.

“Pete’s Wife” proves these ghosts are a triple threat. Not only can they juggle comedy and conflict, but when it comes to the daunting task of facing mortality, they don’t even blink. As if this impressive range is nothing to them.

Pete’s death is an emotionally traumatizing situation to tackle. This sitcom refuses to flinch away from the circumstances of his death, aiming straight for the jugular seconds into the cold open. The intro plays the brutality of the scene off but doesn’t let viewers forget about this sitcom’s darker tones.

They’re subtle but they can easily creep up within the glorious cinematography and the grainy yellowing of this gothic lens. The setting’s juxtaposition lends itself to the moment, playing off fun binge-watching sessions while forcing Pete’s sadness to become increasingly claustrophobic.

Ghosts is sending a message through Pete’s misfortunes. Mortality can be beautiful and silly, but it can just as easily turn sinister.

So yes, Ghosts has the range to terrorize us. Accidental violence is a bold, horrific move but somehow it sets this comedy up for another hilarious, gut-clenching episode.

A Pete-centric episode! Richie Moriarty has done his time as the voice of reason, so it’s thrilling to see him put down the skouts honor for a few unhinged beats. He is the trusted shoulders for which the troop leader’s tougher moments can rest easy on.

I immensely enjoy these episodes that highlight the story of one ghost but never use that as an excuse not to highlight supporting acts. Without this generosity, we would never get a Trevor DILF plot twist or Thorfinn’s apology triads.

A show that can force viewers through an ambush of toxic meddling and deeply heartbreaking deaths, and still have us come out feeling as light as a feather is something incredibly rare. But here’s Ghosts, a beautiful bubbly unicorn of comfort.

Rationally, this episode should spend less time on shallow reality shows and more time diving into Pete’s feelings. However, I can’t bring myself to ask more of this show, or less of Thorfinn and Sasappis.

One has to admit when a child dressed as a boy-skout completely obliterates them emotionally. What one doesn’t want to admit is that they have already cried-laughing over Thor and Sasappis discovering reality TV for a good portion of the episode.

Typically, B-storylines provide relief from the heavier subject matter of the A-storylines. This should be the case with Pete’s story as Sam reopens decades-old wounds. Instead, Thorfinn and Sasappis decide to run this household!

What sells their infatuation with watching people make terrible decisions is how well-written the reality show lore at the center of this joke is. Thor recapping the episodes we’ve missed is too funny as he describes the layers of clothes coming off.

Also, Thor and Sas being dude-bros who cry over hot people and scream at each other for poor binge-watching etiquette is an entire wheelhouse. These 500-year-old best-friends need to get a room already!

The line, “this is unfair. I had no idea his body was this good!” lives in my mind rent-free. As does this flawless storyline. Way to hit the nail right on the head with this one, Ghosts!

One has to ask themselves how this episode could get any better? Then Ghosts pulls a fast one, throwing a live grenade into the simmering plot with a harmless Thor: Ragnarok reference (as if such a thing exists).

It’s been six long episodes of hoping Ghosts would acknowledge the God of Thunder-sized elephant in the room. Finally, we know peace as the couple banter about which Goldblum they are, only for Thor to overhear Ragnarok and immediately lose it, dramatic music and all. It is everything I have wanted from any show, ever.

The sheer panic that encompasses this pop culture reference elevates the material to the next level as Thor gets the ghosts all riled up over the end of the world just to pan back to Jay quietly asking Sam why she cares about his Ragnarok comment.

I’ll say it again, I don’t understand how this comedy understands the assignment so freaking well. We may never know how something as simple as a movie reference can be this good — it’s sitcom sorcery!

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Ghosts airs Thursdays at 9/8c on CBS.

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