Ghosts Review: Thorapy (Season 1 Episode 15)

This is a historical episode for Ghosts, and not just because it features the house’s oldest ghost going to therapy.

Ghosts Season 1 Episode 15, “Thorapy,” does not shy away from the heavy-hitting struggles its ghosts reckon with and like most of these installments, it doesn’t take itself too seriously either.

That easy-going attitude is backed by careful plotting that serves up a soothing balm of comedy for Isaac and a healthy dose of chaos for the Viking with no volume control.

Thorfinn Goes to Therapy

Any storyline that involves Thorfinn doing something chaotic is always a win.

Thor going to therapy for his violent sleep terrors might as well be a home run because “Thorapy” does not deprive us in the slightest of the violent chaos it promises.

There are layers of juicy comedy to explore here, starting with Sas’ ability to manipulate Thor because apparently, they shared a wigwam. I’m happy he uses Thor’s hatred for the Danish against him, but we need to revisit the wigwam.

That said, Ghosts‘ great strength is the flippancy for which it throws supernatural rules around; a fact so casually demonstrated when Thor chops Trevor’s hand off.

Iconic doesn’t begin to describe this delightfully-gruesome surprise!

I never thought I would say this, but boy, am I glad we didn’t know the ghosts could dismember each other. That’s the reveal that pays off in such fun, unhinged ways!

It’s commendable to see someone try to understand Thor’s mind. The result is hilarious narrating from Sam as she repeats whatever he shouts at her, and a squirrel red-herring that rounds out this therapy session beautifully.

However, it is rewarding to see a softer side to Thor; the side his Viking comrades condemned him for, but these ghosts embraced.

I mean, the man hasn’t slept peacefully in a thousand years because he feels bad for a squirrel. We stan the softest of cinnamon rolls!

Trevor is a surprising scene partner, but the way he delivers the line about Thor’s clan leaving a human being behind could not be more powerful. The framing of Thor’s traumas and how the ensemble help overcome them is what lets this comedy soar.

Isaac’s Roommate Dilemma

I cannot say enough about this coming-out storyline that it doesn’t already say for itself.

That said, I can say that Hetty and Isaac steal every second of this storyline. The two ghosts have proven themselves a rewarding pairing from the jump, flip-flopping between friends and rivals as they fight for dominance.

But add in a brief lovers quarrel that lurches unexpectedly into this sitcom’s first real moment of raw vulnerability, and it’s clear the bond these characters have is special.

The choice to have Hetty be the one to crack Isaac’s identity open and be that soft-soken voice of acceptance as he admits he has feelings for Nigel, that he has always lived with these feelings, is so impactful to the larger arc of the series.

This stellar scene is also acted to total perfection, touching on a sophisticated form of comfort comedy we never think to ask for but could always use.

It makes sense for Hetty to be the first person Isaac comes out to and speaks volumes for how much trust Isaac puts into this relationship, even if he covers it up under layers of petty deflection.

Isaac cares for Hetty differently than he does Nigel but in equally important ways.

Ghosts recognizes that both relationships will be crucial to Isaac’s growth. So it’s lovely to see this storyline embrace his sexuality and still take a moment to nurture this friendship.

That said, I cannot believe Ghosts pulls multiple “oh no, there’s only one-bed” tropes — how dare this show give us top-tier romance on top of some of TV’s wittiest comedy.

I want to thank this show for embracing rom-com cliches without persuing the one-and-done coming-out spectacle. Isaac is hundreds of years old, his journey to accepting his sexuality will not be instant, and Ghosts makes no attempt to humor his confession as such.

By acknowledging his feelings but giving lingering hesitation to Brandon Scott Jones’ stellar performance, the show suggests this will be an ongoing battle for Isaac — one that is sure to reap the benefits of smaller victories like this.

A Dose of TV Therapy

Ghosts balances the pressures of authentic storytelling well, expertly splitting time between Thorfinn and Isaac while keeping overlap to a minimum. As a result, both storylines are given the space to breathe.

The times when the entire ensemble is present on screen are some of the best, however.

The magnificent breakfast bribe and roommate choosing ceremony are comedically brilliant bits. Still, it’s Sam’s “no ghosts in the bedroom” rule that takes the throne with ghosts grumbling about beauty sleep and curling up at the foot of the bed like her children.

“Thorapy” can’t cure your night terrors, and it won’t explain why ghosts need to sleep, but it will give you something good to watch when sleep isn’t an option.

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Ghosts airs Thursdays at 9/8c on CBS.

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