Ghosts Season 2 Episode 11 Review: The Perfect Assistant

Ghosts Season 2 Episode 11, “The Perfect Assistant,” elevates the lore of this colorful world while settling into the new year with loveable, low-stakes shenanigans.

The elegance and simplicity of these new ghost rules cannot be understated.

The concept of a car ghost strikes the perfect balance of absurdity and brilliance, opening Woodstone up to harmless murder accusations and flirtations without committing to anything serious long-term.

The entire house knowing Jessica’s name and still referring to her as “car ghost” is telling of how well this storyline goes over.

Ghosts treats the newness of this undead guest with wide eyes and loveable bewilderment. The spirits of Woodstone get to be their curious selves, all while slipping back into their more selfish ways at the first sign of change.

Even Jay’s enthusiasm for the expanding lore and the reveal he keeps notes on his phone keeps this dynamic fresh.

The episode’s best moments are spent congregating around Jessica’s RAV4, gossiping about the living, and casually playing god with someone’s life. It’s just silly and problematic enough to justify Freddie’s haunting sobs.

And Isaac yelling, “There’s a car ghost!” as the others wave enthusiastically at Sam from across the lawn is adorable. All major developments should be announced this way moving forward.

Daddy Issues

I am starting to think this undead purgatory favors people with daddy issues, and for that, we should probably thank someone behind this wonderful show.

Because Thorfinn parenting his son horribly, only for it to spiral into a lesson about fatherhood and learning to process emotions without violence is a deep cut.

In a recent interview, Devan Chandler Long mentioned Thorfinn reflects elements of the 80/70s father that “didn’t communicate very well, especially emotionally.” So it is rewarding to see this episode acknowledge those underlining issues head-on.

And it’s perfection to have it be Pete who takes the parenting conversation in this direction and calls Thorfinn on his harmful tactics rather than cowering in fear.

The dialogue is still funny, but it effectively dips into Pete’s backstory to orchestrate his point. It’s also great to see Thorfinn continue to prioritize his TV time.

No Assistance Needed

Nichole Sakura slips into the ensemble effortlessly, her problematic but bubbly persona giving Stephanie a run for iconic mean-girl status.

Jessica may be dead, but the spirit of Cheyenne has never been more alive than with this buzzed brunch-enjoying socialite. For that, “The Perfect Assistant” gives off Superstore vibes and not simply because it plays host to the show’s alumni.

Accusing someone of a grizzly murder to get them fired is 100% something the employees of Cloud 9 would do.

For one brief moment, it feels like Ghosts gives us a piece of the retail comedy’s zaniness in the form of Jessica and her pathological lying.

The murder fake-out is an unexpected turn of events but loveable nonetheless.

We know not to trust the ghosts outright, and everything Jessica divulges suggests as much. But Jessica doesn’t just win over Sas with her gnarly head wound; she’s also a vivid storyteller and sells the “Freddie dumped my body in the woods” story well.

Bring On the Sequels

Two seasons in, these ghosts are just as convincing, even when we know their tricks well. Ghosts isn’t much different in this respect, repackaging its storytelling in ways we never see coming.

The hit-and-run murder is a gasp-worthy development you want to be real because the ensuing chaos is*chef kiss* but the reveal that Freddie is just a normal assistant pivots into a more practical storyline without robbing us of the fun.

However, it is time to see Ghosts step outside its comfort zone in terms of format and embrace more multi-episode storylines.

This sitcom reinvents the standalone bottle episode every week. However, seeing it take on a more long-term commitment for the back half of the season is a must to keep the pacing fresh.

And this undertaking could not look more promising with Woodstone’s sweet new assistant Freddie and his bold car ghost in tow.

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What did you think of this episode of Ghosts? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Ghosts airs Thursdays at 8:30/7:30c on CBS.

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