Ghosts Season 2 Episode 13 Review: Ghost Hunter

What is not to love about the lore expanding?

Woodstone’s spirits are still foiled in their quest to be sucked off, but Ghosts Season 2 Episode 13, “Ghost Hunter,” sucks us in with its wacky shenanigans.

If that excellent Ghosts title card segway is any indication, this episode effectively embraces new gimmicks as it dips its toes into the supernatural deep end.

Ghosts has established itself beautifully within that niche subgenre of horror comedy where no one takes anything seriously, and everyone faces real consequences for it.

And nothing could make me happier because a group of undead spirits refusing to take their own lore seriously never tires.

Ignorance is bliss for its longevity, and Ghosts does an exceptional job of clinging to humanity even when the spooky stuff proves more enticing. It shines best when it’s fueling that dangerous powderkeg of skepticism.

The petty comedy that kicks off this comeuppance is splendid as Sam jokes a “ghost told her” about Freddie’s car, and the group brutally roasts Freddie’s ghost-hunting toys. At least until his ghost trap lives up to the name.

From there, a new addition to the iconic group-screaming saga indicates how remarkable this episode will be.

Sci-Fi Shenanigans

“Ghost Hunter” elevates the best aspects of this group dynamic — their curiosity and complete inability to behave even when playing directly into a trap.

The refusal to leave the oreo alone as the ghosts mock Freddie for using a cookie as bait is a hilarious way to escalate things. And not many series can say they almost killed off half their characters with an oreo.

But, of course, the spirits will touch the one thing they shouldn’t, and Sam is forced to step into Ghost-Mom mode as she yells, “Why was he touching it?!”

There’s that exquisite brand of chaos comedy for the win.

Then there is Pete threatening Thorfinn’s manhood as he hides behind Flower for protection. No storyline can match the combination of panic-insulting and on-brand character choices happening here.

This episode expertly weaponizes every aspect of the living/ghost relations as Sam and Jay are forced to go on the defensive with Freddie about their “ghost problem” while enlisting his help to save the ghosts.

And the sci-fi elements of ghost hunting allow Jay to go full-nerd with his Atari shirt, Star Wars tangents, and determination to make himself useful to the ghosts, even if it comes at the cost of their demise.

It is the perfect storm of comedy.

Sam and Jay are breaking their backs to keep the supernatural a secret, while Trevor pushes pens off the desk because Sas dared him. The constant, unnecessary meddling from the undead provides an endless stream of inward conflict to deal with.

And with outsiders Jessica and Freddie still around, the external forces pushing back against our core ensemble take this episode to the next level.

Heartbreak Hotel

It is a relief to know Sas and Jessica’s teenage fling is fleeting, as the car-ghost element does remove Sas from the ensemble for large chunks of time.

It is difficult to mourn their breakup properly when Thorfinn and Flower are in mortal peril. So the timing here is not ideal, but keeping this episode to two key storylines is wise.

Sas and Jessica have been together for a short time. Still, these actors play the relationship so innocently that your heart cannot help but break as they realize this won’t last — despite Jay’s enthusiasm to own a lawn car like Tony Stark.

Despite his first-time ending in heartbreak, Sas and Jessica’s multi-episode storyline accomplishes everything it needs to as Ghosts effortlessly introduces new spirits into the ensemble and gives Sas a necessary experience in the romance department.

First Time for Everything

Ghosts entertains lots of intriguing firsts with “Ghost Hunter.”

None more crucial than the idea that the ghosts can die — in a violent act of Latvia evisceration, no less. That reveal re-establishes stakes for a comedy that is scary-good at finding ways to skirt the “no one dies in sitcoms” rule.

On a fun note, this concept does not waste an ounce of Freddie’s ghost-hunting adventures. This ghost trap storyline reaps the full benefits of this supernatural-heavy episode.

Flower finding the courage to go on a date with Thorfinn is the romantic footnote this episode of terror deserves to end on.

Way to climax hard with this one, Ghosts!

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

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