Ghosts Season 2 Episode 14 Review: Trevor’s Body

Ghosts Season 2 Episode 14, “Trevor’s Body,” pays its respects to T-Money with an a-list funeral experience.

This episode, alive with celebrity name-drops and killer one-liners, lays Trevor’s fantasies to rest with hilarious Parent Trap-inspired hijinks and sweet found-family sentiments.

That said, it does lack somber undertones fitting of a funeral, and trouble in paradise for Nigel and Isaac has reached a point of irritation. Still, closure is a comfort as we no longer need to worry about Trevor’s remains floating around in that lake.

Putting the Funny in Funeral

So much of this outing speaks to Ghosts‘ comedic excellence.

There is the afterlife chipping away at Jay until the sight of Trevor’s skull gets nothing more than a tired sign. But, of course, the other side to this is a tight-knit relationship with the coroner (something iZombie fans will gladly read into).

Then we have the persistent, unflinching meddling that can drive even the dullest storylines off a cliff of captivating chaos.

Sam encouraging Trevor to send sexts to his parents is possibly the best outcome to this Parent Trap-inspired mission. Our girl has embraced the dark side, and I love it.

And wow, those one-liners are still sharp! Whether it is Utkarsh Ambudka’s unflinching “We are all going to hell,” Thorfinn screaming “Homosexual,” or Isaac’s regal “Because he’s a son-of-a-bitch” there is not a line these hellions can’t land.

But alas, none of that tops the ghosts gathering to watch Trevor’s parents bone. That is a gold mind of inappropriate observations.

The Kids Are All Right

These ghosts are such children.

We know it. Jay and Sam know it. But it is something else entirely to have Ghosts acknowledge this fact verbally, once and for all.

Establishing this family dynamic allows the found family themes to resonate even more moving forward and hones in on the chaotic children-parent dynamics running amuck during this episode.

And elevating the Jewish elements of this family reunion by allowing Alberta to flex her Yiddish terminology is such a nice touch. These choices only stand to strengthen the character lore.

Plus, Trevor’s attempts to murder Tara Reid with a vase — a super dark and clever call back to the pilot — assures us these children are not leaving the nest anytime soon.

More Mourning

Now to delve into *gasp* the negatives. Yes, we love this show, and it can do no wrong but bear with me.

Ghosts‘ refusal to face the consequences of its negligence is typically charming. That said, I don’t think the show gets away clean with this crime.

“Trevor’s Pants” witnessed Trevor’s friends hide his body in the lake, Jay and Sam become an accessory to crime, and a missing person’s case go unsolved. But it worked because the post-mortem aspects of Trevor’s story were wrapped up in a neat bow, missing pants and all.

“Trevor’s Body” doesn’t have the same luxury as Trevor’s living and after lives collide in a more personal context.

It’s challenging to wave off the darker undertones with the parents left to contemplate a twenty-year cold case in the room. But as Ghosts is on the cusp of poignancy, it waves the feelings away, acknowledging there is no upside to divorce or losing a child.

It’s a trick of diversion Ghosts has so often used effectively to bail the viewer out of tragic backstories before the sad thoughts become too much.

Yet the decision not to delve into the feelings surrounding Trevor’s family or lean into this celebration of life leaves us scrapping the surface of the greater story here.

I am disappointed to see this comedy resort to cheap tricks to get out of complex storytelling rather than embracing the darker undertones of this funeral. Ghosts‘ ability to grasp that poignant thread of humanity with episodes like “Trevor’s Pants” and “Jay’s Friends” suggests it can and has done better.

This show is clever, but its devious charm isn’t enough to trick us into ignoring all the loose ends this time.

One Hell of a Respite

I’m sorry to do this to my two icons, but I need Isaac and Nigel to get it together because these relationship-ending fights are becoming a nasty habit.

Their history is hella messy (and bloody), so drama is expected. And the quick resolutions to their tiffs continue to be a hilarious commentary on weak couple tropes in media.

However, after three fights in quick succession, this fourth feels like an uninvited guest. 

Isaac and Nigel’s relationship has reached a point where inward conflict drives their development, which becomes repetitive. Ghosts needed a catalyst to push them to move in together (huzzah!), but it is time to look outward for conflict now that Nigel is part of the Woodstone crew.

Still, Ghosts calling out the great Friends debate with “We were on a respite, a respite!” is giving iconic energy.

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

Want to go behind the scenes of Trevor’s funeral? Check out our post-mortem episode discussion for “Trevor’s Body” with Asher Grodman here.

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Ghosts airs Thursdays at 8:30/7:30c on CBS. Watch Ghosts online, now streaming on Paramount+. Try it for FREE!

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Ghosts: Asher Grodman on the Poignancy of Trevor’s Missing Pants [Interview]