Ghosts UK Season 1 Episode 5 Review: Moonah Ston

There must be something about dinner parties that brings out the best (and worst) in people because Ghosts UK Season 1 Episode 5, “Moonah Ston,” and Ghosts Season 1 Episode 4, “Dinner Party,” are some of the strongest installments in their respected series.

Ghosts UK crafts a well-rounded outing that thrives amongst the chaos of a lunar eclipse and passive-aggressive dinner party.

However, it hits its strides in the moments where it unexpectedly breaks the mold to incorporate references to other comedies — specifically, Friends.

The One where They Watch TV

Alison using Friends as a tactic to distract the ghosts is brilliant. I have no notes.

From a story standpoint, it is a win-win because comedy fans will get the references without setup, furthering the TV’s power in the household. Also, it is very on-brand for these selfish spirits to abandon Robin to watch TV.

Even though the reference is introduced late in the episode, Ghosts UK is committed to the bit with generous nods to the American sitcom.

The moments of infighting as the group tries to figure out which Friends character they are and The Captain is rightfully outraged by the suggestion he’s a Ross are lovely. Thomas’ obsession with Rachel’s hair is also on point.

However, the choice to soothe Robin’s heartache with a couch next to the fountain so everyone can watch the moon together is a masterclass reference. Hopefully, this sweet homage is the beginning of more TV callbacks because everyone wins when the ghosts are subjected to pop culture.

Just Ghost Things

One thing Ghosts UK continues to excel at is subtly.

It doesn’t always go for the big punchlines, allowing scenes room for jokes to fester and characters to explore their physicality.

One way “Moonah Ston” does this is by incorporating dogs into the mix and seeing how the ghosts react. Robin barking back at them like they share a language is excellent. However, Pat fighting through the pain to rub the dog’s ears is as wholesome as it gets.

The lunar eclipse is an excellent way to take that comedy to the next level while keeping the loveable, off-the-cuff energy intact.

So, the ghosts chanting and stomping around the room as Robin floats in the middle of the table are worth every ounce of confusion on Alison’s face. It is also funny that the subcontext suggests this is what the ghosts did to pass the time before Alison could see them.

The Man and the Moon

This premise has such an excellent dueling persona of comedy and sorrow that it is lovely to see Robin infuse this lunar eclipse storyline with more of his startlingly profound depth.

As the oldest ghost on the property, he has this way of tugging at our heartstrings with only a few words.

Keeping Robin’s intensity about the moon a secret until the end of the episode works wonderfully to showcase what his limited vocabulary cannot as he grows more and more frustrated with the group’s fixation on new traditions and activities.

The reveal he clings to his yearly rituals because the moon is the only thing in his life that doesn’t change is heartbreaking, and there’s no way to brace for that reveal. Once Robin reveals his true intentions with the ritual, this episode is emotionally cracked open.

I appreciate the ghosts coming together to comfort him despite never fully healing those wounds for Robin — because how can you heal that kind of loss?

The Head Injury Girlies

Rounding out this perfect outing is Alison and her stellar dinner theatre performance.

Not only does she see through Barclay’s poshness immediately, but she decides to exploit it for access to high society. Alison is scrappy, and this episode powers through solely on her willpower. We also get to see her uglier side, which comes out in Ghosts’ Sam much quicker.

However, the bit where she hands Kitty the champagne without hesitation and watches it shatter in front of the guests is hilarious.

Her willingness to lean into the head injury narrative from there on out, shouting at the air and responding to unsaid questions. It’s refreshing to see her give up looking normal and embrace the delusional persona if it means the dinner party can continue with some normalcy.

Ghost UK is a real one for how eagerly it embraces the chaos.

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Back-to-back episodes of Ghosts UK air Thursdays at 9/8c on CBS.

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