Ghosts Season 3 Episode 9 Review: The Traveling Agent

Pete’s night on the town is prime time for some of the season’s best comedy.

Sure, once Ghosts Season 3 Episode 9, “The Traveling Agent,” reveals Pete’s power, things get predictable — we all know Jay would be the one to lose Sam’s ghost child at the supermarket.

That said, this penultimate is predictable because it is an incredibly on-brand and in-character adventure for Ghosts. You have to love the installments that feel like fanfare (and a little like fan fics) as they delve into those sillier “what if” scenarios as we had imagined them.

I have never been happier than when Jay takes Pete to the grocery store to run errands. These are the scenarios we dream about.

Ghosts saw an opportunity to capitalize comedically on the “Girl in the Big City” concept, and Pete perfectly plays the coming-of-age ghost stepping out into the world for the first time. The panicked little run as he flees a delivery robot is as sad as it is hilarious.

You feel sorry for Pete, but you also yearn for him to endure more trauma because his fear is a comedy gold mine.

The juxtaposition of Pete’s fear and Jay’s self-admiration complement each other well. Jay strolling into the house unbothered to meet Sam’s immediate horror at what he has done is rich with delightful subcontext.

Usually, an episode where the other ghosts stand around and spectate would be a waste. However, their role as Jay and Pete’s soundboard is valuable. Whether they are roasting Jay or throwing Alberta under the bus, we cannot downplay the success of their role as bystanders.

As fun as Pete’s adventure is, the choices throughout this episode enrich his story in the very ways Hetty’s death elevated her character lore.

The choice to frame his power around his occupation as a travel agent is brilliant of Ghosts. It’s unexpected, yet perfect for Pete.

It pushes the perfect storm of development onto a character who has never traveled anywhere alive and has never tried to test the boundaries of the property. Pete is the only ghost who would see this power as a curse because it requires him to be brave to use it.

Jay abandoning him sets into motion an adorable journey of self-discovery as Pete learns to face the world, even if it scares him. It’s fulfilling to have Pete take that crucial step in his growth and see him rewarded with a chance to visit his daughter.

Also, we cannot gloss over the significance of the reveal that other ghost factions act more like Fallout than Friends — because this show loves to be disturbing almost as much as it loves to be profound.

Sorry Doesn’t Cut It

Ghosts does an excellent job of anticipating its own problems. With its usual satirical grace, it acknowledges Carol’s absence by revealing she’s been sexually working her way through Woodstone.

Hetty corrects Alberta on the timeline and confirms she’s now shacking up with Fluteplayer Baxtor in the shed, which is too funny not to accept as a plausible excuse for the plot hole.

However, I can’t say I’m entirely on board with the show’s excuse to give Flower that threesome she so desires.

On paper, a threesome between Nancy, Flower, and Thor is too rich with hilarity not to attempt at some point in the series. But to do it mere moments after Flower and Thorfinn rekindled their romance feels cheap.

It is easy to dispel belief about Carol taking a sabbatical because we have no emotional attachment to her.

However, Florfinn is not something this show can wave off so quickly. After two seasons of slow burn, their passion was a driving force in seeing Flower come home safely.

So, to sideline that development in a matter of seconds is disappointing.

Flower backing Nancy’s feelings is a valid character choice, and it’s about time a basement dweller demanded equal treatment. But Flower’s anger towards Thor feels forced. Much worse has happened without consequence, so for this to be the dealbreaker is bizarre.

More fineness would have let this relationship drama flourish. After all, Flower would inevitably take that chance to avoid getting serious with Thorfinn. But did she need to immediately break things off with him after her return?

This issue needed more time and grace to succeed, something Ghosts should have anticipated.

Farwell, Sweet Boy

Don’t let this laughable joyride fool you for a second — this is some of Ghosts’ best work to date.

With the perfect power for Pete and Nancy’s desire to seek equality with the ghosts upstairs, this season’s penultimate packs several big swings into an effortlessly enjoyable episode.

As this spooky sitcom plans to bid farewell in one episode’s time, it leaves us with the impression this show has lots of life left to live.

Season 3 has given us Pete lost in a grocery store, A Superstore alum as a superstore ghost, and Isaac fangirling over dinosaurs. Most importantly, it took the time to set up a joke that ends with Nancy confessing she, too, has slept with Carol.

Ghosts, please never stop finding ways to surprise us!

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The Season 3 finale of Ghosts airs Thursday, May 2 at 8:30/7:30c on CBS.

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