Ghosts Season 5 Episode 7 Review: The Proposal

Ghosts Season 5 Episode 7, “The Proposal,” gave us Dreamboat Sas, and for that, we are forever in its debt.

The episode also highlights Bela and Sas, two characters who can be overlooked in the grander schemes of Ghosts. Plus, we get an Isaac storyline that looks deeper into his insecurities as a failed leader.

While a proposal may never happen, we would easily say yes a thousand times over to episodes like this.

We get a beautifully messy update on Bela and Eric’s relationship. It’s great to dive into their dynamic outside of the holiday specials because it can be challenging to give these two our attention when people are being possessed and all.

Eric installing Jay’s dishwasher mid-proposal is sweet and gives Jay a delightful foreplay with the new machine. Additionally, Bela immediately turning to the ghosts for romantic validation is incredibly in-character for her.

But who can blame Bela with Sas looking like an absolute snack in that dream! Seriously, a modern-day Sas would rule the runway.

Ultimately, the reveal that Bela isn’t in love with Eric feels like a natural progression of her arc. The woman has a hierarchy of ghosts she wants to get with; she needs therapy, not a husband!

Ghosts could have put these two together out of convenience, and we would have accepted it. So, the fact that it didn’t? That shows real gusto.

Excellent use of Sas’ ghost power aside, this episode also explores the rare inner workings of the basement ghosts.

Any time Ghosts can play up the upstairs/downstairs dynamics and remind us that the cholera ghosts have their own show going on below the floorboards is a win for the series.

A fight club is at the top of our list for things we wish happened in every show, so learning the ghosts have one is phenomenal.

The follow-through is even better with montages of Nancy punching Stewart while WWE-obsessed Pete cheers from the sidelines.

Our only note? Not enough fighting in the fight club storyline. Like Pete, we live for bloodsports and ghosts punching each other, so give us all the guts and glory you can.

What we do get lots of is Isaac facing his own cowardly tendencies and being rewarded for allowing himself to fail.

In earlier seasons, much of Isaac’s looking inward touched on his sexuality and relationship with Nigel, and there is still a large portion of his journey left untouched.

So, digging into his insecurities and his history as a failed leader isn’t just a want at this point, it’s a must.

This episode demonstrates to Isaac that his fear is what keeps him from being a leader of the people. If he is willing to be brave and take those risks for what he cares about, he’ll earn the respect of others.

That’s a valuable lesson for the selfish captain and one that Pete expertly helps move along with his good-natured wisdom.

Now, we can’t leave this episode to rest in peace until we acknowledge the Joan-sized absence haunting this episode.

Understandably, guest stars and availability are factors out of Ghosts’ hands. However, after such a successful launch of Sas and Joan’s relationship, it isn’t reassuring to learn they are over.

While Joan suddenly ghosting Sas makes for fun ribbing, here’s hoping she’s just tied up fighting handsy producers in the Amazon or something.

To lose Joan and Sas is to lose a little more faith in the show’s ability to create romantic relationships we can invest time in, and that’s the last thing anyone wants.

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

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