Ghosts Season 4, Episode 16, “St. Hetty’s Day” Spoilers Ahead
The wait is over. The time has come. It’s St. Hetty’s Day, and we’re obviously crying about it. Written by Josh Malmuth and directed by Pete Chatman, Ghosts finally gives our lady of the house an out-in-the-open moment to shine, and it’s perfectly on point for everything it represents.
“St. Hetty’s Day” is largely about Woodstone’s lady, but it also carries on from the aftermath of “The Bachelorette Party.” Chris is very much dead, and it stirs some trouble for our once-engaged boys. Yet, as predicted, his time here is a bit fleeting, and it’s understandable because this story isn’t exactly about him.
“St. Hetty’s Day” Ensures Our Girl Is Seen
Interestingly, of all the ghost powers, this wasn’t one I had even considered. But it’s a testament to the writers and Rebecca Wisocky for ensuring that there’s tremendous heart here in what it represents beyond the surface. For one day, on St. Patrick’s Day, everyone can see Hetty Woodstone. They can talk to her. They can know of her existence. And the episode uses Jay’s cousin, Sunil (Asif Ali), to take it one step further by allowing her to go on a proper date. It allows her to feel desirable, which we already know that she is. I also strongly feel that when (hopefully) she and Trevor get back together, what she experiences today will give her more of a safety net in the relationship.
At the same time—and I’ll have much more to say about this in a Fangirlish feature—it’s about giving every ghost and viewer a reminder of who the lady of the house is. Though it’s one day, she isn’t in the shadows where Elias kept her. Though it’s one day, she gets to shine. She has a chance to be free in her visibility and believe that when she once didn’t have a say, today, she has multiple opportunities to be seen. She has freedom.
It’s not just about knowing that she’s desirable, but it’s about knowing that she can be appreciated exactly as she is. In addition, she can also give something back, and in this case, she does so by helping Sunil realize that he should never settle. He should wait for the woman who’s everything he’s ever wanted because if she exists as a ghost, then she can exist in human form, too. It bears repeating, but the episode also gives Rebecca Wisocky brilliant material to work with, allowing her to deliver a wide range of emotions at every turn.
Ghosts Season 4, Episode 17 Gets Rid of Chris as Quickly as They Brought Him in – Sort Of
As predicted, Chris isn’t sticking around at Woodstone. This narrative is likely because of Deniz Akdeniz’s series-regular role in High Potential, but still. Chris quickly learns that his ghost power is the ability to “fly”—so long as he’s strapped to the parachute—and disappears into the sky where ghost boundaries don’t exist. Now, like Pete’s traveling ghost power, this could maybe have some strings attached that’ll force him to come back around. Still, while he’s here, the tides shift for Nigel and Isaac, too. There’s a narrative here that’s likely bound to build up to a deeper understanding between the two, and it’s fascinating how organically it occurs despite how profoundly uncomfortable.
Hope. In Ghosts Season 4, Episode 16, “St. Hetty’s Day,” Nigel has hope, while Isaac is left picking up the pieces from his inability to keep his emotions in check. Despite the fact that both Trevor and Flower advise him to be subtle, he quickly tells Chris about the lap dance and declares that he believes the two of them are soul mates. And like many people bombarded by such strange news, Chris walks off, needing air. However, what we learn through Nigel is that off-screen, the two of them shared a peck. (Specificity matters here.)
The series spends plenty of time breaking down how Isaac needs to grow, but we understandably don’t see much of how the broken engagement left Nigel in shambles. As he says to Isaac (with a heartwarming performance from John Hartman), this is the first time in a while that he’s felt hope. And taking this revelation into consideration, Isaac later tells him that his and Chris’ encounter must’ve been what Chris needed to get sucked off.
This news will obviously (likely?) backfire in both their faces, but it’s important to acknowledge Isaac’s intentions here. Despite his belief that he and Chris are soulmates, seeing what it did for Nigel forces him to put his own pain and frustration aside to give his former partner a chance to have hope again. The aftermath of all this will hopefully allow the two men a chance to properly communicate and open up more, but I also imagine that some things might unravel before that happens. Still—the effort matters.
Ghosts Season 4, Episode 17, “St. Hetty’s Day,” is a wildly well-written romp. It’s hilarious, heartfelt, and hopeful as it gives the character necessary development while simultaneously providing an engaging twenty-one minutes I never wanted to see the end of.
Stray Thoughts
- “His physique is great, his attitude is even better.”
- Your name is Ice.
- Sheila Carrasco mimicking the bear cubs eating her corpse !?!!?!? Legendary.
- You just know Brandon Scott Jones had such a blast with Isaac this week, and it TOOK ME OUT.
- “Why do the ghosts always want to date my family?” Oh, Jay!
- This is her first real date!?!!? 🥹
- Trevor, you’ve got to step it up soon.
- “It’s harder to say no to them when you can see them.”
- Oh my God. I’m uncomfortable. So uncomfortable. Sooooo uncomfortable. Isaac, bb, please sit down.
- I love that when Hetty refers to her ex it’s Elias and not her current beau, Trevor.
- Nigel and Chris kissed!
- “I watched The Gilded Age.”
- “I feel seen.”
- “Rebound from the washing machine.” Babe, we miss him, too, just admit it. It’s okay.
- The ghost boundary doesn’t work when he’s airborne.
- Nigel had hope!
- “I still got it!” Yeah, Queen!
- BUT WHY WOULD YOU LIE, ISAAC!!??!!
Now streaming on Paramount Plus: What are your thoughts on Ghosts Season 4, Episode 16, “St. Hetty’s Day?” Let us know in the comments below.
First Featured Image Credit: ©Photo: Bertrand Calmeau/CBS ©2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc.