Ghosts Season 5, Episodes 9 and 10, “It’s a Wonderful Christmas Carol” Spoilers Ahead
Ghosts‘ “It’s a Wonderful Christmas Carol” delivers emotional payoff in spades, with the type of cliffhanger that’s diabolically delicious in a way only these showrunners can master. Well-written and featuring brilliant performances as per usual, it’s yet another solid Ghostmas episode that’ll be memorable and easy to rewatch around the holidays.
From “Viking Wedding” to “Planes, Shanes and Automobiles,” and even last week’s “The Life and Times of Esther Greene,” the first few episodes of Ghosts Season 5 have rightfully focused on Sam’s writing journey and how life at Woodstone Mansion has impacted her. Because of this, everything about Ghosts Season 5, Episodes 9 and 10, “It’s a Wonderful Christmas Carol,” hit twice as hard because it allows us to understand just how important the life she’s currently living is.
“It’s a Wonderful Christmas Carol” Is an Unsurprising Tear-Jerker
Sam’s journey thus far in Ghosts is everything good and pure on TV. It’s something that makes me cry often, but I feel like I don’t talk about it nearly as much as I should. She’s had to sacrifice so much for the ghosts in more ways than one, but how they’ve also impacted her is so tremendously important, and no episode shows it with as many layers as “It’s a Wonderful Christmas Carol.”
Part of the reason It’s a Wonderful Life is so prevalent, and especially around the holidays, is because the more grueling everything becomes, the harder it is for us to see what’s right in front of us. And as a ghost possession featuring Flower ruins yet another interview for Sam, it’s completely understandable that she’d make the type of wish she does. Conveniently and once again, in a manner only these showrunners can master as gloriously, Caroline Aaron returns as Carol to guide Sam through a world where she never fell down the flight of stars. It’s further proof that the series knows how to use its characters, even when they’re gone, and the fact that Carol sacrifices for Pete and Jay in “Soul Custody” and then later shows up for Sam is incredible (and twice as comical).
In every way where it matters, Ghosts is a blueprint for how to write the best kind of found family, and they do it to perfection by using Sam as their version of George Bailey. And really, if we could’ve somehow gotten hour-long episodes for each, we still wouldn’t be able to fulfill just how much she’s done to give each of them an unconventional, but precious second chance. We don’t even scratch the surface on her impact because it’s that enormous, and with an ensemble cast as brilliant as the one on Ghosts, I wholeheartedly adore how much this episode highlights Sam.
Sam and Jay’s Marriage Continues to Be Everything
Sam and Jay’s marriage in Ghosts is, and will always be, one of my favorite things, and the fact that we get this level of angst in “It’s a Wonderful Christmas Carol” is brilliant to remind us of just how perfect their love story is. Because really, the mere realization that he could’ve lost Sam was all Jay needed to understand that he’d follow this woman to the ends of the earth and do whatever she wanted because their happiness is tethered together.
At the same time, it gives both Rose McIver and Utkarsh Ambudkar excellent material to play with for a different side of their relationship to really showcase how those moments where they’re good are so gorgeously profound. Because sure, Jay might be lonely and isolated here at Woodstone because he doesn’t see the ghosts, but his bond with Pete, everything we’ve gotten with his possession, and most importantly, the opening of Mahesh are all part of the gorgeous butterfly effect that makes the show so achingly special.
These characters are exactly where they’re supposed to be. Together. Seen. And so deeply loved in a way that words can’t accurately sum up just how much. Sam and Jay’s relationship is the heart of Ghosts where romance is concerned, and this reminder that losing him would simultaneously destroy her, too, broke me because McIver’s performance is so sensational when it hits that I’m not sure I could ever watch the scene without crying. In the same way that Mary was always George Bailey’s whole heart, seeing that Jay is Sam’s is the star on top of the Christmas tree—utter perfection.
The Wrong Kind of Sexual Tension
With every bone in my body, I believed that this would finally be the episode where we’d get our long-awaited Hetty and Trevor romantic reunion. One alternate ending where she almost marries Isaac, but then it’d lead us to the present day, where she and Trevor decide that they’ve had enough tiptoeing around each other and their emotions.
And here’s the thing, angst? Sign me up. I’ll always welcome it. We could also fully recognize that Patience and Trevor hooking up is a plot device to bring in the others, but I’m going to need some brain bleach. And a time machine, because how this can lead to further growth for our characters is going to be so juicy.
Stray Thoughts
- WHO ARE THE OTHERS?!?!?
- Carol and the candy cane are out here making me cry!?? Like, especially the comment about how Pete never got to travel.
- Isaac not coming out!?? Truly, this relationship with Hetty would’ve been a disaster. Also, despite the fact that it’s not a real objection, the “second” wedding at the mansion makes me feel hopeful that a third time’s the charm with Nigel.
- Nancy advocating for the possessions like the little weirdo she is. Never change, babe.
- No, but Thor’s gift was actually cut.
- ROSE MCIVER’S PERFORMANCES CONTINUE TO BE E V E R Y T H I N G. This woman is a gift, and we need to scream about her more often. (I plan to.)
- Feels very important to say, in case it wasn’t obvious or anything, that I miss Hetty and Trevor.
- Every decoration in this episode made my heart so freaking giddy!
- Sam being funny!? That’s my angel baby unicorn. I love her so much.
- The way I now desperately want a gingerbread cookie. Or a whole house, I’ll take either. I’m not picky.
Now streaming on Paramount Plus: What are your thoughts on Ghosts Season 5, Episodes 9 and 10, “It’s a Wonderful Christmas Carol?” Let us know in the comments below.
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