Ghosts Season 5, Episode 13, “The List” Spoilers Ahead
Learning something new about Hetty Woodstone, and by extension, the Woodstone line? Sign us up. Ghosts delivers new lore in its most ridiculous fashion in “The List,” while simultaneously exploring organic conflict. So much of the reason the show continues to be exceptional is that the writers understand how deeply viewers care about all the characters. We care about what happens to them, and we also care about how we follow up on scenarios, which makes seasonal and holiday episodes all the more intriguing. And while “The List” isn’t either, it does follow up on last week’s “The Others” in a riveting manner.
When the B&B is being vetted to end up on some prestigious list for boutique hotels, Sam and Jay learn that the inspector favors bribes. A descendant of Hetty’s, who was also in the cult, Eugene, introduces himself and then, later, proposes that they give the inspector an antique box tucked away. After giving it to him, Sam and Jay learn that there’s a hidden stash of cocaine in it. Elsewhere, an argument between Thor and Flower allows him to understand the importance of compromise.
Ghosts Season 5, Episode 12 Embraces the Mess of Woodstone
Ghosts is always at its best when it embraces the complexities and mess, so everything we get in “The List” feels right. It isn’t shocking that Eugene tried to compromise the situation with the inspector because of how his family shamed him, but it’s rewarding that instead of getting angry, Hetty chooses to apologize for all the ways the Woodstone name has brought shame. It’s rewarding to not only see how far she’s come, but also how far they’ve all come in understanding that the mess is what makes their dynamic special.
There’s a lot to appreciate about how Ghosts doesn’t take itself too seriously, but at the same time, it does. It explores deeply human narratives amid the absurdities by allowing character motives to take center stage in a way that ensures the series shines. There’s something to appreciate about how this moment could’ve been brushed aside with Sam and Jay getting away with taking the box back, but instead, the series uses the beat as a point to remind us of how far Hetty has come. And considering it’s St. Patrick’s Day again in next week’s episode, it’ll presumably make this decision feel even more profound.
But really, the truth that comes to the surface with just how many wild events have taken place at Woodstone is exactly what makes it so charming as a B&B. It allows it to stand out as a place that not only has history, but as a mansion that feels lived in. It makes me a little emotional, to be honest.
Flower and Thor Take “Couples Therapy”
Compromise? It’s a 2026 miracle. In an interview for Fangirlish this week, I got to speak with Sheila Carrasco about Flower’s character journey and bits of her relationship with Thor. One of the beats that sticks out with Ghosts Season 5, Episode 12, “The List,” is that this arc feels necessary. Thor is too extreme at times, so it’s easy to wonder how he and Flower make it work.Â
An episode like this is a reminder that their differences can get in the way of them as a couple, but the choice to compromise shows exactly why they work. Thor has great moments of development often, but this might be one of his best moments to reveal just how much he cares about Flower, and how he’s willing to do everything to ensure her happiness. He can put aside his pride if it means respecting her wishes because their time together isn’t a battle that needs to be won, but rather a gift neither of them thought they’d find in the afterlife. His willingness to let Pete’s “counseling” actually have an effect on his actions provides plenty of entertainment, yes, but this arc also does an effective job of following up on last week’s episode by showing Flower’s growth, too. Everything in this episode is proof of why they work.
I might sound like a broken record, but it’s episodes like this that really emphasize why Sam and Jay’s move to Woodstone was such a gift. The hijinks might be too much, but the levity and human stories they deliver are unmatched.
Stray Thoughts
- “Isaac, you were only in the cult for four hours!”
- “He can’t hear us.” “We don’t have to dwell on it.” Oh, poor Jay.
- “I recall your parents whispering shamefully.” LMAO
- “Dammit, ghosts! That falls squarely in the shenanigans drawer.”
- Not Pete comparing travel agents to marriage counselors.
- STRESS!!!
- “Sam, you work here! You could’ve been changing towels.”
- Did anyone else forget Thor was married???!!!
- Hetty and Trevor breathing the same air again is everything to me. Your honor, I miss them.
- Hetty!!!!!????🥺
- “God darn, you freaks!”
Now streaming on Paramount Plus: What are your thoughts on Ghosts Season 5, Episode 12, “The List?” Let us know in the comments below.
First Featured Image Credit: Photo: Bertrand Calmeau/CBS ©2026 CBS Broadcasting