Ghosts Season 5, Episode 15, “Michael Jackson Goes to HR” Spoilers Ahead
After last week’s “The Water Heater” financial woes and Trevor being Trevor, send Jay, as “Michael Jackson,” to HR, leading to an episode that’s quintessentially Ghosts, even if it leaves us in a tough spot. There’s a point throughout the series where its wholesome beats always get a little sad, and the episode does this effectively by the end, making it a significant jumping-off point for where the next few episodes can lead.
While the two key plot points are somewhat imbalanced, and I would’ve almost preferred for the flashbacks of Alberta’s first day dead to happen in an episode where we can spend more time with her, it still worked better than some of the beats from last week. Beautifully, though, this episode is a love letter to Sam and Jay’s endurance, and there’s something really special about that.
Ghosts Season 5, Episode 15 Reminds Us of How Far Sam and Jay Have Come
It makes complete sense at this point that Trevor would get fired because there’s only so long he can pull off a lie in a mostly realistic way. The riveting thing about Ghosts is that the show is a sitcom that’s meant to be lighthearted, but the fact that the creators never shy away from real-life woes is what makes it so admirable. It’s what makes it so cozy. I’ve always said that it’s a show about second chances, and there’s nothing more accurate in that regard than looking back and acknowledging the uncertainties.
When Jay returns from his visit to HR, he reveals that he’s been fired because they saw the article with his real identity in it. It’s there that he and Sam argue a bit because not having Trevor’s income means they’re in more debt than before, and the fact that she kept it from him understandably upsets Jay. But Sam opens up about the detail that she was also protecting herself because the B&B not being a success after five years is weighing on her.
In a heart-to-heart, the ghosts remind her that they actually miss these moments of uncertainity the most because it was a part of life that they recognize as meaningful now. And here’s the thing, I get it. I do. But more than anything, I understand Sam’s frustrations too intimately, and it’s great that the series is choosing to give us an accurate portrayal of what it’s like to struggle.
Because, sure, everyone can see an overnight success and deem it as such, but no one really knows what goes on behind the scenes. No one knows often someone’s crying themselves to sleep because they can’t see the endgame or they aren’t sure if they’re on the right path. We don’t get the luxury of a guaranteed happy ending in the real world because life isn’t a sitcom. Yet, shows like Ghosts and episodes like this momentarily make that heartache feel a little less daunting.
The last episode in the series that had such a visceral impact on me was “Planes, Shanes, and Automobiles,” and the same can be said about “Michael Jackson Goes to HR,” because I get it. So many of us understand right now because this industry was never easy, but it’s significantly more heartbreaking today. It’s hard to look on the bright side and continue to hope when you’re just waiting for the next shoe to drop. But Ghosts isn’t a show that keeps us in a dark place for too long, and even though the money problems will continue, I imagine that we’ll continue watching Sam and Jay get through it together. So much of this show’s wholesome heart is because of their marriage and the distinction of allowing them to be together amid challenges.
Ghosts Season 5, Episode 15, “Michael Jackson Goes to HR,” isn’t a perfect episode, but there’s something really lovely in the way it explores communication. Because we don’t just see it with Sam and Jay, but also with Alberta and Pete by the end. It sets up an authentic narrative that reveals how scary it is for everyone to open up about their own personal insecurities, which then bleeds into a really interesting conversation about the paths we take in life. And who would’ve thought that a little sitcom about ghosts would always make us feel so much?
Stray Thoughts
- Nigel and Creepy Dirk immediately hit on Alberta lmao
- “Did it shrivel your desire for him how quickly he came up with that?” Hetty is so Sam’s mom.
- Something about the way Hetty says “jaguar” is so … HOT?
- Pete saw his ex???! Bro???
- “Some sort of harlot.”
- “They’re depended on his salary!
- “It’s absolute smut, but well told.” Okay, Trevor. Why you gotta call out the romance girlies?
- I zoned out so hard during Sam explaining the mergers. I don’t know how Jay does it.
- The uncertainty is the good stuff? Why am I crying!?
Now streaming on Paramount Plus: What are your thoughts on Ghosts Season 5, Episode 15, “Michael Jackson Goes to HR?” Let us know in the comments below.
First Featured Image Credit: Photo: Philippe Bosse/CBS ©2025 CBS Broadcasting, Inc.