🏰 Woodstone’s Eternal Residents: Finding the Peak Performance
If you’re anything like me, you’ve completely fallen in love with the chaotic, anachronistic, and profoundly sweet family residing in Woodstone Mansion. CBS’s Ghosts (US) isn’t just a hit; it’s a phenomenon. It takes a simple, high-concept premise—a young, living couple inherits a dilapidated house haunted by its deceased residents—and turns it into a masterclass in ensemble comedy and heartwarming character study.
But what truly elevates the show is the depth of its characters. Each of the main ghosts—from the Viking Thor to the jazz singer Alberta—is a walking, talking (or, well, floating) slice of history, brimming with secrets, anxieties, and unique comedic genius. Given the show’s rich tapestry of episodes, it can be tough to pick just one that defines each spirit.
However, for the ultimate rewatch, or for introducing a friend to the brilliance of a specific character, there is usually one episode that stands above the rest. It’s the one that delivers their biggest laugh, their most heartbreaking revelation, or the most significant character development. Let’s dive deep and pinpoint the best episode for each spirit in the Woodstone crew.
🎶 Alberta Haynes: The Ultimate Mystery Solved
Alberta Haynes (Danielle Pinnock) is the sass, the soul, and the reigning queen of Woodstone. A Prohibition-era jazz singer, she’s obsessed with her legacy, her fame, and the unsolved mystery of her own death. Her best episodes combine her vibrant personality with her deepest insecurities.
The Essential Episode: “Alberta’s Podcast” (Season 1, Episode 10)
This episode is the definitive Alberta story, not just because it focuses on her, but because it introduces a recurring element of the show—the true-crime podcast—and gives Alberta the thing she craves most: contemporary fame.
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The Plot: Sam and Jay start a true-crime podcast dedicated to solving Alberta’s murder. This brings in a direct descendant and historian, allowing Alberta to relive the spotlight and influence the investigation from the afterlife.
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Why It’s Her Best: It is a perfect blend of high-concept comedy and genuine emotional payoff. We see Alberta’s joy in being the center of attention, but we also see the vulnerability beneath the diva exterior. The episode validates her belief that her life and death mattered, making her feel seen and important in a way the living world previously ignored. The plot thread of the podcast runs through multiple seasons, making this episode the genesis of her long-term narrative.
🛡️ Thorfinn (Thor): The Vulnerability of a Viking
Thorfinn (Devan Chandler Long), the Viking explorer, is defined by his thunderous temper, his ancient vocabulary, and his surprisingly soft heart. His arc is about loneliness, finding family, and trying to reconcile his brutal past with his gentle present.
The Essential Episode: “Viking Funeral” (Season 2, Episode 13)
While his introductory episode is iconic, “Viking Funeral” delivers the most profound emotional depth for Thor, pushing him beyond his comedic clichés.
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The Plot: Thor believes he is cursed to never reach Valhalla and becomes intensely worried about his deteriorating body. The ghosts decide to give him a proper Viking Funeral on the estate grounds, leading to hilarious attempts to construct a ship and a moving farewell.
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Why It’s His Best: This episode tackles Thor’s deepest fear—dying alone, unrecognized, and unforgiven—with genuine tenderness. We see the ghosts rally around him, proving he has finally found the family he lost centuries ago. The ritualistic, heartfelt “funeral” allows him to release his anxiety and accept his current, permanent status at Woodstone. It’s the moment Thor truly stops trying to leave and starts embracing staying.
👔 Trevor Lefkowitz: The Heart Beneath the Huddle
Trevor (Asher Grodman) is the slick, pants-less Wall Street bro from the late ’90s. His entire being is wrapped up in his career, his failed relationships, and his lingering regret over not being more than a shallow finance guy.
The Essential Episode: “Trevor’s Body” (Season 2, Episode 16)
This episode finally gives Trevor the closure he desperately needed and forces him to reckon with the life that went on without him.
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The Plot: Trevor learns that his wealthy, estranged father is using a Trevor lookalike to manage his foundation—a foundation originally set up for the real Trevor after his death. Trevor and the ghosts must now find a way to expose the imposter and bring honor back to the Lefkowitz name.
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Why It’s His Best: “Trevor’s Body” is a high-stakes, emotional journey that showcases Trevor’s intelligence (he’s surprisingly good at corporate schemes) and his deep desire to be respected by his father. It also features a stunning, moving moment where he finally sees his body—a moment that gives gravity to his otherwise often-silly existence. We see him transition from a caricature of the 90s to a genuinely empathetic son seeking validation.
🌸 Flower: Finding the Truth in the Trip
Flower (Sheila Carrasco), the perpetually spaced-out hippie from the 1960s, is often comic relief, but her storyline revolves around her struggle with commitment, honesty, and her surprising sense of loyalty.
The Essential Episode: “Flower’s Article” (Season 3, Episode 4)
While her episode about finding her sister is moving, “Flower’s Article” is the funniest and most revealing of her core character flaws.
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The Plot: A journalist comes to the mansion to write about a rare flower and discovers Flower is related to the mansion’s history. Flower is terrified the journalist will expose her biggest secret: that she was the one who inadvertently burned down a cult barn, causing the journalist’s mother to be traumatized.
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Why It’s Her Best: This episode reveals that despite her free-love ethos, Flower is still burdened by guilt and shame over past actions. Her attempts to cover up the story, complicated by her chronic inability to focus, lead to hilarious situations. It shows that even the most laid-back ghost has deep-seated trauma that requires confrontation, providing a touching resolution where she finally takes responsibility.
🎻 Hetty Woodstone: The Woman Behind the Corset
Hetty (Rebecca Wisocky), the original lady of the manor, is the epitome of Victorian rigidity, snobbery, and repressed sexuality. Her arc is about slowly dismantling the social prison she built for herself in the 1890s.
The Essential Episode: “The Vault” (Season 1, Episode 17)
This is the cornerstone Hetty episode, providing the central mystery of her relationship with her husband, Elias, and unlocking her profound emotional growth.
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The Plot: Sam and Jay discover a secret vault containing a letter from Hetty’s husband, Elias. Hetty, terrified of the truth, tries to prevent them from reading it. The truth reveals a crushing betrayal and forces Hetty to acknowledge her marriage was a loveless sham.
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Why It’s Her Best: The revelation about her husband being a serial philanderer is devastating, but it’s ultimately liberating. It allows Hetty to finally admit her unhappiness and begin to rebel against the stifling constraints of her Victorian era. This episode kickstarts her incredible journey toward discovering feminism, sexual liberation, and emotional honesty—a journey that continues for the rest of the series.
🎖️ Isaac Higgintoot: The Ego and the Enlightenment
Isaac (Brandon Scott Jones), the pompous, self-obsessed Revolutionary War soldier, desperately craves historical fame and validation. His story is one of ego-driven ambition slowly replaced by genuine love and self-acceptance.
The Essential Episode: “Jay’s Second Wife” (Season 2, Episode 8)
This episode masterfully blends Isaac’s historical obsession with his groundbreaking personal relationship.
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The Plot: Isaac is thrilled when a historian discovers his lost diary, finally giving him the fame he desires. However, the diary also contains romantic entries about his friend and fellow soldier, which the historian interprets as Isaac being obsessed with his wife. Meanwhile, Isaac’s relationship with Nigel (the British officer) hits a snag.
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Why It’s His Best: It’s a dual success. It tackles the painful historical revisionism that often erases queer stories, forcing Isaac to choose between preserving his flawed fame and honoring his truth. Crucially, the episode solidifies his relationship with Nigel—a historical rival who is now his devoted partner—allowing Isaac to move past the superficial desire for fame and find genuine love and acceptance in the present.
👦 Pete Martino: The Man Who Always Wanted More
Pete (Richie Moriarty), the perpetually positive, but desperately insecure, 1980s scout leader, died when a student shot him in the neck with an arrow. His entire existence is about being the nice guy who was always taken for granted.
The Essential Episode: “Spooky Silent Killer” (Season 2, Episode 4)
While his first Christmas episode is touching, “Spooky Silent Killer” is a flawless piece of character work that centers his deepest anxiety: being overlooked.
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The Plot: Sam tries to find a living relative of Pete to invite to the mansion. When she finally connects with his estranged daughter, Carol, Pete becomes convinced that Carol and her mother (Pete’s wife) are hiding a secret, potentially dark, life.
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Why It’s His Best: This episode is heartbreakingly relatable. Pete spent his life trying to be the perfect husband and father, only to realize in death that his family didn’t mourn him as intensely as he’d hoped. We see his quiet pain over being a footnote in his family’s story. The episode confronts his need to be the hero, leading to a touching realization that his simple life was enough for those who loved him, even if they moved on quickly.
👨🏫 Elias Woodstone: The Unseen Force
Elias Woodstone (Matt Walsh), the Gilded Age robber baron and Hetty’s husband, is a less frequent character, but his presence—especially in the vault—casts a long shadow. He is the spirit of patriarchal repression and self-serving greed.
The Essential Episode: “A Decidedly Feminine Touch” (Season 3, Episode 10)
This episode is Elias’s best because it forces him to confront his own inability to change and his ultimate obsolescence.
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The Plot: Elias’s head is found, and he momentarily returns to his original ghost body, thrilled to be back. He immediately tries to revert to his Gilded Age behavior, expecting Hetty to submit to him, only to find the Woodstone women have evolved drastically in his absence.
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Why It’s His Best: The temporary return to his full form is played for great comedy, showcasing his outdated sexism. But the episode’s power comes from Hetty’s rejection. She asserts her independence and uses her newfound feminist strength to vanquish his influence, sending him back to being just a head (and occasionally a leg). It’s a triumphant moment for Hetty, which, by contrast, perfectly defines Elias as the stubborn villain who couldn’t adapt.
Conclusion: The Ghosts Are the Heart
The beauty of Ghosts (US) lies in its deep commitment to its ensemble. While Sam and Jay may be the conduit to the living world, the best episodes are always the ones that peel back the layers of history, vulnerability, and comedy from the eternal residents. Whether it’s watching Alberta reclaim her fame, Thor find his family, or Trevor finally gain respect, these spotlight episodes are the crucial building blocks that make Woodstone feel like the most hilarious and beloved afterlife we could ever hope to visit.
❓ 5 Unique FAQs After The Conclusion
Q1: Which episode finally revealed the definitive answer to how Alberta Haynes died?
A1: The resolution to the Alberta murder mystery happened in Season 2, Episode 18, “Whodunnit,” where it was definitively revealed that her rival, Betty, poisoned her with a flask of tainted moonshine out of professional jealousy.
Q2: Which episode features the most prominent storyline for the ghosts’ relationship with their living relative, Sam?
A2: Season 2, Episode 14, “Trevor’s Body” (also the best episode for Trevor), has a crucial storyline where Sam risks her freedom by breaking into Trevor’s father’s house, proving her intense loyalty and commitment to the ghosts she considers family.
Q3: Which ghost has the earliest death date at Woodstone Mansion?
A3: Thorfinn (Thor) has the earliest death date. He is a Viking explorer who died on the estate grounds around 1000 AD, giving him the longest tenure as a resident ghost.
Q4: Has the show ever revealed the cause of death for the Revolutionary War soldier, Isaac Higgintoot?
A4: Yes, the show revealed that Isaac Higgintoot died of dysentery (a severe intestinal infection) while confined to a small room during the Revolutionary War, a fact that severely undermined his self-styled heroic legacy.
Q5: What is the highest number of ghosts featured in a single episode’s main storyline?
A5: While many ghosts appear in every episode, the episode “Attic Girl” (Season 1, Episode 7) prominently featured almost the entire main cast working together to solve the mystery of the newly revealed attic ghost, making it a powerful ensemble piece.
