🦃 A Thanksgiving to Remember (and Revisit)
If you’re anything like me, you probably spent your 2025 Thanksgiving curled up on the couch, waiting for the latest shenanigans from the Woodstone B&B crew. And boy, did CBS’s Ghosts deliver. In the episode titled “Planes, Shanes, and Automobiles,” we got a brilliant homage to the classic ’80s flick, a helicopter entrance that would make a rockstar jealous, and the return of everyone’s favorite “living” ghost-seer, Kyle.
But amidst the marshmallow-topped yams and Pete’s “lovably annoying” travel monologues, the show subtly dropped a heavy truth bomb. It mentioned an issue that isn’t just a one-off joke—it’s a fundamental flaw in the relationship between our favorite “livings” and their resident “deads.” I’m talking about the “Toddler Problem.” The 2025 Thanksgiving episode didn’t just hint at it; it screamed it from the rafters of the manor, and it’s an issue the writers absolutely need to revisit if they want the show to keep its heart.
👻 The “Toddler Problem”: When Spirits Get Selfish
Let’s be real: Sam is essentially a full-time nanny for a group of centuries-old children. The Thanksgiving episode highlighted this perfectly while Sam was away on her book tour. Without her there to cater to every whim—from smelling specific foods to changing TV channels—the spirits didn’t just wait patiently. They spiraled.
Jay’s Breaking Point
Jay Arondekar has officially entered his “protest era.” In a moment of pure, relatable frustration, Jay pointed out that the ghosts have become spoiled. He refused to be the “live-in concierge” for spirits who don’t even say thank you.
-
The List of Demands: Sam left a literal manual of “ghost chores.”
-
The Blackmail: The ghosts resorted to texting Kyle and threatening to reveal Jay’s “secret Sonic” eating habits to Sam.
The Kyle Babysitter Incident
The fact that the spirits felt they needed to summon Kyle (Ben Feldman) just to have someone to “babysit” them proves they’ve lost their sense of independence. They’ve become so reliant on Sam’s “curse” that they’ve stopped trying to coexist with Jay in a meaningful, respectful way.
🏚️ Why This Issue Matters for Season 5 and Beyond
If Ghosts is ultimately a show about growth and “moving on” (or getting “sucked off,” as the show hilariously puts it), then this regression into selfishness is a major roadblock.
The Stagnation of Redemption
The spirits are supposed to be learning how to be better people so they can finally find peace. But if they are bullying Sam and manipulating Jay just to get their way, are they actually progressing?
-
Toxic Dynamics: Using Kyle as a pawn highlights a manipulative streak that we haven’t seen addressed head-on.
-
Boundary Issues: The subsequent Christmas episode (where Sam gets possessed again without her consent) only reinforced that the ghosts are ignoring Sam’s boundaries.
🗺️ Pete’s Proximity Problem: A Literal ticking Clock
The Thanksgiving episode also revisited a technical issue: Pete’s range. While it’s cool that Pete can leave the property, “Planes, Shanes, and Automobiles” showed us the terrifying stakes of that power.
The Fading Effect
When the car broke down, Pete actually started to disappear because he was too far from the ghost boundary for too long. This is a plot point that feels like a Chekhov’s Gun.
-
The Limitation: Pete isn’t “free”; he’s on a leash.
-
The Risk: If Sam and Pete get stuck again, we could lose one of the heartbeats of the show. The writers need to clarify how this “resistance” works before it becomes a tragic series finale.
🍽️ The Cultural Commentary We Can’t Ignore
One of the most impactful parts of the 2025 Thanksgiving episode was how it handled the holiday’s controversial roots. Sasappis (Román Zaragoza) continues to be the show’s moral compass, forcing the other ghosts to confront their own roles in history.
Colonizers vs. The Oppressed
The dinner table conversation was a masterclass in “cringe-comedy with a message.”
-
Isaac: Admitting he was a “gay colonizer” but a colonizer nonetheless.
-
Hetty: Trying to use her Irish heritage to claim victimhood while ignoring her “Robber Baron” past.
-
The Lesson: The episode highlighted that you can’t just “check a box” for history; you have to live with the weight of it.
🚪 Will Jay Finally See the Light (and the Ghosts)?
Fans have been shouting this from the rooftops: Give Jay the sight! The Thanksgiving episode teased this by bringing back Kyle. Seeing Jay bond with another “living” who can see the ghosts made us realize how lonely Jay actually is in his own home.
Fresh Dynamic Potential
If Jay could see the spirits, the “caretaker” burden wouldn’t fall solely on Sam. It would force the ghosts to develop a direct relationship with him, likely solving the “Toddler Problem” by making them respect the man who actually cooks the food they love to smell.
Conclusion
Ghosts’ 2025 Thanksgiving episode was a triumph of comedy and heart, but it left us with a lingering “to-do” list. Between the ghosts’ growing selfishness, Pete’s dangerous travel limits, and Jay’s isolation, there are major threads that need pulling. Sam needs to stop being a “ghost-nanny” and start setting boundaries. If the spirits of Woodstone Manor are ever going to find their way “up,” they need to learn that gratitude is more than just a holiday theme—it’s a way of life.
❓ Unique FAQs
Q1: Why did the ghosts bring Kyle back in the 2025 Thanksgiving episode? A1: They were frustrated that Jay was ignoring their “ghost chores” while Sam was away. They blackmailed Jay into letting Kyle stay so they would have a “babysitter” who could see and interact with them.
Q2: What is the “secret” that Jay was hiding from Sam? A2: The ghosts threatened to tell Sam that Jay has been sneaking off to eat “secret Sonic” (fast food) when she isn’t looking.
Q3: How did Sam and Pete eventually get home for dinner? A3: After their car broke down, they encountered the son of a man Pete used to know. Because the son remembered the “pleasant man” his father talked about, he offered Sam and Pete a ride home in a helicopter.
Q4: Is Pete’s power to leave the property permanent? A4: No. As shown in the episode, if Pete stays away from the Woodstone boundary for too long, he begins to fade away and risks disappearing forever. He has to “build up resistance,” which he hasn’t fully mastered yet.
Q5: What was the main homage in the 2025 Thanksgiving episode? A5: The episode was a direct tribute to the 1987 film Planes, Trains and Automobiles, with Sam taking on the “Steve Martin” role and Pete playing the “John Candy” role.
