👻 A New Tradition: The ‘Ghosts’ Holiday Possession Returns
If you are a fan of CBS’s hit sitcom Ghosts, you know that the writers love a good holiday tradition. But while most shows stick to ugly sweaters and burnt turkeys, the crew at Woodstone Mansion prefers something a bit more… supernatural. For the second time in the show’s history, the series delivered a Christmas possession story that turned the Arondekar household upside down.
In the Season 4 double-episode event, “A Very Arondekar Christmas,” we didn’t just get one ghost hijacking a living body—we got two. As Sam (Rose McIver) and Jay (Utkarsh Ambudkar) prepared to host Jay’s notoriously hard-to-please parents, a leaky water heater mishap led to a chaotic electrical surge. The result? A “double possession” that saw the brash cholera ghost Nancy taking over Sam, and the lovable (but arguably directionless) Pete inhabiting Jay.
⚡ The Physics of a Holiday Fiasco: How the Possession Happened
Every possession in the Ghosts universe requires a specific catalyst—usually a combination of water, electricity, and a living person coming into contact with a ghost at the exact right millisecond.
H3: The Leaky Water Heater Catalyst
The drama kicked off when a leaky water heater threatened to flood the basement just minutes before Jay’s parents, Mahesh and Champa, were set to arrive. In their frantic attempt to fix the plumbing, Sam and Jay both suffered a massive electrical shock.
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Nancy’s Opportunity: Nancy (Betsy Sodaro), the basement-dwelling cholera ghost who has been dying for a “day upstairs,” happened to be standing right behind Sam.
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Pete’s Accidental Entry: Pete (Richie Moriarty) was trying to help Jay when the surge occurred, inadvertently finding himself thrust into Jay’s corporeal form.
H3: A Mastery of Mimicry
One of the greatest joys of these episodes is watching Rose McIver and Utkarsh Ambudkar flex their acting muscles. McIver, who spent years playing different personalities on iZombie, perfectly captured Nancy’s gravelly voice and aggressive posture. Ambudkar, meanwhile, channeled Pete’s nervous energy and “aw shucks” Trooper attitude with uncanny precision.
🍲 Meeting the In-Laws: Nancy vs. Champa
The stakes couldn’t have been higher. Jay’s mother, Champa, has always blamed Sam for moving Jay away from the city. Having an obnoxious, un-showered ghost from the 1800s controlling your body is generally not the best way to win over a mother-in-law.
H4: The Surprising Bond
Ironically, Nancy’s blunt, “no-nonsense” attitude actually resonated with Champa. By dropping Sam’s usual “people-pleasing” facade, Nancy-as-Sam managed to forge a weirdly authentic connection with Jay’s mother. It turns out that a little bit of basement-ghost honesty was exactly what the relationship needed!
🚗 Pete’s Grand Adventure and the Ghost Boundary Problem
While Sam was dealing with the kitchen drama, Pete-as-Jay was dealing with an existential crisis. Unlike previous possessions where driving across the ghost boundary (the property line) would eject the spirit, Pete’s unique ghost power—the ability to leave the property—meant he was effectively stuck inside Jay.
H3: The Farewell Hug
Pete used Jay’s body to track down his daughter, Laura, and his grandson before they moved to Australia. In a heart-wrenching scene, Pete (as Jay) gave his daughter one last hug. This moment of pure, selfless love provided the emotional frequency needed to finally separate the souls.
🧟 The Zombie Jay: A Dark Comedy Twist
The separation didn’t go smoothly. An amateur “exorcism” found on YouTube actually ejected Jay’s soul from his body instead of Pete’s. For a significant portion of the special, Jay’s body walked around in a “zombie” state, while Ghost-Jay finally got to see and interact with the other spirits face-to-face.
H4: Jay Finally Sees the Ghosts
This was the payoff fans had been waiting for since Season 1. Jay, the man who has spent years talking to empty air and taking “ghost notes,” finally stood in the same room as Alberta, Hetty, and Thor. Seeing his reaction to their actual appearances—especially Alberta’s “creepy Todd tattoo” resemblance—was a highlight of the season.
💡 Why Possession Stories Work So Well for ‘Ghosts’
Rhetorically speaking, why does this show keep coming back to the possession well? It’s because it’s the ultimate bridge between two worlds that are usually separated by a veil of invisibility.
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The Bridge of Empathy: It allows the ghosts to feel what it’s like to be alive (and taste butter!) again.
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The Bridge of Understanding: It allows the living (specifically Jay) to understand the loneliness and longing the ghosts face every day.
Conclusion
“A Very Arondekar Christmas” proved that Ghosts still has plenty of life—and death—left in it. By doubling down on the possession trope, the writers managed to deliver a story that was equal parts slapstick comedy and genuine tear-jerker. Whether it was Nancy bonding with Sam’s mother-in-law or Pete getting his final goodbye, the Season 4 Christmas special reminded us that the Arondekar family (both living and dead) is stronger together. We might have to wait until the Winter Olympics end for new episodes, but this holiday possession will keep us warm through the break!
❓ 5 Unique FAQs After The Conclusion
Q1: Who possessed whom in the Ghosts Season 4 Christmas special?
A1: It was a double possession! The cholera ghost Nancy possessed Sam, and the Scout Leader ghost Pete possessed Jay.
Q2: Why didn’t driving across the property line work to get Pete out of Jay?
A2: Usually, ghosts are tethered to the property. However, Pete’s special “ghost power” is the ability to wander off-property. Because he isn’t bound by the line, crossing it didn’t trigger the automatic “ejection” that usually happens to spirits like Hetty or Thor.
Q3: Did Jay finally get to see the ghosts in this episode?
A3: Yes! During a botched exorcism, Jay’s soul was pushed out of his body, turning him into a ghost temporarily. He was able to see, hear, and talk to every ghost in the house before eventually re-entering his body.
Q4: Who are Jay’s parents in the show?
A4: Jay’s parents are Mahesh (played by Bernard White) and Champa (played by Sakina Jaffrey). They made their long-awaited debut in this one-hour holiday event.
Q5: Is this the first time Sam has been possessed?
A5: No, this is actually the third time Sam has been possessed. She was previously possessed by the Viking Thorfinn in Season 2’s Christmas special and briefly by other spirits in earlier seasons.
