The above rundown doesn’t even include supporting characters like Nancy and the rest of the basement ghosts, Ghosts season 4 episode 20’s guest star Stephanie, Hetty’s husband Elias, and Mary Holland’s Patience. Weeks after their most recent respective appearances, both Elias and Patience returned in season 4, episode 22, “The Devil Went Down to Woodstone.” Surprisingly, Patience didn’t go to Hell in the finale, but she did thoroughly mess up Sam’s plans for a straightforward book launch. In the process, Ghosts season 4 finally proved that the show knows how to use her character.
Patience Was One-Dimensional In Earlier Parts Of Ghosts Season 4
Mary Holland’s Patience Was Wasted Earlier In Season 4’s Episodes
Early on in season 4, Patience was an initially compelling character that Ghosts wasted in her first appearances. When she was introduced, the humorless Puritan took Isaac hostage since he left her to dwell alone in the dirt beneath the mansion for decades. In Isaac’s defense, Patience was a devout zealot who believed almost everything was the work of the devil, which made her hard to get along with.
Patience’s Powers Made Sam’s Book Launch A Hit In Ghosts Season 4’s Finale
The Puritan’s Ability To Make Walls Bleed Was Unintentionally Incredible
As the above outline implies, Patience’s role was painfully rote early in Ghosts season 4. Even though Holland proved the breakout star of 2020’s superb festive rom-com Happiest Season, she couldn’t salvage a mean-spirited one-note character. Luckily, “The Devil Went Down to Woodstone” changed this. When Patience got wind of the book launch party celebrating Sam’s vampire novel, she was horrified to discover such an unapologetic celebration of godlessness on the grounds of the mansion.
The ghosts did all they could to stop Patience from using her powers to “Ruin” Sam’s book launch, but to no avail. Compared to some of Ghosts season 4’s earlier twists, Patience making the walls bleed at Sam’s book launch was admittedly a little predictable. However, it was also an undeniably funny payoff to a season-long setup and one that finally justified an under-used power and a character who never had a purpose until now.
Patience’s Possible Return Is Ghosts Season 5 Is Now More Exciting
Ghosts Season 4’s Finale Proved The CBS Sitcom Finally Knows How To Use Patience
Fortunately, Ghosts season 4’s finale proves the sitcom now knows how to use Holland’s character in a less unsettling and irritating way. Patience is surprisingly savvy, so it remains to be seen whether Sam will be able to manipulate the ghost into using her powers whenever she wants to impress guests with bleeding walls.
When season 4 began, Holland’s character was a single joke in search of a purpose.
