Furthermore, Pete (Richie Moriarty) promised earlier in Ghosts season 4 that he would use his power to find a partner for Sass, and he has been all over the globe, but has not followed through until now. However, Sass is now the focus of a love triangle that will span two episodes, beginning with Ghosts season 4, episode 17, “His Girl Shiki,” and continuing next week with the excitingly titled season 4, episode 18, “Smooching and Smushing.”
Sass Goes From No Romantic Options To Two In Ghosts Season 4, Episode 17
Pete Introduces Joan The Same Episode Shiki Realizes Her Feelings For Sass
Pete finally fulfills his promise to Sass when he returns to Woodstone Manor with Joan (Taylor Ortega), a charming, fast-talking screenwriter who died in the 1940s. Immediately, there is a hesitant but flirtatious air between Sass and Joan, and they connect over both being storytellers by trade. However, when Sass learns Joan can roam for up to a year, he begins to feel panicked. Hetty (Rebecca Wisocky) and the other ghosts point out that Sass tends to fall for unavailable women, so he is instinctively pulling away from how stable an option Joan is.
Yet Sass realizes he is still holding out hope to be with Shiki (Crystle Lightning), the Lenape woman he loved from afar during his lifetime, who now haunts a local newspaper office. Pete then offers to get a final answer from Shiki about her feelings for Sasappis. At first, Shiki tells Pete she is not interested, because she wants a guy who puts himself out there, and Sass never made a move. However, Pete mentions that Sass anonymously left a deer carcass for her family, a courting ritual in their tribe, and this gesture changes everything for Shiki.
I Wish Shiki’s Attraction To Sass Didn’t Feel That Shallow
Shiki’s Feelings For Sass Change Too Quickly
Sass’s disappointing love life in Ghosts has been such a fixture of his story, that while I’m excited he is in a love triangle where two women want him, I wish Shiki’s attraction to Sass felt less sudden and superficial. To be fair, we don’t know why Sass was in love with Shiki; they couldn’t have been that close as they only exchanged 13 “hellos” while he was alive. While a romantic gesture can recontextualize how you see someone, Shiki’s abrupt shift from no interest at all to starry-eyed, music-swelling feelings does not feel satisfying.
Sass is risking everything, so I wish more groundwork had been laid for Shiki’s feelings towards him.
How Ghosts Season 4 Can Still Fix Its Big Sass & Shiki Story
Sass Can Still End Up With Joan
Ghosts season 4, episode 17 sets up a love triangle that seems to be heading toward Sass and Shiki, but there is still time for Sass to end up with Joan instead. Ultimately, I agree with Hetty and Sam: Joan is a much more fun match for Sass. She has more personality with one off-hand anecdote about Lucille Ball than Shiki has demonstrated over four episodes. Joan is also gorgeous, and her sharp gray suit comes with an exciting accessory: a boozy flask, which the ghosts can drink.
I’m not opposed to Sass losing his virginity to Shiki if it helps him realize the chemistry he wants he already has with Joan. Ghosts has set up a rare cliffhanger episode, and based on the title of next week’s episode, “Smooching and Smushing,” I’m confident Sass’ 500-year dry spell will be coming to an end. With five episodes left in season 4, and Ghosts renewed for seasons 5 and 6 already, there is a lot of time for the show to explore Woodstone Manor’s potential newest ghost couple.
Ghosts will return with season 4, episode 17, “Smooching and Smushing” Thursday, April 10, 2025 at 8:30 p.m. ET on CBS and streaming next-day on Paramount+.
