Ghosts Season 5: A Brilliant Callback Showcases CBS’ Sitcom’s Strength

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The sitcom Ghosts remains CBS’s strongest comedy, recently delivering a fantastic joke that viewers had been waiting for since season one! With a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s the highest-rated CBS comedy currently airing. CBS clearly believes in the show, renewing it for two additional seasons after only four.

The American version of Ghosts, which was originally based on a British series, is growing into a major international franchise. It’s already been adapted for German television, and versions for Australia, Greece, and France are currently being made, demonstrating the show’s popularity around the world.

The sitcom Ghosts has found a lot of success thanks to things like the great connection between the actors and its playfully funny supernatural terms. But as the American version of the show starts its fifth season, one thing really stands out: its knack for bringing back storylines you thought were long gone.

Ghosts Season 5, Episode 4 Revives The Ghost Representative Plot From Season 1, Episode 3

Photo: CBS via MovieStillsDB

Most sitcoms with self-contained episodes often abandon ongoing storylines so new viewers can easily jump in. But Ghosts does something cleverer: it builds on past events and remembers them, without confusing people who haven’t seen every episode.

Given its large cast and fantastical setting, the show could have easily ignored past storylines or treated important character moments as simple gags. However, it cleverly uses references to previous events – providing brief reminders for new or casual viewers, while also satisfying dedicated fans who have been following the show for a long time.

The show Ghosts really shines when it connects past and present, and season 5, episode 4 is a great example. The episode brings back a storyline from season 1, episode 3, where a surprising turn of events led to Creepy Dirk – one of the ghosts haunting the basement – unexpectedly winning an election to become the spokesperson for all the ghosts.

Four years after the events of the previous season, the spirits representing those who died in the cholera outbreak signal that Dirk’s time in office is up, leading to a new election. While the position is largely symbolic, the fact that the show adheres to a presidential election cycle is a funny and clever detail. It’s a small touch that really shows how carefully the show’s creators have built and maintained its world over time.

Many Episodic Sitcoms Drop Plot Lines, But Ghosts Does An Excellent Job Referencing Past Events

Photo: CBS via MovieStillsDB

In Ghosts season 5, episode 4, the show cleverly references past events, offering satisfying moments for dedicated fans while still being enjoyable for new viewers. The episode subtly reminds us of Bela’s past relationship with Trevor, his continued financial resources, and the introduction of Trevor’s daughter, Abby Pinkus.

These details make the ghosts feel like fully developed people with ongoing lives and connections, even when they aren’t the main focus of an episode. These references are subtle enough that they don’t disrupt the show’s flow or how the characters interact.

In season 5, episode 4, Flower briefly loses her usual dazed state, and the show explores what happens when she’s surprisingly clear-headed and well-spoken. However, the episode smartly brings her back to her normal self by the end. Her dreamy personality is a key part of what makes the group work, and the show understands the importance of maintaining that dynamic.

A key moment in the episode happens when Abby gets a job at Jay’s restaurant, and Sam has to admit the truth about the ghosts – especially Trevor. This is sure to cause both funny and heartfelt situations in the upcoming episodes of Ghosts.

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2025-11-07 20:58