Sasappis Virginity Watch: 537 years and counting…
Trevor's Folly
In the latest installment of “friends and relatives of people who died here seem oddly keen on returning to this property,” Adam Pinkus (Richie Keene), an old friend of Trevor (Asher Grodman), returns to Woodstone Mansion for a short vacation with his daughter, Abby (Gideon Adlon).
Fun facts: Gideon Adlon is the older sister of Odessa A'zion, who plays Stephanie, the teenage prom ghost who spends most episodes sleeping in the attic. Also, Richie Keene, who portrays modern-day Pinkus in this episode, has directed seven episodes of "Ghosts," including the Season 4 premiere.
We last saw Pinkus in Season 1, Episode 16 (“Trevor’s Pants”), where we learned that Trevor is actually a pretty decent guy, despite his consistent “bro” persona. However, this particular trip isn't just a nostalgic ride down memory lane for Pinkus. In fact, Trevor's buddy intends to use the father-daughter outing to share a long-held secret his wife revealed on her deathbed: Trevor Lefkowitz is Abby's real father!
Of course, Trevor isn't the first ghost to learn about the existence of unknown offspring; Season 1, Episode 6 ("Pete's Wife"), in which Pete learns he has a grandson named after him, remains one of my favorite episodes of the series. This episode doesn't quite eclipse the pitch perfect tone of that episode because it relies a tad too much on the crutch of "Sam (Rose McIver) is just an uber awkward person" to move the plot forward.
Nonetheless, it's extremely emotionally rewarding to see Trevor's genuinely kindhearted side come out once he realizes he's looking at his own daughter. When he botches the reveal of her true parentage (via a mistaken text on Sam's phone), you can't help but feel for the guy, and when he manages to repair his friend's relationship with his daughter (via a well-timed photo slideshow on Abby's phone), it's more than a little hokey, but you root for him anyway!
Pete's Investigation
Elsewhere, Pete (Richie Moriarty) sets out on a ghost-themed "Columbo" mission of sorts after Sam and the rest of the ghosts pressure him to break up with Donna (Allegra Edwards) in person (see my notes on this terrible advice in the quotes section). After a rather convincing response from Donna (I'm pretty sure she could convince me of anything), Pete goes out of his way to prove she didn’t actually kill her husband.
While he ultimately proves Donna’s innocence (seriously, hooray for Pete), one discovery is especially relevant to this review: Pete finds a ghost with a Walkman! As someone who keeps notes on all episodes of "Ghosts" in preparation for writing this weekly review, I definitely feel seen whenever Sam references Jay's ghost notes.
While ghost boundaries and powers are a big part of the DNA of "Ghosts," the show’s charm doesn’t come from strict afterlife mechanics. That credit goes to its characters and snappy dialogue. Still, these playful side quests act as the seasoning that keeps things lively. Elements like Carol’s candy or Richard’s Walkman add just enough punchy world-building to suggest a deeper set of ghostly rules, something that makes the world feel fresh and ever-growing.
Rating: 9.3/10 - I'm a sucker for emotionally-charged, family-focused episodes, and this is a very solid, family-themed entry of "Ghosts"! The A and the B storylines are very different, one sappy and the other somewhat dark, and it makes for a great combo!
Best pop culture moments:
- Who doesn’t know Tara Reid or "American Pie"? I'll admit that I had to Google Yasmine Bleeth (and I'm very glad that I did), but Abby really needs to get to the theater more (or at least Netflix) if she doesn't know "American Pie."
- Of course, Trevor finds another opportunity to mention "The Cutting Edge." After all he's said about it, I think all "Ghosts" fans should probably watch it at some point.
- "Purple Rain" for the rest of eternity might not be my worst nightmare, but it's not difficult to imagine that album becoming extremely tiresome. If you had to listen to one album on a Walkman for the rest of eternity, what would it be? Off the top of my head, I'm thinking either "Eldorado" by Electric Light Orchestra or "Hotel California" by the Eagles.
Oh and just one more thing ("Columbo" style) - Best quotes:
Sam to Pete: "I know that she's a murderer, but you owe it to her to break up with her in person." - So, ultimately, yes, Donna was proven innocent, but… If you discover that your significant other is a murderer, you absolutely do not owe them an in-person breakup. In fact, I'd advise against it for all living people, at least.
Hetty (after hearing Sam say 'magical' for the upteenth time): "Buy a thesaurus, woman."
Jay (after discovering Trevor has a daughter): "No pants!… Is what the guy who is the biological father was wearing the night he died it seems like…"
Trevor (after discovering he's a father): "Wow… So, I guess…My boys can swim!"
Sam: "Girl talk gab sesh" (So cringe)
Isaac: "Gasp… Really? Once again your collective failure to recognize something as gasp worthy truly boggles the mind."
Trevor: "That's right. I pulled out the big guns… Green Day."
Pete: "I know because my wife attended the tour with my best friend. They bought matching t-shirts."
Abby: "What was he into when he was my age?"
Trevor (to Sam): "I loved jam bands, designer drugs, and my dog Bucky."
Sam: "He loved jam bands and his dog, Bucky."
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