Ghosts Season 4, Episode 7, “Sad Farnsby,” is about righting wrongs and having long-awaited conversations before things blow to extreme proportions. What ultimately focuses on Henry and Margaret Farnsby also leads to Isaac and Nigel coming to an agreement that feels right for them.
As a belated wedding gift, Sam had ordered a toddler’s dinosaur bed for Isaac. In his excitement, he fails to remember that the gift technically belongs to Nigel, too, which then leads to a conversation about how Nigel did his hearty research on dinosaurs because of Isaac’s love for them.
Is There Hope For Isaac and Nigel After Ghosts Season 4, Episode 7?
While I have my unyielding and maybe a little delusional certainty about Hetty and Trevor getting back together, it’s so hard to predict where Ghosts is taking Isaac and Nigel. Largely because the two of them went farther in their relationship than Hetty and Trevor ever did, so it’s hard to be sure what the plan is here. Yet, interestingly, Nigel does say it best—he has more experience. He’s known about his sexuality longer, and he’s been with people who have shaped him into the man he is. Isaac, however, is still learning about who he is and who he wants to be. He needs a bit more time, and he needs to carry on this journey toward finding himself.
And Isaac’s journey toward becoming a better version of himself is something the show is expertly spacing to deliver realistic and worthwhile character growth, so it’s hard to complain about this separation. Additionally, a considerable part of the reason why this conversation feels so earned is that it’s the first time that Isaac is truly and wholeheartedly apologetic, coming in full force with an amazing performance from Brandon Scott Jones.
It’s also vital to note how John Hartman brings the first emotional gut punch in Ghosts Season 4, Episode 7, “Sad Farnsby,” when he showcases how devasted Nigel still is with a single look. Nigel has needed this apology for a while now. No matter how hard Isaac tried to make matters right in “Sam’s Dad” by briefly moving to the shed, his ambitions weren’t entirely selfless. Instead, they were driven by his inability to face Nigel properly and, in turn, to confront himself.
Yet, this very moment on this bench feels like the most transparent Isaac has been since the first time he expressed his feelings for Nigel. This apology is where the real Isaac and Nigel shine through, making it clear that whatever comes for them in the future, it’s a beautiful thing that the two men can finally be friends. The animosity and pain were making the breakup even more disheartening, but this way, if they do ever find their way back to each other, it could be the type of second chance romance dreams are made of.
For the sake of growth, ending their relationship now makes more sense, yet maintaining their friendship and remembering why they cared for each other in the first place is the heart of Ghosts Season 4, Episode 7, “Sad Farnsby.” If the route to getting them back together is still on the table, this episode proves that Isaac can get to a place where he’ll be a better partner.
Understanding that Nigel learned about dinosaurs for him is, in many ways, a catalyst for Isaac to see what a relationship truly entails. And Jones makes this point abundantly clear when the surprising revelation wholeheartedly dawns on Isaac. It’s what leads to the apology, but at the same time, it’s what shows the viewers that this time, Isaac’s intentions are fully driven by the compassion he sees in Nigel. Nothing Isaac says at this moment is selfish. He isn’t doing this to later rave about how he’s a better man now, but he’s doing it to showcase his unwavering respect for the man sitting before him, and that’s a sincerely beautiful detail to see in the episode.
Ghosts Season 4, Episode 7 is now streaming on Paramount Plus. What are your thoughts on Isaac and Nigel’s conversation? Let us know below.
