Ghosts‘ two-part holiday special, “A Very Arondekar Christmas,” gives viewers everything we’ve been hoping for when Jay finally sees the ghosts, save for Pete, who’s possessing Jay’s body. The show’s possession episodes are among some of the best and most hilarious ones, but in the spirit of the holidays, this one cranks up the dial with more emotional beats that once again serve as a reminder of how special this show is.
During this annual Woodstone Mansion possession, Nancy commandeers Sam’s body while Pete gets stuck inside Jay’s. No, but literally, because while the ghosts know that the way to undo a possession is by driving past the property line, the method doesn’t exactly work for Pete whose power is being able to travel. So, they do it the old-fashioned way—a YouTube tutorial on how to perform an exorcism. Only that evicts the most “evil” spirit, which, in this case, decides Jay’s only a little more controversial than Pete. But everything’s fine because Jay sees the ghosts and it’s quite literally everything I could’ve hoped for.
“A Very Arondekar Christmas” Utilizes Every Glorious Moment Between Jay and the Ghosts
It’s a good thing the series gives us a double feature with “A Very Arondekar Christmas” becuase I couldn’t imagine pausing after that final moment with two Jays and not knowing what’s happening. Yet, as the next episode begins, everything perfectly locks into a place with some really wholesome moments of Jay putting faces to the names he’s constantly heard of. There’s even a comment from Pete (in Jay’s body) about how he must live such a lonely experience since he has to sit through multiple beats of silence while Sam listens to ghosts going on about something.
What’s particularly lovely about all of it is the little moments we get, such as the way Utkarsh Ambudkar squares his shoulders a bit while talking to Hetty or how he and Thor immediately go in on a hug. It’s also so great to see how much has changed since “The Work Retreat” because Jay’s immediate reaction to seeing Trevor is wholesome, too. It’s a real shame he doesn’t get to see his invisible bestie, Pete, but how “A Very Arondekar Christmas” utilizes the two men on opposite sides of the mortal realm as kindred spirits is what makes the episode so sweet.
It’s not just a wholesome Christmas special with hijinks revolving around Sam trying to impress her mother-in-law (played to perfection by Sakina Jaffrey), but it’s about parents reconnecting with their children.
Jay (as a ghost) persuades Sam to take Pete (in Jay’s body) to see his daughter and grandson one last time while he listens in on a conversation between his parents about the restaurant. So much of the reason Ghosts is such a special show is because it continuously shows how this purgatory benefits people in new and deeply endearing ways. Jay’s often on the outside, so allowing him to finally get a firsthand experience of what it’s like to walk amongst the ghosts equates to the type of excellent payoff only thoughtful and considerate writing could bring forth. It couldn’t just be hilarious, but it needed the emotional crux to cement how deeply rewarding these connections (whether seen or unseen) are.
And really, that’s just it. I knew that Jay seeing ghosts would be momentous, but I didn’t think it’d be this emotional, which is silly of me, considering how often this show makes me cry. More than anything, though it doesn’t last long, it changes so much within the series because he gets it now. He’s always believed in Sam, but this new revelation could lead to shifts in their means of communicating and ultimately allow for a more intimate understanding all around the mansion.
Yet, I can’t end this without talking about the emotional goodbyes and how Hetty’s statement about hoping it’ll be a long, long time before they see him again. Granted, she leaves him with the very important reminder to fill his pockets with cocaine, but the little nod about them being there makes this episode a comforting treasure trove that’s all about how we all may have people looking out for us even when we don’t see them. Maybe that’s what the invisible string theory is all about because as uproarious as this episode is, in true Ghosts fashion, it’s proof that Sam and Jay staying at Woodstone Mansion and building their lives here is the gift that keeps on giving, which makes it even more fitting that he gets to honor his father with the restaurant here.
