Network television is tricky because twenty-two episodes understandably leave room for fillers and arcs where there may not be a lot happening. Couple this detail with a series that features an ensemble cast, and it becomes even trickier to strike a perfect balance for every fan favorite character. But Ghosts Season 5, Episode 4, “Bring Your Daughter to Work Day,” proves that if any show can truly master the art of a brilliant balance, it’s this CBS comedy.
It’s also a rarity to have a show where literally every character is beloved, but the greatness here comes from the fact that the writers and actors care deeply about every story they tell. In the season premiere, “Soul Custody,” we get a great moment with Pete and Carol, the fifth annual Halloween episode even delivers hints of a fan-favorite romance becoming canon again, and today, “Bring Your Daughter to Work Day” spotlights two characters in an episode that’s all about ensuring voices are heard.
There’s a rare and always timely message about integrity on Ghosts, and it’s exactly what continues to make the show special.
Trevor and Flower Both Get a Chance to Step Up in Ghosts Season 5, Episode 4
There is no A plot or B plot this week (and even when there are, they’re both equally extraordinary at Woodstone). Still, what we get here are two significant storylines, perfectly balanced to bring the characters the growth necessary to continue making the show impactful. In addition, it gives Asher Grodman and Sheila Carrasco solid material to play with that brings out some remarkable performances that are worth cheering loudly for.
Grodman’s Trevor has been getting quite a few moments to shine throughout the last few seasons, and the fact that we get Carrasco’s Flower in the same episode is utterly delightful. These worthwhile narratives that give both actors solid points to show where they stand are such an incredible showcase of the fact that even seemingly silly matters can be profound. A girl can learn that her dad is a ghost and haunts the place she now words in. A hippy ghost can debate another in a ghostly election and nail it. Small moments can be synonymous with even bigger battles, even when they’re contained in a fictional estate.
With that said, it continues to floor me how this show not only manages to touch on grief continuously, but how it delivers relevant talking points through ghostly matters. I watched my screener for this episode on Election Day, making the entire thing more timely and significant. Watching Flower get up on that podium and expertly debate Isaac while essentially revealing that she’s for the people (the ghosts, in this case) is proof of the fact that TV can be utterly relatable when it allows each of its characters to be fully fleshed out people.
It’s so telling of how much the writers and actors care about their characters because to have a woman stand before her peers and show off her chops is going to mean so much to so many people. At the same time, the series could’ve dragged the storyline with Abby, too, but instead, having Sam and Jay reveal the truth to her shows us that they respect her enough not to keep toying with her. It shows us that they care about fathers and daughters having second chances, even when they’re on different mortal planes.
Sometimes, a long-running gag is part of the show’s charm. (For instance, Thor can beg all he wants about ram’s testicles to be on the Mahesh menu, but we know that’ll never happen. Same with Stephanie’s crush on Trevor, which will always be unrequited.) Othertimes, characters have to make concrete changes to show that they’re evolving, and that’s exactly what Ghosts continuously excels at. Every single one of these characters has had substantial growth from the pilot episode, and five seasons, that’s something to admire—it’s something to acknowledge and recognize as an example of how storytelling should be. “Bring Your Daughter to Work Day” is proof that it can happen.
Ghosts Season 5, Episode 4, “Bring Your Daughter to Work Day,” is now streaming on Paramount+. What are your thoughts on the character journeys in the episode? How loudly did you cheer for Flower? Did you cry for Trevor and Abby? Tell us in the comments.
