Ghosts (US) season 1 review: A hauntingly good sitcom with real soul

Disclaimer: No ghosts were harmed in the making of this review.

Before you go thinking this is just another generic sitcom breakdown, let’s be clear—Ghosts (US) deserves more than that. This review isn’t a soulless recap but a deep dive into why this show has actual life (ironically, considering half the cast is dead).

Picture this. It’s Carnival. I’m sick in bed, missing all the fun, and desperately in need of a distraction. As a journalist who has spent years dissecting TV shows, I’ve seen it all. Some comedies have been brilliant, others so painfully mediocre that I struggled to finish a single episode, and a few have aged about as well as an open carton of milk.

Then came Ghosts (US), a sitcom about a woman who has a near-death experience, gains the ability to see ghosts, and finds herself sharing her home with a group of eccentric spirits. The premise had potential, but what I didn’t expect was to get completely hooked.

I had already watched the first episode before and even written a review about it, so I knew the show had something special. However, I hadn’t fully dived in yet. Turns out there’s no better time to binge-watch a sitcom than when you’re stuck in bed with nothing but time and a need for good company, even if that company is a group of ghosts.

Sam and Jay, the beating hearts of the show

One of Ghosts (US)’s biggest strengths is the dynamic between Sam and Jay. Sitcom husbands often exist purely to react to the female lead’s chaos, but Jay is his own person. He is a full-fledged nerd, a food enthusiast, and a history geek, with reactions so hilariously deadpan that you almost forget he’s the only one in the house who can’t see ghosts. More importantly, his relationship with Sam feels real. It is a perfect mix of banter, warmth, and that all-too-familiar look of exasperation when he realizes his wife is, once again, talking to thin air.

And that authenticity is rare. Many sitcom couples fall into predictable patterns, either constantly bickering or stuck in a loop of dull, saccharine exchanges. However, Sam and Jay feel natural. They are partners in crime, figuring out their chaotic new reality together, balancing skepticism and belief, frustration and affection. Their marriage doesn’t feel like a scripted trope, but like two people who genuinely love each other, even when one of them is holding a full conversation with an 18th-century aristocrat that no one else can see.

A house full of ghosts and bigger-than-life (or death) personalities

If Sam and Jay ground the show, the ghosts are what make it truly shine. Ghosts (US) doesn’t just give us a handful of spirits haunting the mansion, but a fully realized ensemble, each with distinct personalities, quirks, and unfinished business that make their afterlife as entertaining as it is tragic.

There’s Trevor, the finance bro who died without pants and still thinks he’s the hottest guy in the room. Isaac, a Revolutionary War officer desperate for recognition, spends his eternity grappling with his own repressed truths. Sasappis, the perpetually unimpressed Lenape ghost, delivers some of the best deadpan humor in the show. Alberta, the jazz singer with an unsolved murder mystery hanging over her, exudes diva energy in all the best ways.

Then there’s Hetty, the Victorian-era matriarch who has lived and died long enough to witness her own bloodline descend into what she considers complete disgrace. Flower, the free-spirited hippie, remains, quite literally, high all the time. Thorfinn, the thunderous Viking, somehow manages to be both menacing and oddly endearing. Pete, the ever-optimistic ‘80s scout leader with an arrow lodged in his neck, just wants everyone to be friends.

Each ghost brings something unique to the show, whether it is absurdity, pathos, or an unexpected take on history. Their interactions, rivalries, and occasional alliances make Button House feel less like a haunted mansion and more like a chaotic, centuries-spanning found family.

Representation that actually feels real

Speaking of Jay, let’s talk about representation. Played by Utkarsh Ambudkar, Jay is Indian American, but the show never reduces him to a stereotype. He isn’t the tech guy, the awkward genius, or the overbearing immigrant son trope Hollywood has overused. He is just Jay, a lovable disaster of a man who happens to be Indian American. That effortless representation makes all the difference.

And the diversity doesn’t stop there. The cast isn’t just varied on screen; it is a global mix behind the scenes too. Rose McIver, who plays Sam, may be portraying an all-American journalist, but she is actually from New Zealand. Román Zaragoza, who brings Sasappis to life with sharp wit and perfectly timed sarcasm, has both Mexican, Taiwanese and Japanese heritage, adding depth to his Native American ghost character.

Sheila Carrasco, who plays Flower, has Chilean ancestry, making the ensemble even richer. Devan Chandler Long, the man behind Thorfinn, portrays a Viking who has haunted the mansion for a thousand years. While Long himself is American, his character represents an era far beyond U.S. history, adding another unique layer to the show.

However, what makes Ghosts (US) stand out is that it doesn’t treat diversity as a checklist. The characters aren’t defined by their ethnicities or backgrounds. They are fully realized people, eccentric, flawed, hilarious, and deeply engaging. Their identities add depth rather than serve as their only defining trait.

Comedy that knows exactly what it’s doing

Beyond its more than stellar cast, the show shines in its approach to humor. While sitcoms like Friends and The Big Bang Theory relied on outdated punchlines that haven’t aged well, Ghosts (US) is refreshingly self-aware. It is clever, sharp, and genuinely funny without relying on stereotypes to get laughs.

A standout example is episode ten’s “Mojitown,” a ridiculous theme restaurant that throws together every possible Latin American cliché into one cultural train wreck.

In another sitcom, this might have been played straight for cheap laughs, but here, Jay immediately recognizes how wrong it is and calls it out. It is a small but telling moment that highlights how Ghosts (US) knows exactly what it’s doing. The humor doesn’t come at the expense of marginalized groups. It comes from character-driven comedy, absurd situations, and the beautifully chaotic interactions between the living and the dead.

Not just another sitcom, but one that feels alive (pun intended)

With its mix of heartfelt moments, genuinely witty humor, and a cast of ghosts that make the afterlife look like the most chaotic yet entertaining party in history, Ghosts (US) stands out not just as a remake, but as a show that has truly found its spirit.

And this was just the beginning. Since this first season gave us so much to unpack, we will be diving back into episode reviews, exploring what makes Ghosts (US) so special. If you want to revisit how it all started, click here to read the episode 1 review.

A sitcom that delivers comedy, heart, and a house full of hilariously dysfunctional spirits? Ghosts (US) doesn’t just haunt the screen—it owns it.

5 out of 5 stars.

Rate with a touch of flair: 5 out of 5 ghostly high-fives.