Ghosts: What are Alberta's ghost powers and why is she joked about? Explained

Ghosts: What are Alberta
Ghosts: What are Alberta's ghost powers? (Image via YouTube/CBS)

CBS’ Ghosts features an exciting mix of characters. The camaraderie between the spirits and Sam has been impressing the audience for four seasons. One of the most interesting main characters in the show is Alberta Haynes, played by Danielle Pinnock.

Alberta, who used to be a lounge singer, has been dead since the Prohibition Era. Her confident and energetic personality makes her stand out, and she never shies away from supporting her friends and lifting their spirits.

The ghost has a fascinating power, as her humming can be heard by the living, as well as devices like Alexa. However, Alberta’s powers are often made fun of by her fellows, despite being the only one who can make her presence felt by living beings with her voice.


Alberta's humming power in Ghosts is often ridiculed by her fellows

Alberta’s humming power first shows up in the pilot episode. At first, it seems mesmerizing and different compared to what other ghosts can do, like Thorfinn's ability to manipulate electricity and Isaac's talent for making fart smells.

As a former jazz singer from the Prohibition era, Alberta’s ability to hum impresses all. However, as the show goes on, her power is ridiculed by others. It often becomes the target of jokes among her friends.

For example, in Ghosts Season 4, Episode 2, when the group discusses Patience's ability to write in blood, Pete jokes that ‘this power just keeps getting cooler.’ He compares it to Alberta’s humming, suggesting that her power is not as exciting.

This ongoing teasing of Alberta’s power makes fans wonder if it is just a running joke, or if it means something more. Some believe that the writers might be hinting that Alberta’s ability could evolve into something bigger, like communicating through songs.

It is possible that the creators are planting hints for a future twist where Alberta’s seemingly small power could become extremely important. The jokes might be foreshadowing a moment when Alberta’s power is finally acknowledged and appreciated, and her being ridiculed all these years finally pays off.

At the same time, her interactions with modern technology, like using AI voice devices, further add depth to the significance of her powers. Some fans think her ability to interact with devices like Alexa could be a big deal in the future, which has not been explored in the show yet.

On the other hand, the limits of her powers and the lack of focus on how useful they are might be the creators’ way of keeping a comedic tone in the narrative and avoiding making the ghosts too powerful.

Alberta’s power is also tied to her lively personality. She is portrayed as a confident character who loves being in the spotlight. Her background as a jazz singer and her charming nature make her a favorite among the ghosts. Even though people joke about her power, Alberta’s character is relatable and strong.

Hence, Alberta’s ghost powers and the jokes about them could be a mix of humor and character development. While she is often teased for her powers, they could eventually achieve a feat that would add depth to Alberta’s personality as well as to Ghosts’ narrative.


What powers do the other ghosts have?

Along with Alberta’s humming abilities, other ghosts also have some intriguing powers. Thorfinn, who died by lightning, can control electricity, while Sasappis can enter people’s dreams, which he often uses to change Jay’s decisions.

Isaac died of dysentery, so he gives off a bad smell when someone walks through him. Flower, who died on drugs, makes people feel high if she passes through them. Meanwhile, Pete can even leave the mansion for short trips, unlike his fellows.

Trevor can move small objects and press things, which helps him in using Sam and Jay’s iPad. Patience has the creepiest power of all, as she can make the walls bleed and write messages on them to show her disapproval.


Ghosts Season 4 airs on CBS on Thursdays at 8:30 PM ET/PT.

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Edited by Sezal Srivastava