Ghosts Season 5 Episode 6 Recap: Kyle's Back, Sam & Pete Clash, Thanksgiving Madness
- Je-Ree
- 10 hours ago
- 3 min read
Ghosts Season 5 Episode 6 titled Planes Shanes and Automobiles continues the show’s holiday hot streak with a Thanksgiving adventure that is part heartwarming family sitcom part supernatural meltdown and part travel nightmare that feels a little too relatable. Ghosts has proven many times that holiday themed episodes are its secret weapon and this one doubles down with smart jokes sharp character work and just enough absurdity to keep viewers grinning the entire time.
The festivities begin with Sam and Jay trying to do the polite thing by checking with Sass about hosting Thanksgiving. Because Ghosts never misses an opportunity for incisive humor Sass responds with his usual dry humor but that is why we love him. After pretending he didn't know why they were asking him, he is of course ok with the holiday being hosted at Woodstone as long as Jay makes yams topped with marshmallows which feels like exactly the kind of culinary request only a centuries old ghost would demand. Jay of course rises to the occasion because holiday food is his Super Bowl.
Sam leaves for a book signing with Pete in tow and while we love Pete, his road trip energy is a lot. He is the only ghost who can leave the property and the writers use that power to absolute comedic excess. Every mile that Sam drives is another mile for Pete to over share and bless him he commits to the bit with relentless enthusiasm. Meanwhile Jay is left behind with a huge list of ghost chores which he promptly ignores because he is tired of being the live in concierge for a house full of complaining spirits. Honestly he has a point.
The ghosts decide they have had enough of Jay’s protest era and call in backup. Unfortunately their definition of backup is Kyle who can also see ghosts and has a well documented history of hitting on Sam. Kyle arrives believing Jay wants to rekindle some magical friendship they never had which is tragic adorable and slightly uncomfortable all at once. Upon discovering he has been summoned as a ghost butler he sticks around anyway because he is lonely and desperate for human connection. The ghosts naturally exploit this. Trevor plays sports whisperer feeding Kyle outdated football trivia that is so obviously fake that anyone who has ever watched ESPN for five minutes could spot the problem. Jay eventually does and the two finally share a genuinely honest moment that is shockingly sweet for two men who can barely tolerate each other.
Out on the road Sam and Pete are spiraling into pure comedy gold. When their flight gets canceled Sam drives home with Pete serving as the world’s least reliable GPS. The car refuses to connect to her phone even though modern technology says otherwise but narrative convenience takes the wheel. Pete leads them onto a sketchy off road shortcut where the car promptly breaks down. Sam snaps unleashing every pent up frustration from a day of nonstop Pete monologues and Pete begins fading away since he is too far from the ghost boundary. Plus how sad that no one showed up for her book signing. The moment is surprisingly emotional which is the Ghosts signature move. Make you laugh then hit you with feelings you did not expect.
Sam remembers one of Pete’s famously dull stories about knowing someone nearby. They track the man down only to find he died a decade ago. Luckily his son still lives in the house and speaks fondly of the wonderfully pleasant man his father always talked about. Because Ghosts loves a good third act flourish the son offers Sam a helicopter ride home. Yes a helicopter. Because how else do you return to Thanksgiving dinner if not by dramatic aerial entrance. She lands at Woodstone like a guest star in a holiday movie.
Kyle prepares to leave after the world’s longest day until Jay finally sees how deeply lonely the guy is. In a Jay moment of vulnerability he invites Kyle to stay for Thanksgiving. The ghosts approve which is essentially the Woodstone version of a blessing.
Planes Shanes and Automobiles succeeds because it blends everything Ghosts does best. The comedy is sharp the character beats are rich and the emotional moments sneak up on you. The episode delivers holiday sentiment without losing the show’s signature chaotic tone. It is warm it is messy it is delightfully unhinged and it proves once again why Ghosts remains one of television’s most reliable comfort comedies.
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