Ghosts Season 5 Premiere Recap: Soul Contracts, Heavenly Send-Offs, and Pete’s Cold Feet
- Je-Ree
- Oct 16
- 3 min read
The beloved CBS comedy Ghosts is back from the afterlife and wasting no time raising hell, literally. Season 5 kicks off with Episode 1, titled “Soul Custody,” diving headfirst into soul-selling deals, unexpected romantic hesitation, and one ghost’s surprisingly redemptive goodbye. If you thought the show might ease into the new season, you were wrong. Ghosts is fully leaning into its supernatural absurdity while still finding space for emotional payoffs and long-awaited character developments.
Spoilers ahead, obviously.
A Deal With the Devil... Sort Of
When we last left Woodstone Mansion, Jay had unknowingly signed his soul over to Elias Woodstone, the 1800s ghost with zero moral compass and a deep fondness for contracts that trap the living. Season 5 wastes no time addressing this bombshell. “Soul Custody” opens with a frantic and funny attempt to undo the deal, as Sam, Jay, and the resident spirits scramble to break the devilish pact.
The stakes are higher than usual, but Ghosts handles it with its usual flair, equal parts supernatural lore and full ensemble chaos. It’s the kind of high-concept plotline that could have felt too heavy for a sitcom, but thanks to the strong ensemble and tight pacing, it works without ever losing the comedic tone.
Carol’s Exit Is Weirdly Perfect
The real twist, though, comes from Carol, Pete’s long-dead ex-wife who finally gets a shot at redemption. After several appearances marked by selfishness and betrayal, remember, she literally cheated on Pete while he was alive, Carol decides to be the one to break the soul contract. Her sacrificial move to free Jay earns her a ticket to the afterlife, complete with the classic Ghosts "sucked off" moment.
Oddly enough, it feels right. Carol's send-off wraps up her arc, frees up space in the already ghost-crowded mansion, and makes room for new spirits to shake things up this season. Her exit was a surprise, but a surprisingly satisfying one.
Pete and Alberta Hit a Snag
While one ghost heads to the great beyond, another storyline is just heating up, or rather, cooling off? Pete and Alberta’s budding romance, a slow-burn fans have waited seasons for, finally takes center stage. But instead of joyfully shouting it from the ghostly rooftops, Pete pumps the brakes. The same Pete who spent four seasons pining is suddenly unsure about going public. Come on, bowtie guy. He gives a good reason, but I can't help but wonder is there some underlying issue there.
It’s a frustrating move, but also painfully on-brand for Pete, whose self-doubt and need to please everyone often get in his way. It adds a layer of realism to a show filled with Revolutionary War officers and Viking ghosts. And yes, it gives Alberta yet another reason to roll her eyes, which is always a win.
Patience Might Not Be Just a Gag
New-ish ghost Patience also returns, and for now, she’s sticking around. Her ultra-pious attitude could easily veer into one-note territory, but there are hints she may start walking the walk, not just preaching it. If the writers play it right, she could evolve into a wildcard moral compass or even the instigator of some delicious hypocrisy.
The Season Is Alive and Kicking
Ghosts Season 5 is off to a strong start with “Soul Custody,” combining clever writing, emotional moments, and plenty of ensemble magic. The episode strikes a solid balance between wrapping up old threads and setting up new ones. The soul contract arc gave the premiere some real stakes, Carol’s redemption provided a satisfying emotional payoff, and the Pete and Alberta drama kept things grounded in good old-fashioned ghostly awkwardness.
If this premiere is anything to go by, Ghosts isn’t just floating along, it’s levitating. New arrivals, relationship tension, and moral dilemmas promise a season full of laughs, feels, and probably at least one more séance gone wrong.
Missed Carol already? Ready for a new ghost to shake things up? Sound off in the comments. Just no summoning rituals,
please.
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