Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Ghosts season 4, episode 1.

The news that Jay will gain a vital new ability in The ghosts of CBS’s Ghosts are the real heroes of the series, but their misadventures need a human accomplice. Without Sam’s ability to communicate with the undead denizens of the Woodstone B&B, the sitcom’s main characters wouldn’t be capable of affecting change in their surroundings. The ghosts provide the ideas and Sam executes them, often with disastrous results. However, this successful formula has left one character out of the story until now.

Utkarsh Ambudkar’s Jay is an ideal love interest for Sam. He is more methodical than his flightier partner, and his cautious side pairs well with Sam’s impulsiveness. However, Jay can’t see, hear, or communicate with the ghosts of the CBS sitcom, so he is often at something of a loose end. Outings like season 1, episode 13, “The Vault,” make use of this disparity by forcing the ghosts to communicate with Jay out of necessity, but these storylines are few and far between. Fortunately, Ghosts season 4 can fix this issue by granting Jay the ability he has always wanted.

Jay Naturally Gets Sidelined In Ghosts (& That's A Problem)

Sam’s Husband Has Expressed Frustration Over His Inability To See Ghosts

According to a Comic-Con interview with Ghosts season 4’s new character may mean that Jay’s newfound abilities won’t arrive until later in the season, he has been pining for a chance to see ghosts since Sam first gained her powers. As early as season 2, episode 6, “The Baby Bjorn,” Jay bitterly complained that Sam's abiltiies were wasted on her.

It will be fun for Ghosts season 4 to finally see Jay interact with much of the cast for the first time.

As his actor Utkarsh Ambudkar noted during that Comic-Con interview, it will be fun for Ghosts season 4 to finally see Jay interact with much of the cast for the first time. Jay doesn’t even know what Thor looks like, let alone how the ghosts interact with each other, and Sam’s limited explanations of their dynamics can’t compare to firsthand interactions. This means Jay will no longer be utilized mainly as a ing character in B-stories and can instead become the sitcom’s co-lead, thus taking pressure off the show’s reliance on Sam in the process.

Ghosts Season 4's Twist Fixes Jay's Biggest Problem

Utkarsh Ambudkar’s Character Is Often Left Out Of Plots

Inevitably, Jay is often left out of Ghosts plots because he relies on Sam as a medium for all of their communication. Storylines like Isaac’s Ghosts character shift or the varied backstories of the house’s ghosts are too complex to be repeated verbatim to Jay. As such, Sam’s partner is instead often given broadly comedic side quests that have less direct connection to the show’s main heroes. The show's original British incarnation, the BBC sitcom of the same name, struggled with this issue even more. Fortunately, CBS’s Ghosts can now fix the problem.

Kiell Smith-Bynoe’s Mike was frequently seen gallivanting through a wacky slapstick plot, while BBC’s Ghosts divulged another character’s surprisingly poignant backstory, and the ensuing tonal disparity often made his character’s subplots feel superfluous. In contrast, Jay gaining the ability to see ghosts in season 4 means he can have a bigger role to play in the dramatic storylines at the Woodstone B&B, which have always comprised the show’s main plots. This makes it tempting for Ghosts to make this twist a permanent change, but the sitcom should still steer clear of this.

Ghosts Season 4, Episode 1 Highlights Jay's Story Problem

Ghosts Season 4 Premiere Feature Another Aimless Jay Subplot

Jay's biggest issue was once again highlighted in season 1, episode 1, “Patience,” as he was sent on another side quest that contributed little to either the episode’s overarching plot or his character development. This time, Jay is forced to dig a hole in search of Patience’s lair, but Flower’s bad intel and the convoluted communication between him, Sam, and the ghosts make this entire enterprise a time-wasting folly in the end. This Ghosts season 4 plot proves that agency is the missing ingredient in Jay’s interactions with the ghosts, as its absence makes this plot frustrating and pointless.

Jay ends up doing whatever inconvenient grunt work the ghosts are unable to do.

Since Sam can actually communicate with the ghosts, she can put her foot down and decide what she is and, crucially, is not willing to do for them. In contrast, Jay ends up doing whatever inconvenient grunt work the ghosts are unable to do, resulting in aimless subplots like this one. Jay’s Ghosts season 4 premiere plot goes nowhere precisely because he can’t see or talk to the ghosts so, once again, he is left unsure of how much he is helping or what he should do without Sam’s guidance. The storyline proves season 4’s twist can’t arrive soon enough.

Ghosts Season 4’s Jay Twist Should Not Be Permanent

Sam’s Unique Powers Make Ghosts’ Premise Work

While it is great that his character will gain more focus from the twist, Jay’s ability to see ghosts shouldn’t be permanent in Ghosts season 4. Ghosts season 4 has other storylines that the show needs to focus on, but this is not the only reason that the twist should only last for a few episodes. If Jay can see ghosts for good, then Sam’s powers will no longer be unique. What makes Sam’s character work so well is her combination of skills and shortcomings, and Jay’s shared ability to communicate with the ghosts could compromise this.

New episodes of Ghosts air every Thursday at 8:30pm on CBS.

In many storylines, Sam’s recklessness negates her ability to talk to the ghosts, and this is what makes the show funny. If Sam and Jay were both always able to communicate with the sprints, there would be far fewer misunderstandings, resulting in less conflict, which would result in less comedy. It might make the Woodstone B&B a more peaceful place to stay, but this twist wouldn’t help the show’s dynamic. Thus, Ghosts season 4 must temporarily grant Jay the ability to see ghosts so he can gain some much-needed plot focus before returning to its otherwise-successful status quo.

Source: Collider (via YouTube)