Ensemble scene from the television series Ghosts showing the living couple seated together while multiple ghosts from different eras crowd around them, watching and reacting.

Ghosts: One Haunted House, Two Cultures, and a Lot of Heart

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Hauntings do not usually come with this much warmth, this many punchlines, or a cast this committed to being ridiculous with a straight face. Ghosts is the rare comedy where “found family” includes both the living and the long deceased, and somehow it still lands emotional beats without turning into a greeting card.

The BBC original: a snug little haunted house that became a modern classic

The BBC’s Ghosts debuted in 2019 with a premise that felt instantly familiar but cleverly refined: a young couple inherits a crumbling country estate only to discover it is already occupied by an argumentative cross-section of British history. What made it resonate was not just the joke density, but the creative pedigree behind it. The core ensemble emerged from Horrible Histories, and that sketch-comedy timing is baked into the show’s DNA, even when episodes lean into longer-form sitcom storytelling.

Critically, the BBC version quickly earned a reputation as comfort television with intelligence. The Guardian praised its final run as “one of TV’s best comedies,” highlighting its ability to be consistently funny while remaining emotionally generous and quietly poignant. Audience reaction mirrored that sentiment. Fans did not just enjoy the jokes; they bonded with the ghosts themselves, treating the house as a familiar place they were happy to revisit.

Ghosts (BBC)

A defining characteristic of the BBC series was its restraint. With relatively short seasons, the show often implied backstory rather than fully dramatizing it. Emotional beats were efficient, sometimes almost throwaway, trusting the audience to fill in the gaps. That brevity became part of the charm, but it also set natural limits on how deeply the show could explore each ghost’s past.

The US adaptation: the same premise, a different engine

When CBS announced an American adaptation, skepticism was inevitable. Sitcom remakes have a long history of mistaking translation for duplication. Early critical reaction, however, suggested Ghosts avoided that pitfall. Variety observed that while the US version clearly honored its source, it began to “find its own way” once it moved beyond the BBC show’s initial narrative scaffolding.

Structurally, the two series share a recognizable framework: a modern couple navigating home ownership, an ensemble of ghosts from distinct eras, and a rule-based supernatural system that generates comedy. Where they diverge is emphasis. The CBS version operates within a network television model that favors longer seasons, more episodic plotting, and gradual character evolution. The result is not a louder or broader show, but a more expansive one.

Character “rhymes,” not clones

One of the adaptation’s smarter creative decisions was allowing characters to echo rather than replicate their UK counterparts. The similarities are intentional and functional, serving as tonal anchors rather than direct analogues. Each ensemble balances archetypes—the authority figure, the romantic, the skeptic, the chaos agent—but the American versions are shaped by different cultural assumptions and comedic rhythms.

As Den of Geek noted in its early comparisons, the US series feels clearly inspired by the original while remaining comfortable making tonal and narrative choices that suit its own cast and audience. This distinction is crucial. Instead of impersonation, the show opts for reinterpretation.

Ghosts (US) (scene) Season

Four completed seasons: why the CBS version feels more expansive

By the end of Season 4, the US Ghosts had accumulated significantly more narrative runway than its BBC predecessor. This is less a creative statement than a structural reality. Network seasons simply provide more screen time, and the show uses that time to layer character history, relationships, and emotional stakes.

Critics have consistently pointed to the strength of the ensemble. Rotten Tomatoes’ early consensus described the series as “easy, softly spooky viewing,” elevated by a cast that commits fully to both the humor and the heart.⁵ Individual episode reviews echoed that sentiment, frequently noting how even secondary characters feel purposeful rather than ornamental.

Over time, this additional space has allowed the series to explore topics the BBC version often had to imply: unresolved trauma, identity, legacy, and what it means to be remembered. The tone remains light, but the emotional palette has broadened.

Season 5 so far, through Episode 8

Season 5 premiered in October 2025 and immediately addressed the lingering supernatural complications left by the previous finale, particularly Jay’s soul-related predicament. Rather than resolving it quickly, the writers have treated it as a long-arc problem, weaving it through episodic stories in a way that maintains momentum without overwhelming the sitcom structure.

Episode 8, “The Life and Times of Esther Greene,” aired on December 11, 2025, and represents one of the season’s most character-driven installments. The episode centers on Alberta, using her past to contextualize the persona audiences have come to love. Reviews highlighted how the episode balances comedy with sincerity, allowing a meaningful backstory reveal without undercutting the show’s rhythm.

The episode also reflects the series’ growing interest in modern themes, including visibility, ownership of narrative, and what happens when personal history becomes public content. These ideas fit naturally within a show about ghosts whose lives are constantly reinterpreted by the living.

Ghosts (US) (scene) Season

Final thoughts

The BBC Ghosts remains a masterclass in tonal economy: concise, warm, and precise. The CBS adaptation succeeds not by replacing it, but by expanding the premise into a longer, character-richer format. Together, they demonstrate how a strong concept can support multiple interpretations without losing its core identity.

For viewers willing to embrace both, Ghosts offers two versions of the same afterlife—each haunted, heartfelt, and surprisingly human.

WATCH: Ghosts (US)

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