Recap: Ghosts (S5, Ep. 11) "The Others" Winter Premiere

 

Ghosts comes back from hiatus with its boldest mythology expansion yet, shaking up the world of Woodstone with the arrival of the mysterious "Others." After a long winter break, the show finally introduces us to these ghosts that Patience has been hinting at. It turns out the Woodstone property is even more crowded than we thought, and one ghost has a very awkward history with the new arrivals. Here's a recap and review.

The episode picks up with Patience introducing her "dirt friends" to Trevor and Sass. To everyone's shock, these aren't fellow Puritans, they’re a 1960s cult led by a man named Bruce (Will Greenberg). Bruce and his "family" died in an underground bunker on the property, fueled by a paranoid prophecy about a world-ending meteor.

The twist? Flower was a high-ranking member of this exact cult. While she’s initially overjoyed to see her old "family," the reunion turns sour when Bruce reveals he hasn't forgotten that Flower was the one who tipped off the police—the very act that led them to hide (and die) in the bunker.

Bruce plots to push Flower into the "void" of the underground wall as revenge. Luckily, Pete overhears the plan and alerts Sam and the gang.

To save Flower, Sam has Jay search for the "meteorite" Bruce used to control his followers. It turns out the sacred space rock was actually just a spare key holder from the 1960s. Exposed as a fraud, "Bruce" (whose real name is actually Jason) is rejected by his followers, who decide it's time for some ghostly justice of their own.

Meanwhile, the "situationship" between Trevor and Patience hits a snag. Patience wants to go exclusive, but Trevor's wandering eye lands on her best friend, Barbara (a "Philly girl" from the cult). The real turning point comes at the party scene, where Trevor is faced with a classic temptation: Barbara makes a move, but instead of flirting back, Trevor awkwardly but sincerely tells her that Patience deserves someone who actually values her. This is the first time we see Trevor actively choosing someone else's feelings over his own ego and impulsiveness. Buoyed by this shaky burst of empathy, Trevor tries to do the right thing and find Patience, only for a misunderstanding to send a heartbroken Patience running away again.

"The Others" is a strong winter premiere that manages to expand the Woodstone mythology while giving Flower some much-deserved character development. If you're a Flower fan, this episode is a must-see. For newcomers, it's a solid entry point that proves Woodstone still has plenty of secrets buried in the dirt.

It was satisfying to finally see the faces behind Flower's "Susan" era. Sheila Carrasco continues to be the show’s secret weapon, pivoting effortlessly between hippie-daze and genuine emotional stakes.

The "meteor," being a plastic hide-a-key, was a classic Ghosts sight gag that highlighted exactly how manipulative (and pathetic) Bruce really was. But while Patience and Trevor's pairing is definitely the "weirdest" in the house, seeing Trevor actually consider someone else’s feelings for once was a nice touch of growth for our favorite suit-less ghost.

Whenever Bruce and the cult come up, it's pretty clear that Flower is part of the story. The reveal wasn't surprising, but the way it was shown was still fun to watch. The game had quite a few new ghosts popping up all at once, which felt a bit busy. Hopefully, "The Others" will turn into a regular group like the basement ghosts, so we can have more chances to get to know them better.

Overall, I give the episode an 8.4/10.

What did you think of "The Others"? With Bruce/Jason exposed and the cult ghosts now loose on the property, do you think they’ll eventually join the "Basement Ghosts" hierarchy, or are they destined to be Patience’s new permanent roommates? 

Which cult ghost intrigues you most, and what wild theory do you have about their future in the house? Share your predictions, favorites, or any unexpected connections you spotted. Let’s get the speculation going in the comments!

You can catch Ghosts Thursdays at 8:30/7:30c on CBS and streaming the next day on Paramount+.