Midseason return: what to expect in “The Others”
Ghosts returns for the second half of Season 5 with a midseason premiere that expands the haunted world of Woodstone B&B. The episode, titled “The Others,” finally introduces a new group of spirits that Patience (Mary Holland) mentioned in Season 4. According to the episode logline, Sam and the living and dead residents of Woodstone face a new cohort of ghosts tied to one character’s past, while Trevor (Asher Grodman) struggles with romantic complications after a holiday hookup with Patience.
The arrival of these new characters widens the show’s supernatural playbook: because Ghosts’ rules generally keep action confined to the property, fresh arrivals create opportunities for rotating guest spirits who cross paths with the established ensemble — and, as showrunners Joe Port and Joe Wiseman confirmed, The Others will figure prominently in the rest of Season 5.
The Others’ ripple effects on the main cast
Port and Wiseman describe The Others as more than a one-off cameo ensemble: several of the newcomers have direct ties to Woodstone and to the ghosts who already live there. While the creative team is keeping the full reveal under wraps, early footage teases a Philly ghost named Barbara — Patience’s longtime best friend — who becomes the focus of Trevor’s scheming. In a sneak clip, Trevor, desperate not to be the “bad guy,” enlists Sass (Román Zaragoza) and Alberta (Danielle Pinnock) in an ill-advised plan to get Patience to break up with him so he can pursue Barbara.
Showrunners say that the episode establishes a clear connection between The Others and at least one member of the core haunting crew, but that the links deepen across multiple episodes. Fans who have already seen leaked images may know some identities, but Port encourages viewers to tune in to appreciate how these arrivals reshape relationships and storylines at the house.
Trevor and Hetty: an on-again, off-again dynamic
Trevor’s romantic maneuvers revitalize a long-running fan interest in his chemistry with Hetty (Rebecca Wisocky). While Wiseman stresses that Season 5 won’t feature any formal “power‑friends” schemes between Hetty and Trevor, he left open the possibility of future developments: the pairing remains a fun, combustible beat the writers return to when the story calls for it. For now, Trevor’s entanglements with Patience and Barbara are front and center.
“St. Hetty’s Day 2” and actors in the director’s chair
Season 5 continues the show’s tradition of tying Hetty’s rare ability to be seen by the living to a recurring holiday story. The episode “St. Hetty’s Day 2” revisits Hetty testing out her “tier one” power through an attempt at online dating — with the same immovable limitation: she cannot leave the property, which she even flags in her profile as “location non-negotiable.” That installment is directed by Rose McIver, who also returns to star as Sam.
McIver is not the only cast member to step behind the camera this season. Utkarsh Ambudkar (Jay) also directs an episode; both McIver and Ambudkar are veterans on set and, according to the showrunners, brought a strong handle on the show’s tone. Port and Wiseman praised the cast’s directorial contributions and noted the positive, collaborative atmosphere on those shoots.
Directors, returning crew and future cast directors
Across five seasons, Ghosts has built a reliable roster of directors — from pilot director Trent O’Donnell to Richie Keen and Christine Gernon — and the showrunners said that stable has been invaluable. They indicated at least some cast members who have expressed interest in directing (including Asher Grodman, Sheila Carrasco and Román Zaragoza) are likely to get that chance in future seasons, pointing to more in-house directing opportunities as the series continues.
Flashbacks and deeper character backstories
One of Ghosts’ perennial pleasures is its flashbacks, which let the ensemble play different eras and give the costume and prop departments creative scope. Season 5 will deliver several such dives: the writers plan to explore Nancy’s (Betsy Sodaro) past in a dedicated episode, promising surprising revelations about the often-overlooked basement dweller. There’s also a teased Isaac (Brandon Scott Jones) flashback to kick off an episode. Port emphasized that the cast enjoys these moments — a chance to wear new outfits, handle props and briefly escape their eternal wardrobe of house-bound sameness — and that each ghost will get meaningful beats across the rest of the season.
Guest stars and familiar faces returning
The back half of Season 5 packs notable guest appearances. Iain Armitage (Young Sheldon) plays an exaggerated version of himself in a cameo the showrunners described as a natural fit — they were aware Armitage is a fan of Ghosts and say he had a great time on set. Additional guest performers include John Michael Higgins and Emmy winner Jeff Hiller in forthcoming episodes.
Taylor Ortega will return this season as Joan, the 1940s screenwriter who has a history with Sass, resolving a storyline that fans have been waiting on. By contrast, Odessa A’zion’s recurring 1980s prom ghost Stephanie — a fan favorite — may be absent this season due to the actress’s growing commitments, though the showrunners left the door open for future appearances.
A first for the series: Ghosts’ inaugural two-part finale
Renewals for Seasons 5 and 6 afforded the creators space to experiment with format, and Season 5 will close with Ghosts’ first official two-part finale. Port confirmed the production is shooting a double episode for the end of the season, a step up from the occasional multi-episode stretches the show has used previously. Wiseman promised the finale will deliver a classic Ghosts-style cliffhanger — big enough to give fans something to talk about over the summer — but declined to divulge specifics.
High stakes for Sam and Jay
Personal and professional pressure intensify for Sam (Rose McIver) and Jay (Utkarsh Ambudkar) as the season progresses. Port teased that their future at Woodstone and the very ownership of the property will become major story elements leading into the finale. The couple’s social life and Jay’s restaurant, which have seen recent ups and downs, are part of the larger arc that sets the season’s stakes.
From hauntings to vampires: Eternally Yours
Port and Wiseman are expanding their supernatural comedy footprint with Eternally Yours, a vampire sitcom they originally wrote more than a decade ago and are now bringing to life following Ghosts’ success. The new series will star Allegra Edwards — who previously guest-starred on Ghosts — opposite Ed Weeks as an immortal couple. Trent O’Donnell, the director of the Ghosts pilot, will helm Eternally Yours’ first episode; the showrunners highlighted his familiarity with the tone and his inventiveness as key reasons for the choice. Casting is still being finalized, and Port and Wiseman praised their casting department for assembling the ensemble.
What to watch for this half-season
- The Others’ arrival and how those ghosts intersect with the resident spirits.
- Hetty’s holiday episode directed by Rose McIver and the show’s recurring exploration of her “tier one” power.
- Directing debuts from cast members and continued input from Ghosts’ established creative team.
- Flashbacks that give Nancy, Isaac and other ghosts fuller backstories.
- A two-part finale that raises new questions about ownership of Woodstone and the ensemble’s future.
Episodes of Ghosts are available to stream on Paramount+, and viewers can follow new broadcast dates through CBS listings. With strong ratings and a creative team intent on expanding its universe, Season 5 promises fresh surprises while preserving the character-first humor that has made Ghosts a network standout.