Spoiler warning
This article discusses plot details from Ghosts Season 5, Episode 11, “The Others.”
What happened in “The Others”
Ghosts returned from its midseason break with an episode that significantly expands Woodstone B&B’s haunted ecosystem. Episode 11, “The Others,” immediately reveals that Patience’s (Mary Holland) friendly “dirt ghosts” are members of Flower’s (Sheila Carrasco) long-established cult/commune, led by Bruce (Will Greenberg). A surprisingly large group of hippie ghosts has been living in a hidden bunker on the Woodstone grounds — a new location that opens multiple narrative possibilities for the rest of the season.
Why the cult was the right choice
Showrunners Joe Port and Joe Wiseman say the decision to make the Others members of Flower’s cult grew organically from the character’s backstory and the practical needs of the writers. Wiseman explained that the cult felt like a natural extension of Flower’s history and that using an established group allowed for immediate dramatic and comedic impact. Port added that the cult concept also made sense logistically: the writers needed a plausible scenario for a sizable number of people to have died together and remained hidden on the estate.
The showrunners acknowledged darker real-world echoes in the choice — Port compared the idea to mass events like Heaven’s Gate while noting they were not making a direct historical claim — and teased that there is a surprising Woodstone-family connection to the cult that will be revealed in upcoming episodes.
A bunker expands the show’s playing field
Adding the bunker gives Ghosts another fixed spot on the property to populate with new spirits without violating the series’ one-property rule. Wiseman pointed out that the series already uses sublocations — the basement, the shed with English ghosts, the attic — as pockets of characters to bring in and out of stories. The bunker functions similarly: it can house a cluster of ghosts who can be spotlighted when needed, providing fresh faces and conflicts while preserving room for the core ensemble.
Port quipped that, from a practical standpoint, Woodstone is becoming a questionable destination for guests given how haunted it has grown.
Trevor’s surprising romantic turn
One of the episode’s biggest character beats centers on Trevor (Asher Grodman). After his holiday hookup with Patience, Trevor discovers he might actually feel something for her — a twist that complicates his simmering off-and-on dynamic with Hetty (Rebecca Wisocky). Showrunners say they view relationships among the dead as having longer timelines, which gives the series latitude to explore different pairings without rushing to a final outcome.
Port also hinted that Trevor’s brief connection with Barbara (Gracie Dzienny) will affect his relationship with Patience, setting up more romantic roulette as the season continues. Wiseman noted the comfort of knowing the show was already renewed, which allows the writers to experiment with character arcs rather than forcing quick resolutions.
What’s next: Episode 12 and beyond
The fallout from the bunker reveal continues in Episode 12, titled “The List.” Wiseman previews a few specific threads:
- A conflict between Thor (Devan Chandler Long) and Flower that starts with a disagreement over a piece of furniture and includes a flashback to Thor’s original marriage.
- Continued complications for Hetty and Sam (Rose McIver) as Sam and Jay attempt to secure Woodstone a spot on a prestigious luxury-hotel list.
- The emergence of a vengeful bunker ghost who has a surprising connection to the Woodstone family and the cult, which may illuminate the lineage between Sam and her great-great-great aunt.
These developments promise more interpersonal comedy and supernatural mystery as the season moves forward.
Why this matters for the series
Introducing a bunker full of cult ghosts accomplishes several strategic goals for Ghosts:
- It deepens Flower’s backstory while providing immediate narrative stakes.
- It organically increases the pool of recurring and one-off spirits without overloading the main cast.
- It creates new conflict vectors — romantic, familial, and historical — that can be mined over multiple episodes.
With the writers able to spread storylines across multiple seasons, the show can afford to let pairings and mysteries breathe, making these new elements feel earned rather than rushed.
How to watch
New episodes of Ghosts air Thursdays at 8:30 PM ET on CBS. Episodes are also available to stream on Paramount+ (live and on-demand for Paramount+ Premium subscribers; on-demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after airing).
Stay tuned for more coverage as the season reveals the Woodstone connection to the cult and the ripple effects of the bunker’s arrival.