Jay with three ghosts behind him

Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Ghosts season 2The showrunners of Ghosts explain the premiere’s surprising decision involving Jay. Along with the ABC comedy Abbott Elementary, the CBS series Ghosts has been frequently credited with helping to give a boost to the half-hour format by telling funny and heartfelt stories that have also managed to hook an audience. An adaptation of the British series with the same version, the CBS version focuses on married couple Samantha (iZombie star Rose McIver) and Jay (Utkarsh Ambudkar, Never Have I Ever) and details what happens to their lives when Samantha has a near-death experience and starts to communicate with spirits.

SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY

As detailed in the Ghosts season 1 cliffhanger though, Jay might start seeing ghosts as well. After all, just like Sam, he suffers a nasty fall. Ambudkar’s character tumbles through the floor, inevitably hitting his head. When he wakes up in the Ghosts season 2 debut, Jay wonders if he’s gained some sort of connection to another realm. But, after toying with the possibility a bit, it becomes clear that Jay hadn’t acquired any new powers as a result of the accident.

Related: Why iZombie Season 6 Isn’t Happening

In an interview with TVLine, co-showrunners Joe Wiseman and Joe Port discuss the way they handled the Jay cliffhanger. Wiseman mentions how, if Jay had the same abilities Sam did, it would significantly alter and essentially break the premise of Ghosts. Port concurs, adding that he liked the uniqueness of Sam’s connection with the spirit world and didn’t want to go in what seemed like the obvious direction:

Wiseman: It just felt like it was going to be too much of a premise-breaking development. We’re only 18 episodes in from the first season, and it seems sort of like it’s Sam’s thing, and it’s his thing that he sort of has to deal with being this guy who’s not privy to what’s going on. We just don’t want to blow that up yet.

Port: I know we’re a TV show, but it seems like a very TV-ish direction to go, I guess. I didn’t mind the head-fake in that direction, but it seems like Sam’s power is very rare. It doesn’t seem like this should be something that happens to that many people that hit their heads. So I just thought it would be too much that it would happen to two people in the same household. […] It’s partly that [it was too early on], as well. But I also think him having that power in that way, I don’t know that that’s a place to go. I’m not sure.

Wiseman: [It’s] the type of show where he could have died or he could have seen them for a little while. In our mind, it was a valid, fun cliffhanger, and then, ultimately, when we thought about it, we didn’t want to go there yet.

Why It’s Better That Jay Doesn’t See Ghosts

There is obviously a good amount of comedic potential in Jay interacting with spirits, including the fact that he might get to chill with some of the friends he’s made through Sam. While the writers indicate that they’re open to revisiting the story in the future, Ghosts season 2 is sticking with the premise that brought it success: Sam having this weird part of her life, and Jay, for his part, dealing with it through endearing confusion and unbridled support. Wiseman is correct to note that it’s too early in the life of the series to really mess with the conceit.

It would likewise essentially mean that, for a lot of the episodes, Jay and Sam would be dealing with the unruly dead gang that roam around their hallways. This gives Jay his own stories and side-plots, while still keeping the sitcom’s options open for the long run. If the half-hour sitcom revival continues, and Ghosts continues to be popular, then maybe the writers can more permanently change up the format. At this point, however, the argument remains that it’s too soon to tinker with what works.

Source: TVLine

You May Also Like

EZ Reyes Prepares for One Last Ride

FX’s biker gang drama, Mayans M.C. will be returning to Hulu for…

All of the songs featured in the animated movie

The 2013 animated feature Turbo is now streaming on Netflix and has…

Syngin’s Latest Attempt At Racy Photo Makes 90 Day Fiancé Fans Cringe

Syngin Colchester from 90 Day Fiancé shares a suggestive photo to promote…

Where Was Hider in My House Filmed? Is it a True Story? Lifetime Cast Details

Directed by Dave Thomas, Lifetime’s ‘Hider in My House’ (originally titled ‘What…