BBC Ghosts Season 2 Episode 7, “The Ghost of Christmas,” brings the sophomore season to a close with a chaotic holiday tale. This finale summarizes everything that has made this series so heartwarming so far. The finale gives the entire ensemble a chance to come together and demonstrate how sweet they are. This episode is also the perfect starting point for many chaotic stories that are still to come.
It makes sense to start with Mike (Kiell Smith-Bynoe) and his family. This adds so much context to this character. It’s clear where Mike’s particular brand of chaos came from. While this family clearly has a lot of love to give, this story shows that they’re liable to constantly get in one another’s way. The fact that they have the best of intentions and can still irk one another in really dramatic ways reads as incredibly authentic.
Relatedly, it’s clear that this episode is Alison’s (Charlotte Ritchie) chance to shine as the emotional core of this story. It’s so heartbreaking, watching her ask for so little to create her version of a perfect holiday and still be rebuffed. This is such a breathtakingly authentic portrayal of the holiday season. The fact that she is able to carve out a space for herself in her family is so sweet and hopeful.
BBC Ghosts Season 2 Episode 7, “The Ghost of Christmas,” feels like a culmination of Alison’s story so far. In the two seasons since she’s been introduced, she’s had to adjust to a lot of changes in her life. Watching her reclaim something she actually wants is heartwarming. In the time that she’s been introduced, she’s always expressed a lot of self-doubt. It’s nice to see her refute the narrative she has built around herself here.
This episode also gives Julian (Simon Farnaby) some hilarious and poignant character development. His self-reflection feels much needed in light of this character’s unapologetic attitude. Julian’s story also fleshes out the lore of the ghosts, establishing the fact that babies can usually see them. This is a heartwarming way for a character with such a massive ego to be given the chance to show off his humanity. Clearly, it hasn’t all been forgotten.
Finally, this episode makes full use of the holiday aesthetic. From the winter wonderland to the evergreen-laden interior, this is exactly how a mansion of Button House’s stature should be treated during the holidays. This environment simply adds to the chaos and to the heartwarming stories being told. Everyone can be at their best and worst over the holiday season. Button House enables everyone to showcase their respective range.
As BBC Ghosts wraps up for its sophomore season, there remains much to be explored with all of these chaotic characters. The end of this season just proves that there are still more stories to be explored with all Button House residents alive and less so. This episode proves that as much as the ghosts, in particular, are set in their ways, they are still able to grow and change. This dynamic little family remains so easy to love.
BBC Ghosts Seasons 1-5 are available to Stream on CBC Gem.