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GHOSTS. LAST EVER EPISODE BBC XMAS DAY 7.45

227 replies

Blondeshavemorefun · 25/12/2023 19:48

Aka now !!!

Couldnt see a thread

Last episode ever

Gets tissues

OP posts:
ColdinNovember · 26/12/2023 23:10

The whole MIL moving in was very dull and overly drawn out. The last 5 minutes were very sweet and a nice ending but think the rest of the episode spoiled it. I cried but I cry at everything.

theconfidenceofwho · 26/12/2023 23:12

ExpensiveDecorations · 26/12/2023 08:22

I think it was far better than any of the ideas anyone has posted here. A beautiful, poignant ending. Well done Ghosts team.

And agree with this!

dapsnotplimsolls · 26/12/2023 23:26

Alison should have trolled Thomas by insisting that one of the rooms was called the 'Byron Suite'.

Potterinthegarden · 27/12/2023 09:23

Thankfully we didn't watch this on Christmas day!! I am loathed to criticise the amazing team behind Ghosts, but this was such a dud and for me it was a real downer. The more I think it over, the more I dislike it. I agree that it made no sense having Mike and Alison decide to sell up after they made the opposite decision at the end of Series 5. It lacked heart, charm and humour.
They could have just ended with a normal type Christmas episode so we could all imagine that life (and death) carried on in Button Hall in much the same way, even though the show was ending. It felt to me like the team wanted to be REALLY sure that they were ending it FOR GOOD and couldn't be tempted back to produce any more, so they 'nailed the coffin shut'.
During those 30 minute episodes in series 1-5 was one of the few times I really switched off and relaxed (no other TV show has this effect on me). Like others I REALLY LOVED THIS SHOW! Now I will now try to forget I ever watched this "Christmas special" and erase it from my mind and consider Series 5 the real ending!

Hedjwitch · 27/12/2023 10:51

I agree with Potter. The best ending was the one that finished Series 5

Ashard20 · 27/12/2023 12:52

I thought that the episode really captured that total disconnection from the real world you get with a new baby, which is why Alison was so distant with them. In that absence, you could see Mike stepping up and trying to communicate with them independently of Alison. I'm glad that there weren't any drawn-out goodbye scenes with the ghosts - there has already been so much evidence of those special one to one moments.
I also agree that it warrants a second viewing and is deeper the second time round - very much like the infamous episode of Motherland.

I thought they avoided mawkish and over-sentimental. The depth of feeling was portrayed so effectively in that scene in the kitchen at the end. You only needed to look at the faces of each ghost to see what that decision meant to each of them - plus those little asides from Thomas and Humphrey.

What an incredibly talented and intelligent goup of actors/writers - I have loved them ever since Horrible Histories! I wonder what the next project will be?

EtonMessy · 27/12/2023 12:56

Just watched it a second time and I think it was absolutely perfect ! Definitely better after a second viewing. Would love to see what escapades the ghosts got up to when Button House became a hotel.

shearwater2 · 27/12/2023 13:01

I watched the Motherland Christmas episode again today @Ashard20 - I know it's pretty dark with her mum dying but it makes me laugh like a drain more than any other episode and is probably the best one ever, for me. I'll definitely watch it again next year, and the Ghosts ones.

MistletoeandMoccasins · 27/12/2023 16:34

I enjoyed it more on second viewing.
Thomas redeemed himself in that last scene.
Despite Alison growing old, he was still complimenting her, so it went beyond mere physical attraction, "Thank you Thomas, you flatter me."
Kitty was still in arrested development with Alison continuing to have the patience of a parent, "Of course we can Kitty."
It was beautifully done. I was just too invested and bereft to appreciate it properly on Xmas Day.

Santasbigredbobblehat · 27/12/2023 19:03

Agree it wasn’t the storyline as such, although I found the whole MIL aspect irritating, but appreciate the plot device. It was the lack of time given over to the ending. I glanced at the clock and when I realised we only had a 8 minutes left and it was nowhere near getting towards being wrapped up, I felt worried. It was rushed and I wanted Alison to maybe address them individually.

One alternative idea I had was Alison bangs her head again and can’t see them anymore, but it ends with the baby being able to see them.

blackfluffycat · 27/12/2023 19:42

I thought they would all be sucked off and be able to rest in peace. I cry at anything but I didn't at this.

CousinGreg55 · 27/12/2023 20:46

We didn't find out why only some people stay as ghosts when they die and why they get 'sucked off' why is Robin still there after all that time?

JaninaDuszejko · 27/12/2023 20:58

They get sucked off once they are 'at peace'.

MistletoeandMoccasins · 27/12/2023 22:54

They get sucked off once they are 'at peace'
Which sadly was a plot hole: you'd have thought when Pat realised his family still thought of him, that he was a granddad and when he met the scout who'd shot him that he'd have had closure. Just as an example.

theconfidenceofwho · 27/12/2023 23:59

I do agree with that @MistletoeandMoccasins

echt · 28/12/2023 00:45

I've just caught up with this in Australia as it isn't released here at the same times as in the UK. I think the writers shut it down quite nicely, though agree the MIL went on too long. The regular returns to the hotel was a good touch.

And of course Alison would continue to see other ghosts all the time anyway.

Gagging to know what the writers/actors will do next.

Andylion · 28/12/2023 01:49

JaninaDuszejko · 27/12/2023 20:58

They get sucked off once they are 'at peace'.

The writers have said in many interviews that there is no pattern or reason regarding ghosts being sucked off. It just happens.

blackfluffycat · 28/12/2023 09:42

Unless they have another series lined up that they think will be better I cannot understand why they would stop now.

AtillaTheHon · 28/12/2023 09:54

I wonder if they think it will get sold on to Netflix (like Motherland) and maybe they don't really want to work with them? That's my theory anyway (based purely on uneducated guesswork and speculation)!

We haven't had any Motherland since last year's Christmas special and now all the other episodes are on Netflix. Wonder if Ghosts might go the same way Sad

HoopLaLah · 28/12/2023 10:31

blackfluffycat · 28/12/2023 09:42

Unless they have another series lined up that they think will be better I cannot understand why they would stop now.

There’s an interview with the writers where they say that the series takes up a whole year of their time, writing it, then filming it on location from Jan to March, and they want to be able to get involved in other projects. Also they didn’t want to keep stringing it out till it was past its best.

BillStickersIsInnocent · 28/12/2023 11:11

I think they’ve made the right call, better to go out on a high.

ExpensiveDecorations · 28/12/2023 11:23

They've also said that they are stopping because one of the main features of the ghosts is that they never age but that they as humans obviously do and it's getting harder to make themselves look exactly the same as each year goes by, eg IIRC early on Matt played Thomas with his own hair but now has to wear a wig as he is greying.

CaptainThomasPatButtonHall · 28/12/2023 12:24

Ben and Larry are also VERY grey now (in a distinguished way)

DontBeAPrickDarren · 28/12/2023 12:34

I’m glad they’ve decided to end it. More series should know when to call it a day.

ShillyShallySherbet · 28/12/2023 18:39

It was so good! I can’t understand all the negativity about it, but then you can’t please all the people all of the time. I admit I was saying to the tv when they were leaving “but Alison, you’re going to see ghosts wherever you go, you may as well stick with these lovely ones!” But the MIL plot showed how much they needed go and be a family, alone. Alison can’t be looking after a baby and all those ghosts, way too stressful. It was time for them to leave, it was the right thing. I’m sure they would have picked somewhere new with no ghosts to move to and lovely that they came back regularly over the years. Absolutely can’t think of a better ending, so pleased.