# In Praise of 'Ghosts' (British TV Series That Inspired The American One) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted\ **Created:** [December 31, 2022, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428 "2022-12-31T21:09:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2023, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/221 "2023-12-26T03:43:35Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Did this series just end with a thud? Like, zero finale of any kind. Just a regular episode? Good news! Though also sad news, because it’s a great ending that packs a nice emotional punch. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2024, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/222 "2024-02-06T22:05:10Z")
I’ve been watching on Paramount+, and they haven’t dropped any new episodes in several weeks. It looks like they haven’t aired any more episodes since the end of Season 2, and I don’t see it in their upcoming schedule. I hope this doesn’t mean seasons 1 and 2 are all we are going to get. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2024, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/223 "2024-02-07T17:08:40Z")
I was sort of sad the US version didn’t have a 17th century pilgrim. Mary from the UK version was roughly the same time period, and she was hilarious for all her weird suspicions and fear of the devil. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2024, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/224 "2024-02-07T17:23:18Z")
Flower is pretty much her replacement. I love Flower as a character, to me she’s even more fun that Mary. Robin ➡ part Thorfinn & part Sasappis Headless Humphrey ➡ Headless Biker Mary (burnt as Witch) ➡ Part of Flower (Hippy mauled by Bear) Thomas Thorne (Poet) ➡ Alberta (Jazz Singer) Kitty ➡ Part of Flower Lady Button (Grey Lady) ➡ Hetty Woodstone The Captain (WWII) ➡ Captain Isaac Higgintoot (Revolutionary) Pat ➡ Pete (The Scoutmaster and most obvious) Julian (Politician) ➡ Trevor (Wall St Frat Boy) No Pants ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2024, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/225 "2024-02-07T17:29:51Z")
I’m not crazy about Flower, just find her vacant-ness a bit annoying. Mary only comes across as dumb because she lived such a sheltered existence in a very strange, scary and turbulent time period. So her fear of the world is what makes her so funny. Flower has no such excuse! And I’m not sure the headless biker is much of a replacement for Humphrey, who is actually one of the more thoughtful and kind ghosts of the lot, when they let him speak. ---
**Author:** ![colinfred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colinfred/32/21338_2.png) [@colinfred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colinfred)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2024, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/226 "2024-02-07T17:41:41Z")
I’d say Sass is much more Humphrey’s head than Robin. They both have the “only sane man” vibe, athough Alberta also has it in the US version. I don’t really see a crossover between Thomas and Alberta; I would consider Thomas a removed and Alberta a new character rather than one being anything like a remake or archetype of the other. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2024, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/227 "2024-02-07T18:00:39Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > Flower has no such excuse! A lot of pot is her excuse. She used to be smart, then she got high. She was studying law before she burnt out. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2024, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/228 "2024-02-07T19:15:34Z")
One fun bit from the original UK series is Thomas Thorne’s romantic interest in Alison. That bit is absent in the US version. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2024, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/229 "2024-02-07T19:24:17Z")
In the US version, it’s Trevor who had / has a crush on Sam although that seems to have been put on hold, as he and Hetty are currently hooking up . ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2024, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/230 "2024-02-07T20:34:56Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > Mary from the UK version was roughly the same time period, and she was hilarious for all her weird suspicions and fear of the devil. Do note that no witches were burnt in the UK. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2024, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/231 "2024-02-07T23:19:49Z")
Funny thing is, I find it annoying and not humorous. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2024, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/232 "2024-02-07T23:20:38Z")
To each their own; I like it. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2024, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/233 "2024-02-07T23:36:45Z")
> **Summary** > > > [@DrDeth](#): > > > > Do note that no witches were burnt in the UK. > > Do note that no witches were burnt anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2024, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/234 "2024-02-08T00:18:06Z")
> **Summary** > > > [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > > > Do note that no witches were burnt anywhere. > > [Bamberg witch trials - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamberg_witch_trials#:~:text=Over%20an%20extended%20period%20around,having%20been%20beheaded%2C%20sometimes%20alive). > _Over an extended period around 1,000 people were executed after being accused of witchcraft in Bamberg, about 900 of whom were executed in 1626–1632.[[1]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamberg_witch_trials#cite_note-Durrant2007-1) People of all ages, sexes and classes, all of whom were burned at the stake, sometimes after having been beheaded, sometimes alive._ > > Unless you are arguing they weren’t really “witches”. Sure, no one can really cast magic spells. But curses can kill if the person being cursed believes in it, and witches were often supplies of poisons- which is what they were executed in Roman times for selling. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2024, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/235 "2024-02-08T02:50:22Z")
**Moderating** : somehow you don’t realize you started and continued a stupid hijack. Drop it now. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2024, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/238 "2024-02-08T23:10:37Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Flower is pretty much her replacement. I love Flower as a character, to me she’s even more fun that Mary. > > Robin ➡ part Thorfinn & part Sasappis > Headless Humphrey ➡ Headless Biker > Mary (burnt as Witch) ➡ Part of Flower (Hippy mauled by Bear) > Thomas Thorne (Poet) ➡ Alberta (Jazz Singer) > Kitty ➡ Part of Flower > Lady Button (Grey Lady) ➡ Hetty Woodstone > The Captain (WWII) ➡ Captain Isaac Higgintoot (Revolutionary) > Pat ➡ Pete (The Scoutmaster and most obvious) > Julian (Politician) ➡ Trevor (Wall St Frat Boy) No Pants Looking this over I just realized I like all the characters in the U.S. version better. I do tend to like the writing in the UK version better. Issac is my favorite of all the ghosts and Thomas is my least favorite. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2024, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/239 "2024-02-08T23:43:55Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Looking this over I just realized I like all the characters in the U.S. version better. Yep. I especially like the US husband better, the UK version is mostly useless. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2024, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/240 "2024-02-08T23:47:02Z")
I think that’s deliberate; the UK husband (Mike) wasn’t shown to be any good at DIY and the one time he got a call center job, he was terrible at it. The US husband (Jay) is a trained chef. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2024, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/241 "2024-02-09T02:03:23Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > > [@Loach](#): > > > > Looking this over I just realized I like all the characters in the U.S. version better. > > Yep. > > I especially like the US husband better, the UK version is mostly useless. I don’t mind that he’s useless. I mind that there is zero chemistry between him and his wife. Jay and Sam are believable as a married couple. Alison and Mike might as well be roommates. I’ve seen Kiell in other things and he’s funny. Full disclosure I’ve only seen what readily available in the US so I haven’t seen all of the UK show. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2024, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/242 "2024-02-09T02:55:15Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I mind that there is zero chemistry between him and his wife. Jay and Sam are believable as a married couple. Alison and Mike might as well be roommates. Good points. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428.md?page=13)