# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2023, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/41 "2023-01-01T21:24:05Z")
I was reading about this today, the article said that he’s coming back, but that the producers are being mum about how and when. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2023, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/42 "2023-01-01T21:53:18Z")
> We are thrilled to announce a fifth series of this modern British Comedy masterpiece. Ghosts continues to go from strength to strength and the BBC couldn’t be more grateful for the amount of laughter and love that the creators, and Monumental, pour into this unique show. > > The hit comedy will start filming the new series in early 2023 and will once again be broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. > **SPOILERS** > > > Following the destruction of their B&B (and main income) in the gatehouse fire, Alison (Charlotte Ritchie) and Mike (Kiell Smith-Bynoe) begin exploring other means of making ends meet and contemplate a new chapter that could have a huge effect on the Ghosts’ (after) lives. htt ps://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2022/ghosts-series-5-confirmed ---
**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:** [January 1, 2023, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/43 "2023-01-01T21:54:14Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > It’s weird how the headless guy quickly faded away in both series. (Although, I think the Tudor lord in the UK series did have an episode devoted to him). Do we know anything about headless Fonzie in the US version? I don’t even remember the headless character from the US series. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2023, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/44 "2023-01-01T22:06:00Z")
> [@JacobSwan](#): > > The UK version is almost based on a true story. The house used for filming was left to a distant relative who had no idea about it until a solicitor contacted him. Jurassic Park is also almost based on a true story, because somebody once bought an island. And, of course, Life (uh) finds a way. ---
**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:** [January 1, 2023, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/45 "2023-01-01T22:22:42Z")
**Modnote** : Please avoid spoilers. If you read this thread at all, you would be well aware of the fact that US Fans haven’t seen season 4 yet. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2023, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/46 "2023-01-01T23:32:48Z")
Oops, sorry. The 2022 Christmas special is really good too. ---
**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:** [January 2, 2023, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/47 "2023-01-02T01:20:23Z")
> [@solost](#): > > I believe the most updated thinking is that Neanderthals were much more culturally and intellectually advanced than we used to think, and likely did have language. There us no “they”. Neanderthals are “us”. People (in general) really need to stop thinking about them as some “other”. It is like calling your mother’s father’s family “they”. ---
**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:** [January 2, 2023, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/48 "2023-01-02T01:23:58Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > If you read this thread at all, you would be well aware of the fact that US Fans haven’t seen season 4 yet. Only the US fans bothered by things like “broadcast rights” and “copyright violation”. Other US fans see everything that they want to see just fine… ---
**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:** [January 2, 2023, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/49 "2023-01-02T01:24:56Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I don’t even remember the headless character from the US series. Only seen in the pilot episode, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2023, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/50 "2023-01-02T01:52:17Z")
He’s been in a couple others as well - most notably the one where Thorfin and Flower try to find a third. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2023, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/51 "2023-01-02T12:58:45Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > > [@solost](#): > > > > I believe the most updated thinking is that Neanderthals were much more culturally and intellectually advanced than we used to think, and likely did have language. > > There us no “they”. Neanderthals are “us”. People (in general) really need to stop thinking about them as some “other”. It is like calling your mother’s father’s family “they”. Wow, you’re reading a lot into a simple pronoun. One that I didn’t even use, by the way. There’s nothing wrong with using ‘they’: “my mother’s father’s family is from Scotland and Wales. They emigrated to America when my mother was 13.” ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2023, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/52 "2023-01-02T19:58:09Z")
Thanks for the tip that the British series is on HBO, I hadn’t realized that. I’ve only watched part of the first season, but I don’t get any sense that Robin is a Neanderthal or anything other than a pre-historic modern human. Perhaps a similar age to Ötzi, which is only 5300 years or so. Later plot points might say he is something else, but even 10-20,000 years old is still just a pre-historic modern human. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2023, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/53 "2023-01-02T20:20:32Z")
I think it’s great that you guys are taking a geek culture approach to this. Grant the premise that we’re in this world where ghosts exist… but then every _other_ aspect of what happens and who people are must be scientifically accurate and consistent. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2023, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/54 "2023-01-02T20:53:25Z")
I am not familiar with that description of it before but I like and and heartily endorse the mindset. Really I think that is how fantastical fiction works best. Change _a_ basic assumption but then stay true to that reality based on ours otherwise. The show works better with the details of the stories of the Plague Pit ghosts being historically plausible than not. ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2023, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/55 "2023-01-02T21:24:04Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > Grant the premise that we’re in this world where ghosts exist… but then every _other_ aspect of what happens and who people are must be scientifically accurate and consistent Of course. I’ll readily accept the premise that the show takes place in a scientific world just like ours, except that ghosts exist, and if somebody goes “clinically dead” for a few seconds, then they can see them. If it was a world with ever changing rules, where established laws about the way things work changed to accommodate the plot, then it wouldn’t be a sitcom about ghosts, it would be Star Trek or Dr. Who. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2023, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/56 "2023-01-02T22:32:11Z")
I think the disconnect between what the ghosts understand about what has taken place since they died, and what they don’t, is deliberately inconsistent, but also a source of humor. Like the scullery maid mentioned ago who seemed to understand the complexities of television filming. I’m reminded of a scene in the US version where Isaac (Revolutionary War ghost) was complaining that America and Britain were sworn enemies. Sam then explained to him about how the two countries are closest allies, and the “Special Relationship.” Then Sam explained she learned it in a movie, and Isaac was like, “there we are,” dismissively. So he knew about movies but not about US-British diplomacy. Alberta or Flower or Pete or Tervor could have explained this to him. In the British version, the Captain didn’t know who the monarch was, even though Pat or Julian could have told him. If the Captain (is his name ever revealed?) had died during WWII, then he’d have known that Princess Elizabeth was the Heir Apparent to King George VI, who was King at that time. ---
**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:** [January 2, 2023, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/57 "2023-01-02T23:00:57Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > the Captain (is his name ever revealed?) That’s a running joke. ---
**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:** [January 3, 2023, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/58 "2023-01-03T01:09:07Z")
> [@solost](#): > > Wow, you’re reading a lot into a simple pronoun. One that I didn’t even use, by the way. I said people _in general_, as in I wasn’t singling you out, I was springboarding off a pet peeve. If someone has around 3% Neanderthal DNA, that is the equivalent of having a great-great-great-grandparent that is full-blooded Neanderthal, so the equivalent of 100-150 years ago. There weren’t just a few incidents of human-Neanderthal mating, it happeded a _lot_. ---
**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:** [January 3, 2023, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/59 "2023-01-03T01:16:12Z")
> [@echoreply](#): > > but I don’t get any sense that Robin is a Neanderthal or anything other than a pre-historic modern human. I get the sense by looking at him. He is wearing facial prosthetics specificly to _not_ look like a modern human: > I like playing big, ridiculous characters and I have always been fascinated by special effects and prosthetic make-up which is lucky because the other guys have been very open in saying they would not enjoy having to put on Robin’s make-up every day. Complete costume and make up for Robin takes about two and a half hours to put on and about 45 minutes to get it all off. The most it has ever taken is four hours. There are many different elements involved; there are a couple of prosthetic pieces and then some more traditional make-up techniques are used as well. > **[Larry Rickard is Robin and Humphrey](https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/ghosts-2/larry)** > > You can’t fake the kind of camaraderie that exists between the creative team behind Ghosts says member Larry Rickard. ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/60 "2023-01-03T02:56:00Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > I get the sense by looking at him. He is wearing facial prosthetics specificly to _not_ look like a modern human Just watched the first episode of season 2, and the facial prosthetics are now pretty obvious. I mean, not that the makeup is poorly done, but that now I see there is a protruding brow line, and such. I don’t know if it was lighting, hair blocking the face, lack of closeups, etc, but I really didn’t see it in the first season. For the first season I’d have said Robin’s makeup was just the wispy and unkept beard, and the actor squinting a lot. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428.md?page=4)