Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Ghosts season 4, episode 19, “Pinkus Returns.”
Ghosts' long-standing narrative problem is reiterated after Trevor’s latest arc. For years. the spirits have not had any much excitement, but because of Sam’s ability to see theghosts in CBS’Ghosts, a number of the spirits have gotten closure. This includes Alberta learning the truth of her death or Pete being able to see his children as adults. As much as she has done for the spirits,Sam has yet to help any of the ghosts get sucked off.
InGhostsseason 4, episode 19, Trevor gets much more out of a weekend visit from a former intern than he ever could have anticipated.Trevor’s journey is as heartwarming as it is surprising, but it exposes one ofGhosts' biggest problems: the show has abandoned the concept of ghosts getting sucked off.
Trevor Gets Closure With A Surprise Descendant In Ghosts Season 4, Episode 19
Pinkus Raised Trevor’s Daughter Without Knowing It
Trevor is excited to see Adam Pinkus, the intern he saved from hazing by lending him his pants and underwear the night Trevor died, coming to stay at Woodstone Manor inGhostsseason 4, episode 19.Pinkus would go on to found Mahoning Capital, and in Trevor’s honor, banned all hazing, although they still do the Run of Fun as a tribute to Trevor and his legacy. Pinkus walks into Woodstone Manor with a younger girl whom he introduces as his daughter, Abby.
Over drinks that night, Pinkus shares that Trevor’s pants didn’t just save his life that night, they changed it. He found a woman’s number in the pocket, Laurie Goldstein, and that woman would become his wife and Abby’s mother. When Abby goes to bed, Pinkus confesses to Sam and Jay (and Trevor) that on her deathbed, Laurie told him something that he has struggled to share with Abby, which is why he brought her tothe Woodstone Manor B&B.Pinkus isn’t Abby’s biological father — Trevor is.
Travel agent & Pinecone Troop leader
Can leave the property at will (but not indefinitely)
Can move material objects with great effort
Entering livings’ dreams
Harnessing electricity
Makes livings high if they pass through her
Gilded Age socialite & Lady of the Manor
Be seen by all livings on St. Patrick’s Day
Prohibition lounge singer
Project a humming/singing sound
Isaac Higgintoot
Revolutionary War captain
Gives off a foul smell if a living passes through him
The following morning, Trevor nudges Sam to ask Abby about herself, and they learn that she followed in his footsteps and went to his Ivy League alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania. When Pinkus tells Sam he’s not going to tell Abby after all, Trevor insists that the young girl has a right to know. Trevor tries to text Pinkus, but he mistakenly sends the text to Abby. Sam doubles down on the mistake by trying to delete it but accidentally hits“haha!”instead. Abby is deeply hurt and confused by learning the truth in such a bizarre way, and she isolates herself in her room.
Abby learns that Trevor always wanted to have a family, and that they both love the movieThe Cutting Edge, a beautiful moment of closure for father and daughter.
Realizing he acted selfishly,Trevor uses his power to create a slideshowreminding Abby that Pinkus has been a great dad all along. Abby eventually finds Sam’s behavior a major overstep, but she wishes she could learn more about Trevor, and the Woodstone Mansion lady is able to answer her questions with him watching from the other side. Abby learns that Trevor always wanted to have a family, and that they both love the movieThe Cutting Edge, a beautiful moment of closure for father and daughter.
Trevor’s Character Arc Could Qualify Him To Be Finally Sucked Off (But It’s Unlikely To Happen)
Trevor Learns To Overcome His Inherent Selfishness
Trevor is a great candidate to be sucked off, as he is a deeply flawed person who has learned from his mistakes, as demonstrated inGhostsseason 4, episode 19.Trevor has had a few moments of personal revelationsthat could be the thing to finally suck him off. In season 2, episode 14, “Trevor’s Body,” Trevor came to terms with his parents’ divorce, and he also gave up his chance to be withJay’s sister Belaso she could pursue an actual relationship with Eric.
Trevor realizes he was prioritizing his wants over his daughter’s needs inGhostsseason 4, episode 19. After focusing on her just knowing about their biological connection, it’s him acknowledging that Pinkus was there in all the important ways that paves the way for Abby to seek out information about Trevor, and they’re able to make a real connection through Sam.
The actress who plays Abby Pinkus, Gideon Adlon, is the sister of the actress who plays the 80s prom ghost Stephanie, Odessa A’zion, whose character seems primed to return in next week’s episode entitled “I Know What You Did Thirty-Seven Summers Ago.” They are both the daughters of actress Pamela Adlon.
Trevor has had at least three personal breakthroughs that could qualify him to be sucked off, but I don’t thinkGhostsis going to let that happen. Whether they’re waiting for the teasedTrevor and Hetty romantic reunionor keeping Trevor around for another reason,Ghostsdoes not seem particularly interested in any of the main ghosts getting sucked offany time soon.
How Ghosts Can Solve Its Sucked Off Story Loophole In Season 5
Ghosts Adds To Its Lore While Hedging Around Its Original Setup
Ghostshas been a little inconsistent with whether the ghosts want to be sucked off. In season 3, episode 2, Hetty and Alberta are so desperate to be sucked off that they try to seduce Thor after learning that his last two girlfriends were summarily sucked off, leading to the end ofHetty and Trevor’s relationship.
Now, by contrast, getting sucked off is mentioned much less frequently. The ghosts seem happy to stay exactly where they are, watching TV and smelling Jay’s cooking. If anything, the ghosts seem to fear nonexistence.Pete can roambut jokes about disappearing when he’s gone too long and Sass was worried about going through the boundary in the ghost trap last episode.
New episodes ofGhostsair Thursdays at 8:30 p.m. ET and stream next day on Paramount+. Season 4, episode 20, “I Know What You Did Thirty-Seven Summers Ago” will air July 24, 2025, directed by the actor who played Adam Pinkus.
Ghostswants to explore new powers and abilities, like meeting moreroaming ghosts like Joan, but even a show about death needs stakes. While I don’t want anyone to“die”from the show,Ghostswould feel more meaningful if one of the main ghosts was sucked offafter reaching such a point of closure and growth. WithGhostsseasons 5and 6 to come, it’s time to say goodbye to one of the spirits who hasn’t known a body in decades or the show will feel like it’s spinning its wheels.
