Top 10 Times Ghosts Got Unexpectedly Emotional

“The Primary Source”
After Jay steps on a snail, turning it into a ghost, the Woodstone dwellers decide to take it into their care. Everyone’s invested—except Trevor, who shrugs off the whole pet attachment thing. When the ghostly snail goes missing, suspicion falls on Thorfinn, who had been pretty keen on eating it. But then Trevor confesses to taking it. Why would someone so uninterested in pets steal it? Turns out, he hadn’t been entirely honest before. In one of Trevor’s few sentimental moments, we learn that he’s still grappling with guilt and sadness over being separated from his dog, Bucky. In the end, Trevor faces his emotions, which ultimately helps the snail move on.

“Sam's Mom”
Sam and her mom had a complicated relationship in life, and death hasn’t exactly changed that. Determined to seize a rare chance, Sam and Jay visit the restaurant where her mom passed, hoping she’s become a ghost. The reunion starts strong but quickly falls into old patterns, leaving Sam frustrated. Thanks to another restaurant ghost, Sam learns what her mom truly thinks of her. This time, she even gets to say goodbye. It’s a gift most people can only dream of, making their reconnection deeply touching. In a later episode, Hetty confronts her regrets about parenting and sees a chance for a do-over with Sam. Sam welcomes Hetty as her “second mom”—with boundaries, of course.

“Possession”
This is the first time we see one of the ghosts take possession of a living. Hetty soon gets very comfortable in her (or should we say Jay’s) body and refuses to be exorcised. Naturally, this leads to some hilariously chaotic moments, not to mention an outstanding performance by Utkarsh Ambudkar. Eventually, Hetty confesses all her regrets over not living her life to the fullest. However, while trying to make a break for it in Sam and Jay’s car, she forgets the cardinal rule for most ghosts: they can’t leave the property. While Hetty says au revoir to her dreams, she encourages Sam to learn from her mistakes.

“Halloween 4: The Witch”
Historically, Puritans weren’t known for being fun. Struggling with modern life, Patience puts Sam on trial for witchcraft. The ghosts initially play along, what’s a few moments out of eternity, right? However, they panic when they find a statue that looks just like Sam—whom Patience had sentenced to “petrification.” They freak out after Jay sells the Sam statue, but that’s nothing compared to when he accidentally breaks it after Flower walks through him. It's almost as if time freezes as the shock and horror wash over everyone. It’s moments like these that make us appreciate our loved ones that much more— and luckily, it turns out that the only person who got stoned in this episode is Jay.

“Dumb Deaths”
A camera crew asks Sam and Jay to film an episode of “Dumb Deaths” about Flower. However, they decide to pivot to Pete’s story instead. As his death is recreated, Pete starts feeling worse about how it all happened. It’s tough enough having his life cut short, but now his memory’s being dragged through the mud. Talk about rubbing salt in the arrow wound! So, Sam invites one of Pete's former troop girls, who gives a more accurate character evaluation. Unfortunately, she also highlights his fatal error. Yet, when an emergency strikes, Jennifer saves the day, thanks to lessons from her ‘ol troop leader. Pete realizes his legacy is more than one mistake.

“A Date to Remember”
Throughout the series, we’ve learned some tear-jerking details about Flower’s past, like her ex starting a coffee shop in her honor and her estrangement from her family. In this episode, we find out why she has such a hard time giving her heart to Thor, and it hits hard. The morning after their first date, Flower acts like she doesn’t remember anything, but it turns out that's just a front. She tells Sam that she’s scared to get into a monogamous relationship because her last one ended in heartbreak. We’re so used to seeing Flower at her er, ditiziest, so learning she’d been carrying around all this pain is truly heartbreaking.

“Alberta's Podcast”
Alberta’s number one fan, Todd Pearlman, might be a bit eccentric, but he unknowingly brings Alberta some closure in her afterlife. However, in a later episode, even Todd is turned off by the former jazz star when he discovers her secret while researching for a podcast. Alberta’s feelings about snitches have always been clear, so it’s shocking to learn she was one, too. But it’s hard to stay mad at her when she explains why. Showbiz is tough, especially for women who don’t look a certain way. She did what she had to do. It’s hard to fault Alberta when you realize that she was just hitting back at an unjust society.

“Holes Are Bad”
In season one, we learned that the circumstances surrounding Trevor’s death aren’t exactly what he’s let on. It’s not until season three that we discover the truth about Hetty’s passing. The ghosts need to rescue Flower, who’s been trapped down a well for a while. With the clock ticking, they deliberate on how to do it, but Hetty offers a solution that also reveals her darkest secret. We learn that her husband, Elias, left her to face the consequences of his shady actions. Trapped and desperate, she turned to irreversible measures. We felt our hearts shatter into a million pieces as Hetty allowed the others to see her vulnerability in order to save a friend.

Various
Like its UK counterpart, “Ghosts” takes a look at sexuality through a unique historical lens. We watch Continental Army Officer Isaac come to terms with his sexuality and feelings for a British Revolutionary ghost, Nigel. At first, Isaac tries to bottle up his truth because of the times he lived in, but he eventually opens up to Hetty in one of the most heartwarming moments of the series. Still, he has a hard time getting close to Nigel because he feels guilty about his former wife. Thankfully, Sass helps him work through that. While things aren't always smooth sailing from there, Isaac and Nigel’s first kiss warmed us down to the very cockles of our hearts.


Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Sam Gets Another Chance at a High School Dream

Hetty Remembers Her Childhood Bedtime Buddy

It’s a Rocky Start, but the Moment After Bjorn Says “Father” Hits Us Right in the Heart

Sass Sheds His Imposter Syndrome

Their Break Up Hit Us Hard, but This Moment Gave Us Hope

“Pete's Wife”
Pete is the sweetest guy, but sadly, that’s not always appreciated by everyone, like his wife, Carol. After finding her online, Pete convinces Sam to invite his family to the mansion. He soon discovers that Carol had moved on from their marriage shockingly fast—so fast, they were still married at the time. He’s understandably furious, but Sam reminds him of his core values as outlined in his old Trooper manual. The story has a somewhat happier ending when Pete learns he’s a grandfather and his grandson is named in his memory. In a later season, Pete even gets to walk his daughter down the aisle. We’re not crying; a ghost just walked through us.

Which moment had you reaching for the tissues? Let us know in the comments