Ghosts US: 10 Times It Tackled Serious Issues

Top 10 Times Ghosts Tackled Serious Issues

Welcome to MsMojo, and today, we’re counting down our picks for the moments when the afterlife taught us lessons that are just as relevant today as they were during the ghosts’ own eras.

#10: Social Justice

Flower, a ghost from the 1960s, perfectly captures the social justice movement of her time. Before joining the counterculture scene, Flower, real name Susan Montero, was a law student likely hoping to fight injustice in a more mainstream way. But she found her true calling in activism, protesting for gender equality, environmental causes, and more. Her stories of those movements bring the ideals of peace, love, and fairness to life, and she often brings a compassionate, open-minded energy to the group. Flower isn’t just a quirky relic of the ’60s—she’s a reminder that the fight for justice and equality never really ends. Even as a ghost, she carries those ideals like a badge of honor.

#9: Intergenerational Expectations

Whether you’re the child of a Viking or growing up today, this can resonate with anyone. Thorfinn nearly disowns his son for marrying a Danish woman, a symbol of his culture’s enemy. Then there’s Sasappis. Sas dreamed of becoming a storyteller, but his father, shaped by his own fears and struggles, pushed him toward a “safer” path. By the time Sas felt ready to follow his passion, it was too late. It’s something we all can relate to—the way parental pressures, fears, and expectations can sometimes hold us back from pursuing what we truly want. We often wonder what might have been if we hadn’t let those voices cloud our own.

#8: Legacy

Naturally, a show about the afterlife touches on legacies. Many of the characters, at some point, worry about the marks they left behind—whether in their families, careers, or the world around them. Not to upset Issac with a “Hamilton” reference, but the ghosts are often faced with the question: “Who lives, who dies, who tells your story?” Isaac, Trevor, and Alberta are especially focused on shaping their legacies from beyond. This line of thought often brings the ghosts back to moments that haunt them, like Hetty’s regret over not being the mother her children needed. It’s a poignant reminder of how our past actions—and the ones we didn’t take—carve out our futures and pave our legacies.

#7: A Brief History Lesson

It’s almost a given that a series with ghosts from different eras would explore their historical backgrounds. History plays a key role in many of the show’s plots, filling in details that might send viewers straight to the internet for more info. While the show is fictional, it often incorporates elements that feel rooted in real history. Some of the ghosts are reportedly even based on actual people. Baker Mansion, where the alleged inspirations for Hetty and her husband are said to have lived, is famously considered to be haunted. Meanwhile, the backgrounds of ghosts like Trevor, Flower, and even Alberta are easier to recognize. Though not the series’ main focus, it offers more insight into the past than you might expect.

#6: The Socioeconomic Gap

Born into wealth, Hetty’s privileged background allowed her to live a life of comfort, but it also showed the clear divide between the rich and the working-class people around her. There’s no arguing that in life, she was a cruel boss who cared little about the welfare of those poorer than her. Hetty’s decisions were often influenced by societal expectations, pushing her into a marriage that was more about status than personal choice. Sadly, this decision ended up having a big impact on her life and eventual death. Trevor’s story also touches on the toxic cultures in workplaces and the high personal costs people are willing to pay to climb the corporate ladder.

#5: Gender Equality

From the Gilded Age to today, the series offers a look at the evolving roles of women. Hetty has more outdated views on what women should be by today’s standards. However, she goes through changes as she spends time with more liberated women like Alberta and Flower. Also, since meeting Sam, we’ve seen her start to rethink what being a woman really means and embrace its power. Flower, in particular, plays a key role in helping Hetty grow into a more modern woman, teaching her the importance of putting her needs first. It’s a fascinating approach that highlights how far women have come in the fight for equality—and how much further there still is to go.

#4: Cultural Marginalization

Sas is currently the ghost we know the least about. We do know he’s part of the indigenous Lenape people, who were displaced due to European colonization and pushed out even more after the American Revolutionary War. While the show hasn't gone into much detail about his backstory yet, it does make an effort to recognize the Lenape's connection to the land. In the episode “The Tree,” Sas makes up a story about a tree that’s at risk of being cut down,which leads to more conversations about Lenape ownership of the land. There’s still a lot to learn about Sas, and hopefully, we’ll get more insights into Lenape history and culture along the way.

#3: Prejudice

As the only Black ghost at Woodstone, actress Danielle Pinnock[a] got involved behind the scenes to ensure Alberta’s story is told authentically. Alberta, a Jamaican-American ghost from the Prohibition era, often talks about how racism kept her and her father from reaching their dreams. She also speaks about the pressure of conforming to idealized body standards, with club owners favoring stars who fit a certain image. The writers approach these sensitive topics with care, using Alberta’s story to bring attention to important conversations about race and equality that are still relevant today. She even mentions how her resilience is a front she puts up to survive in a world that offers little mercy.

#2: Sexuality

You might not immediately think of a Revolutionary War veteran for this storyline, but Isaac’s character might’ve been loosely inspired by Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben[b], an openly gay soldier from that time. Anyway, what makes Isaac’s story so powerful is how his journey to accept his sexuality feels timeless. For centuries, Isaac suppressed his true self, even forcing himself into relationships that fit so-called societal norms. His coming-out scene is one of the most emotional moments in the series, and it felt like a huge sigh of relief for us all. The writers brilliantly balance the historical context with a story that feels timeless and relatable to anyone struggling with self-acceptance.

#1: Grief

Grief is a recurring theme in the series, manifesting in different ways. There’s grief for the ones who’ve passed, but also for those left behind and for the paths not taken. Every character faces this at some point—Hetty mourns her past decisions, while Flower grieves a lost love. Thor struggles to make peace with the life he hasn’t reconciled, and Trevor often avoids facing his own reality. Even Jay laments the life he left behind, while Sam finds the closure with her mother that many can only dream of. Through warmth and humor, the series helps viewers reframe their own grief, offering a sense of healing. As long as we hold onto memories, nothing is ever truly gone.

Which of these lessons from the afterlife resonated with you the most? Share your thoughts in the comments

[a]PIN-ock https://youtu.be/hd2AqpoWfP4?si=YX5-PfcmE9T2W17h
[b]https://youtu.be/J1NWRxlwsD0?si=mY5BJAK_4rWfJwVo&t=14