WithSeveranceback for Season 2, looking back on the filmography of its stars is a great way to really appreciate just how versatile our favorite actors can be, as well as giving a route to finding the next binge fest for audiences. When you look through it, you’ll notice that bothAdam ScottandBritt Lowerstarred in the samesitcomin 2017:Ghosted. This 16-episode comedy followsScott’s disgraced physicist and paranormal believer Max and ex-LAPD skeptic officer Leroy (Craig Robinson) as they are recruitedby The Bureau Underground to work on cases hunting down extraterrestial beings.
WhilstGhostedonly got 1 season, and there are issues with it that make the cancellation understandable, there is genuinely a lot to love in this series.Scott and Robinson are the best parts of a colorful cast of characters who carry the show on the backs of their chemistry, with their backstories revolving around Leroy’s dead police partner and Max’s ex-wife, Britt Lower’s Claire, giving a depth not expected in a show with such a wild premise. Furthermore, the effort that clearly went into the practical design and execution of many of the monsters gives this show an almostDoctor Who-like quality, where we can suspend our disbelief long enough to enjoy the wacky adventure-of-the-week style thatGhostedemploys.
Adam Scott and Craig Robinson Have Great Chemistry in ‘Ghosted’
Undoubtedly, it is Scott’s Max and Robinson’s Leroy who carry this show, with a smooth chemistry that allows their backstories to reveal an unexpected amount of depth in their characters. Every gag from these two lands is effective. From Leroy and Max missing work because they are creating rules for a made-up game of theirs, to having them go on cheeky tangents talking about Leroy’s ownership of a VHS andall theRockymovieson there, the witty banter comes across very naturally. Max’s awkward dork and Leroy’s toned-down tough guygive us a contrast that allows the two to bounce off of each other in an almost improvised-sounding manner.
Because of this chemistry, the development of their relationship feels natural and introduces us to the characters' fascinating backstories. Because of Max’s awkward openness, it isn’t long before we find out that his wife, Claire, has been abducted by aliens and disappeared. Leroy and everyone elseview him as crazy, believing his wife ran out on him with no connections to aliens whatsoever. So,when Lower’s mysterious Claire is found and Max meets her in a mental health facility, it is shocking when it appears that both sides of the story might have had a little truthto them. That is all I’ll say to not spoil anything, what can be said is that this adds so much more sympathy for Max’s character. He’s vindicated, yet also still wrong, and it adds a lot of impact to the scenes where he reflects on his past relationship.
Furthermore, Max’s openness allows Leroy to reveal how his characterboth embraces and subverts the expectations of an archetypal police veteran. Whilst he has atragic backstorywith a dead police partner who he blames himself for getting killed, Robinson’s cheeky demeanor sneaks into the character, such as when he demands a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, rattling off his expectations: “No crusts. Extra J. No Pb.” It’s commanding and similar to how a detective might snap for a cup of coffee off of a rookie, but the silliness cuts through the scene, keeping the pacing quick and fun. That isn’t to say Robinson doesn’t succeed in dramatic scenes, far from it. His lamenting for his dead partner, coupled with his desire to keep his partner’s son, Jermaine (Ethan Drake Davis), safe, is strangely emotional and gives us yet another lens through which to view the character.
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‘Ghosted’s Supporting Cast Is a Strange Mix of Odd Subplots and Colorful Characters
Despite Scott and Robinson leading the show and carrying it at many points, the supporting cast is a fascinating aspect ofGhosted. For one, they have no right to be as funny as they are.Abdeel Akhtargives a wonderfully cringy performance as Barry, who provides a similar loveable yet useless vibe that he brought toFour Lions, but as an intelligent scientist this time, rather than a beyond strange terrorist. Additionally, Captain LaFrey (Ally Walker) and Annie (Amber Stevens West) round out the cast, with a strict but silly leader and a clever love interest for Max, respectively. They bounce off Max and Leroy very well, yet many times, they include random colleagues we never see again, like Bob (Beck Bennett), the man who delivers donuts, and everyone loves him until he is killed by some sort of creature. Not only do thecharacters and subplots like spying on LeFray’s daughter not have much comedy in them without Leroy and Max, but they actively distract from the core narrativeof whatever adventure the two protagonists are on.
The Practical Work Put Into ‘Ghosted’s Monsters Creates Fascinating Cases
What is quite an impressive aspect of the show is that, despite how silly it is, there is some quite impressive practical work done at some points in the show. In an episode where Bob is killed by an aquatic creature, the design of the monster is practical and frightening. By styling it similarly to that of some kind of deep sea fish, there is something familiar yet off-putting about the beast, and the use of its duplicating blood to create some kind of snake-like creature is the same kind of horror we might see inThe Thing, yet to see it here should be noted and praised for the effort put in. Because of this effort,the issues with certain plot elements or goofy action beats, like Max and Leroy having to wear baby powder to sneak past it, land comedicallyand bring the audience into the adventure. If it had been a poorly done CGI creature, everything else would most likely feel childish and amateurish.
There arecertainly issues withGhostedthat cannot be ignored. For one, 16 episodes feel like a few too many for the show’s narrative, with some subplots and supporting characters feeling oddly shoved in. However, with these episodes only being 20 minutes long, that doesn’t take away too much from a show that genuinely has a lot to like about it. Both Scott and Lower get to show different acting styles compared to Severance, one more awkward and the other from a greater position of power, and Robinson’s comedic prowess helps to nail the chemistry between the two actors. Even if the show was cancelled,Ghostedis certainly a sitcom you should binge as you wait for more episodes ofSeverance.
Ghostedis available on Prime Video in the U.S.
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