Episode 3.2: I Ain't Afraid of No Ghosts

Spoilers for the season 3 Halloween episode after the jump.

Favorite Quote of the episode: "Sorry, it's a big garage."


Wow. In an episode where so much information is revealed, I feel like I know even less than I did before, if that makes any sense. (This is also funny because last week I kept saying how much more I wanted to know about these ghosts. Coincidence?) This episode shoulders an incredible responsibility to the show in making sincere and concentrated efforts to tease apart the other-worldly appearances that viewers have been subjected to since the episode's pilot. The way that Gina and I see it (well, we mostly agree here) is that there are 4 different types of apparitions/spirits that have appeared (or will appear) on the show. They are:

1. Subconscious manifestations of guilt
2. Remnant of the dead individual, left on Earth with unfinished business
3. An evil spirit, specificaly Azazel, in the case of the show
4. The anti-Azazel (whom Gina has not yet discovered), attempting to thwart Azazel's best-laid plans

Additionally, Blake (as the anti-Azazel) hands us 2 rules by which all ghosts must abide. I'm not sure if his definition of "ghost" included both 2 and 1, or if it was only 2. Either way, those rules are:

1. Ghosts cannot visit a living human unless that human allows the ghost to do so. (Note: "Allowance" in this case is not yet explained, but it seems to have to do with a mental openneess.)
2. Ghosts cannot tell a living human anything that that human does not already know.

These rules are helpful in teasing apart one type of spirit from another, but we must remember that we do not yet know if Azazel (or the anti-Azazel) is bound by any rules, and if not, Azazel (or the anti-Azazel) could certainly pretend to abide by these rules in order to more passably pass for a ghost. However, it does seem likely that a real ghost will not make any predictions about the future (since those are things the person being haunted could not know about), and a real ghost can only say things that are true. However, guilt may manifest in saying any number of things (depending on how guilty the person being haunted may feel), which makes it difficult to distinguish between an internal threat and an external one. One final note before addressing the episode's individual hauntings is that we don't yet know if the anti-Azazel really is an other-worldly being trying to fight Azazel, or if it is Azazel himself, or something else entirely. For now, this episode suggests that the anti-Azazel is its own beast, so I will leave him/her as his/her own category.

Before getting into an attempt at classifying each of this episode's hauntings, I think now might be a good time to catalog the gang's responses to Gina's ghost questions, which were "Do you believe in ghosts?", "Have you seen a ghost?", and "Who have you seen?" Their responses were:

- Melony: Yeah, I've seen a few, Max and Sarah
- Blake: (laughs), (drinks), My dead ex and her dead lover
- Erin: Seriously?, Seriously?, Everyone
- Zach: Yes; All the time; Max
- Tim: Yes; Here and there, Max, my dad, Patrick Swayze
- Vanessa: No, No, No one
- Brittany: No, Never, No one
- Chris: Yes, Off and on, Max and Sarah

But that was before the bulk of the episode's events, and everything just got a little more complicated. Although I don't know for sure which appearance of any particular dead cast member is an example of which type, from here on out, I'm going to speculate on all ghostly appearnces and classify them according to this system. In this episode, they are (mostly in order of appearance)

• Sarah haunts...
• Gina. This is speculative, since this haunting actually occurred in a dream. We have not yet been told whether dream appearances can be their own type of spirit (a type 5), or if spirits of the four distinct types infiltrate dreams. What Martha says to Chris late in the episode suggests that the anti-Azazel and Azazel can both cross the barrier between dreams and reality, but viewers might also remember that Max appeared in Willy's dream in season 1, episode 2, "Ghosts and Boo-ze," and that Max certainly didn't seem like 2 or 1, which doesn't rule out 3 and 4, nor does it rule out a possible 5. In any case, this instance of Gina seeing Sarah in a dream seems most like a 1 or a 2. Sarah implores Gina to remember what she saw the night Willy was murdered, which sounds an awful lot like Rule #2 of the Ghostly Rules of Being an Apparition (see above). But Gina may also be carrying a lot of guilt around with her for a general lack of having anything to show for her efforts in uncovering the truth, which is the hallmark of a 1.
• Blake. This is an interesting case. It seems likely that this instance of Sarah haunting Blake is probably another Azazel appearance (3), as Azazel-as-Sarah suggests to Brett (see below) that he has been very busy that night. This time, Sarah is trying to convince Blake that he may have committed some of the murders himself, since he is prone to black-outs post-binge-drinking. Sarah says, "Blake, you don't have to lie to me," confusing the issue of whether committing black-out murders is something Blake knows to be true, or this is another example of Azazel working against someone on the show. But this may also be a fear that Blake has himself, hence this appearance might also be an example of 1. But she is certainly not 2 here, since she asks Blake, "did you really love Sarah?", which would be weird if she were Sarah.
• Brett. Sarah appears only briefly to Brett, and this instance is definitely the most clear-cut, as she asks him to hide the Azazel book from Gina in exchange for help reuniting him with Ashley. 3 for sure.
• Willy haunts...
• Vanessa also exclusively in this episode, and it is unclear what his motivations are for doing so (hence making his classification more difficult). But he does say, "I should have killed you when I had the chance" (Willy had the chance in season 1, almost; and we don't know how many opportunities Azazel has had to kill Vanessa), and he calls Vanessa a slut, but those are both things that Willy-the-ghost and Azazel the demon could say, so they aren't much in the way of hints. He also says, "they're making me do this," suggesting that whatever his purpose for appearing to Vanessa is, it is something he didn't want to do on his own. This suggests to me that Willy here appeared as a dead version of himself (2), since we all know Willy to be homicidally unhinged, but also invested in tracking down Beth's killer. But then who are the "they" who force him to return to help Tim?
• Gina too, but only in a flashback. And Gina believes him to be himself, at first, since the real, human Willy dies (we presume) in the instant this version of Willy disappears. That renders 2 pretty much impossible, as well as 1, since I don't think Gina felt particularly guilty about anything regarding Willy. Therefore, we're talking about either Azazel (3) or the anti-Azazel (4), and because the appearance is so brief, it's hard to take bets. But I'm going to wage that it was 4, just because he didn't seem particularly malicious. I could be wrong, though.
• Brittany "haunts"...
• Chris. But, of course, she doesn't really haunt Chris because she isn't dead. This immediately eliminates types 1 and 2. But this really seems a clear manifestation of the anti-Azazel (4), as Brittany quickly shifts to Blake, who shifts to Martha, the original form of the anti-Azazel. If the anti-Azazel really exists, then this is him (or her).
• Kaitlyn haunts...
• Brittany. We've never really seen Kaitlyn as a ghost, but more importantly, we've never seen Brittany and Kaitlyn interact with each other without Vanessa around, so we don't know how the real Kaitlyn would treat Brittany if they were alone. This spirit seems like a toss-up between 1 and 2. If Brittany is feeling guilty, even if unconsciously, this could be an instance of suppressed guilt (1). On the other hand, Kaitlyn the ghost might want Brittany to throw away her (Brittany's) agenda (now at least partially revealed, see below) and instead team up with Chris and Gina to help uncover the truth (2). Your guess is as good as mine.
• Beth haunts...
• Melony. We have known Beth to take on Azazel's form once before (2 Beths in the season 2 finale at once! 2!), and I think that's what's going on here as well (3). I mean, would the real Beth or the anti-Azazel or Melony's subconscious stop her dryer? But seriously, Beth does essentially confess to being Azazel here in saying "Well, she's on to me. That's good to know," after Melony talks to Gina over the phone.
• Adam haunts...(via Chad)...
• Erin. I think this instance (our first of Adam as a non-living entity) is Adam the ghost (2), since he refers to an inability to break the rules, and he appears only through Chad (and perhaps when Erin's guard against him is down). He seems upset with Erin (and tells her that he hasn't forgiven her), but he also seems set on helping her with his failed investigation (he tells her to return to the files he left her). However, he also tells Erin that there is "something dark in [her]," which could be a number of things. It could mean that Adam knew something sinister about Erin that we don't already know, or that the dark thing in Erin was just her willingness to be unfaithful. It could also be that Erin fears that there is something dark inside her, which would make this haunting look more like a 1 than a 2. Whatever it means, Erin has my suspicion for now. She was notably absent (and could have therefore gotten away with a lot) in season 1, and she often keeps clear from the rest of the group (although the same could be said for Tim and Vanessa, although I think Erin is the most isolated).
• Tim's dad haunts...
• Tim. Tim's dad makes reference to the real Tim's dad, suggesting that this isn't a ghost (2). I'm inclined to believe that this is Tim reliving his guilt over the way he left his relationship with his father. He also helps make Tim aware of how crazy it is to date a ghost, which is how we the audience realize that Jenny is also a ghost (more on that later). This seems like an important lesson for Tim to become re-aware of, and, as something that he already knew, I think this firmly stands as a 1. Most tellingly, Tim's dad says, "Damn right I don't understand! Which is really a problem since I'm a part of you!" This sees to solidly cross out a (2), but it could also be Azazel (3) posing as 1. I'm still leaning toward a 1, but I can't explain the fake phone call that Tim received with no ring, and I'm not entirely sure that the anti-Azazel doesn't take some time out to help people like Tim, so it could also be a 4.
• Max haunts...
• Zach. And the new owner of Max's old house. It's a pretty clearly Azazel (3) here, I think. Not only does another spirit (in the form of Max's mom) warn Zach against this Max, but this Max also tries to convince the owner of the house to shoot Zach. Both seem like pretty good indicators. Also: Twins Hat.
• Blake. Briefly toward the end. There is no dialogue, but there is a Twins Hat, so I don't think I need more evidence. (3)
• Max's mom haunts...
• Zach. I was convinced this was Azazel until Azazel-as-Max appeared to argue with Max's mom. What kind of mom-ghost would tell a kid that she was sorry his suicide attempt had failed? So I guess I'm leaning toward a guilty manifestation here (1), since she argues with Azazel and fluctuates in her support for Zach (sort of like Zach himself).
• Blake "haunts"...
• Chris. Again, non-dead status leads us away from 1 and 2, and, as was mentioned in the Brittany section, this is almostly certainly the anti-Azazel (4), since Brittany, Blake, and Martha all coordinate to say one sentence about himself/herself. Also, Chris says to Brittany-as-spirit, "You changed," to which she responds, "from Blake to this," further confirming that this is a 4.

So, in addition to all of that new information (/speculation), what else have we learned? Well, the biggest reveal here was probably that Jenny (Tim's old flame turned new flame) is, in fact, a ghost. (But you may have already suspected that from reading my blog from the last episode.) And not only that, but Jenny was murdered on prom night, but it looked like a suicide. (This is information pieced together from Martha as-anti-Azazel, and Tim's dad as guilt.) I don't know what this means as far as Jenny's future appearnces on the show, and I don't know what spirit-category Jenny falls into. It seems that Jenny could either be guilt (depending on what role Tim believes he had in her death, and since he probably still thinks it was a suicide, his boyfriend status at the time of her death might have induced one very heavy guilt-trip), Azazel (to keep Tim away from the truth), or as herself, the ghost. Or, perhaps Jenny is a self-delusion and not a ghost, a possible category 6 (if we are place-holding for dream-apparitions). She tells Tim to "be careful. You can't trust them," but that could be Tim's subconscious talking, or Azazel, or Jenny the ghost.

We also learn that Kaitlyn's death was not a mere coincidence, but rather another death connected to the series of other unnatural deaths we've been following. This is a total of 7 unnatural deaths, who were, in chronological order:

1. Jenny
2. Max (solved! Willy)
3. Sarah
4. Beth
5. Kaitlyn
6. Willy
7. Adam

The only murder here that has a known murderer is Willy's murder of Max. The rest are all up for specultation.

This episode was mostly reveal-driven and not plot-driven, so I don't feel a great need to rehash plot details. Instead, I'm going to bring to light some elements that this episode left me wondering about:

Chad seems super guilty. Chad may now be my number one suspect. Here is some of the incriminating evidence that has accumulated against him:

1. Gina did not call him for a ghost interview, and so we don't know if anyone has been haunting him (however, he was the only character we saw get into costume).
2. He said, "I told you that would be easy," to an empty room, after convincing Blake to come with him to a Halloween house party (which, of course, never happened). If Chad is being haunted by Azazel or anyone else, why didn't we see that particular ghost? Is their a reason other than being coerced by a demon to have said something like this? Is it possible he is possessed all the time, and not just by Adam? Is Chad himself evil?
3. He said, "It's what's supposed to happen," when Blake ran off to the old house. This seems to further suggest that Chad is at least in cahoots with a demon or ghost, and perhaps Azazel. But still, we don't know why we would see everyone's tormentor except for Chad's.
4. He said, "I think it helped," after Adam's ghost leaves his body. Helped what? Helped convince Erin to do good and catch the killer? Or sufficiently let her guard down to be further haunted? Or possibly to open her mind up enough so that Azazel can impress upon it?
5. This is from the previous episode, but it remains to be addressed: Tim recognizes Chad from somewhere, but he can't remember where. That seems odd, and notably unanswered.

Brittany's agenda is revealed. Kaitlyn as ghost or demon reveals that Brittany's master plan is to convince Chris that Vanessa is the killer. Is this because Brittany just hates Vanessa that much? Or is it because Brittany herself is a killer? And if this is true, why Chris? Why move all the way to Chicago to convince someone of Vanessa's guilt? Why not stick around town and convince someone like Tim or Blake? It would be much more convenient.

Azazel is not unquestionably evil. Part of the difficulty in determining which type of haunting is which is that Azazel seems to be out seeking revenge from those who deserve it. This seems to overlap (at least slightly), with Gina's and Chris's (and, to talk about last season, Vanessa's and Blake's) motives, which are to find the killer. Azazel seems to be out to catch a killer (as Sarah, he claims that he will fix it, no matter who is left to see the result), so we don't know exactly how evil this Azazel is. If he is here anything like he was in the movie Fallen, his agenda seems selfish enough to let anyone fall in his path. But this interpretation of Azazel may not be as easily sorted into a category, which is something that is important to keep in mind when talking about an anti-Azazel. It is possible that this is not a clear-cut good/evil divide (as Azazel-as-Sarah suggested when she said that good and evil were not black and white), but rather that this could be a case of two rival evil demons using human forms to fight one another. Not that I'm arguing that that is the case, but I think it's important to keep in mind.

Vanessa does not react to Jenny. I don't know what it means that 1) Vanessa seems to see Jenny when she picks Tim up for the Halloween party (she says, "You remember telling me that it would be just you, right?"). It is possible that Vanessa knows Tim is crazy, and doesn't want his delusional date (who doesn't exist) to be in the car with her. But it strikes me as odd that she, as one of the high school clan, would not be more bothered by seeing Jenny, and would not have been more bothered last week by hearing Tim tell her that he was with Jenny again. In the car, in asking about Jenny, she asks, "Where is she? Is she here? I don't see her?". She also asks Willy (the ghost?), if the reason he is visiting her is about Jenny, to which he replies, "Hmm...[Tim] says he can't see you anymore becasue he's seeing some girl who is no longer alive." Maybe this means that Vanessa has known that Tim was hallucinating but she either didn't care or she thought it was a joke. But the point is that Vanessa seems shockingly unbothered by Tim dating the ghost of his ex-girlfriend who was killed 4 years ago, no matter when Vanessa realized that that was what was going on.

I'm going to end here with Wild Speculation and Non-Sequitors, and feel free to comment with your own WS or NS if you have any. I'm curious to know what everyone else is predicting at this point.

Wild Speculation

• Chad is someone from the high school in disguise, who killed Jenny and everyone else (except for Max) for a yet-undisclosed reason, and no one has caught on except Tim (who thinks Chad kinda-sorta looks like someone from high school). Either that, or Chad is possessed by a third demon/spirit who has inhabited both Chad and Jenny, which is why he looked familiar to Tim. Those are the best theories I have so far. Well, that or...
• It's Erin, and she has gone on a mad killing spree that began in high school because she hated her relationship with Adam so much that killing her friends and acquaintances seemed like the best way to deal with it...culminating in killing Adam himself.

Non-Sequiturs

• Okay, maybe I'm crazy, but I could have sworn that when Vanessa drops Zach off at the old Gossard house that Zach briefly turns into Max (although both are dressed in a ninja costume). Assuming this is true (and I was eating a lot of candy when I watched, so I could be wrong), what would that mean?
• I am really, really impressed by Nigel Brown channeling Adam. I was honestly a little creeped out. I am totally loving having Nigel as a regular this season, and I'm all for a Chad-the-killer scenario if it means lots of Nigel Brown. Maybe Beth can possess him next? That would be awesome.
• Elizabeth Tuttle as Beth can be really, really scary. But also awesome. I was very glad to see her return in this episode.
• "I need to quit drinking" was the runner-up in the Favorite Quote contest for this episode.
• There seemed to be a lot of running in this episode (Blake, Gina, and Melony). As in, a lot more than usual. I don't think this means anything, I just wanted to comment on it.
• Brett is on my shit list. Sexual assault is sexual assault, no matter how much you have had to drink. Also, Brett is really bad at research. He seemed to be there all night and was unable to find any books or articles on anything related to ghosts or pagan spirits. Brett, there is a thing called the internet, and a thing called Google, and with their powers combined, you will have about 66,200,00 hits for ghosts and pagan spirits. You are a tool.
• Why would Brittany answer the phone, knowing it was Gina? She seems to hate Gina a lot, and she also seems to not believe in ghosts. I was wondering why she hadn't blocked Gina's number, or at least hung up on Gina by the time she got to her second question.
• It occurs to me that what is going on here might be similar to the plot line of very fun and very old-school video game 5 Days a Stranger. I don't want to spoil game play for anyone who hasn't played it, but the game is part of a 4-part series called the Chzo Mythos, and can be downloaded for free here. For an in-depth review of all 4 parts of the game, you should head to jayisgames. The premise of the game is that there is a killer locked in a mansion with you and several others. Everyone is a stranger, and everyone is trapped, and people are being picked off one by one. The analogy I'm trying to draw is between the reveal of 5 Days a Stranger and not the whole mythos, but it seems possible to me that what the crew here is dealing with could be something like that. So now you should go play the game so I can discuss it without sounding cryptic.
• So of the 6 unsolved murders, how many were killed by the same killer?
• Costumes! They were:
• Chris as Disco Stu?
• Brittany as a dominatrix? Or Elvira? Or Vampira? Or Booberella?
• Blake as a guy from Central America?
• Chad as a DDR pad. (Weird. And probably stinky. But I liked Chad getting dressed during the phone interview sequence, which was funny, and possibly important.)
• Tim as a pilgrim?
• Vanessa as a fairy princess?
• Zach as a ninja (also Max as a ninja? see above)
• Erin as Buffy the Vampire Slayer (interesting that she might slay vampires and Brittany might be one)
• Gina, Ashley, and Brett...as lamers.
• Melony...we will never know. Her costume is still in the dryer.

So, what do you think?