What is a Continental Army officer to do when you leave your fiancé at the altar and they take away your dinosaur bed and the man you are crushing on dies and becomes a ghost (huzzah!) but he’s so not into the idea of being tied down? Seriously, what is someone to do in these very vague circumstances, let alone a lovelorn ghost? Brandon Scott Jones’ Isaac Higgintoot is a spirit that didn’t start living until his afterlife, and he’s going through some more growing pains on season four of CBS’ Ghosts. The messier Isaac becomes, though, the more Jones lets us fall in love with him.
Because Isaac is now getting his feet wet with his new perspective of his identity, it’s natural that he makes mistakes along the way. His ex-fiancé, Nigel, remains on the property, but their proximity to one another after their canceled nuptials makes it awkward enough for Isaac to ponder a conversation if Nigel should exit Woodstone. One of my favorite qualities about Jones’ characterization of Isaac throughout all of Ghosts is how he doesn’t reveal what he wants in a lot of conversations. I am sure that in his closeted life, Isaac had to make many concessions while plastering a smile on his face to avoid continuing any further embarrassment or turmoil. As an out, proud, and self-serving ghost, though, Isaac’s struggle to articulate what he wants provides humor in his refusal to admit that he’s wrong, and that is seen when Isaac feels obligated to fork over his beloved dinosaur bed.
Jones gets to capitalize on two moments of broad, physical humor during this fourth season. In order to cope with his breakup, Isaac literally lets his hair down and adopts a carefree attitude. Imagine if Isaac died with his hair not tied back. It changes how Jones walks, talks, and even holds his mouth. It’s a hilarious example of how one thing physical thing can change how we hold our body as we try to twist ourselves into a new outlook. Jones prancing around a field with finance bros in their boxers is one of the highlights of the entire season.
If you have always wondered why Isaac Higgintoot harbored such passionate resentment towards Alexander Hamilton, you finally get your answer in ‘Alexander Hamilton and the Ruffle Kerfuffle.’ Not only was Jones eager t try on more hairstyles in flashbacks, but he dons the most comically ornate ruffle ever worn. He reveals that finding the right size was an exercise in frilly trial and error. We see that Isaac not being able to get out of his own way is not a trat exclusive of his afterlife.
Brian Scott Jones, along with his brilliant ensemble of co-stars, has been been delivering impeccable timing while expanding on stories and worlds that other sitcoms wouldn’t dare to explore. No matter the size of the ruffle, the length of the hair, or the intensity of the conversation with Mary Holland’s Patience, Jones will alway be a spirit that we want to stick around.
Ghosts is streaming now on Paramount+.
