Isaac's Book

**Isaac's Book** is the sixteenth episode of Season 2 in the American sitcom *Ghosts* and the 34th episode overall. It premiered on March 2, 2023.

## Plot

**A Plot:** Samantha Arondekar is pitching her book about Isaac to Terry, her editor at the Ulster County Review. A guest checks in who is an old friend of Sam's, Isabel, and a fellow journalist. She makes some snide comments about Sam owning and operating a BnB instead of being primarily a journalist. Sam's editor then rejects Isaac's book. Sam goes to tell Isaac the bad news but he's so invested that she lies and says the book got picked up. He announces this to the rest of the ghosts and Sasappis wonders why Sam hasn't posted it on Facebook yet, to which she replies that she's trying not to brag. Sam argues with Jay that they should just fake it Isaac's sake and maintain the lie. Isabel finds out from the internet that Sam is getting her book on Isaac published--the ghosts went behind her back and posted about it online, thinking Sam was being too humble.

Sam begins enjoying all the compliments she's receiving online about her fake book publication. Isabel admits she's impressed by Sam's accomplishment. Isaac is also crowing about this, compelling Alberta to point out she also has a book about her--albeit self-published, by creepy Todd. Isabel tries to call Sam's editor because she knows him socially, so Sam has to admit they're not really publishing the book: both to the living and the ghosts. Sam apologizes to Isaac and admits she lied not just to spare Isaac's feelings but also because she wanted to feel good around her more accomplished peer. She and Isaac reassure each other that they don't need to publish a book to be important.

Immediately after this Sam gets an email from her publisher telling her they actually are going to publish the book.

**B Plot:** When Sam brings in groceries, Trevor fails to make a joke about Sam's "melons." This makes Hetty nervous that Trevor's respectful behavior will make the others suspect their relationship. She insists Trevor says crude things about Sam. Trevor makes a joke at dinner about liking to be "on top" of Samantha. That night, Hetty compliments Trevor for doing well being a pervert around Sam that day. They kiss and lay down on the bed in the basement together, at which point Nigel and Nancy walk through the door, Nancy apparently giving Nigel a tour of the Mansion.

**C Plot:** Thor, Alberta, and Flower are watching TV when Thor gets so mad about a cliffhanger that he uses his electricity powers to shut off the TV. Flower suggests Thor work on his anger issues. Pete tells Thor he can teach him to "take it," curbing his anger issues. They test out Pete's training in front of Flower by using Sasappis and Alberta to irritate Thor. Sas tells Thor about an episode of "It's Getting Hot in Here" he watched without him. Alberta tells Thor she hates cod (Thor's favorite fish) and then insults his beard braids, which Thor reveals each represent a brother he lost in battle. Thor manages to reign in his temper through all this, but then a BnB guest, Soren, walks in who is Danish--the nationality Thor hates the most. At dinner that night Soren viciously insults Norway (Thor's nationality), to which Thor eventually explodes in a fit of impotent rage. Thor apologizes to Flower later for not being able to reign in his temper. Flower says it's okay because watching him act like Pete was a "real turn-off."

## Quotes

**Terry**: So, you're proposing a book about a regular guy who was near some things and then crapped himself to death?

**Sam**: Oh, but that's all you hear about! But what about the guys who weren't in the room where it happened, but *were* in the building.

**Isaac**: Weeeeell...

**Sam**: Or like, down the street.

**Isaac**: That works.

**Sam**: The book argues that this country was built by regular people. It took all kinds.

**Sasappis**: Important white guys, mediocre white guys...

**Sam**: Oh yeah, no, that Starbucks is actually built on the site of a former hospital for the criminally insane; I can't go anywhere near it it's a hell-scape.

## Cast

### Main cast

* Rose McIver as Samantha Arondekar
* Utkarsh Ambudkar as Jay Arondekar
* Brandon Scott Jones as Isaac
* Danielle Pinnock as Alberta
* Richie Moriarty as Pete
* Asher Grodman as Trevor
* Sheila Carrasco as Flower
* Devan Chandler Long as Thorfinn
* Rebecca Wisocky as Hetty
* Román Zaragoza as Sasappis

### Guest cast

* Ilana Becker as Isabel
* Ali Badshah as Terry The Publisher
* John Hartman as Nigel Chessum
* Betsy Sodaro as Nancy
* Flula Borg as Soren

## Historical notes

* Isaac negotiated the surrender of Fort Ticonderoga, a fort in upstate New York state on the border of Vermont on Lake Champlain. Historically, it was surrendered to British forces by General St. Clair on July 5th, 1777.
* Isaac references Alexander Hamilton and how he always felt a rivalry with the famous founding father.

## Trivia

* Jay says that their assistant just recently left, which happened in the episode Ghost Hunter.
* Sipper's article (from the episode The Liquor License) called the B&B an "Underrated gem that you should visit quick before it goes out of business."
* Sam mentions that she had pieces written for the Ulster County Review to Isabel. One of the articles brought up was from the episode The Tree.
* Trevor calls Sam Hetty's niece when she should be a granddaughter. However, Hetty and Sam's familial relationship has never been fully established within the series to know which term would be correct.
* The Starbucks is built on the site of a former hospital for the criminally insane and she refuses to go near it because “it’s a hellscape.”
* Sam has a cousin Tina who congratulates her on Isaac's book.
* Sam's high school English teacher was Mrs. Neugebauer who congratulates her on Isaac's book.
* Gold Diamond Press is going to print Isaac's book.
* Nancy only cameos at the end of the episode when she’s giving Nigel an tour of the basement.
* As of this episode both Alberta and Isaac have books written about them. Although Alberta’s book is self published by Todd.
* Thor and Sas are still watching "It's Getting Hot In Here" together.

1. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort\_Ticonderoga