**WARNING: SPOILERS FOR SEASON THREE** <\/p>
By: Laura Denby<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n BBC sitcom Ghosts<\/a> returned for its third series this week, following married couple Alison (Charlotte Ritchie) and Mike (Kiell Smith-Bynoe) who share their large country home with a collection of lively spirits. We have yet to hear news of a fourth season of the hit show but a follow-up isn\u2019t actually necessary. (Spoilers ahead.)<\/span><\/p>\n Now certain over Button House\u2019s potential for hosting events, Alison and Mike have things much more under control. Finding that balance provides them with a natural ending after the chaos of coping with a ghostly presence.<\/span><\/p>\n Future episodes would therefore have to be much bigger, creating new obstacles for them, and the show just doesn\u2019t need to do so. The comedy delivers its best outing yet in the form of series three, exploring the characters like never before and building to a powerful conclusion that wraps up the show\u2019s narrative in a very satisfying way.<\/span><\/p>\n The third series brings about a turning point for Mike, who interacts with the ghosts to an extent he never has before \u2013 albeit without actually being able to see or hear them. He is far less spooked this time around and is taken in a new, confident direction that brings the show full circle. <\/span><\/p>\n We see him lose patience with Julian (Simon Farnaby), who has great fun childishly messing with Mike\u2019s emails. It makes for hilarious viewing, but now Julian doesn\u2019t have such a fear factor attached, there\u2019s only so far his physical abilities can go before the novelty wears off.<\/span><\/p> Among the group of ghouls, more pasts are explored. From Kitty\u2019s (Lolly Adefope) uncomfortable memories of her unkind sister, to Humphrey\u2019s (Laurence Rickard) accidental death after uncovering a plot of treason, Ghosts puts to rest every remaining demon and explains every mystery, leaving less room for organic drama going forward. <\/span><\/p>\n Subplots like Fanny\u2019s (Martha Howe-Douglas) secret relationship with Humphrey\u2019s headless body (played by Yani Xander) prove the show can still surprise us. This is also the case with Mike\u2019s work-from-home attire, which mirrored the lifestyle of the nation in the past year-and-a-half by lacking in the trouser department. Yet these moments work so well because of their unpredictable nature \u2013 and there\u2019s a risk of replicating old scenarios to outdo previous brilliance.<\/span><\/p>\n Another unexpected twist touches on an issue faced in today\u2019s society, with a scam involving a woman claiming to be Alison\u2019s half-sister. The storyline is well executed and adds to the idea of a clear-cut ending, leaving no question unanswered. <\/span><\/p>\n This is because the plot doubles as a way of delving into Alison\u2019s bloodline and, not only is it resolved swiftly and decisively, it provides the ultimate, uplifting message too. The gang\u2019s assistance in exposing the fraudulent Lucy (Jessica Knappett) leads Alison to accept that, living or not, they are all the family she will ever need.<\/span><\/p>\n This is a show that doesn\u2019t deal in cliffhangers anyway, but in its neatly tied-up conclusion, season three presents the perfect farewell. As Alison and Mike join the ghosts at the dinner table, their companionship makes for a fitting goodbye \u2013 particularly as it shows a transition from earlier in the series when Alison was still reluctant to call the group her friends.<\/span><\/p>\n Stars and co-creators Laurence Rickard and Mathew Baynton (who plays Thomas Thorne) recently explained to RadioTimes.com<\/a><\/strong> and other press that the team do have ideas in mind for a fourth series of Ghosts<\/a>. There\u2019s no doubt we\u2019ll always crave more from this show, but it does risk losing its edge by continuing after a season as strong as this. It\u2019s important to note that, if Ghosts doesn\u2019t return, it\u2019s already given us a rich and complete story with a beginning, middle and end.<\/span><\/p>\n The characters are finally happy and settled and, as much as we would love to welcome them back, it feels like the team\u2019s work here is done. The journey undertaken by Alison, Mike and company was what made this show such a televisual feast. That journey is effectively over now they have found contentment \u2013 unconventional as it is!<\/span><\/p>\n An action-packed blend of laughs and cultural references with a heartwarming bond running through it, Ghosts has been a delight to watch. It has truly peaked with its third instalment and that\u2019s why it\u2019s the right time to close the door.<\/span><\/p>\n