Ghost Whisperer

After five seasons, I have been enriched by this valuable new series experience. There was complete fan service available, not only through the DVDs on my shelf but also a book guide, and comics... and I watched the webisodes. It was a really nice change to enjoy such a long series after many stories that ended prematurely. Anyone who has watched other Love Hewitt projects in the past knew that she could handle her own series without a hitch. She did indeed. She took home two Saturn awards, produced the show, she also directed a few episodes, and her music was featured in the show. At this point, it is only necessary to point out the perfect Jim Clancy played by David Conrad because Love Hewitt never had such a husband before or since. :) (11.04.2009)

The first season of GW was so different from anything I had watched up to that point that I just had to give in to it. The main character is married, and she has a wonderful relationship with her husband, so we are spared endless wooing and we can watch a different type of couple, which is great in and of itself. Melinda and Jim are simply wonderful and a pleasure to come back to. They live in a small town, she has an antique shop, he was a fireman when they met and over the course of the series, he makes it all the way to being a doctor. The town square is familiar to many viewers for one simple reason - it was filmed in Courthouse Square, a popular part of Universal Studios since the 1940s. The individual episodes are relaxed, with Melinda communicating with ghosts, and going through her regular case of the week. Her partner in the first season is Andrea (Aisha Tyler). It would almost seem that nothing could upset the concept, but the grand finale threw many things off balance. If you're looking for your regular ghost horror series with a super sexy hero in the lead role, Love and GW are there for you. (18.02.2019)

Jennifer Love Hewitt is a real feast for the eyes in the second season, and the drama is increased thanks to the new group of people. In Andrea's place come Prof. Rick Payne (Jay Mohr) and Delia Banks (Camryn Manheim), changing the established dynamic of problems and approaches to individual ghost cases. Having learned from last season, we also now know that GW is no ordinary procedural, but the series as a whole is being watched by many more people each year. Big things happen during the finale. (18.02.2019)

Season 3 was very much marked by the Writers Guild of America strike, which broke out in a situation where the first 12 episodes were completed, so we can be glad that the final count was brought up to 18, although it is disappointing compared to previous seasons. The story of Melinda and the mysterious underworld could have taken a different turn, but this shortened series simply had to deal with some of the themes much more quickly. Delia's son became more involved, and soon we had to say goodbye to Rick (Jay Mohr went on to do his own series called Gary Unmarried). For me personally, Victoria Pratt's guest appearances are the most important, because without her I would never have discovered GW. (18.02.2019)

The change brought about by GW Season 4 was the result of a writers' strike. Melinda and Jim's perfect marriage was threatened in an absolutely unbelievable way (even for a ghost show). Those who haven't seen it won't believe it. It was, therefore, necessary to strengthen the team of partners, the newly arrived Prof. Eli James (played by the legendary Jamie Kennedy from the Scream films). Those who have been following current events in fandom knew about the behind-the-scenes relationship between Love Hewitt and Kennedy, which changed the atmosphere of the show somewhat. They later made an independent film together, Café, but never married. However, GW survived this turn of events and we got one more season. (18.02.2019)

The final season of GW jumped us forward in time five years to follow the curse hanging over Melinda's son Aiden. Was this another controversial move? Yes, but not as weird as the half-dead Jim in the last season. It's hard to see what direction the show would have taken if it had continued. Yet seeing this trend of a new idea every year that upsets the given (and functional and popular) concept of the first three seasons, I'm quite happy to get a decent ending. The end came sooner than was strictly necessary, but in time to prevent GW from becoming a completely different show. Even after all these years, Melinda's ghost stories are watchable, and in the case of the complete re-watch, pleasantly nostalgic. (18.02.2019)