The US is famous, or infamous depending on who you ask, for the many adaptations of BBC original series. The most recent is CBS' reimagining of BBC's 2019 series, Ghosts. Now that CBS' new show is a few episodes in, we have plenty of material to compare and contrast the two versions.
At its core, the CBS' Ghosts hasn't deviated too far from the original's story beats. In the pilot episode, we meet a young married couple who randomly inherits a distant relative's large estate. The kicker, the mansion is infested with ghouls from across each country's history.
Rose McIver as Samantha - Charlotte Ritchie as Alison
The CBS series finds its protagonist in Samantha, portrayed by Rose McIver (The Lovely Bones, iZombie), a lucky relative who inherits her great aunt's upstate New York mansion. Samantha has spent the past several years in New York City and is looking for an escape. Much like her BBC counterpart, named Alison, played by Charlotte Ritchie (Call The Midwife, Doctor Who), Samantha experiences a traumatic head injury in the pilot. This incident allows her to see and communicate with the ghosts who inhabit her new property.
These characters, save their names, are fairly similar. They both are very ecstatic about their potential new home and encourage their husbands to be open to the idea. Along with that, they both find the ghosts quite terrifying at first, as any sane person would. However, both characters eventually act as a literal medium, making the home a special place for her living family and new dead friends.
Utkarsh Ambudkar as Jay - Kiell Smith-Bynoe as Mike
Samantha's husband, named Jay, is played by familiar face Utkarsh Ambudkar (Free Guy, Mulan). Ambudkar brings far more apprehension to the character than his British counterpart, Mike, portrayed by Kiell Smith-Bynoe (Seth Lets Flats). Jay loves living in New York City and hates the thought of leaving. Jay's idea of a big move would be finding a place below 14th street.
A noticeable difference between the main character's relationships in the two shows is the conflict they experience prior to acknowledging the presence of the ghosts. Alison and Mike are both excited by the surprise inheritance, whereas Jay feels the best course would be to sell the property. It isn't until after Samantha's accident that Jay feels inclined to go along with renovating the mansion.
Richie Moriarty as Pete - Jim Howick as Pat
The first ghosts up to compare are CBS' Pete, portrayed by Richie Moriarty (Search Party, What We Do In the Shadows), and the BBC's Pat, played by Jim Howick (Sex Education, Hellboy). Both play Boy Scout-Esq leaders who met an untimely end during an archery lesson in their respective countrysides.
These characters act as the antithesis to the commonly shared idea of a spooky ghost. Both bring a friendly rapport to the ghosts dynamic, acting as loveable and gentle storytellers who just want everyone to get along. The only thing Pete is missing in comparison to Pat is the most beautiful mountain-man mustache you could imagine.
Brandon Scott Jones as Isaac - Bill Willbond as Captain
The characters of Isaac and Captain are where the differences between the Americans and the Brits really start poking through. Issac, portrayed by the always hysterical Brandon Scott Jones (The Good Place, Can You Ever Forgive Me), was a commander during the American Revolution. The Captain, portrayed by the stoic Ben Willbond (Briget Jones' Baby, The Thick of It), is an unnamed British military leader from World War Two.
The comedy of these characters is different comedic branches of the control freak. Where Captain is a no-nonsense history buff, Issac leans into Jones' flamboyant comedic style. Jones, a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community as well as an advocate, brings a great sense of representation to the character, often hinting at Issac's hidden sexual orientation. Willbond is a writer on the show, along with several other castmates, which leads to an effective and consistent tone throughout the episodes.
Dannielle Pinnock as Alberta - Lolly Adefope as Kitty
The characters of Kitty, played by Lolly Adefope (Shrill, Miracle Workers), and Alberta (Young Sheldon) share many common traits. Kitty is a Georgian era socialite and Alberta is a loveable 1920's, jazz singer. Both are wonderful additions to the ensemble whose comedy is rooted in music and slapstick. These characters and their actor's performances are very much needed to create the functioning ensembles both shows have.
The largest difference between the characters is the time in which they lived. With Alberta being from the 1920s, she brings a vibrant and progressive tone to her comedy. On the other hand, Kitty is from a far more conservative era and in turn is naïve to certain ideals and perspectives. Kitty's comedy often comes from being out of the loop or having almost a childlike wonder when introduced to various aspects of modern life.
Asher Grodman as Trevor - Simon Farnaby as Julian
No quirky ensemble comedy is complete without a pretentious, self-absorbed, man with a power trip to make fun of. This role is filled by actor Asher Grodman (Chicago Med) playing Trevor and Simon Farnaby (Paddington 2, Rouge One) playing Julian. Farnaby, like Ben Willbond, is also a writer on the BCC series. Grodman's Trevor is your classic American frat boy who tragically passed from a diagnosis of partying too hard in the late 90s. Julian, on the other hand, was an MP in the British government who died amidst a career-ending sex scandal. Both have massive, planet-sized egos and no pants.
These two characters are pivotal to the plot of the show. In each series' pilot episodes, we learn that these two characters are the only ones who can physically touch objects in the real world. While it takes a lot of time and effort, both shows' forward momentum would come to a screeching halt without their character's ability.
Devan Long as Thorfinn - Laurence Rickard as Robin the Caveman
Filling in the role of loveable brutes are Devan Long (Bosch, Doom Patrol) as a tidy Viking named Thorfinn and writer/actor Laurence Rickard as Robin the Caveman. These characters largely provide the same function for their respective shows. They're the two ghosts who have been dead the longest and have more opinions than their stature would make you think.
The best parts of these characters are their one-liners and catchphrases. Both actors do an incredible job regarding the physicality of their characters and use it to an advantage when they play both to and against audience expectations.
Rebecca Wisocky as Hetty - Martha Howe-Douglas as Lady Fanny Button
Since the estate fell into Samantha and Alison's laps via the passing of a distant relative, it is necessary to have a representation of their family tree in the haunted mansion (No, not that one). This is where Hetty, played by Rebecca Wisocky (AHS, For All Mankind), and Lady Fanny Button, played by Martha Howe-Douglas (Doctor Foster), come in.
These two characters are pretty much carbon copies of each other. They are each the respective matriarchs of their groups and are often looking down upon the couples and other ghosts for their undistinguished behavior.
Hudson Thames as Crash - Laurence Rickard as Headless Humphrey
Finally, we come to Hudson Thames (What If...) and Laurence Rickard (Peter Rabbit) playing Crash and Headless Humphrey. Both of these characters are only featured in the first few episodes, as the extent of their character is rather limited. Both fill the role of the Headless Horseman archetype for the ghosts. Where Crash is a greaser whose head was severed in a knife fight, Headless Humphrey lost his most important appendage to the executioner. Sadly, these great actors are underutilized, as their rolling heads are used as a shock-gag for the living characters.
Additions and Omissions
While both shows have a cast featuring eight ghosts, there are two ghosts in the BBC production which have little to no similarities to two ghosts in the CBS production. Most of the changes simply come down to the historical differences between the countries. In the original production the characters of Mary and Thomas Thorne, played by Katy Wix (The Windsors) and Mathew Baynton (Bill), are very much products of British history. Mary was a Stuart-era servant who was burned at the stake after being accused of participating in witchcraft. Thomas is based on the real-life playwright and performer who has since been forgotten in history.
While the American production could certainly have found parallel characters from the Salem Witch Trials or a Nathanial Hawthorn type, they decided to take the show in a more inclusionary route. The characters they decided to create are Sassapis, a Native American played by Román Zaragoza (Austin and Ally), and a 60's hippy named Flower played by Shelia Carrasco (The Good Place). These characters embrace the complex history of the United States and allow for the CBS production to go different places than the original.
Ghosts airs Thursdays on CBS.