The fifth season finale of CBS’ hit series “Ghosts” delivered a shocking and emotional cliffhanger, leaving the fate of fan-favorite spirit Pete Martino (Richie Moriarty) in serious doubt. In the two-part finale, titled “Up the Creek” and “Across the Pond,” Pete vanished completely, seemingly for good, as a consequence of his unique ghost power that allows him to leave the Woodstone estate for a limited duration. Actor Richie Moriarty himself expressed uncertainty about his character’s return, noting that the showrunners, Joe Port and Joe Wiseman, have begun planning Season 6 and are contemplating the ramifications of losing a core ghost.

The dramatic disappearance of Pete was intrinsically linked to a high-stakes mission to save Woodstone Mansion. The estate faced demolition by the nefarious conglomerate Ever Creek Water, which planned to construct a data mining facility. To thwart this, Sam (Rose McIver) and Jay (Utkarsh Ambudkar) needed to secure a historic landmark designation for the house. The crucial piece of the puzzle came from Nancy (Betsy Sodaro), a cholera victim ghost, who revealed her secret past as a runaway princess. Proof of her royal lineage, specifically a painting of her wearing a distinctive necklace, was located in the U.K.

Pete, leveraging his rare ability to travel beyond Woodstone’s boundaries, bravely volunteered to accompany Jay and Kyle (Ben Feldman) to London to retrieve the vital painting. This mission, while successful in providing the necessary historical evidence, came at a grave cost. Pete’s ghost power has a critical limitation: if he remains away from the property for too long, his body begins to disappear, a phenomenon first observed in Season 3. Despite a desperate race against time by Jay and Kyle, Pete’s body parts vanished one by one until he was completely gone, leaving an open question about what happens next for the Pinecone Trooper leader.

This isn't the first time “Ghosts” has teased the departure of a main character, with Flower’s (Sheila Carrasco) presumed exit in Season 2 turning out to be a misdirection. However, Moriarty and showrunners suggest Pete’s vanishing is more permanent. Showrunners Joe Port and Joe Wiseman confirmed that Pete’s jeopardy when leaving the property was a concept established early in the series, and they chose the Season 5 finale as the opportune moment for this significant event. They are now eager to explore the mystery of Pete’s whereabouts and the new narrative possibilities this opens for Season 6, emphasizing that this is not necessarily the end for the character but rather a new, intriguing chapter.

Beyond Pete’s fate, the finale delivered significant triumphs for Sam and Jay. With the essential proof obtained from the U.K., they successfully declared Woodstone a historic landmark, safeguarding the mansion from destruction. Concurrently, Sam achieved a major personal victory, selling her Hollywood script and securing her role as its writer, providing a much-needed positive resolution to their recent financial difficulties. These wins, as explained by Joe Wiseman, aimed to balance the heavy cliffhanger with moments of joy and victory for the living couple.

Pete Martino’s character has undergone significant development over five seasons. Viewers learned of his tragic death in 1985 from an accidental arrow wound and witnessed emotional milestones like his daughter’s wedding at Woodstone. His relationship with ex-wife Carol, who initially cheated on him, evolved dramatically when she sacrificed her soul to hell to save Pete and Jay, ultimately finding her way to heaven. Pete's ghost power elevated him to a critical