Ghosts UK vs US : Which Is BETTER? 

The thing I like about the UK version is something you saw as a negative. Yes, the ghosts quarrel about little things but if you have an eternity with each other, it's the little things that will start to become the elephant in the room.

The UK cast before Ghosts worked on a sketch comedy show called Horrible Histories which had a lot of broad comedy bits. One of their regular bits was called "Stupid Deaths" which was parodied in one of the US episodes.

As someone who’s only seen the UK version, I really love the contradictions each character has. I like the captain’s stern demeanour and his soft interior, or Julian’s selfishness mixed with a need to be liked. Robin especially (my favourite character) is wise and intelligent and eager to learn, but he’s also still dumb and easy to scare (even though objectively he is the second scariest ghost).

i feel like the UK's Alison is more appealing to me because of her reaction and irritation. Imagining having to live with ten other people all of a sudden, it would suck. I feel like it also makes her relationships with the ghosts more believable since she isn't instantly befriending them. Also, i prefer the UK acting wise.

My favorite part of the UK version is the basement ghosts are played by the same actors

You complain that the mansion characters in the UK are mostly aristocrats. That would be because in the UK only aristocrats or their servants would have lived in mansions. So it makes a lot more sense than a bunch of random characters.

The take away here is that the American version is designed to appeal to the American brighter, happier, more obvious sense of humour where the British one is designed to appeal to the British, downbeat, gloomier, more subtle sense of humour. Horses for courses.

British comedies don't have the need for characters to be likeable as a basic premise. The UK version works like Sartre's "Huis Clos" - they're housemates rather than friends, and they've been trapped together for centuries. It's because of their bad character traits that they can't move on, and they only start to evolve because they are interacting with a living person and change is introduced into the house. That allows for some really poignant moments. The US version is ok, but the idea that one is better than the other is a really bad place to start from. They are just different and taste is subjective.

Robin from the UK version is awesome.

I think what I love about UK Ghosts is that it’s different. Obviously the style of humour is undoubtedly British but it just feels unique. With US Ghosts it just feels like any other American sitcom

Actually Thomas died in in 1824. It is literally stated in the show. Specifically, Oct 10th 1824. Also, the headless tudor noble has a name, he's Sir Humphrey Bone and he's my 2nd favourite character.

I have a soft spot for Horrible Histories, and that cast is so funny together. So UK version wins for me.

"This is shit and we're all stuck together in this shit" is probably the best way to describe people's attitude to everything in the UK lol

The UK used an actual mansion, throughout. The US is just a stage, they only filmed the pilot in a mansion.

I like both shows pretty much equally. The real difference between them is that they're both made for different audiences. British comedies tend to have a drier wit while American ones tend to favour broader comedy, and British characters often have rougher edges that would get rounded off in the States. They both work in their own ways. And Robin is frikkin' adorable.

As a Dutch half-Irishman (just zo yous know I don't have any sort of stake in this) I watched UK Ghosts with my family. Absolutely loved it! The ending could have been better, but it was great! We tried watching the US version, but we couldn't even get through five minutes. The main appeal of UK Ghosts is that we learn more about the characters as the show goes on. Some things aren't even revealed until some of the last episodes! But the US version just.... Tells you EVERYTHING in the first five minutes! The key difference is show versus tell. UK Ghosts SHOWS. The US version TELLS. It just degrades the story and make everything feel clunky and forced. I don't like it at all.

I have watched all of the BBC version and 2 seasons of the CBS version, and I have to say I have a clear preference towards the UK’s. I might be a little bias considering I am British myself and I have grown up with these actors from Horrible Histories. (I am just going through the video and adding my own comment onto your opinion) - Captain and Isaac. I’m glad Isaac is from the Revolutionary Wars (is that it? I don’t know American history). It’s a change that allows them to act differently. I much prefer the way they deal with The Captain’s sexuality than Isaac’s. The Captain really feels like a person who has had to hide his identity his whole life, while Isaac acts like your stereotype of gay people. - Yeah, Pat and Pete are very similar. I like them both, but I kind of wish they changed Pete up a little. - Fanny and Hetty. I like how both of them change over the show and adapt to modern day life. I don’t mind that Fanny makes more comments than Hetty as I feel like it works for both of them. I enjoy that Hetty dislikes the Irish as it was a fun gag throughout. Also, Fanny being called Fanny was a great choice by the team as it gets a lot of jokes! (“Oh no! Fanny’s exposed”) - Robin and Thorfin. I enjoy their personalities and differences. I don’t find Robin’s voice funny but that doesn’t take away from his character. - Julian and Trevor. I much prefer Julian over Trevor! Julian being corrupt is what makes him funny and I found Trevor a little bit too nice. - Thomas. I’m glad they didn’t translate how horny he is over because I don’t think it would work in the US version. His humour comes from how quick he falls in love with people, but it is done in a way that I borderline creepy and funny. I don’t think the US version would be able to pull it off. - Kitty is lovely. I enjoy how her naivety is a contrast to a lot of the other ghosts. - Mary is such a fun character. The way she speaks adds a lot of humour! (She started the whole “Sucked off” joke) - I enjoy how the UK version sticks to the same characters as it makes the characters feel trapped. They barely add ghost character. The only one I can think of is Maddocks, and I like that they do this because it is believable that he has been there for years and he isn’t in the house. - Alberta’s fun. I think the mystery around her death is great and it’s frustrating that they didn’t do it with many of the other characters. The US version gives away too many of their deaths right away and it’s boring! (Don’t know the quote but it felt like, “I’m Thorfin and I can control lights because I was hit my lightning.”) We didn’t know The Captain or Kitty’s death till series 5. However, I thought the episode that revealed her death was extremely disappointing! - Sassapis my beloved! My favourite character of the bunch. I love his humour and it’s much nicer to watch compared to the others. I feel like his character is the most like the BBC characters. - Flower. I like the idea. She just has one joke though and it gets so boring! - What was the point of having the headless ghost in CBS? I don’t even remember his name and I wouldn’t be surprising if the show doesn’t either. He feels pointless compared to Humphrey, who is a much more developed character. - I enjoy the BBC characters so much more because they have a darker humour. The US’s characters’ humour is barely there and they can be quite unbearable to watch at times. They make jokes that have been really dumbed down for their audience. I think the age is worse in the US as the US just doesn’t have as much history. Take the 20th century. In the UK, you have Fanny, The Captain, Pat, and Julian. In the US, you have Alberta, headless guy, Flower, Pete, dead prom girl, and Trevor. There just feels like too many of their eras overlap. - Yeah. Alison and Mike are far more bearable than Sam and Jay. Sam is so frustrating to watch! I hate how Sam and Jay are financially okay. They say they are struggling, but that never really comes across. So much of the plot from Alison and Mike’s financial troubles (Taking out loan and being trapped, getting the builders in, having the film set, their actions in the dinner party, and trying to sell it to a hotel chain. Just to name a few.) Sam and Jay’s situation is just kinda boring. I do like how Jay is more interested in the ghosts though.

I think the tone difference is mainly a cultural thing , I’m a big fan of BBC Ghosts, but I find the American version almost unwatchable. Comedy in the US and the UK can be really different and I think cynicism might just gel better with people in the uk. Also half the cast of Ghosts were the cast of a really iconic childrens show , so there all literally icons if you grew up in the 2000s or 2010s

Something to note: English country houses vary in size depending on heritage, time period, wealth, funding, etc. West Horsley Place (Button House) is on the smaller size compared to similar grand estates such as Calke Abbey and Packwood House (estates owned by lower nobility); this is another reason why the concept just does not translate well for American television in my opinion: the whole idea of nobility and country estates and extreme class divisions (due to that), historical landmarks and its ghost stories, etc. is such a BRITISH concept - I have been to pubs that are older than America; my family's house is older than America by roughly thirty years (although it has been numerously reinvented)! It makes sense that these ghosts would be stuck in their ways and bicker and be inconsiderate (horrible to an extent) people; it makes no sense to me that the American ghosts have literally no distinction of society, class, politics despite a few jokes about living in different time periods. I mean, why would a ghost from The American Revolutionary War be so openly flamboyant and "feminine" (according to the ideals of his society) with barely any shame or firm religious beliefs? I know you saw this as a negative but the ghosts need to be on some level unlikable to help create conflict and later relatability/comfort...I would rather they be horrible, dramatic, petty, selfish (dead) people than the sanatisted, friendly, harmless ghosts we see in the US adaptation. Sorry for the rant, I just needed to get it out of my system (although I have more to say on the matter; both good and bad, if you or anyone else would like to discuss the topic further!)

So I've watched the entirety of the UK Ghosts, and it's one of my favourite shows ever. I remember when my parents and I watched it for the first time, we kept having to pause because we were laughing so much we couldn't breathe. Plus, I grew up with the Ghosts UK cast, since I religiously watched Horrible Histories as a kid. I think it's kind of impossible to determine which is "better", since aside from the premise, they each have completely different styles of comedy/approach's to the situation, which is exactly what you highlighted. So it's entirely down to personal preference: the pessimism of the UK, or the optimism of the US. I've never watched Ghosts US, and I don't think I ever will, but I can definitely see why you would prefer it. What I will say, is that when it comes to the pessimism of the UK version, I think it helps the characters dynamics. "This is shit and we're all stuck together in this shit", is absolutely true, but it means that the characters are forced to put up with the situation, which leads them to develop closer connections and relationships. Rather than the immediate positivity in the US version, Alison slowly builds relationships with the ghosts, which I really like. They make the best out of a mediocre situation, and all the ghosts show this underlying kindness, connection and appreciation for each other, that aren't initially visible. They're a family that's forced to live together constantly, so of course they're going to get annoyed with each time to time, but they still appreciate each other. I'm obviously biased, but if you're up for it, I would recommend giving the UK version another shot, since it can be very emotional and sweet when it needs to be. Also, in regards to Julian pushing Alison out of the window, yes, it definitely makes him look bad, and it does get brought up again, since he's the reason Alison has to live with seeing ghosts.

"Theyre almost all nobles of some sort". Boy scout, MP, peasant, soldier, poet, caveman, cellar ghosts.... Um... Do americans just think anyone with a british accent is a 'noble'?

the uk cast already acted together for decades and on lots of other shows, and their chemistry and friendship was just so much better and the uk one is clear because of this and the actors work better together

That’s genuinely what old mansions and stately home look like, they’re not McMansions. It’s filmed in a real one in the UK

16:50 To be fair, that's kinda the point. Julian is a Conservative MP from the late 80s-early 90s. They arent really known to be good people here in the UK

As a native Brit who's seen all of the UK Ghosts and loved it, I gotta say I couldn't get past three episodes of the American version. I get that there is 100% culture differences in comedy, and there are some American Comedies I love, Schitt's Creek being a personal favourite. But the American version felt so bubbly and almost sickeningly sweet to me. A lot of the American Ghosts felt too hyper and cheerful, too colourful for a show meant to be about, y'know, Ghosts. I do love some of them like the Viking, the Storyteller and the Speakeasy Singer, but the rest felt like they were sprinting to get a laugh out of you, and came across way more as actors or kids in a school play rather than characters. The American version also felt, too clean for lack of a better word. With UK Allison we see her panic and struggle and properly get emotional over her situation, while also having a much wider range of emotions. While the American Samantha always looked like she was in a commercial for a brand of furniture. Allison feels like she could properly ugly cry when something went wrong and I just don't buy anything from Samantha when she say's she's sad. The outfits and the houses of the American one felt way more like a set, their clothes all looked too nice and colourful, which is fine but again, makes them feel way more like costumes. The UK House felt like it was falling apart, that one wrong step could snap the whole place apart. You could buy that someone died in that house, and the body was still probably in there somewhere. Team GB also had the advantage of a team who worked on Horrible Histories, a historical comedy show based on the children's book for years known for it's historical accuracy. So the cast and crew knew what sort of styles each ghost should have, which helps to give them more texture to their looks. The mud on Robin, the Soot on Mary and even the drabness of Fanny's old outfits. And I just can't imagine any of that on the American Ghosts. I also think that the UK situation story leads to higher highs down the line. Because the ghosts take on an almost Adversarial Role in the start and the Couple feel like they're trapped in their situation. When they finally do start opening up to each other, and eventually enjoying their time together it feels more impactful. It's a relationship that had to be worked on, where compromises had to be made and feels more real. When you do reach those proper tear jerking moments of the characters coming to terms with their lives, how they died and who they left behind, it feels more like their minds have been changed. And when they can act sillier and happy it hurts all the more. Any Christmas Episode is a great example of this but I got properly teary with the Wedding Episode in the UK. With the American Ghosts, it felt like they just immediately jumped onto liking the couple, they immediately started to reveal their backstories and personalities. I'm sure they have cooler backstories and secrets to reveal down the line but I don't know where you could go emotionally from that show. I'd love to see what they could do, but honestly just the way that they delivered jokes felt like I was trapped at a friends Improv group and I couldn't leave. Like, Flower has a really interesting backstory, and is one you could never do here in the UK, I'd love to know more about her past, but they spoiled all the best reveals already. We know she was a hippie who turned cultist who turned bank robber. Imagine if they had just told us she was a Hippie and then we reveal more and more of her past over time. Really sink the knife with these revelations about what kind of life she had. But now, to me it feels like you've wasted that dramatic potential. I'm super glad you enjoyed it, and that Ghosts could make it's way to the Americas, and I would genuinely love to know more about some of the ghosts and their backstories. But man I just couldn't get past that 3rd episode. it's absolutely a me thing though, and would love to hear more about how the show changes, because I ain't watching it again. Also, if you haven't seen it yet, highly recommend Stag. It's a Mini Horror Comedy Slasher staring Pat's actor as the main protagonist. When he gets invited to join in a literal Stag Do (British version of a Bachelor Party) in the Scottish Highlands with his sister's fiancé and his mates. They go up on a planned hunting trip trying to Bag a Red Deer, but find themselves being hunted down one by one. it's seriously tense at times and utterly amazing. www.amazon.co.uk/Stag/dp/B01CF2LLQW

To me, the UK version is Butter and the US version is margarine.

We started watching the US version before realising there was a British version. I gave up after a couple of episodes; my husband quite liked it. Then we saw the British version and he stopped watching the US version because it was so superficial by comparison. Being British, I found that the UK version resonated with me on a deeper level. Like other responders, I like the parts of the British version that the OP didn't - the less upbeat vibe, the way the story leaves room for development rather than getting emotionally sorted in the first episode or two and then basically becoming a sitcom, the more historical colour scheme and surroundings, the more realistic writing about ghosts who are spending eternity together, and the way the female characters aren't all conventionally pretty. I know this is a bit weird for a programme about ghosts, but the British version seemed much more real. Like some of the others, I wish the American version had its own ghosts rather than reproducing the Julian and Pat characters, which really don't fit so well.

I remember watching a video talking about the different humor styles of the UK and US, primarily using the Office for comparison. It seems that UK humor is tailored for cynicism, while US humor has a more lighthearted approach, at least for television

I love both versions tbh as they're both the same and different at the same time

You forgot the most inportant Ghost: The Pigeon!

I vastly prefer the UK version. I've even bought the entire show off of Amazon. The UK show has this mixture of comedy and bittersweet moments. And I really like that. The ghosts can be funny, but they can also make you cry. I'd say it also sounds like you didn't watch even Season 1 of Ghosts all the way through. 1) Humphrey (the headless ghost is far more important to the series, though he's also forgotten at times. Meanwhile Crash in the US series disappears fro two seasons, pops up, and as far as I'm aware has disappeared again. 2) Thomas didn't die in 1780 whatever. He died in 1820 something (24 maybe?) . While I do find him stalker-y, I also think he's a good example of a Romantic artist. Their passions ruled them, and that was not always a good thing. I could go on for quite a while about how the American version is disappointing and inferior. I think I'll just sum it up as they turned the show into ship bait where everyone is dating everyone else suddenly despite having been trapped in the house together for decades, and the writers don't know what to do with them now they've played out all the romantic tension. Meanwhile the British version has no one dating anyone. And while there are hits something might have happened here or there in the past, for the most part they're not interested. They're Friends, not lovers. Well, friends on a good day. They're also an example of Sartre's No Exit. The one thing I did like in the US show as having Sam's fall be an accident rather than an attempted murder by ghosts. That was bad. I also like how Jay attempts to play D&D with the ghosts, and how he and Pete have a bit of a friendship as well, though Sam has to be a go between. Mike never really gets close to any of the ghosts. Anyway, the US version has awful writing and no heart despite its many sexual relationships. The UK version is the much better product in terms of its emotional core. Ghosts will make you both laugh and cry. And I love that.

I love the episode where all the uk ghost help tell a story but their almost all unreliable narrators really good plot there, I also like the us version too tho I think they both have merits :)

I like the UK version, those characters were charming

There are so many times when you say you dont like the UK version because "paints X character in a really negative light/makes them seem stupid". This is 100% where cultural humour varies between the UK and US. I wouldnt find it a negative of a comedy if some characters are flawed. However, I actually had the opposite issue with US Ghosts. I struggled to get into it because the characters felt one dimensional and a lot of the jokes felt like they relied on stereotypes of what someone from that time period would be like. Like The Captain, in the UK version the joke isnt that he's gay, it's that he doesn't realise. The US one just hammered as many gay jokes so heavy handedly that its clear that the joke is just "hes gay haha"

So happy I saw the UK version first. It's the better series

The original uk version is better

I know the UK had the cast of horrible histories, and that's all I know

I've watched both, but as a Brit I will always side with the UK one. But I was very pleasantly surprised by the US adaptation. They both had different areas of history to draw on. The difference in comedy styles is I think in down to the respective psyches of the two nations. Us Brits tend to be darker, more frustrated, and we tend to root for the underdog trying in tough situations. US comedies tend to be much more (sometimes relentlessly) positive and upbeat, much like the Americans I know. Both versions have made me cry more than I feel I should at a silly comedy show. There is a lot of depth to both.

I think the UK version is more realistic in some ways. Ghosts stuck in purgatory are going to be there for a reason. Maybe not being able to let go of little things, bickering with people all the time, and being capable of pushing someone out of a window are telling of why they haven't moved on. And although it's certainly really positive thinking of Sam to be glad she's not mentally ill and just has a weird power, it's almost overly positive. That all being said, merely being realistic doesn't always make for a more enjoyable watching experience and I'm not sure which I prefer.

The US market one works for the US audience. It's a bit too peppy and nice for UK audiences: we like pathos, schadenfreude, and depth. The US one works but it does feel very gee, swell, oh honey baby to us.

Pat specifically died in 1984 and Thomas died in 1824, not 1796. I like that the UK ghosts and Alison start out disliking each other. You get to see the ghosts loosen up and remember how to have fun thanks to their connection to a living person and Alison learns how to live with the ghosts instead of around them.

As an Australian British comedy shows tend to be better resseved In Australia we outsource our TV show from the UK and USA because it's cheaper and we'll our stuff is shit. Because of our culture, dark humour and underdog stories work best Example: instead of bugs bunny, the sarcastic winner Daffy duck is more popular as he's always the losing sinic

The UK version. Always and in every scenario. Always. ❤ For me, as a German and non native English speaker, I will never get why the US have to do reboots of already existing stuff of the same language all the time. Germans would never get the idea of doing a reboot of an already existing Austrian show just because it is in the Austrian dialect. We can understand eachother, although Austrians speak a bit different, so why would we want to make a very good and already existing series anew? It honestly just seems lazy and uncreative and as not being able to have an idea of your own. On top: UK humor is appreciated worldwide for a reason. I wish they would stop that nonsense and do their own stuff. Cause US-Americans can be pretty creative in their own way too.

I personally preferred the UK version’s wit. Though I am British. Whilst I liked the conflict of the American version, everything you found largely positive, I found largely negative. Sam I found to be irritating and unbelievable whilst Alison I found to be more relatable and was more invested in. Found Mike and Jay to be equally annoying so meh. Honestly knowing that they only exist to be a ‘what ghost thing?’ Character sucked, I just find it to be an overused ploy in tv. I found the UK version to have better build up and it made me personally laugh harder. I also quite enjoyed Alison’s accident because it was more understandable. She leant out a window and couldn’t see Julian behind her or shoving her out. I guess Sam just missed the large vase that made a noise when it dropped? Tbf the mansion thing seems like a cultural difference, the uk is very old there are plenty of mansions with tight halls and smaller rooms. I felt quite split on the ghosts, I preferred the Captain, Robin Julian and Kitty but I did like Flower and Alberta. I also felt the use of a colonial captain was weird, there being a Native American present and yet that obvious conflict isn’t there seems off. I really liked your take and understood completely but I’m UK all the way

The thing with the British version is that all of them would have potentially lived in the same area over thousands of years of British history and that's what makes it interesting. Its harder for that to be done with America because of its shorter history. I prefer the British versions sense of humour and im also probably a little biased because I grew up with the cast. I just don't find the American version that interesting. I personally find it makes sense that a lot of the cast were noble people due to the fact that it was a manor, it can get same-y at times but I feel like the characters contrast each other enough and have different motivations/ideals.

I’m an American and I MUCH prefer the English version. It is the original and the American version wouldn’t exist if the English version didn’t. I don’t know how it took you so long to see the English version. I saw it, in the US, long before the American version even was a thought. The English version is much more poignant; you really care about the characters and are invested in their happiness. I’ve seen a couple of episodes of the American version and it just seems like a caricature of the original version. And I love the ending of the English version; instead of beating a dead horse, they brought the show to a satisfying conclusion before it started to get stale.

I tried the US version of ghosts, but it just didn't feel the same. I sort of grew up with six of the actors that play the main ghosts and honestly think that they are hilarious. I actually really enjoyed watching the characters develop and learn how to get along and learning their back stories and why they are the way they are.

As a Canadian I like the UK version slightly better.

What a lot of people don't seem to know is that Simon Farnaby and Mathew Baynton, who play cast members in the UK version are executive producers for the U.S. version.

Possibly it's because I prefer witty humor to slapstick, I am a fan of the UK Ghosts. I also saw it first. I feel like the American Ghosts either feel like extreme caricatures of their respective times and cultures, or they don't feel like they are from that era at all. There was one episode where Sass stated that he died at a Halloween party and that this was a costume, only to reveal that was sarcasm. I was thinking it made a lot more sense to his character. I also feel like the funniest moments in the American version are when they pulled jokes directly from the UK version. I will say that Jay is an amazing addition to the show. He is by far my favorite part of the American version.

This is a fun comparative analysis - thanks for sharing! I've watched both shows and love them both in many of the ways you describe. One big difference in the two shows is that the UK show is filmed in a real house - West Horsley Place, in Surrey. As in the show, it's a 15th century structure with a 17th century facade attached to it. The show was filmed entirely on site - interiors and exteriors. That's probably why it felt claustrophobic and dark, because it's a really old house, not a big, spacious soundstage as in the US Ghosts. The exterior of the US Ghosts mansion is in Canada, and the show's filmed in studio in Montreal. As far as which show I like better, that is so hard to say! They're both great in their own ways. I do feel that the UK version is more clever, but the US version is a little more lighthearted, so I guess whatever you're in the mood for!

If you did like the UK version, which I also haven't seen, you might enjoy Yonderland, one of those kids shows that's funny for adults too. So much of the cast stick together for other projects, like You, Me and the Apocalypse.

As usual, the british one.

17:35 Having a ‘side plot’ at the start of the first season is arguably far better than having it in a mid-season episode as it is a great way to almost show the monotonous life of the ghosts, and how boring being a ghost actually is. For me I just find the begrudging, reluctant tone way more convincing and realistic in the UK one.

UK. Kitty and Mary were my favorites. And The Captain and Kitty's afternoon together was one of the best bits! Singing about clouds, then skipping away...loved it. The interactions between the UK ghosts feels more genuine and you believe they've been stuck together for ages. The US ghosts don't give off that same vibe - it's like they're meeting each other when they meet Sam.

I love both UK and US versions. They are both good in their own way. You just have to get past the first few episodes of the US one, as it’s super speed repeats through the UK premise.

I watched the first season or two of the UK version before the US version came out. I have seen all of the US version. I love both. They are two different versions of the same prompt. Like two artists commissioned to paint the same subject. Many elements will be the same but yet different takes on the same subject.

UK version is the BEST

The uk has more subtle humour where as the us has raunchy jokes

I’m American but I watched the UK version first, and I wasn’t able to get past the second episode of the US one afterwards. I’m sure it has its moments, but the entire first and second episode felt, to me, like they had no faith that the audience could intuit anything about any of the characters on their own. Every character trait and ability is spelled out so painfully, and I even think a lot of the jokes are spoiled by the need to over-exaggerate and explain the premise. It also just doesn’t play off the spooky “ghost” premise as well, and adopts a pretty standard goofy tone, which I’m not as big of a fan of.

Ive watched the US version and I absolutely love it. The hardest part about enjoying it though was that I couldn't find people talking about it online who weren't bashing it for not being the UK version. So finally having my views validated is like, awesome. It's a fun show and I'm really excited for it to continue.

I think you need to watch more of the original as the character development feels more real and helps give a more emotional connection with each character. I just found the US version races two quickly into finding out things about the character. I found the original has greater strength in the way each character builds a relationship while the US version is far too quick. I like a lot of the US version but I find the pacing and character interactions in the original fat more compelling and when one of the ghosts is sucked off it was genuinely sad.

I liked both versions of the Ghosts. Each for different reasons.

I also have to point out the US version has the grumpy teenager who lives in the attic and sleeps for about 20 years at a time. She’s a terrible character, though, and I’d prefer to forget her.

Ive seen both versions and I prefer all the small relationships in the US version more than the UK version. Like how Sam is basically a mother to all of the Ghosts and how Thor and Sass love to watch reality TV together. I feel like those little things seem more relatable and funny and make the US version stand out from the UK version.

So I'll admit that the first time I watched the uk ghosts first two episodes I felt the same as you, the characters did seem a bit too annoying and mean spirited towards each other. But Im so glad I stuck with it because by the second season you realise why they did that. The show is basically a slow burn enemies to found family and how it develops that gradually over five series is so well done and makes all that anomosity in S1 contrast with how wholesome the show is by the end. Even Julian'a attempted murder isnt just forgotten about and adds a lot of weight in a later episode. The us series is fine, its cute and funny but feels a lot more like a bunch of college friends with everyone being so chummy and couples pairing off. Theres very little romance in the uk version and I love that. Also Robin is my favourite, but again its how we see more of his character revealed over time. I love that hes not a brute, that hes intelligent and compassionate and incredibly tragic given his backstory.

Okay so: - Mike is depicted as an idiot because he is and Julian is depicted as an asshole because he is. Julian is literally a tory. - Also, yeah mansions are mostly small hallways so there's more walls to help the house stay up, it's a very Very old house and that's how most of them look lmao - "This is shit and we're stuck here" is my favourite thing, whereas Sam giving herself more work by treating the ghosts as a project really puts me off - Jay getting all the stupid loans and such felt out of character, he'd seemed so level headed before, but Mike idiotically getting the loans feels very in character and funny to me Idk maybe I'm just british lmao Xx

ok it would be amazing if both uk and us had a crossover

Ok so not seen either of theses show so bear with me. The mansion size thing you mentioned, ya even the uk old timey large estates tend not to be that big. Feel from how you described it the UK verion was first and that gives the US version time to rewrite and improve on somethings, with the benefit of hindsight. The lighting and colours again i feel come done to culture. American tv has definitely come off as more " look how big, bright and colorful everything is!". Feel like the ghosts directly trying to kill her and touching her may have been apart of the reason she sees them, but for american verion they saw this was not really important long term and went their own way. The part where UK verion seems to be made up of small annoyances and the US is very " well lets go with it" seems very UK attitude vs US attitude. Infact i feel if you had not mentioned which was which version i would have easily guessed it. Going to say though, i have not seen either and I'm probably not going to. Neither sounds like my thing. But thanks for sharing. It was interesting to here about the 2's differences and similarities.

I distinctly remember seeing the UK Ghosts on streaming before the US version even premiered!

I love that you did this comparison I have not seen the British version but I am a fan of the American version so seeing this is really great thank you so much 😊

Your commentary videos on shows are always so fun!

I was distraught when the UK version ended and tried to watch the US version and barely made it through the first episode. It felt a bit too preppy and the characters felt shallow but to be fair that’s probably something that would improve if I stuck it out. I just don’t think it grabbed me enough to want to.

I would say that the UK version is much more realistic.

Welp you convinced me give the US version a shot and I love it! So thanks, it's exactly the kind of sweet comedy I was looking for.

HH cast hands down! Have to admit that I'm team UK. American version is terrific, but the original is just hilarious! Thanks for doing this great show!!

I don't have a preference and like both versions. I watched the British version first and American more recently. I like both sets of characters and the specific to each version ones as well. I think both shows are solidly funny and likable and I recommend both.

I definitely am in the boat of preferring the UK version over the US one. I find british comedy more entertaining, personally and love the cast of the show. Their previous big show was Horrible Histories, which I love a lot too. I personally find the US one to be kind of annoying at times, honestly.

As someone who’s only seen the Uk ghosts I do like the concepts they couldn’t do here such as the indigenous American and the hippie since those would only be available in America and I like there creativity

I prefer both. They each have different story arcs that have humor and touching dramatic moments. The latter done better in UK version.

I saw them both, but in the other order (British first, then American). I loved the British version, but some episodes were more annoying than fun, because the characters behaviors crossed the line from funny to infuriating. They really went all in on aggravating and annoying personalities, and worse, pandering to those personalities. The US version had much less of that, and the other characters at had the good sense to call each other out when they behaved badly. The only thing they did that never really got addressed was shout too much (Thorfin and Alberta). Because of this, I enjoyed the American version better (which surprised me, because I also usually prefer the UK versions of TV shows, and because I'm a longtime fan of the comedy group that starred in the UK version). I would very happily watch both versions again.

While I enjoy the US version for what it is there is absolutely no competition here. The original UK version is superior in every conceivable way and a hell of a lot funnier.

I absolutely love the US version. It's so wholesome and hilarious at the same time.

This woman should never be allowed to critique any British comedy. She doesn't find Robin very funny!!! He's the most hilarious member of a very funny bunch of actors.

Actually several of the Actors in the British "Ghosts" are also involved offstage in the US "Ghosts". They're executive producers. Also, I like both series.

I love the UK version! The American version isn’t bad, but I just wasn’t invested in the same way. It wasn’t as funny, and the characters didn’t interest me as much.

Lots of references here to the UK team being responsible for Horrible Histories (which was great) but if you haven't, pleaase, UK or US, check out Yonderland. It's brilliant!

I was surprised that I really like the US version better too

I love the UK version. I’ve rewatched it several times. I like the American version too. But I prefer the British version. And when they played the British version on the American TV, they cut some of it out some of the best parts and made it not look as good! Commercials are taken over American TV!

Personally I like the American Version better. I like that Sam and Jay are the more serious ones because they are the ones that have to deal with the ghosts actions when they misbehave around people, I like just the little bit of seriousness in a funny show. It's like having Jim and Pam in the office and it allows everybody else to be a little wacky. The UK version is good! But the ghosts are a little too serious for the ones who have no real consequences because they are already ghosts. Plus I love Trevor and I think his character vs the UK equivalent is so much better. Having someone with a similar age as Jay and Sam as well as knowing most pop culture references really bridges the gap in certain situations I think!

Oh my! I'm so happy that someone is talking about ghosts, both shows don't get as much recognition as they deserve. I first started watching the BBC version and heard so many people say how horrible the us version was, but it really wasn't that bad. It was just different ig. Both have their good and bad parts, and I like both! I think the only reason why I might prefer BBC ghosts, is that the second and third season of CBS ghosts is literally unavailable where I live. Like what? Only season 1? So if anyone knows of some place I can get the rest of this show, I would really appreciate it ❤️

I like both versions. I think it’s one case where the us & uk have done the same show w their own spins but very well.

Regarding the mansion and it's rooms, that's generally what houses in the UK are like. It's just what we're used to, so even big houses have small rooms. There's not as much room here as there is in the US, so everything is smaller. It's the same when we see houses in American shows and movies, we all think wow that house is huge for a working class family.

the brit version with no dought!, and most of the Uk cast are from Horrible Histories so...😂

I like both versions equally. For their own separate reasons.

I'm British, I watched both series with my Children and we enjoyed both immensely. I feel bad saying this but we actually thought the US version was funnier.

I guess, because I saw UK version first, US version seems a bit artificial. Even the colour differences you mentioned, stood out to me. I mean, US is just a colorful masquerade, while UK is a more genuine stuff. And the production team had a practice with HH, which shows in a lot of episodes and overall aspects of the show. I don't feel there's the same base for US version, which shows.

I loved Rose McIver in Izombie (one of my favorite shows) but even as an American I prefer the UK version. It was just better in every way. The last season could have been less rushed though. Mary is my all time favorite!

ive watched both many times. love them both. two completely different shows delivered completely differently lol ;)

Both versions are really fun. Honestly I’d love to see a version of this show from another country as well. Different countries have different historical characters leading to an interesting cast of ghosts. I really grew to love Robin in the UK version. The episode with the bear was him at his absolute best. His deepness when Mary left was sweet as well. I also love the hidden affair in the UK version. In the US version episodes that focus on Pete are guaranteed to hit the feels and Thorfin is the best character.