Ghosts Season 6's Major Cast Shake-Up Is Purely Accidental

Published Nov 9, 2026, 1:31 PM EST Alexandria is a British-Canadian writer with a passion for network TV. She has a bachelor's degree in computer science from Aston University, Birmingham. After initially working as a software tester, she rekindled a passion for writing and has written for blogs and publications like Hidden Remote, Make a Living Writing, and The Daily Voice. She has interviewed various actors and showrunners, with her most memorably being Tony Shalhoub and Mark-Paul Gosselaar. The following article contains spoilers for Ghosts' Halloween special — Halloween 6: The Mirror.The latest Ghosts Halloween special was an excellent way to kick off season 6. It raised questions about how to get Pete back and added more heart to Hetty's story by including her sister. Ghosts' sixth Halloween special also introduced the first new series regular: Ben Feldman's Kyle. Going into the new season, everyone knew a Ghosts cast shake-up was happening with Pete's absence. Showrunners Joe Port and Joe Wiseman kept a lot quiet about how long Pete would be gone, making it clear that while they'd answer questions, the full solution would take time to develop. This entire plot was planned from the Ghosts season 5's cliffhanger ending, with Pete slowly disappearing and giving viewers a chance to learn just how long the enigmatic spirit can be away from Woodstone Manor. Adding Kyle as a regular Ghosts character wasn't part of the original plan. He joined as a permanent addition because of real-life circumstances rather than a specific storyline decision, and it's one of the best things to happen to the series. In fact, this shake-up can help the series continue for years to come. Sam's Absence In Ghosts Season 6 Explained CBS Just before Ghosts season 6 premiered with its Halloween special, Sam actress Rose McIver took to social media to share some exciting news: she had just given birth to her second child, and in that post, she noted that she'd be absent at the start of the season. There has been no word on timing, but the show has made sure that McIver can take maternity leave to spend time with her growing family before thinking about work. However, the show did find a way to manage that absence. Knowing that McIver would be on maternity leave at the start of filming, Ghosts season 5 ended with Sam getting the opportunity to write her own in-show movie, Polar Opposite, which meant that she had to be away for a few weeks. To make that work, since Jay can't see the ghosts, Kyle agreed to move in and continue being the conduit. That hasn't stopped the series from keeping Sam in the story, as she video-called in throughout the Halloween special. To keep the series' lore going, Sam couldn't see the ghosts through the screen, making it clear Kyle was needed. Ghosts' Accidental Cast Shake-Up Is Great For Its Future Losing a main character six seasons into a show, even temporarily, puts Ghosts ​​​​​​in a precarious position. It was even more risky because Sam was the only living out of the regular cast to be able to see the spirits in the house. Ghosts wouldn't work without someone else seeing them and interacting with them. Kyle has brought a different dynamic than Sam did, and he has a completely different relationship with each of the spirits. He hasn't been through Alberta's journey to find out who killed her, and he wasn't there as Pete learned the truth about his wife Carol having an affair. Nor has he helped Flower and Thor face their feelings for each other and build a romantic relationship. Without that backstory, Kyle brings a new perspective and fresh ideas. He could even help them move on to the other side, a goal that many of the Main 8 forgot about until Carol was "sucked off" at the beginning of Ghosts season 5. Then there's his relationship with Jay: they're friends rather than partners, creating a different level of tension when Jay tries to stay involved in conversations. Throughout the Halloween special, he had to remind Kyle he couldn't see the ghosts. Scratch & Peek Identify the cover art while scratching off as little foil as possible. This opens the door for more changes should this accidental absence happen again. Kyle has already proven that Ghosts can temporarily work without Sam, and in the future, other livings who can see spirits could come into the story and help to change the dynamics with the Main 8. Release Date October 7, 2021 Network CBS Directors Christine Gernon, Jaime Eliezer Karas, Katie Locke O'Brien, Nick Wong, Jude Weng, Pete Chatmon, Richie Keen, Alex Hardcastle, Kimmy Gatewood, Matthew A. Cherry, Cortney Carrillo Cast Rose McIver Samantha Arondekar Utkarsh Ambudkar Jay Arondekar