This episode is remarkable in that its central focus is the complicated emotional tangle between Danny and Sam. This theme has been hovering around the periphery of the show from the beginning, but here it takes central stage and pushes the nominal “A” plot to the side. Fittingly, Danny’s opponent in this episode is not a ghost at all, but the very human “Guys in White.” And the only thing that links the “A” plot to the Sam & Gregor “B” plot is Danny’s own jealous paranoia.

There is nothing subtle about the romance quotient in this story. Even as Danny is (once again) driving Sam nuts with his longing attention toward Valerie, a charismatic new student sweeps her off her feet. Unfortunately, there is nothing subtle about his departure, either. How much more impressive would it have been if Gregor had been a real Hungarian exchange student who truly cared for Sam, but who couldn’t get along with her best friends and therefore put her in the untenable position of having to choose? By making him a shallow, phony jerk, the show took away a great deal of the dramatic potential.

This episode foreshadows a significant element of any future relationship Danny may have with Sam (or Tucker, or anybody he gets close to). At the Skulk and Lurk bookstore Sam shook her fist at the empty air and raged, “Not like some people I know, who better not be here right now!” The truth is, she’ll never know whether Danny is watching her or not. She is going to have to learn to trust him, and he’s going to have to work to deserve her trust. (Either that, or he’s going to have to be much more discreet.)

The attentive viewer might remember that Sam did her share of spying on Danny when he was dating Valerie in Flirting with Disaster, and for pretty much the same reason. But she and Tucker did their spying at a distance, through conventional means. The disturbing truth is that Danny’s powers make him the perfect spy: he can go anywhere, follow anybody; no walls or locks can keep him out.

Tucker plays his traditional role as goad, go-between and referee for his two best friends. Not a very good place to be most of the time, but he actually does a pretty good job of it here, showing loyalty to both of them. It’s even possible to imagine that he deliberately acted boorish and annoying in order to spoil the mood and drive Gregor to distraction. And he gets a rare moment of genuine heroism by saving Gregor from being crushed.

I adore the little laughing ghost in the opening scene, and it was great to see Skulker’s real self again. They did a nice job illustrating Sulker’s empty suit, complete with empty eye-sockets and a neat slot where his fiery goatee usually appears.

Rating:

By Bluemoonalto

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