There you have it people, Ghost Whisperer's big twist was revealed in this week's episode titled "Imaginary Friends & Enemies." If you've been keeping up with spoilers about the show, you knew about this event since the end of August. When the info was released, fans strongly reacted to it which prompted the brains behind the show to address the upcoming death in interviews posted on the web. No matter what the creators said about the storyline being really interesting and opening new possibilities for the show, some fans were in denial and actually thought the creators would not go ahead with their plan. Sadly for them, the creators did not tweak their plan. Now that the big death occurred, what do fans think about the twist?
My opinion about Jim's death in this week's episode hasn't changed since I wrote my "Why I now embrace Ghost Whisperer and look forward to that big twist" post. I believe that his death could open up a lot of possibilities for the show if they have Jim not cross over. Due to Melinda's reaction to his death, it wouldn't surprise me that he sticks around until she accepts it. Thanks to Jim remaining a ghost, we could learn more about the ghost world from how does the world look like from a ghost point of view to how the dark side tries to recruit them. To fans who believe that this is the end of Jim and Melinda as a couple, should I remind you that this is a sci fi/fantasy show and that everything and anything can happen including The Powers That Be agreeing to resurrect Jim so that Melinda can properly continue her job?
What do other fans of the show think of the twist? Here are a few comments posted on the CBS's Ghost Whisperer forums:
- Without Jim there to support Melinda, the show will just be too heart-wrenching. I loved that show, but they've just lost me now. I'll be back only if Jim's somehow alive.
- They killed the only part of Melinda that made her feel normal. What does she have left now. There's no one left to talk things through with or to keep her grounded when things got crazy.
- I don't think it was a good thing. I hope this is just a dream. It would not work for him to be a ghost because Melinda would not be able to move on with her life.
Out of the 100+ comments I read on CBS's forums, I haven't read one that was supportive of Jim's death. Of course, most of these posts were made immediately after the episode aired so people didn't have time to sit back and look at the change under a different light. I'm not happy that a character had to die, especially Jim, but, if done right by the writers, Jim's death can bring a breath of fresh air to the show. In interview with TV Guide, David Conrad says he's enjoying his character's fate as it allows him to do things he never did before on a TV series. If in the end Jim stays dead, I won't be a happy GW fan and will probably need to vent like people did on CBS's forum. Until then, I'm willing to enjoy the ride and see what the writers have in store.
What do you think of the Ghost Whisperer twist? Do you think the show jumped the shark or not? What did you think of the final scene in which Ghost Jim tells Melinda that he died? Let your voice be heard in our poll and in comments below.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
11-08-2008 @ 3:18PM
Davin Peterson said...
Will people stop watching the show, now that Jim Clancy is dead? A spoiler blog says that in the next episode Jim's Ghost wants to stay with Melinda, instead of going into the light.
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11-11-2008 @ 9:53AM
Maria said...
I was such a big fan until they killed her best friend...almost lost me there... then they gave her a new one and started getting into the show again... now they want to kill her husband... I just feel the writers are making a big mistake... I am hoping that this is a dream, as the writers spoke about in that online interview about this being Melindas Mythology.... it better be, or I will find something else to watch on Fridays besides CBS... writers - read the blogs all around the web. You arent giving us what we want and love... this better be a GOOD story/dream mythology ...
11-12-2008 @ 7:21PM
ada said...
I don't understand why these shows do this kind of stuff! Jim Clancy brought normalcy to Melinda on the show. Did they get a new writer that thought of this off the wall thing?I know I won't be watching anymore... Together as a couple made Melinda believable. The ghost stories were just an added benefit. Having him as a ghost is just STUPID STUPID STUPID!! It seems that they just wanted the show to be cancelled.
11-14-2008 @ 11:32PM
debbie said...
If he's gone then so I am.........
11-15-2008 @ 2:21PM
fedup said...
I wonder what you think now after seeing the follow up episode in where Melinda seems more than ready to let Jim go into the light and he seems to be the one holding on. It doesn't seem fitting considering her "not you! anyone but you!" line, yet she seems to be ready to move right along. They didn't even have her grieve one full episode. Instead it was interrupted by another ghost & her ability to move on within 30 minutes of the show starting.
11-19-2008 @ 9:28AM
Fran said...
I want David Peterson (Jim) back with his wife and have a baby I Love this show it my favor show please make it that she having bad dream have her real husband back. Why are you taking him off he belong with her, they work togeather very well. And I don't like the new guy who hear the Ghost"s voice I am sorry I have been waching this show since the beining and the other fans are right you keep kill her freind I Love her first friend too.
Thank you for hearing me.
11-08-2008 @ 3:22PM
hmgillette said...
I don't think I can watch this show now that Jim is dead. I was extremely annoyed by the "price to pay" for her "gift" as she never asked for it and was only using it to help people, despite all the pain it's caused her throughout her life (she's been paying for it all her life!). Now she will live in fear of having friends or love because she will just lose it again. She'll feel guilty and alone. This show is already an emotional one, now I think it'll be too heartbreaking to watch. Life has enough ups and downs without watching fear, pain and hopelessness on tv too!
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11-08-2008 @ 8:54PM
Peggy said...
I so agree. I recorded it and watched it this morning and I am so sad and still crying. I know it is a TV show but they were so happy and you don't see that anymore. I watch TV to escape the drama of my real life and this was too much. PLEASE bring him back somehow. I am not a fan of "dreams" but this episode has to be fixed.
11-08-2008 @ 3:23PM
Courtney said...
Much like the actor himself said, I'm really surprised he stuck around this long. I thought that he would end up being killed off (or maybe divorced) earlier--basically, it was hard to see him as a solid figure for too long.
I personally like him, and I'm sad to see him go. But it will open up more windows for Melinda: how to deal without her strength behind her and eventually...dating (as much as I don't want to see that, I'm sure the producers do).
But it is sad. I like him, and I hope he sticks around for a good number of episodes to come. I'm sad about their baby possibilities. Check out my review on raked.wordpress.com!
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11-08-2008 @ 3:35PM
Laura said...
I absolutly hate that Jim dies in this latest episode. My interest in the show was because of Jim and Melinda's marraige. Although I believe in the fact that there are lost souls and such needing to cross over. I also believe in the marraige of the two. Now it is gonna get a little creepy, and distract from the true relationship while he lived. If the writers cross the line into stupidness, its gonna ruin the whole premise of the show. Lets hope they write him back into the show, as a really bad, bad dream she has and she wakes up with him comforting her. OK WRITERS...?
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11-08-2008 @ 4:00PM
Ann said...
I am really disappointed that Jim has died. He kept Melinda focused in the show. There was all of that
talk about them having a baby. Now what happens, does she become pregnant from a ghost? If David Conrad wanted to leave the show on his own, I might understand this move, but since it does not seem to be his idea, what's up with this????
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11-08-2008 @ 4:08PM
Sue and Carenda said...
We think CBS has screwed up this time by killing Jim he is the only person that kelp Melinda sane. I hope this is all a dream and they will bring him back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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11-08-2008 @ 4:05PM
Anita said...
I am very mad that they let him die. And it was stupid the way an officer shot him in the dark. In reality that would never happen. It was my favorite show. I guess I didn't realize how much I looked forward to watching this couples life together. Bummed!
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11-08-2008 @ 4:06PM
Georgie said...
I was upset to see Jim Clancy die! Isn't there enough death in this show already? He and Melinda, together, added a soft charm to the show. It was a joy to watch them as a happily married couple and how compassionate he was to her and her special gift. They had a terrific chemistry between them that could never be replaced by anyone else. He was her rock, the one person who truly understood her. Writers---what were you thinking! Some of the stories as of late have been starting to go a little off the wall. If this is the new trend, and Jim Clancy remains dead, you will have lost a died in the wool GW fan. Please write this off as a bad dream sequence and return Jim to the land of the living, by Melinda's side where he belongs!! If you make too many changes with the original lead stars in a series, the series usually dies as the replacements just aren't the same.
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11-08-2008 @ 4:21PM
allie johns said...
they shoudn't have killed him off-for one thing:an officer wouldn't just shoot a shadow-he'd wait till he was sure of his target and 2:maybe it'll just be a nightmare and she'll wake up and he'll be alive-i hope so
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11-08-2008 @ 4:28PM
Toby OB3 said...
I like the idea of her husband staying with the show to represent the POV of the Other Side. I'm hoping this is how Claire will be utilized in 'Lost', so that we can finally learn more about the Whisperers......
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11-08-2008 @ 4:24PM
Modwild said...
"love transcends" or some crap. A ghost isn't warm in bed, doesn't give you a kiss or make a baby with you. I think they frakked up. If they wanted a link to the other side. they could have just as easily killed someone else to get it.
I read a spoiler (if you don't want to know, then stop reading RIGHT NOW) and it said that in an upcoming episode Eli and Jim work together to help a ghost. He was able to help ghosts just fine when he was alive. Why wasn't HE the one to come back from the dead with the ability to hear ghosts and not bring on Eli? There were so many possibilities that would have worked better than this one.
Their love was integral to the story, but not just love. Also the every day things they did around the house, making pasta, pouring each other wine. Melinda will have little balance left in her life. I'm sorely disappointed.
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11-08-2008 @ 4:26PM
meme_12262yahoo.com said...
To tell you the truth, I did hate that he had to die, but I do agree that it opens up a world of possibilities. It gives the creators so many new storylines they can go ahead with. And who says Jim has to cross over? I hope he does get resurrected. That would be a nice twist later on. But one of the major things this twist did for me was renew my love for Ghost whisperer. I was starting to get tired of the really emotional crossing-over-of-ghosts (?) bit and this twist got me completely back on the Ghost Whisperer wagon.
Like I've said before,
Jim died, I cried. (A lot.)
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11-09-2008 @ 12:28PM
tkay said...
Wow, I really enjoyed this show until last evening. I can't believe Jim was killed off how disappointing. I have no desire to continue watching this show even if Jim is there as a ghost. Boo hiss on this storyline!!! I seriously think Ghost Whisper's days are now limited on CBS even if it is a sci/fantasy show.
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11-08-2008 @ 4:49PM
Argus said...
I'm cool with him dead, I just hated the way they did it.
No officer shoots into a house like that.
Nobody dies from an embolism only to have the code blue triggered minutes later...
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