‘Almost Paradise’ Recap: ‘Ghost Month’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Sophia Reola and Christian Kane as Rita Cordero and Alex Walker in Episode 206 of ‘Almost Paradise’ – ‘Ghost Month’. (Photo Courtesy of Chari Villegas/Amazon Freevee.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 206 of ‘Almost Paradise’. To revisit the previous episode, click here. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.
​
It wasn’t that long ago, that we talked about how the Amazon Freevee series, Almost Paradise, is doing some unique things with its stories this season. Specifically, how season two of the series is actually taking the time to explore the culture and the history of the Philippines, and how that is quite important. For that just isn’t all that common a thing in television, unfortunately, so to see it present in this series is quite amazing and refreshing, and really, the only question in our minds that came forth regarding that wondrous change… was whether or not we were going to see more cultural explorations down the line. Thankfully, the next episode of this magnificent series informed us, that was absolutely going to be the case. For ‘Ghost Month’ managed to explore some of the spiritual beliefs present in the Philippines, in a manner that outright took us by surprise.
​
Because early on in this episode, it appeared as though we were going to be treated to another traditional case. After all, there was all kinds of chatter on the wire regarding Mactan and that led Ocampo to believe that trouble was brewing on his island. So, he sent Kai and Ernesto to greet Alex and ask for his help in discovering what was going on, and well, that is when local culture and beliefs came into play. Because as the investigation into what was happening behind the scenes continued along, Alex came to learn that the Philippines was in the midst of Ghost Month. A celebration that paid proper respect to the dead, wherein loved ones kept lines of communication open and where the spirits could in fact, contact the living if needed, to help them find rest.

Which was a celebration that Alex immediately threw cold water upon regarding hearing about it further. Simply because he believed that such matters were superstitious nonsense really. The kind of stuff people needed for comfort. But a visit from an ailing spirit with a checkered past, that was desperately in need of resolution, changed Alex’s perspective on the matter. Because now there was gravity to this, and everything he investigated regarding the fallen, spoke to a spirit in need of closure. Which prompted Alex to believe in the spirts and do right by them, and that led to a fascinating ending. One where he set everything right and helped to bust some real ugly villains as well. Giving peace to the island and peace to the fallen and giving Alex fascinating new perspective on life and how the acts we take part in now, have great meaning in ways we don’t understand. 

But what mattered most here, was that this episode did an incredible job of exploring Ghost Month and how it works and how important it is to the people of the Philippines and that is just huge. Because for starters, it educated so many on this holiday. For this writer knew nothing of this tradition/celebration, but now… it is something that we are all keenly aware of, and we properly understand its meaning and importance and how it helps people heal. All because this show presented it in a wonderful manner, where we could learn about it organically like Alex did, and what was also amazing about this plot and this education… is that it also offered up some important lessons to anyone else that might roll their eyes at such a celebration, the way that Alex initially did.

Since it pointed out that we should always be respectful of the beliefs of others, regardless of how they make us feel. Simply because it’s their life, and this is what gives them something they need, and we should always at the very least… listen to what they have to say. Because learning costs nothing, neither does kindness, and those lessons and everything that surrounded them, made for one incredible episode. One that informed that this series really is heading in a bold new direction. Where we get to really explore Mactan and the Philippines and its people in a proper and magnificent manner, and that really is making for a refreshing season of storytelling. One that teaches and engages and takes us to fascinating new places and now that we’ve reached the end of this journey, it will be interesting to see what other lessons and cultural explorations await us as season two continues along. Until next time.

---

 Watch ‘Almost Paradise’

Powered by JustWatch