Ghostwriter: A Crime of Two Cities Episode 4

[@MusicMan922]

RIP Mike Hodge (Lieutenant McQuade). February 24, 1947 - September 9, 2017.

[@OneWeirdDude]

That stinks. He was a great lieutenant, albeit a fictional one.

[@Darkwolfala7]

It saddened me that after this episode, the show cancelled shortly after RIGHT when Ghostwriter started getting memories.

[@VCMarilyn]

I don't this was the last one the slime monster was after they changes Gabby

[@ravenjmain]

I love how the comments are off most episodes so we all converge on the last episodes of each case. Jamal would do karate most episodes but he couldn’t handle raggedy danny

[@kathleenc8]

8:07 Love how Jamal used his GW sense in the room just like Rob did in the tunnel. WTG, boys.

[@amandachwa211]

That's exactly where he got the idea from.

[@MinaMowarie]

wtg??

[@kathleenc8]

@@MinaMowarie Way To Go

[@tudorjason]

Kidnapping (people and birds), cyber-terrorism (before it was even really coined), and arson. For a kid's show, Ghostwriter delved into some dark themes.

[@JamaicanRain]

Before we had to water things down a LOT.

[@OneWeirdDude]

To be fair, you can't keep them sheltered forever.

[@Tropicalpisces]

Don't forget about illegal chemical dumping and poisoning of the ground. Then there's of course peer pressure from an addicted drug head... 🤫And I'm sorry but HOW many female pen-pals does Alex have??? 🙃 You never notice these things as a child. The Vietnam Vet one always stayed with me. 😢 New Yorkers ❤️

[@amandachwa211]

Just when Ghostwriter starts remembering where he came from, they cancel the series. Aw man.

[@litigioussociety4249]

True, but this one fact reveals a lot. It's already assumed after the Double Defenders arc that Ghostwriter is an ancestor of Jamal. The barking dogs is obviously supposed to imply he was a runaway slave, since being a prisoner isn't a likely answer for the show. It's possible the series writers were considering having more of a reveal later with Jamal reading something from one of his ancestor's pasts about the barking dogs.

[@MzIndividual1]

@@litigioussociety4249 - Ghost writer was a runaway slave. He(his spirit) fell out of an old book, that was in Jamal's attic, when he was helping his dad move a chest that his sister was gonna take wit her to college. The street name, " Isle of Dogs", reminds him of being chased by dogs, as a slave.

[@ThisGuyisBlue]

I don't understand why Ghostwriter doesn't just read all the books himself and find all the key words. He did that in previous episodes. That would be a lot faster, instead the kids skimming through them.

[@JoannaLee_1992]

I was going to ask the same thing

[@jedyoung767]

I guess they were trying to make the kids more dependent and less reliant on Ghostwriter.

[@lowerstreet]

I was wondering the same thing. Though I guess they could say Ghostwriter got tired from travelling across the world.

[@litigioussociety4249]

Because they were trying to help the young viewers learn to read; in this case, how to skim for words. They specifically added Hector to try and reach to much younger children, because he struggles with grammar and reading.

[@VCMarilyn]

soab I watch this every year and never crossed my mind. why didn't he.

[@litigioussociety4249]

This arc had a major flaw, which was revealing the antagonist from the start. It takes away from the nature of the series where the audience has to figure out who's the culprit alongside the Ghostwriter team. For example in the Galaxy Girl story, they have you thinking it's Calvin and his friend the whole time, but gave a twist at the end, which was a much better ending.

[@animefan25]

The same thing happened in "Four Days of the Cockatoo".

[@thebuckrogers22]

i wished they were to go deeper into ghostwriter backstory. i didnt realize it back then but him being chased by barking dogs, is cuz he was a slave

[@afklolwtfbbq]

As a kid, I never thought twice about his fear that Jamal was surrounded by barking dogs. But now I'm shook and this just further cements Ghostwriter's background was always intended.

[@munimathbypeterfelton6251]

Had the series had enough funding, the producers would have written one more story arc to reveal Ghostwriter's true identity at the end of Season 3 of the show following the Attack of the Slime Monster story arc.

[@SDoesNotKnow]

Jamal's karate training did not help him fight off what's-his-face. How convenient for the team that the reading was happening in Brooklyn rather than Manhattan (like the UWS) or Inwood or the Bronx (like she'd go there in the 90s) or else they'd never make it in time. I'm glad to see Tina do the reading in this episode. Usually, due to her earlier lisp (probably from a retainer/braces) and slight accent, they'd give those duties to Lenni or Jamal (or Rob) because of their speaking abilities. I think they were getting Tina to do more as she got older.

[@amandachwa211]

Jamal was grabbed from behind, so karate wouldn't have helped. Tina stepped into Rob's role when he left as the shy one and also doing the reading. Hector actually fills Tina's role as Gaby's companion and younger team member.

[@codemeister26]

@@amandachwa211 It's been awhile since I've seen the Ghostwriter series, but I really enjoyed seeing Hector and Tina (William Hernandez and Tram An Tran) do the improvisation class. I loved that last one where Hector opened up and talked about his father. I loved the scene and both G W team members did well.

[@Garrettk41]

"Go back and make sure he's tied up tight... if you know my meaning." That's one example of how these shows cleverly kept the kid viewers from figuring out what the real plan was. When I was young, I assumed Wise Rita just meant Danny should go back and test the rope to make sure it was impossible to break loose from. I didn't at the time take notice of the "if you know my meaning" part. Now, I'm thinking what she meant was Danny should draw the rope so tight that...

[@ClassySaia]

Crazy this aired before Harry Potter books. I would have sworn this was an homage to it and JK Rowlin of sorts.

[@robertdubs9466]

Not the only one. From the "Am I Blue?" case, the Galaxy Girl game, Cyberball was oddly similar to Quiddich.

[@mattgalardo2022]

11:39 Did a PBS kids' show seriously just, like....suggest that that guy kill a kid? That's pretty freakin' dark.

[@egpytiankobe]

I thought this was a kid's show! Jamal lies to his parents at 23:50 saying he wasn't going anywhere. He clearly goes from one side of the room to the next. ;)

[@OneWeirdDude]

Oh you goofball. :-)

[@ShaefDawg]

Hahaha!!!

[@aceattorney1989]

*sigh* Even Children's Television Workshop has their limits.

[@guyparham575]

It's one big room

[@abielcotto2392]

savage

[@Garrettk41]

Just a minor thing, but when Sam was telling Becky about how he and Jamal had gotten separated, he should have started out by telling her that they had trailed Danny to the train station. You can't just say, "I got stuck while trying to buy a ticket". Sorry, I'm just a sucker for details like that.

[@JBwellOrig]

All those karate classes and he got grabbed up by malnourished Danny😑

[@PRdude]

Danny calls his aunt "Aunt Rita" three times in a row, and not "Wise Rita" as she insisted, and she never yells at him for it.

[@kelvinash1554]

She was too caught up in her "awesome" ransom note lol

[@nachos8803]

Someone tell me, please... I cannot remember quite well, but, I think the episode is uncomplete. Isn't it? I mean, I used to watch the show 20 years ago (and I just watched again, right now) and, I remember, not quite sure though, that in the end of the episode Wise Rita got captured by the police and I remember that the book's writer had a "beauty mark" with the shape of a moon in the neck as well... And she says that she inspired the main character of her books in herself... But, I know I could be imagining this; it's been more than 20 years now, so I don't remember quite well. And in the end of the "what's up with Alex?" espisode, I remember he gave a speach about his experience with the drugs problem, but not sure either. Someone who watched the TV show in the original time, could tell me if I am wrong or not? Thanks! And thanks for upload the whole show, it's quite amazing watching it again. I used to love it, and I do still loving it! Shame it was canceled. Because thanks to the show I am now a writer. And I wanted to be since then! EXERCISE YOUR HEAD: READ & WRITE!

[@IZEASGT]

I never saw this arc as a kid, but I read the novelization. A lot of dialogue was lifted directly (I remember the "four times as bold" exchange), but there may have been differences too. You might be mixing up details.

[@d.t.6072]

What are you trying to figure out? Your thoughts are incomplete. Don't know what you're asking about.

[@kathleenc8]

Nacho Phalange We want to help you understand, we really do. But in order for us to help you, we need you to help us. Please use more detail about the connection between this show and "What's Up With Alex?". You can also watch that episode here on KZbin as well. Don't forget that. But Alex never took the drugs, he was telling about how hard it was for him to say no. But part of the reason he didn't do it was due to the letter Gaby wrote. Gaby saved the day for Alex without even being there. I hope you get your question answered.

[@wschmrdr]

The show is about kids finding this information; I'm assuming parents and teachers wanted the kids to be shown as actually doing some of the work on their own, and that children should not be dependent upon others to do all of their work.

[@Wheeloffortunefan999]

"GHOOOOOOOOOOOSTWIRITER!"

[@animefan25]

Wait a minute. I just realized that Becky and Sam's father is played by Anthony Heald from Boston Public and Accepted.

[@angelapascall5991]

it is because of poor acting get the show cancel or lack of funding what it rally is

[@sarahandrews7811]

this was my favorite show wished it was still on TV today I must be on the team because I can see ghost writer

[@Ladyflair88]

This is mayteana morales last episode

[@Kayer713]

+Myesha Thornton :( I liked her as Gabby. No offense to the new one.

[@codysalis5190]

Me also. I wish she could have stayed on for the last 2 stories and hopefully a reveal of Ghostwriter's identity .(Even though we know now from Kermit Fraiser.)

[@lowerstreet]

@@codysalis5190 Yeah, if they had known they were cancelled, she might have stayed and they could have used the final episode to reveal Ghostwriter's past. Maybe they would even bring back Rob and others for the grand finale. If it was too expensive, maybe they could have done one more case instead of the two that are left.

[@ShayBelladonna]

@@lowerstreet saddness overwhelms me now!

[@OneWeirdDude]

This is the last Mayteana episode.

[@krechenklein4453]

I wonder if she knew that while filming.

[@El_Diavolo]

12:30 kinda trip hop-ish. Such a nice detail; some of the coolest Trip Hop bands were born in England

[@OscarScheepstra_Artemis_]

And the kids are using a NEC Versa V/50 laptop!

[@OscarScheepstra_Artemis_]

5:00 ah, the days before widespread internet!

[@kevinhoward9593]

GW was a runaway slave that was killed by Slave Hunter's dogs during the Civil War. That's what hes talking about at 24:41.

[@mianrowan]

Kevin Howard I don't know if the dogs killed him though? They were probably used to track him and he was probably killed how all slaves were killed back then

[@MzIndividual1]

@@mianrowan - That sounds like how things would've happened. The hunters do use the dogs, to track their scent

[@Breylin24]

Thinking that since Jamal was the first who found ghostwriter and then was the one to trigger his first memory of his past life, that ghostwriter is Jamal's ancestor.

[@williamrobinson6457]

I cannot wait to see the new Ghostwriter and how they communicate being we have the internet now

[@Garrettk41]

I wonder what play Jamal's parents are going off to see.

[@krechenklein4453]

Becky and Sam are never seen or heard from again following this story arc, but then again, they didn’t produce any more real cases after this. At least it’s not as bad as Craig in “Who Burned Mr. Brinker’s Store?” who was never seen or heard from again in the entire series.

[@thebuckrogers22]

its so cool how all the kids, maybe except for rob and lenni, parents r all from other countries with strong accents. although, ive always thought lenni's dad might be italian or jewish. as for rob, i guess he is white cuz of that one ep but rob always looked jewish to me

[@amandachwa211]

Lenni is likely Jewish, as her father lights a candle for her mother on the day she died, which is a Jewish custom. Also, Lenni's father is a young, freelance, musician while Rob's father is an older retired Air Force Colonel, which gives the two white kids VERY different backgrounds.

[@abielcotto2392]

Rob is pink buddy! lol

[@kendrickparks9129]

@@amandachwa211 isnt Frazier a Jewish surname?

[@kendrickparks9129]

@@abielcotto2392 jamal; and I'm brown dude.... Hector and alex; hold our handball...

[@ShayBelladonna]

Ok Jamal's parents own the hotel in London... had no idea until today! June 2020!

[@graina88]

What they own it?!?

[@ShayBelladonna]

Gourav Singh yes! They said it in the opening when giving us a synopsis of what happened and I was like 🤯

[@spikedblade]

No they don't ".. friends Becky and Sam, whose parents own ..."

[@spikedblade]

@@graina88 they don't. It's Beck and Sam's parents.

[@spikedblade]

@@ShayBelladonna You miss heard. Sorry.

[@1veggiemonster]

By this season I was and am totally crushing Jamal not Rob or Alex anymore

[@1veggiemonster]

nobody asked you Suzanne

[@robertdubs9466]

One thing I noticed, that after Rob left, a lot of his features seemed to transfer to Alex. He started wearing Rob-like outfits and sort of had a Rob-like distance with the others, particularly in "Don't Stop the Music" and "What's Up with Alex?"

[@1veggiemonster]

Suzanna nobody cares what you have to say :)

[@michaelglickman1300]

Robert Dubs Well, Jamal also took up Rob's tendency to act first without thinking, as seen in this story arc, in which he got tied up by the kidnappers.

[@codysalis5190]

Michael Glickman Did you read mystery books growing up? The Hardy Boys (Frank and Joe) got captured by the villains and bound and gagged like Jamal did in this story, and Rob did in the first season story "Who's Who"? I know you didn't care for my comment about Lucy in "Just in Time" and I am not trying to anger you, but that's what a mystery is. Rob thought in "Who's Who" that Lana Barnes was in the dressing room at the hotel. He didn't realize that it was the "stunt double" and got conked on the head and bound and gagged. This is what the writers of the story used for conflict. 1. In this story if Jamal hadn't followed Danny Winkler to the Isle of Dogs, and to Limehouse Way, he wouldn't have ended up in that situation. 2. In "To the Light" Lisa wanted to go to the subway tunnel where Hush and Double T used to hang out. Rob went along with her but protesting about it.(Take a look at 10:00 of Episode 3 of "To The Light"). This is what the writers wanted the character of Rob to do. So just think before being judgmental about what action Rob or Jamal make. thanks.

[@Mish4Mello]

he could have been tired from all the traveling.

[@VCMarilyn]

still don't know why they did the shot at 19:13 like that so close up

[@kendrickparks9129]

Rob in who's who+Rob in to the light=3:08 RIP MAYTENA MORALES GABY😭 Fagin+mr bean=Danny 22:11Why noTT?....after rob goes down under jamal becomes double t's friend

[@ThisGuyisBlue]

Lol, that's true. Didn't think about that.

[@thebuckrogers22]

this ep started off good but later fizzled out. the bad guys got lame

[@JamaicanRain]

I liked them. Although the last scene with Danny kinda gave me the creeps. The whole short scene reminded me of a "hebepheliac" and his victim rather than a desperate bad guy kidnapping the dude onto him. Rita and the cousin were just crazy and possible psychos/socios but good crazy.

[@amandachwa211]

I agree. I feel like it's the cheesy villains in season 3 that really killed the series. Wise Rita, Poulet, and the Slime Monster just aren't as good, or as real, as Calvin.

[@kendrickparks9129]

Audubon poulet and honey hawke; hold our stuffed parrot Abigail and Jordan Jefferson, hold our cutsie

[@OneWeirdDude]

ThisGuyisBlue Maybe he didn't think of that.

[@chrismais]

what a scare!!!!!!!!

[@angieandrews2245]

I must be on the ghost wriTER team because I can see ghost wriTER

[@kathleenc8]

Angie Andrews me, too. lol. The team has gotten sooo huge by now. People who weren't even alive back then must be on the team. Could you imagine what it would like if we couldn't see him? Than it could just be someone reading them their lines. lol

[@gabrielejucaityte6126]

extrasize you head read lol

[@swaggerjones81]

Didn't Jasmine end up seeing GW

[@6reen6rud6e2]

No

[@inqu1188legna]

*Exercise