We're moving on from the people below the streets of Grandview this week (although that's still not resolved, and a main character is very aware of it.) But there are other mysteries and ghosts to move on to the other side, so grab your Halloween candy.

Spoilers developing…

Rick goes out on a date with a new photography professor from the university, Claudia. When a newspaper reporter takes their picture, Claudia doesn't appear in any of the pictures – she's just not there. Rick hightails it over to Melinda, who finds a shadowy form in the pictures, following Claudia. Rick finds out that one of Claudia's graduate students, Kevin, died in a car crash just a few weeks prior.

Melinda and Rick confront Claudia, who tells them that ever since Kevin died, all of the photos she's ever been in – framed personal photos up to the digital images that night – have just been erased. No Claudia. Claudia says that Kevin was a brilliant photographer, but lacked patience. She says that just before he died, she'd told him that she wouldn't help him get into a gallery showing because he just wasn't ready. While Claudia is explaining her relationship with Kevin, Melinda sees a ghostly image in one of the pictures in the office. Melinda talks to another of Claudia's students, Joseph, who tells her that the image has shown up in his recent pictures as well. He emails it to Melinda, who slowly watches a female figure appear. (And maybe it's still too close to Halloween, but I jumped at that face and the movement right before that commercial break.)

They talk to a very uncooperative Claudia again, classic Ghost Whisperer plot move, and discover the female figure is growing stronger in her photos as well as Joseph's. Melinda gains access to Kevin's apartment, where she listens to some old voicemail messages from a girl named Sophie, telling Kevin that he can't get rid of her that easily. Immediately afterwards, she goes into the next room, a darkroom, and sees a vision of a girl under water, drowning.

Jim helps her get Kevin's phone from the police, and on it they find a video of a distraught Sophie, drowning in the ocean. Melinda returns to Claudia's office, and tries to make contact with Sophie. The ghost, being able to create images out of nothing, it seems, throws some pieces of paper on the floor, and magically, images of Claudia and Kevin appear, entwined in bed. Claudia happens in at the moment, and Melinda explains that Sophie killed herself, and is now haunting her for sleeping with Kevin. That evening, while at her desk, Sophie pops through the computer screen. Claudia runs screaming to Rick's office.

That event brings Claudia around, and she talks to Rick and Melinda about the relationship with Kevin. She says that Kevin ended the relationship is Sophie before they became involved. Melinda reveals that they died within an hour of each other, and Claudia says that he had rushed out of her office when he'd received an email from Sophie – the email containing the video of her drowning.

Melinda travels to Sophie's sister's house, to try and find some information out to help in the crossing, but instead of meeting the sister, Sophie herself answers the door. Melinda explains about Claudia, and that Kevin has been manipulating images. Sophie explains that she wanted to hurt Kevin, but she couldn't go through with it in the end. She refuses to help Melinda, and asks her to leave. Afterwards, Kevin appears, and starts strangling Sophie. Melinda returns just in time to save her.

In the end, Melinda brings Claudia and Sophie together, and they help Kevin cross over together, and Rick finds some cute snapshots of Claudia in his office. Ah, proof that she's got a crush. Awww.

All in all, this wasn't the tightest episode. Why did Kevin make Sophie appear everywhere when he just could have haunted her from the beginning? I can see why Claudia was erased from the photos – Kevin trying to erase her from his own past – but there were some threads in this plot that were a bit too convoluted. I can sort of see why Joseph was dragged into the situation, but he didn't have to be. Just overcomplication. And, hello, what's Kevin need with a darkroom when it seems the entire group of photographers have gone totally digital? What a travesty.

Other Random Thoughts:
- Hooray for giving Jim a real storyline! I want Jim to be a doctor too. But I bet some great medical school is going to be right next to Grandview. The town is like a main character. Ghost Whisperer in Michigan? I don't think so.
- Delia looked great in the 1 minute and 40 seconds she was on screen. Let Delia go to medical school too! What about getting her a new boyfriend or something?

What about you? Were you hoping for more People Below the Streets of Grandview like me, or are you more patient, like a good photographer should be? Do you want Melinda to move to another town?

Comments

I enjoyed tonights episode. It was more sentimental but I liked how they are finally intertwining the mythology arch into stand alone episodes.

Did anyone else catch the dress Mel was wearing at the end while taking pictures of herself? It is the exact same one she wore for the LivingTV promo, thought this was nifty. Also the promo had Mel surrounded by Dark Spirits too much like in the photos.

Jeffrey | Nov 2, 2007 9:42:46 PM | #

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I liked the episode. As usual Melinda and Jim's scenes together were my favorite part. I think it's a good idea for him to train to be a doctor and I'm glad she finally decided to support him.

Delia's screentime leaves something to be desired, but I loved her hairstyle. She really seems to be more interested in Melinda's gift now too. I liked Rick's part in the episode too.

Penny | Nov 3, 2007 11:16:52 AM | #

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This was not one of my favorite episodes,but it was half way decent. Any time that Jim gets screen time is perfectly all right with me. Enjoyed seeing Mike Erwin as Kevin. It would be nice if he got his own show to star in.

Trupen | Nov 3, 2007 3:06:49 PM | #

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