The final episode of the series continues from the previous entry. News of Cousin Harriet's visit and meeting with Claymore's (Charles Nelson Reilly) imitation of Captain Gregg has reached Carolyn Muir's (Hope Lange) parents. Her mother Emily Williams (Jane Wyatt, "Father Knows Best") is happy she has met someone and is anxious to meet him herself. She talks her husband/Carolyn's father Brad Williams (fatherly character actor Leon Ames, "Meet Me in St. Louis" and "Mister Ed") into visiting Gull Cottage. Captain Gregg (Edward Mulhare) talks Claymore into pretending to be himself once again. Claymore's Captain gets carried away and tells Carolyn's parents that they will be married soon. The kids accidentally make her parents think the couple will elope due to expenses. They decide to surprise them with a wedding at the inn, which is also the date of their anniversary. The Captain comes up with an idea. The ending is sweet and uplifting, as was the series.
Reflecting upon the series, "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir" was a romantic comedy in sitcom form. As such, it focused on being more lighthearted and romantic than laugh-out-loud comedic. More than any other word I find the show "charming". The performances of Hope Lange and Edward Mulhare were excellent. There was not one time while watching Mrs. Muir that I thought of her as being portrayed by an actress, and certainly one of the reasons she won an Emmy Award for her role both seasons. The oft-agitated ghost of Captain Gregg was played very well by Edward Mulhare in creating what I feel is the ghost you'd feel most comfortable being in your home. He might would irk you a time or two, but you'd never feel afraid.
It's hard to carry it off as a sitcom when the leads aren't the source of comedy. The writers didn't give much to the children, with Harlen Carraher's Jonathan being the center of a few episodes and Kellie Flanagan's Candace once. Reta Shaw's Martha was in a similar position. The lion's share of supporting performances went to Charles Nelson Reilly's Claymore. I feel Charles Nelson Reilly was a more capable comedian than nervously bumbling his way through an episode and thankfully the writers gave him more to work with on occasion. "Chowderhead" probably had the most comical premise, while "The Firehouse Five Plus Ghost" and "Tourist, Go Home" featured a number of slapstick gags. If you go into the series expecting merely light comedy and to be transported to a charming seaside village with well-executed characters then you'll enjoy "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir".
