Ghostwriter
Back in the 1990s, the BBC and PBS teamed up to
create Ghostwriter, a show about a group of kids who
solve mysteries with the help of a ghost who can only
communicate by writing messages on various objects.
(The title, as you might have guessed, is quite literal.)
Today, Ghostwriter is back with a 21st-century
setting – even though it still spends a lot of time in an
old bookstore. The series presents a relatable cast of
characters along with some impressive special effects,
such as a CGI white rabbit that’s (literally) right out of
Alice in Wonderland. The children even have believable
interactions that shouldn’t insult the intelligence of
their real-life counterparts, to the extent that some of
them have more believable progression than what we
saw in some of Apple TV+’s more adult-oriented shows.
Young kids should definitely find it worth a watch.
One note, though: the only thing about this show
that’s less believable than a ghost who writes ‘hello’
in orange juice is the idea that a neglected used book
store could stay afloat in a big city these days.Helpsters
The Sesame Workshop’s Helpsters may be aimed at
children, but we could all probably stand to watch a
few episodes of it. It’s about four monsters who, true
to their name, help visitors to their shop with various
problems. In one case, someone needs help learning
a new skill; in others, someone’s trying to plan a
mountain climbing trip or get access to a water tower.
The best message to come out of Helpsters is that
children (and adults) can get a lot done by making aGhostwriter
Backinthe1990s,theBBCandPBSteamedupto
createGhostwriter,ashowaboutagroupofkidswho
solvemysterieswiththehelpofaghostwhocanonly
communicatebywritingmessagesonvariousobjects.
(Thetitle,asyoumighthaveguessed,isquiteliteral.)
Today,Ghostwriterisbackwitha21st-century
setting–eventhoughitstillspendsalotoftimeinan
oldbookstore.Theseriespresentsarelatablecastof
charactersalongwithsomeimpressivespecialeffects,
suchasaCGIwhiterabbitthat’s(literally)rightoutof
AliceinWonderland.Thechildrenevenhavebelievable
interactionsthatshouldn’tinsulttheintelligenceof
theirreal-lifecounterparts,totheextentthatsomeof
themhavemorebelievableprogressionthanwhatwe
sawinsomeofAppleTV+’smoreadult-orientedshows.
Youngkidsshoulddefinitelyfinditworthawatch.
Onenote,though:theonlythingaboutthisshow
that’slessbelievablethanaghostwhowrites‘hello’
inorangejuiceistheideathataneglectedusedbook
storecouldstayafloatinabigcitythesedays.
Helpsters
TheSesameWorkshop’sHelpstersmaybeaimedat
children,butwecouldallprobablystandtowatcha
fewepisodesofit.It’saboutfourmonsterswho,true
totheirname,helpvisitorstotheirshopwithvarious
problems.Inonecase,someoneneedshelplearning
anewskill;inothers,someone’stryingtoplana
mountainclimbingtriporgetaccesstoawatertower.
ThebestmessagetocomeoutofHelpstersisthat
children(andadults)cangetalotdonebymakinga