Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Ghosts season 4, episode 1, “Patience”

WhileGhostsseason 4, episode 1’s new character seems threatening at first, there is more to Mary Holland’s newcomer Patience the Puritan than viewers might initially anticipate. Theghosts of CBS’sGhostsare a bizarrely mismatched group who come from a diverse range of historical eras. There is the Viking Thor, the Native American Sass, the hippie Flower, the nerdy ‘80s scout leader Pete, the haughty Gilded Age aristocrat Hetty, the hard partying ‘00s stockbroker Trevor, the flapper-era lounger singer Alberta, and the Revolutionary War officer Isaac.Ghostsseason 4’s castintroduces a new arrival.

Rose McIver’s Sam and Utkarsh Ambudkar’s Jay standing looking worried in a courtyard from Ghosts

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WhileGhostsseason 4 delayed Jay’s character growthby continuing to use Sam’s partner as little more than a human tool the ghosts use to dig a hole, the premiere did finally shed some light on the story of Mary Holland’s Patience. A new addition to the cast, Patience appeared briefly in season 3’s cliffhanger finale when she kidnaps Isaac.Ghostsseason 4, episode 1, the aptly-titled “Patience,” focused entirely on her story, and the outing illustrated a lot of new information about the character. Patience was a spooky presence, although she had a surprisingly sympathetic backstory.

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Patience The Puritan In Ghosts Season 4’s History Explained

Patience’s Story Begins Back In The 1600s

Like most of the ghosts in the series,Mary Holland’s Patience has been around for a long, long time. However, she didn’t play a major part in the hit sitcom’s story until she kidnapped Isaac. After Isaac dramatically called off his wedding to Nigel, he was kidnapped when Patience dragged him through a wall in the basement. Before this, Patience was briefly mentioned in season 3, where Flower and Isaac explained that she was a Puritan who was left behind in the dirt when Thor, Sass, and Isaac escaped to the main house. Isaac revealed that his sneeze left Patience abandoned.

Patience was informed that she was too humorless and pious even for the infamously punitive Puritans,

This wasn’t the first time that Patience was abandoned. “Patience” began with a flashback to 1692, as Patience was called before the head of her Puritan colony. She was informed in no uncertain terms that she was too humorless and pious even for the infamously punitive Puritans, and she was banished as a result. It made sense thatGhostsseason 4’s scary new characterwas angry at Isaac since she had a long history of being abandoned. Isaac soon soothed her by claiming he, Thor, and Sass all missed her, but this ruse didn’t last long.

Ghosts Season 4, Episode 1 Ends With Patience Living In Woodstone Mansion

The Rest Of The Sitcom’s Ghosts Rescued Patience From The Dirt

Patience initially tried to keep Isaac around by kidnapping Sass to keep him company, since Isaac had claimed that Sass also missed Patience. However, when she overheard Sass and Isaac discussing her instability behind her back, Patience lashed out again. This time,Patience set Isaac and Sass free in the housesince she realized they don’t really want to be her friends. Feeling terrible, the ghosts resolved to save Patience by forming a human (or rather, ghost) chain and venturing into the dirt. Through teamwork, the group dragged Patience out into the basement.

Thus, “Patience” ended with the repeatedly rejected character finally finding a family of friends.Ghostsseason 4 set up Isaac’s redemption arcwhen Sass convinced him that he owed it to Patience to help her escape the dirt, having previously left her there for decades (albeit accidentally). However, only time will tell how well Patience fits in with the rest of the ghosts. The Woodstone B&B’s inhabitants seemed unnerved by her, especially when the intense Puritan was left to sleep in Alberta’s room.

Who Plays Patience In Ghosts Season 4? Where You Know Mary Holland From

Ghosts Season 4’s New Star Has An Impressive Screen CV

Although Patience may have been trapped under a well for decades, the actor who plays her had a pretty illustrious couple of years before arriving in the world ofGhosts.Patience’s actor Mary Holland had her breakout role in 2020’s acclaimed Christmas dramedyHappiest Season, wherein she played the lovably quirky artist Jane. Holland also co-wroteHappiest Seasonand, before this major success, she had minor roles in a range of sitcoms, includingParks and Recreation,Silicon Valley, Brooklyn Nine-Nine,The Mindy Project,The Good Place,New Girl,Veep, andCrazy Ex-Girlfriend.

Mary Holland’s Earlier Movies and TV Shows

2020

Martha

2022

The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window

Sloane

Since the success ofHappiest Season, Holland played supporting roles in the moviesSelf RelianceandSenior Year, as well as appearing in the mystery parody miniseriesThe Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Windowalongside Kirsten Bell. Holland also has a role in the upcoming literary adaptationNightbitch, and it looks like Patience will play a major role throughout the rest ofGhostsseason 4. While not all ofGhosts’ supporting starswill get a backstory in season 4, Patience seems likely to be central in upcoming outings ofGhosts.