Did Not Dead Yet's Season 2 Finale Save The Show (Or Is It Too Little Too Late?)

Not Dead Yet's season two finale finally brought back the heart of the show when Nell is directly confronted with a ghost who she needs to help deal with the repercussions of his actions.

Duncan Rhodes has been a pain all season. His presence has stripped Lexi of most of her amusing personality, replacing it with a woman desperate to win her father's approval. But, when Duncan ends up in limbo, and due to Nell previously pre-writing his obituary earlier in the season, Nell ends up dealing with a ghost iteration of Duncan for the day.

It is not an ideal situation, but it does force Duncan to listen to what his daughter has to say about her emotions and how Duncan's actions as Lexi's father have only hurt her. Lexi is finally willing to be open about how she is feeling, and without the ability to argue back or cut Lexi off, Duncan has no choice but to finally listen to his daughter's sadness and frustration with how their relationship has turned out over the years.

But, is it the cliffhanger that can actually help Not Dead Yet return to the best parts of what it proved it can be if the series is renewed for a third season?

It is left somewhat ambiguous if Duncan truly remembers that Nell could see him as a ghost, as he recalls the sensation of being in a Toyota Prius, but no recollection of Nell directly. If he does remember, it would be the first time that a significant character in the series actually learns Nell's secret about her abilities.

"Not a Ghost Yet" is the most heartfelt episode of the season and the only episode of season two that actually seems to remember what this show is supposed to be about. Nell's time with Duncan allows her to explain that she uses her abilities to give closure to the ghosts, while she is simultaneously reminded that her obituaries do more to give closure to the living.

If Not Dead Yet is given a third season, the dynamic between Nell and Duncan could become an entertaining one if he recalls that she is capable of seeing ghosts. If he can't, it would be like the series going back to normal without taking an interesting step forward to see how life then unfolds for Nell when a potential constant presence in her life knows her secret.

Still, Duncan is not the most exciting character to discover Nell's secret, and with the decision to have Lexi buy the newspaper for herself, there are not a lot of justifiable reasons that would have Duncan be kept around for longer periods of time.

Edward, Sam, or Lexi would be far more exciting and fun characters to learn Nell's secret. But, as it stands, "Not a Ghost Yet" does do an important job of leaning into the more emotional aspects of the character relationships and how the ghost plays an important role than other episodes in season two.

If the series is renewed for a third season, Not Dead Yet would do well to actually push forward with the idea of allowing Duncan to know the truth while giving a more integral role to the show's weekly ghosts.

While "Not a Ghost Yet" may not be enough to save the show for viewers who may have given up on it as season two deviated so much from its original premise, the season two finale might be enough to restore hope for what the show could be if it is renewed for a third season.