Nancy (played by Betsy Sodaro) is one of the more unexpected standouts in Ghosts (US). Introduced in Season 1 as a minor presence haunting the cholera pit beneath Woodstone Mansion, Nancy quickly develops into a sharp-tongued, emotionally layered character who brings grit and contrast to the otherwise warm-hearted ghostly ensemble. She is grungy, unfiltered, and deeply suspicious of authority — traits that made her isolate with the colera ghosts for years. Over time, she becomes entangled with the upstairs ghosts in ways that reveal a great deal more than just her scowl and sarcasm.
In life, Nancy died during a cholera outbreak in the late 19th century and was buried in an unmarked grave with the other infected. At first, she interacts mostly with Pete, in a covert situationship that exists largely offscreen in Season 1. Their secret dynamic is played for laughs, but it also marks the beginning of Nancy’s gradual integration into the social world above the boiler room. While the other ghosts often regard her with a mix of fear and judgment due to her unkempt appearance and macabre surroundings, Nancy never tries to soften herself for their approval. She’s a proud outsider, and she likes it that way.
What makes Nancy especially notable is how the series handles her emotional arc — and her queerness — with over normalcy. While the show doesn’t give Nancy a big coming out scene, it makes her bisexuality clear through both character development. Her unexpected involvement in a throuple with Thorfinn and Flower in Season 3 shifts her from the margins of the ensemble to the center of one of the show’s most unique romantic storylines.
The formation of the throuple — introduced in Season 3 — shows Nancy in a new light. Her affection for Thor is genuine, but her growing understanding of Flower is what gives their throuple unexpected depth. The show lets Nancy acknowledge, without much fuss, that she is attracted to both Thor and Flower. There’s no shock or sensationalism around it. It’s simply a part of how she loves.
Nancy’s bisexuality isn’t the center of her identity, but it’s not erased either. It informs her sense of independence and her suspicion of romantic expectations. And in embracing her relationship with both Thor and Flower (and a fling with Pete’s ex-wife Carol) she models a version of queer intimacy that’s refreshingly free of shame.