DROWNED LIVES is as a sad as it sounds. A little girl (Tatum McCann) drowns in the back yard pool as Mom drinks away her sorrows in her bedroom, Dad has moved away with a new babe, and Older Brother cannot save her. Melinda and the brother break into the house in an attempt to help the girl's spirit, but get caught. And no one wants to hear about ghosts. Things are further complicated by the fact the house has recently been sold to a young couple whom Melinda has befriended. The ending is a major tearjerker akin to earlier episodes involving dead kids. So be prepared. McCann is adorable as the lost soul. Some sizzling poltergeist antics help enliven the downbeat plot.
3 Reviews
Another Formula Episode
juanruiz-6567912 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
When it was announced that GW was being canceled now a decade ago, there was great disappointment, if not anger, expressed by its fans. Even the cast complained that the series did not get the chance for closure, although the final episode actually did provide that, with no narrative thread developed to lead into a Season 6, as had been done previously.
But what is amazing is that it did last through 5 seasons and 107 episodes. The premise of a spirit seer guiding the dead to the light simply did not offer the opportunity for a whole lot original plot lines, especially when they had to feature the star of the show as the major figure getting 90% of the screen time. Scant attention was paid to the rest of the cast, as reflected in the tangential nature of her husband throughout.
One consequence of this is that scripts inevitably had to start repeating themselves. This episode is an early example. "Let's manipulate the emotions of the audience by featuring a child's untimely death." It worked for S1 E2 and E5; and continued to be used throughout the series. Children get hit by trains, burn to death, drown, die in lawn mower accidents, have congenital heart defects, leukemia, bee stings, and leave behind broken families, who Melinda must restore to wholeness in order for the child to pass on.
As this is one of the earlier examples, it is more successful, as the repetition of plots is not yet obvious. By S4 it has become commonplace.
But what is amazing is that it did last through 5 seasons and 107 episodes. The premise of a spirit seer guiding the dead to the light simply did not offer the opportunity for a whole lot original plot lines, especially when they had to feature the star of the show as the major figure getting 90% of the screen time. Scant attention was paid to the rest of the cast, as reflected in the tangential nature of her husband throughout.
One consequence of this is that scripts inevitably had to start repeating themselves. This episode is an early example. "Let's manipulate the emotions of the audience by featuring a child's untimely death." It worked for S1 E2 and E5; and continued to be used throughout the series. Children get hit by trains, burn to death, drown, die in lawn mower accidents, have congenital heart defects, leukemia, bee stings, and leave behind broken families, who Melinda must restore to wholeness in order for the child to pass on.
As this is one of the earlier examples, it is more successful, as the repetition of plots is not yet obvious. By S4 it has become commonplace.
This was my story
newinds19527 October 2006
I did not see the Drowned Lives episode, but received many phone calls asking if I submitted my real life story to the writers of Ghost Whisperer. You see, this is what happened to me in June of 2002. I lost my daughter (bunny) to a drowning accident at our home in Westmister MD. She was 4 1/2yrs old, my son was 9 (he was playing video games at the time his sister went out to the pool). To make a long story short, the same pattern fell on us. My husband was having an affair, and after the loss of our daughter, he left the home. We sold our house and everybody felt guilt and blame. My son and his father have a terrible relationship also. I have always been worried for the soul of my daughter not resting because of the craziness that has takin over what use to be a wonderful family. My husband has never, never excepted her death and still continues to slowly destroy himself. I just thought I would share this with you. If there is any way I could buy a copy of this episode please let me know. Seems I was the only one who missed it! Heard it was very good.
Thank you! Christine Kram Baltimore, MD
Thank you! Christine Kram Baltimore, MD
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