In When Halloween Was Forever, when ancient ruins arrive in New York for examination, the evil spirit of Samhain is released! He declares that Halloween should last forever and calls forth an army of the night![2]
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Plot[]
A UBN News van pulled up to where Ecto-1 was parked. Cynthia Crawford quickly started the report and stated it was hours before Halloween Eve started. Inside the building, the Ghostbusters were on the job and trapped several hairy ghosts. As Crawford quoted Peter Venkman, the weakened front door fell down. The weary Ghostbusters marched out with one smoking Trap each. Peter stopped for an interview and denied any difficulty during the job. They then headed back to their headquarters and Peter noticed Egon was in deep research. Winston wondered why the job was so hard. Ray wondered if it had to do with Halloween approaching. Peter asked what was going on, but Egon refused to tell him. Peter then threatened Egon saying that he'll tell Slimer there was a cupcake in his sock. Egon revealed he thought that the large increase in P.K.E. readings centered around ancient ruins that were brought in from Ireland two weeks ago. They dated back to the seventh century. Ray and Egon began to notice a connection between the ruins and the origins of Halloween. Winston suggested they investigate but Peter was nonchalant about it.
After Peter turned his back, Egon told Slimer that there was a lollipop in Peter's sock and Slimer attempted to find it. Meanwhile, two goblins snuck into the museum, chanting "Samhain." They then drew an infinity symbol on the ancient clock from Ireland, unleashing the ghost Samhain. Samhain then flew off to gather minions of the night while the goblins headed out on the town. The goblins then came to the Ghostbuster headquarters and blew Janine against the wall. Upon hearing her scream, the Ghostbusters suited up and headed out, where they started trapping the various ghosts in the town. The P.K.E. Meter went right off the scale and a city-wide manifestation overcame New York.
Slimer meanwhile wss at the headquarters and started to hear a ghostly voice. Slimer was then dragged out of the building and brought to a gathering of ghosts, who were all listening to Samhain who said there was much to do tonight. Slimer was brought to Samhain, who smelled the Ghostbusters' stench on him. Disgusted by the smell of humans, Samhain told Slimer he will join his midnight army or pay the price.
Meanwhile, the Ghostbusters just captured another ghost and noticed that their watches haven't moved despite hours of catching ghosts. Samhain then appeared before the Ghostbusters and asked them why they were harming his "little ones." When Peter replied they've been catching them for hours, Samhain shot a black lightning bolt at him. Samhain then introduced himself and Ray recalled that Halloween began as the feast of Samhain, a creature of the night who none could stop. Samhain commented how it was good that he was remembered. Peter asked when he was leaving, to which Samhain stated he was not. Samhain revealed that he had halted time, to make it an eternal Halloween night. Egon shone a flashlight on him, and Samhain fled to another building where he was joined by his many ghosts. The Ghostbusters decided to use the lights in the city against him, only to find the lights were going out.
Egon came up with a plan and told Peter, Winston and Ray to distract Samhain with a frontal assault. Meanwhile, Slimer was up on the building after being forced into joining the crowd. Samhain told Slimer he had more in common with him than the Ghostbusters, to which Slimer blew a raspberry at him. The other ghosts seized Slimer, but Samhain ordered them to stop as he may prove useful. Meanwhile, Egon used two ghosts driving a car to move some spotlights into place, then he hooked up his pack to the lights to charge them. Peter, Ray and Winston reached the top of the building and came face to face with Samhain. Samhain then pulled out a weakened Slimer and ordered the Ghostbusters to lay down their weapons. Samhain started to stroke Slimer, preventing him from getting free. However, Slimer broke away after Ray screamed, "Pizza!" Egon turned on the spotlights and Samhain was stunned and then captured in a Trap with the rest of the ghosts.
Back at the Firehouse, Winston emptied the Trap as the other Ghostbusters watched. Samhain was not irate and sat calmly in the Containment Unit waiting. Egon made a prediction that since Samhain had waited centuries to be free, he would wait again for his eventual return. Janine turned out the lights. A floating pumpkin appeared but it was just Slimer. After the Ghostbusters saw the truth behind the trick, they played a tickle trick on Janine (which she happily laughed at).
Quotes[]
- Peter: (grabs Slimer) "Now hold real still, okay? (to Egon) Now Egon, either you tell me what you're working on, or I'll tell Slimer you're hiding a cupcake in your socks!"
Egon: "You wouldn't dare."
Peter: "Why Egon, what's that in your socks? If I didn't know any better, I'd swear it looked just like a-"
Egon: (shoos Slimer away) "Okay, okay, I'll talk! I was just working out the minor details."
Peter: (tosses a lollipop which Slimer goes for) "Who says blackmail's a lost art?" - Peter: "Egon, you little scrapper! I bet you know what's going on! Let us in, okay?"
Egon: "Okay. One: Halloween started to celebrate night's creatures. Two: suddenly, we're up to our hips in them. Three: night's fallen everywhere. Four: time is slowing down. Conclusion: it will be Halloween forever. This night will never end."
Peter: "Actually, I think I liked not knowing a lot better..."
Trivia[]
- The episode was recorded on July 7, 1986.[3]
- This episode is the first of three Halloween based episodes and the debut of the villain Samhain. The second Halloween based episode was "Halloween II 1/2" (featuring the return of Samhain) and the third was "The Halloween Door" (which Samhain didn't appear in).
- This is one of two episodes to have reporter Cynthia Crawford. She later is in the episode "Citizen Ghost".
- When prompted Egon thought he and Ray were building a Spectral Differentializer.[4]
- This device is finally used in "Adventures in Slime and Space."
- As Egon and Ray confer on what they are building, Winston was playing Checkers with Slimer.
- Janine gave the two goblins bon-bons.
- Peter quotes the much used "It was quiet. Too quiet" trope.[5]
- Winston refers to the Proton Packs as "Power Packs" when he confirms that they still work after the blackout.
- Just like the rest of the episodes of season it uses a track from The Real Ghostbusters Soundtrack. This episode features the song "Midnight Action" in part of the episode.
- This is the first time the Ghostbusters are seen using the viewer to look at the universe inside the Containment Unit.
- On page 14 of Ghostbusters International #10, in panel 2, on the bottom screen, is the news anchor dressed as a clown from "When Halloween was Forever."
- On page 2 of Ghostbusters Annual 2018, in panel 3, carved atop the pedestal is the Wheel of the Year. One circle represents life and the other represents death. Joined, they become infinity. In "When Halloween Was Forever", the two goblins released Samhain with the symbol.
- On page 10 of Annual 2018, In panel 5, right of Jenny Moran on the counter is a miniature of the relic Samhain was freed from in "When Halloween Was Forever".
- On page 21 of Annual 2018, the ghosts are visually based on Samhain's Midnight Army in "When Halloween Was Forever".
- On page 30 of Annual 2018, once again, the ghosts are based on Samhain's Midnight Army from "When Halloween Was Forever".
- On page 31 of Annual 2018, in panel 1 are the two 'Zone Dweebies' goblins in their car from "When Halloween Was Forever"
- On page 35 of Annual 2018, in panel 2, is a ghost from the end of "When Halloween Was Forever" when they look for Samhain in the Containment Unit, it is the last ghost but originally pink.
References[]
- ↑ Marsha Goodman (1986). Episode Call Sheet and SAG Report - "When Halloween Was Forever" (1986).
- ↑ Eatock, James & Mangels, Andy (2008). The Real Ghostbusters Complete Collection booklet, p. 4. CPT Holdings, Inc.
- ↑ Marsha Goodman (1986). Episode Call Sheet and SAG Report - "When Halloween Was Forever" (1986).
- ↑ Egon Spengler (2009). The Real Ghostbusters - "When Halloween Was Forever" (1986) (DVD ts. 06:44-06:45). Time Life Entertainment. Egon says: "A Spectral Differentializer."
- ↑ Peter Venkman (2009). The Real Ghostbusters - "When Halloween Was Forever" (1986) (DVD ts. 13:04-13:08). Time Life Entertainment. Peter says: "It was quiet. Too quiet. I always wanted to say that."
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Secondary Canon[]
| Previous Episode | Based on | Next Episode | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mr. Sandman, Dream Me a Dream | Air Date | Look Homeward, Ray | ||
| Mr. Sandman, Dream Me a Dream | DVD Order | Look Homeward, Ray |