Are you Afraid of the Dark?: “The Tale of the Lonely Ghost” (S1E03)

Are you Afraid of the Dark: “The Tale of the Lonely Ghost” (S1E03)

Plot Summary

“The Tale of the Lonely Ghost” brings a bittersweet tone to the Are You Afraid of the Dark? anthology with a ghost story that leans into themes of bullying, isolation, and unresolved grief. The episode follows Amanda, a girl who desperately wants to impress her cousin Beth and fit in with her crowd. To gain their approval, Amanda agrees to spend time alone in a supposedly haunted house where a young girl mysteriously vanished.

Inside the eerie, dust-covered home, Amanda finds strange messages scrawled backwards on the walls and glimpses of a ghostly figure in the mirror. The backstory is revealed slowly: a mute girl died in the house, trapped and ignored. Her spirit has remained, writing the word “HELP ME” on the walls in an attempt to communicate.

The haunting visuals, especially the writing appearing backwards and the ghost girl’s silent pleas, are some of the most effective in the early episodes. There’s a real emotional core here — the ghost isn’t malevolent, just lonely and forgotten. Amanda’s empathy becomes the key to resolving the haunting.

Beth, on the other hand, is an unrepentant bully throughout, and while her comeuppance is satisfying, it feels a bit abrupt. There’s also a minor plot hole in how easily the adults dismiss the haunted house next door. But those are small complaints in an otherwise touching and spooky tale.

Highlights:

• Emotional depth and character growth
• Mirror imagery and backwards writing
• A ghost story with heart

What Doesn’t Work:

• Beth’s character is flat and cartoonishly cruel
• Some logic gaps around the ghost’s backstory
• Ending feels slightly rushed

Final Thoughts:

“The Tale of the Lonely Ghost” stands out for its melancholy atmosphere and emotional resonance. While not the scariest in the series, it’s one of the most memorable for its themes of empathy and closure. A haunting reminder that not all ghosts are to be feared — some just want to be heard.