Jay

Played by: Utkarsh Ambudkar
Family members: Samantha Arondekar (spouse), Bela Arondekar (sister), Sheryl (mother-in-law), Champa Arondekar (mother) 
Abilities: Chef; Home Renovation
Occupation: Chef; Bed and Breakfast Operator

Personality

As the non-ghost seeing husband to Samantha, Jay Arondekar is the calm in a swirling and often chaotic spectral storm. Jay serves as the talented cook of the Woodstone; he is also a young man who takes every opportunity to eat what is placed before him, whether it’s Oreos on the floor or strange metal devices or day-old sushi served from a stripper’s body, Jay hasn’t met a food he doesn’t like.

Jay is a proud nerd and loves to geek out over things and people he loves, and is a collector of all manner of things pop culture related. He is also kind, even-tempered and cautious. Even though he cannot see the ghosts, he fiercely loves and trusts his wife and as a result, has grown to develop a caring for the ghosts under their roof as well. This has allowed him to develop creative ways to interact and communicate with them.

Jay does have a longing to interact with his peers, in the exciting big-city environment he had to give up when they moved to the Hudson Valley. Fortunately, he may get to see a new dream come to fruition when Season 3 begins.

History

Jay’s history runs in unison with his wife Samantha, given her inheritance of the Woodstone Mansion and her ability to see and communicate with the spirits located there. While he was initially hesitant to begin the ambitious task of restoring a 300-year-old mansion and establishing a bed and breakfast, his mind was changed dramatically when his wife was seriously injured from a fall (accidentally caused by Trevor) (‘Pilot,’ ‘Hello’).

In the early days of living in their new home, Jay, as an unemployed chef, was busy with many tasks typical for home-owners: he did his own home renovations and repairs, which often failed (‘Pilot,’ ‘’Possession’), collaborated with Sam and contractors, supported Sam in her own endeavors and had to become adjusted to the most unusual situation of all — dealing with a houseful of nosy, opinionated, and often demanding ghosts he could not see or hear.

As he has sought to be a supportive husband to Sam, he has also grown in his own understanding and support of the ghosts as well. He collaborated with Sam to secure Thorfinn’s remains and give him his longed-for Viking funeral, with Jay himself shooting the flaming arrow into the canoe containing Thorfinn’s bones. He also sought to reassure the ghosts by attempted to thwart the house from getting vandalized by a group of boys (‘Halloween’).

Jay’s caring attitude extends to other members of his family, both living and otherwise. He has a loving and protective relationship with his sister Bela (‘Jay’s Sister’), the only other person other than Sam and Jay who knows of the ghosts in the mansion, due to her online interaction with Trevor. Jay also sought to encourage his mother-in-law Sheryl, herself a ghost existing in an Ohio restaurant, to reconcile with her daughter (‘Sam’s Mom’).

Moving away from the city and his friends has not come without difficulty for Jay. For the most part, Jay handles his isolation with good humor and curiosity (‘The Vault’) but he dislikes being spied on by the ghosts (‘Ghostwriter’) and not being able to be a real part of regular conversations (‘D&D). When Jay found himself kicked out of his group’s Dungeons and Dragons games, Jay connected with Pete, who also is enthusiastic about the game, and he got the chance to play the game with several of the ghosts on two occasions (‘D&D’). In addition, Jay bonded with Pete again with the two watching and enjoying a basketball game together (‘Ghostwriter’).

Jay’s most significant dealing with any ghost,however, was through Hetty’s accidental possession of him during an electrical wiring incident (‘Possession’). This occurred when Jay was preparing a special meal for a wedding planner, but Hetty’s desire to remain in Jay’s body was too strong for him to overcome. When Hetty attempted to drive off the property, she was successfully expelled from Jay’s body.

Season 2 begins with Jay recovering from his fall when the floor collapsed last season, (‘Spies‘). Realizing he struck his head, he proceeds to go throughout the house, hoping against hope, that he can see the ghosts as Sam can. He arrives downstairs, thinking he can finally see Pete, when in fact, it is only the delivery man and Jay walks through his ghostly friend, who is likely as sad as Jay is that he can’t see the ghosts. As the second couple arrives at the Woodstone Mansion, and Sam and Jay take measures to make them feel at home, some of the ghosts begin to reveal how the guests are really feeling about their stay, prompting Sam and Jay to begin investigating their reviews left behind on Yelp by their visitors. While the Ghosts suggest that they are willing to spy on the guests, which Sam is eager to take advantage of, Jay is against the idea, but Sam encourages them to go through with it regardless. Sam begins revealing things to Jay about the couple’s opinions. Soon, Jay realizes the Ghosts have been supplying Sam with information on their guests comments, while stress grows for Sam and Jay over striving to please their guests. Ultimately, Jay confronts the guests over their comments about Sam, leading them to ‘confess’ their Yelp account had been ‘hacked.’ Ultimately, the couple leave a 5-star review for the Woodstone B&B.

Jay’s geek side was on display in ‘The Tree,’ as he became excited to meet local organic farmers June and Ally, but his activist side was also activated, on behalf of Sassapis, when they pushed to have the dying tree brought down. Later, still geeking out over his famous neighbors, he invited June and Ally to the Woodstone Halloween party, and with Sam, held a seance as entertainment. These actions summon an arch-enemy of Hetty, Molly (Hetty’s Irish maid and Elias’ mistress) and when events lead Sam to getting accidentally trapped in the vault, the Ghosts work together to get word to Jay about her predicament. Their efforts are successful and he gets her out. With that episode, Jay seemed to acquire the creativity needed to find more ways to not only interact with the ghosts but also help them.

In ‘The Baby Bjorn,’ Jay devised a plan for Thorfinn to communicate with his grown son Bjorn, who is now a ghost himself, haunting two doors down from the Woodstone at the Farnsby’s (it is also at the Farnsby’s where Jay accidentally discovers that the Farnsby’s are swingers).

Later in the season, Jay and Sam accept an offer by those behind the show ‘Dumb Deaths’ to film the death of Flower. Needing the money, Sam’s talks Flower into accepting their offer. Jay is later told by the aggressive producer that they are switching the project to focus on the death of Pete instead. Concerned about their approach, and the slanderous actor hired to portray Pete, Jay and Sam find a former troop member, who refutes the claims of the show creators. When they press through with the episode anyway, a crew member accidentally walks through Flower, becomes high, and shoots an arrow which hits Jay in the buttocks.

As season 2 continued, Jay made progress in promoting not only the B&B in creative ways but also in his relationship with the ghosts. In ‘The Liquor License,’ a writer for the magazine ‘Sippr,’ along with a group of young people, arrive at the Woodstone for a ‘high-end whiskey tasting,’ leaving Jay in a quandary as he forgot to apply for a proper license with New York state in order to serve alcohol. Jay works with Sam, and also indirectly with Alberta, in order to retrieve a rare, vintage bottle of whiskey stored in the wall, while not attracting the attention of the inspector. And as the holidays arrive, and Jay’s sister Bela arrives with a friend, Jay gets caught up in Bela’s efforts to reconnect with Trevor, as well as Thorfinn possessing Sam, unbeknownst to Jay (‘The Christmas Spirit, Part I and II’).

A new year brings fresh changes to the Woodstone as Jay and Sam hire Freddie to serve as a manager for the B&B (‘The Perfect Assistant’). While his knowledge and positive, can-do attitude makes a strong impression on the couple, they reluctantly fire Freddie based on erroneous information provided by the ghosts (ghost Jessica tells the other spirits that Freddie hit her with his car and dumped her body in the woods). Once they discover that he had not done this, they go to great lengths to hire Freddie back. Later, with additional complications occurring both with Freddie’s relationship with his girlfriend and with ghostly meddlings, the hapless young manager once again has to leave (‘The Family Business’). Looking at security footage, Jay discovers the reservation system was manipulated by Trevor, making it look like Freddie’s error. Fortunately, they are able to get Freddie back again, this time with the young man believing the Woodstone is haunted.

In ‘Ghost Hunter,’ Sam convinces Jay to buy the car (still containing ghost Jessica) that Freddie has sold to a rock band, in order to allow Sasappis and Jessica to be together. Later, ‘the guy wearing the Atari shirt’ makes use of his nerdy and tech-savvy ways to help Thorfinn, Flower (and later Pete) be released from a ghost trap purchased by a suspicious Freddy.

While Jay is proving to be a true friend of the ghosts in his own way, his relationship with them is not without complications. In ‘Trevor’s Body,’ Jay disagrees with Sam and Trevor’s efforts to get Trevor’s parents back together again, and he also disapproves of Sam’s handling of ‘Isaac’s Book.’ Yet, he does forgo his own romantic dinner with Sam in order to make two complex, Viking-inspired meals for Thorfinn and Flower to smell, along with tasting sour ram’s testicles for Thorfinn’s benefit.

In ‘Weekend from Hell,’ Jay accidentally walks through Flower and creates a dish that receives praise from a B&B customer, that Jay then cannot recall. After Flower walks through him again to help him remember, he becomes momentarily obsessed with getting more ‘Flower hits,’ until Sam reminds him of the strength of his own cooking talents. He later creates a dish for a food critic that knocks her socks off — with a little wicked help from Elias.

As season 2 wound down, Jay began to shed his cautious nature in order to help his friends, both living and deceased, as well as do things to help promote his own dreams as well. In ‘Ghost Father of the Bride,’ Jay recommends that the B&B host Pete’s daughter Laura’s wedding, and in a further effort to help his friend achieve his wishes for the wedding, Jay recommends they write a mention of lilies in Pete’s old scouting manual. ‘Woodstone’s Hottest Couple’ found him returning from a trip to New York City and storing some high-dollar sneakers for contractor Mark in the attic — and waking up teen ghost Stephanie once again. But in questioning him, Jay reveals to Sam he actually went to the city and interviewed for the head chef position at his old restaurant. This revelation leads Sam to consult Mark and surprise Jay with the potential of having his own destination restaurant in the old barn near the mansion, with Mark as his business partner.

Whodunit’ found Jay creating a ‘murder board’ in hopes of helping uncover who murdered Alberta, which further fuels his sense of connection with the ghosts.

And in the last episode of the season, Sam and Jay get caught up in a scheme to have the Woodstone change hands through the introduction of a young woman who claims she is the daughter of David Woodstone — and the rightful heir to the property. Jay accompanied Sam to the strip club where David dies, eats some sushi originally served on the body of a stripper and gets sick.

The episode ends with Sam telling Jay she believes a ghost has been ‘sucked off,’ with him replying, ‘I hope it’s Trevor.’

As season 3 begins, Jay was found moving into two profound directions — beginning construction on his restaurant and establishing stronger connections with the Ghosts. While still unable to actually see any of the spirits, and believing that Flower had been ‘sucked off,’ Jay sought to make in-roads in comforting a grief-stricken Thorfinn by telling him of the Hindu belief in reincarnation, but Thorfinn comes to take his words to heart and believes the owl occupying the barn is actually Flower. When Jay insists that construction on the restaurant cannot be delayed further, Thorfinn threatens to burn the barn down if the owl, who he genuinely believes is Flower, is removed.

Later, Jay discovers that Sam has actually moved ‘Flowl’ (Jay’s new name for the owl) into a birdcage in the mansion, and is subsequently injured by the bird when he tries to feed it. When the B&B begins losing guests due to their new avian resident, Jay ‘talks’ to Thorfinn again and encourages him to let Flowl go. Thorfinn agrees and a moving memorial service is held for Flower. Jay later releases the bird himself, which comes to attack him again.

Appearance

Jay is a handsome young man, early to mid 30’s, who typically dresses in a hip and casual manner common to someone of his generation. He has studs in each ear. He also has dark hair, mustache and a goatee. He is of normal to slight build; Thorfinn refers to him constantly as ‘small man.’ Isaac has frequently commented on the positive aspects of his physique.

Trivia

  • Jay is the U.S. inspiration of Mike Cooper from the BBC version of ‘Ghosts.’
  • Jay has a special connection with Pete, which is reciprocated by the ghostly scout leader.
  • Hetty appears to have left traces of her personality in him after her possession of him (‘Possession’).
  • Jay documents in his phone every unique ghost trait or piece of news from Sam, which he calls his ‘Ghost Notes.’
  • Jay has seen what Trevor and Alberta look like — Trevor through his dating profile and Alberta through Todd Pearlman’s back tattoo.
  • Trevor has communicated with Jay twice by writing on a fogged-up bathroom mirror (‘D&D’ and ‘Halloween 2: the Ghost of Hetty’s Past’).
  • Jay has come to recognize Isaac’s presence through his ‘walked through’ odor (‘Halloween 2: Ghost of Hetty’s Past’).
  • While high on Flower, Jay not only cooked an acclaimed meal but wrote a rock opera and finished an adult coloring book.
  • Jay’s tandoori lamp chops were called ‘orgasmic’ by a notable food critic, the Menu Hunter.
  • Jay enjoys being a co-host of the ‘Alberta Haynes Murder podcast,’ even though his main job is to provide commercials for the B&B.
  • Jay has passed gas in front of the ghosts.
  • Jay accidentally smacked Trevor, in an attempt to high-five Pete (‘Ghost Father of the Bride’).
  • According to Sasappis, Jay has a ‘taffy-like’ mind.
  • Jay loves to dream of basketball, space travel and sometimes dreams of Sam wearing the Princess Leia bikini.

Quotes

  • ”You got a cute butt, but it’s got a foul mouth.” (Season 1, Episode 1)
  • “We’re double down, baby! I maxed out the credit cards, I cashed in the IRS, despite the very vocal objections of my father. News flash: we are deeply in debt. If this bed and breakfast fails, we’re really screwed.” (Season 1, Episode 1)
  • “Almost losing you made me realize that I don’t care where we live, because as long as I’m with you, I’m home.” (Season 1, Episode 1)
  • “I’m pretty far from good.” (Season 1, Episode 2)
  • “If you’re here, you’re welcome.” (Season 1, Episode 2)
  • “So, how did you end up here? Well, I feel in love with a white girl with a cute, cute butt and then she inherited a haunted house and then….” (Season 1, Episode 3)
  • “This isin’t fair. You got a whole team of spies watching my every move.” (Season 1, Episode 4)
  • “Uh, yep. She felt really bad, people.” (Season 1, Episode 4)
  • “This is just great. Our friends are partying on rooftops, and we’re being egged by the cast of Stranger Things.” (Season 1, Episode 5)
  • “So what I’m asking you is, who are you? Are you the dude who gets eaten on the toilet while the little girl in the Jeep is like, “He left us! He left us! He left us!”? Or are you Dr Ellie Sattler? Do you fix things? Hmm?” (Season 1, Episode 6)
  • “And you have this whole group of people that-that you can talk to that I can’t even see. So the other night when we were all playing together, I actually felt like I was part of the gang.” (Season 1, Episode 8)
  • “You mean invisible Todd, roaming the hallways, collecting everyone’s toenails? I do not like that.” (Season 1, Episode 9)
  • “Oh my God, I’m being colonized from the inside out.” (Season 1, Episode 10)
  • “Uh…hey Hetty, wherever you are, uh, just wanted to say thanks for helping me with the menu. I wish I could say I owe you, but you kind of kidnapped me and tried to take me to Paris so let’s just call it even.” (Season 1, Episode 10)
  • ”Babe, you’re doing amazing. And it’s not just the writing. You nabbed yourself a good hubs. We’re starting this B and B. And you’re possibly the only person on the planet who can see ghosts. You’re practically a superhero.” (Season 1, Episode 11)
  • “They feel pain when we pass through them, right?…. Come here! Oh! [grunts] Where are you? Ooh. Aah! Oh! Did I get him?” (Season 1, Episode 12)
  • “A surface that’s impenetrable to ghosts? I love it when the mythology gets expanded.” (Season 1, Episode 13)
  • You got to tell me how it happened. I mean, was it hot? Was there screaming? Was country music playing?” (Season 1, Episode 13)
  • “Look, if this guy has been suffering from night terrors for half a millennium, that’s some pretty serious trauma.” (Season 1, Episode 15)
  • “I worry sometimes that you’re dealing with this huge crazy thing and I’m the only person that you have to talk about it with.
  • “What are you doing? Yell at them. Yell at the ghosts.” (Season 1, Episode 14)
  • “Darn ghosts. Always stealing my thunder.” (Season 1, Episode 14)
  • “I’m married to a damn superhero.” (Season 1, Episode 15)