The Trouble with the Othersiders

I finally figured out what my trouble with The Othersiders is. Actually, troubles, as there’s more than one thing that bothers me about the show.

TROUBLE 1

The producers are trying to make viewers buy that these kids are experienced investigators. Granted, they are getting experience, but they’re trying to sell them as five friends who have been hanging out doing paranormal investigations for forever.

It would have come off as more genuine, and perhaps even more interesting, to just admit they casted the kids for the show.

TROUBLE 2

Unlike Ghost Hunters, the Othersiders doesn’t show the people behind the scenes. Meaning, the people who run and manage the places under investigation.

Do you really think people are going to be okay with a bunch of kids coming in and setting up a base camp just because they decided they’d like to investigate somewhere? Adult ghost hunters aren’t even allowed to do that without making special arrangements first.

It was the investigation of the Mission Innthat made me think the show’s being irresponsible in a way. It’s sort of promoting trespassing and giving kids the false impression that they can investigate anywhere just like the Othersiders do. Because that’s all they show the kids doing: picking a place and then going. There’s no way in real life most places would allow that.

TROUBLE 3

The Mission Inn investigation, while perhaps the best Othersiders episode to date, was also the one that made it clear these kids are still just kids. It made me think of a comment Autumnforest left on a blog I wrote where I wondered if the Othersiders were too young to hunt ghosts. She expressed concern over how their, as she put it, “mental hygiene” was being handled.

As the shows progress, KC always seems the most fearful. She’s always the one saying stuff like, “I hope I don’t see this or experience that,” or “I am so afraid. I don’t know if I want to do this.”

Why is she a ghost hunter then? Because she wanted to be on TV and this was what she was cast in? I’ve heard other investigators from other shows admit they’re afraid or have a bad feeling, but you never hear them say they’re dreading going somewhere. They wouldn’t. They want to be there to hunt for answers. KC does seem interested in the paranormal, but I also get the impression she might not be an investigator if the show wasn’t on TV.

And Zack…he was genuinely afraid down in the catacombs. That’s when Autumnforest’s comment really popped in my mind.  And Riley wasn’t sympathetic. He basically told him to suck it up and stay put.

To his credit, Zack hung in there. But a true team would’ve said, “Hey, we understand if you can’t handle it. Bail.”

After watching this episode, I’m now on board with Autumnforest: I hope something’s being done to help these kids put all of this in perspective. Because the potential is there to traumatize them more than just becoming a TV star might.

Courtney Mroch

Courtney Mroch is a globe-trotting restless spirit who’s both possessed by wanderlust and the spirit of adventure, and obsessed with true crime, horror, the paranormal, and weird days. Perhaps it has something to do with her genes? She is related to occult royalty, after all. Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo practitioner of New Orleans, is one of her ancestors. (Yes, really! As explained here.) That could also explain her infatuation with skeletons.

Speaking of mystical, to learn how Courtney channeled her battle with cancer to conjure up this site, check out HJ’s Origin Story.