‘Ghostbusters’ Meets ‘Wednesday’ in Netflix’s 8-Part Thriller You Can Binge in a Day

Published Oct 18, 2026, 11:39 AM EDT

Abby Jackam is a contributer for Collider and ShowSnob, a media journalist for Trill Mag, and an aspiring novelist. She graduated Washington State University Vancouver in 2025 with a Bachelor's degree in Humanities. 

Whenever she can, Abby is writing. From research papers to book reviews, Abby's passion lies in storytelling and literary pursuits. 

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Hunting paranormal monsters is a duty taken on by many throughout media. From Supernatural to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, unearthly forces have posed a threat to humans and have been vanquished by the talented few brave enough to face them. But Netflix’s near-perfect series poses a new question — what if children were the only ones capable of fighting off supernatural threats?

Lockwood & Co. takes ghost hunting to a whole new level. Based on the book series by Jonathon Stroud, the series takes place in a London completely altered by the threat of otherworldly spirits. With children being the only ones sensitive to supernatural activity, society has flipped with kids being the only thing saving the world from absolute devastation. Netflix's 8-episode series brings all the paranormal excitement from Ghostbusters and the chilling teen mystery from Wednesday that creates a show that feels unlike anything else.

Fighting Ghosts Just Became Even Scarier

Lucy Carlyle (Ruby Stokes) has a gift — she can hear ghosts, which makes her a valuable asset in the fight against 'The Problem.' 50 years since the start of the ghost crisis, children across the country have been employed as agents, wielding swords and salt bombs to ward off the dangerous spirits. When Lucy travels to London, she finds herself joining a small agency of two people, the charismatic leader Anthony Lockwood (Cameron Chapman) and the reclusive researcher George Karim (Ali Hadji-Heshmati). Together, the struggling agency is tasked with unearthing the ghosts' sources that keep them tied to the mortal world. But when Lucy discovers an unsolved murder mystery, she dives straight into finding the truth, even if it puts her life, and the life of her new friends, in grave danger.

Lockwood & Co. perfectly balances the mystery storyline with the ghost-hunting misadventures the agency encounters. Like Wednesday, there is a mystery to be solved, creating high stakes for the agency. As the motley team faces horrifying ghosts, competing agents, and a possible murder suspect, Lucy finds herself growing closer to her new partners. But just as she thinks she can trust them, Lockwood keeps a secret that draws both Lucy and the audience in, even if he's reluctant to reveal the truth.

'Lockwood & Co.' Shows a Darker Side to Ghost Hunting

Lockwood and Co. doesn't stray away from the heavier themes of the story. In a world where children risk their lives fighting deadly spirits every night, the show addresses the real dangers of the job. The show doesn't sugarcoat the deaths and severe injuries children face, it highlights how precarious fighting ghosts can be. Lucy's past trauma with a job gone bad stays with her throughout the show, deeply impacting her decision-making as she continues to work in the field. Lockwood himself carries a secret that fundamentally changed him from a young age. Children in this world no longer act like kids, they're now the sole protectors against the unstoppable evil forces.

In addition to the physical threats posed by the ghosts, the way society utilizes ghost hunting agencies reflects a deeper issue that the characters contend with. The institutionalization of ghost hunting creates a market centered around children's fight against spirits. Whether from large, successful agencies or illegal smugglers, someone is profiting off of the ghost crisis, but it's the children who face the biggest threats. There's an element of realism that makes the dangers in the show feel more impactful. As an agent, Lucy and her team are small pieces of a much larger, insidious puzzle. As they uncover the truth about their damaged society, Lockwood and Co. might find out more jarring information than they could have ever expected.

Lockwood & Co. is the perfect mix of mystery and supernatural action. While it shares many similar elements to other teen mystery shows, the Netflix series feels unique and grounded in its own story. Lucy and her new friends find themselves thrust into the center of a much bigger mystery than they could have ever imagined and have to work together to uncover the truth about their damaged society. With new spirits to fight and more secrets to unearth, Lockwood & Co. is exactly the type of supernatural show audiences can find themselves obsessed with.