Though the collection of spooky ghosts populating The Haunting of Bly Manor are different from other ghosts in most media, they still seem to follow specific patterns.

WARNING: The following contains spoilers for The Haunting of Bly Manor, streaming now on Netflix

The ghostsin The Haunting ofBly Manor are unique when compared to those of other movies or shows. While some ghosts in popular entertainment are concerned with amplifying terror and fear, the Bly Manor ghosts seem to function more as symbols of trauma and regret. At first glance, it might be hard to spot the connective tissue between the different ghosts, as their characteristics vary tremendously. For example, many of the ghosts show no interest in possessing the living, but a few, including Peter Quint and later Rebecca Jessel, experiment with the skill. Some ghosts interact with each other, while others act only as solo spirits; however, overall, the ghosts do seem to followcertain guidelines. Let's explore the abilities and characteristics specific to the ghosts introduced in the show.

It appears that, when ghosts wish to possess or inhabit a living humans body, they need some level of consent.They arent allowed to chaotically leap into whatever body they like. This is why Peter and Rebecca spend so much time essentially grooming the Wingrave children-- so they can exploit their trust and take over the childrens bodies for their own selfish ends. The children's permission is an essential part of the process. This is shown again in the final episode, when Dani whispers the words Its you, its me, its us, granting Violas ghost permission to enter her body. If any ghostcould have possessed someone without permission, it would have been Viola, but even she appears bound by the rules of consent.

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This ability is explored in the tragic story of Hannah Grose, the housekeeper at Bly Manor. Hannah seems a little off initially, sleeping poorly, seeing mysterious cracks in the wall and eating little. Its later revealed that shes been dead all along, but because she wasnt aware of her own death, was able to cling to a facade of life.While in this state, she interacted with the physical world in a variety of ways, including lighting candles and changing her outfits. But her abilities diminish as she comes to realize that she is dead. Peter likens it to Wile E. Coyote, the Looney Tunes character, who is able to walk on air until the moment he looks down.

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Ghost Physiology, According to The Haunting of Bly Manor | CBR - CBR - Comic Book Resources