← Back to show
The Ghost and Molly McGee - Not So Honest Abe (S1E9)
Molly only has a few hours to put together an entire school project on Abraham Lincoln, but it’s helpful that Scratch knows Abraham Lincoln’s ghost.
| Runtime (min) | 11 |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 2021-10-23 |
| Genres | Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Kids |
| TV Rating | TV-Y7 |
| Network(s) | Disney Channel |
Storyline
Molly McGee faces a familiar student crisis when she realizes she has only a few hours to complete an entire school project on Abraham Lincoln. With the deadline looming and no research done, she turns to her ghost friend Scratch for help. Scratch reveals that he actually knows the ghost of Abraham Lincoln himself, opening up what seems like the perfect solution to Molly's procrastination problem.
What begins as a convenient shortcut quickly becomes complicated when Molly must navigate the ethics of using a primary source who happens to be the actual historical figure. The episode explores the tension between taking the easy way out and doing honest work, with Molly learning that even having access to Abraham Lincoln's ghost doesn't replace the value of putting in genuine effort. The eleven-minute story balances the show's supernatural comedy with a relatable school scenario that many young viewers will recognize.
What kids learn
This episode teaches children about the consequences of procrastination and the importance of planning ahead for school responsibilities. Molly's last-minute scramble to complete her project demonstrates how putting things off creates unnecessary stress and can lead to ethical dilemmas when searching for shortcuts. Young viewers see firsthand why starting assignments early gives you time to do your best work without panic.
The story also addresses academic integrity and the difference between getting help and taking inappropriate shortcuts. Even though Molly has access to an incredible resource in Abraham Lincoln's ghost, the episode explores whether using that advantage crosses ethical lines. Children learn that honest effort matters more than impressive results achieved through questionable means, and that the learning process itself has value beyond the final grade.
Additionally, the episode reinforces the value of true friendship through Scratch's willingness to help Molly despite his typically selfish nature. Kids see how friends can support each other through difficult situations while still encouraging one another to make good choices and take responsibility for their actions.
Parents' top 5 questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Does this episode encourage kids to cheat on school assignments? | The episode actually discourages academic shortcuts by showing the complications that arise when Molly tries to use Abraham Lincoln's ghost as an easy solution to her procrastination. While the specific resolution depends on choices Molly makes, the story frames her situation as an ethical dilemma rather than celebrating the shortcut. The episode's premise sets up a conversation about what constitutes honest work versus inappropriate help on school projects. |
| What does this teach about time management and procrastination? | Molly's predicament directly results from poor planning and leaving her entire project until the last minute. The episode shows the stress and difficult choices that procrastination creates, demonstrating natural consequences that young viewers can understand. Rather than lecturing, the story lets children see how waiting until the last moment limits options and forces rushed decisions that wouldn't be necessary with better time management. |
| Is the historical content about Abraham Lincoln accurate? | The episode features Abraham Lincoln's ghost as a character, which means historical accuracy takes a backseat to comedy and storytelling. While the show generally respects historical figures, parents should understand this is a supernatural comedy rather than an educational history lesson. Any historical facts presented should be verified separately if you're concerned about accuracy, as the focus is on Molly's ethical choices rather than biographical education. |
| How does Scratch help or hurt Molly in this situation? | Scratch's role involves introducing Molly to Abraham Lincoln's ghost, which creates both an opportunity and a temptation for her. His assistance demonstrates the show's ongoing theme of their unlikely friendship, where Scratch often helps Molly even when it's inconvenient for him. However, whether his help ultimately serves Molly's best interests depends on how she chooses to use the access he provides to the historical figure. |
| What age is appropriate for understanding this episode's lessons? | The episode's themes about academic integrity, procrastination, and ethical decision-making are most relevant for elementary-aged children who are beginning to handle independent school assignments. Children in kindergarten through fifth grade will recognize Molly's situation and can grasp the basic lesson about honest work. Younger viewers will enjoy the ghost comedy without necessarily processing the deeper ethical questions, while older elementary students can engage with the moral dimensions of Molly's choices. |
Writing
—
Directing
—
| Season # | Episode # | Episode Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | When the McGee family moves into a new house, Molly stumbles upon Scratch, a grumpy old ghost. |
| 1 | 2 | Thanks to Scratch, Molly struggles to make a good impression at school. |
| 1 | 3 | Molly attends a camping trip to answer the important question of who her best friends will be |
| 1 | 4 | Scratch teaches Molly's softball team what it feels like to win. |
| 1 | 5 | When Molly learns about Brighton’s old outdoor concert Bandshell, she sets out to rebuild it to bring the community together. |
| 1 | 6 | Molly must find a band to play the first concert at Brighton’s new Bandshell. |
| 1 | 7 | When the McGee’s van breaks down and the repair costs are more than they can afford, Molly’s mom decides to take on odd jobs to help the family make ends meet. |
| 1 | 8 | Molly learns that more money means more problems when she teams up with Andrea to create a scary movie. |
| 1 | 9 | Molly only has a few hours to put together an entire school project on Abraham Lincoln, but it’s helpful that Scratch knows Abraham Lincoln’s ghost. |
| 1 | 10 | Molly senses tension between her mom and grandma Nin, so she takes it upon herself to identify the source of the conflict and mend the rift. |
| 1 | 11 | When Molly discovers her best friend didn’t even go close to big on the biggest day of life, Molly takes charge to throw Libby the best Bat Mitzvah ever. |
| 1 | 12 | When Darryl gets in trouble at school, Molly volunteers to help reform his delinquent ways by giving him 'nice lessons'. |
| 1 | 13 | Pete and Molly put a Turnip Fest to win Best Fest of the midwest over Brighton's rival town: Perfektborg. |
| 1 | 14 | For one day, Molly can only say "yes" and Scratch can only say "no". |
| 1 | 15 | When Molly meets Brighton’s legendary founder, Ezekial Tugbottom, she realizes he’s not the hero history made him out to be. |
| 1 | 16 | Molly tries to prevent Libby from humiliating herself in the school talent show without shattering her newfound confidence. |
| 1 | 17 | When constantly lying to Libby about Scratch begins to take a toll, Molly struggles to keep Scratch a secret. |
| 1 | 18 | When Libby and Scratch struggle to be friends with each other, Molly sends them on a scavenger hunt in an attempt to force their friendship. |
| 1 | 19 | When a town-wide blackout occurs on the final night of Hanukkah, the people of Brighton seek refuge in Libby’s mom’s bookstore, the only place in town with light. |
| 1 | 20 | Molly tries to convince Andrea’s father to save Christmas after budget cuts leave Brighton without its beloved Snowflake Festival. |
| 1 | 21 | When a ghost causes an ice storm in Brighton, only Dad can save the town from eternal winter. |
| 1 | 22 | When Molly gets her first snow day, she struggles to give up on her perfect vision. |
| 1 | 23 | The McGees lets competition get the best of them during family game night. |
| 1 | 24 | When Andrea steals credit for Molly’s volunteer work, Molly tries to expose her. |
| 1 | 25 | Molly tries to prove Scratch’s innocence when he’s falsely accused of a crime. |
| 1 | 26 | Dad struggles to stay true to himself when his twin siblings come to visit. |
| 1 | 27 | When Molly insists on training her unruly goat for the county fair the “Molly way,” she learns that positive reinforcement doesn’t always yield positive results. |
| 1 | 28 | When the McGee’s celebrate a Thai holiday about feeding “hungry ghosts,” Scratch tries to keep the feast all to himself. |
| 1 | 29 | After Scratch ditches class in favor of a fun day off with Geoff, he struggles to pass his scare test. |
| 1 | 30 | When Molly and Scratch learn about Patty’s old flame, Bobby Daniels, they attempt to reunite the lovebirds. |
| 1 | 31 | When Molly’s "Mayor for a Day" contest win turns into a "Mayor for Life" gig, she struggles under the pressure. |
| 1 | 32 | When Molly interns at Weird Larry’s Pawn Show, she struggles to see the bright side in a shop full of discarded junk. |
| 1 | 33 | Molly and Scratch help Libby improve her luck on Friday the 13th. |
| 1 | 34 | When the McGee’s get locked in the basement, Molly and Scratch seek help, but have trouble remaining focused. |
| 1 | 35 | he McGee’s struggle to make ends meet after a hospital trip leaves them nearly broke. |
| 1 | 36 | Molly does her best to pretend everything is normal while Scratch protects the house. |
| 1 | 37 | Molly takes over Scratch’s scares for the day. |
| 1 | 38 | Molly, Scratch, and Libby try to stay up to see a rare comet. |
| 1 | 39 | When the Ghost Council discovers joy in Brighton, Scratch must keep Molly out of harm’s way. |
| 1 | 40 | When Scratch is taken to the Ghost World for trial, Molly sets out to save him. |
| Season # | Episode # | Episode Name |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | When a new family moves in across the street, the McGees are put in a sticky situation. Scratch avoids his duties in the Ghost World. |
| 2 | 2 | Molly must distract Ollie while Scratch attempts to capture the Story Sprite. |
| 2 | 3 | Darryl becomes a ghost for the day. |
| 2 | 4 | When Sharon has artist's block, Molly and the family remove all of her distractions. |
| 2 | 5 | When Scratch recalls a rare soda from his past life, Molly is determined to get it for him. |
| 2 | 6 | When Libby gets her period before Molly does, Molly feels out of sync with her best friend. |
| 2 | 7 | When the McGee's vacation gets canceled, Molly creates a staycation instead. |
| 2 | 8 | Molly's loyalties are tested when she goes to a school dance with Ollie. |
| 2 | 9 | When Andrea makes an app that threatens small businesses, Molly and Scratch must save the day. |
| 2 | 10 | When a scary ghost possesses a doll in the human world, Molly is determined to see the good in him |
| 2 | 11 | When Scratch is invited to a cool party, he has to ditch his plans with Geoff. |
| 2 | 12 | Scratch invites real ghosts to a Halloween “haunted house” to amp up the fun, but things spiral out of control when the Chens and a horde of Frightmares show up. |
| 2 | 13 | Molly and Scratch attempt to un-haunt a building for the new community center. |
| 2 | 14 | When Molly’s Thai cousin visits, Molly questions whether she is “Asian enough” for her own family. |
| 2 | 15 | With Mom and Dad out of the house, Molly, Darryl and Scratch watch a scary movie. |
| 2 | 16 | When Grandma Nin is no longer able to live on her own, Molly and Sharon take care of her. |
| 2 | 17 | Libby and her mom go on a road trip to visit her dad, who she hasn’t seen in years. |
| 2 | 18 | Pete uses social media to bring attention to important issues but gets swept up in internet fame. |
| 2 | 19 | When Jinx jinxes Scratch, he and Molly must find a way to undo it. |
| 2 | 20 | Molly vows to score Brighton’s first win against Perfektborg. |
| 2 | 21 | Molly and Scratch agree to a body swap when they are forced to deal with their own discomfort with feelings. |
| 2 | 22 | When Scratch breaks out in a bad case of bubbles, he and Molly take a surreal journey into his mind to find a cure. |
| 2 | 23 | When Molly and Ollie decide to embrace a carbon-zero lifestyle, they realize it’s harder than it seems. |
| 2 | 24 | When Davenport’s closes, Andrea must figure out who she is without her family’s store. |
| 2 | 25 | Molly and Scratch spiral with guilt when they think they’ve killed Darryl’s spider. |
| 2 | 26 | When Kenny Star escapes to Brighton, Molly helps him reconnect to his country roots. |
| 2 | 27 | Ollie struggles to have the difficult conversation with his parents and reveal that he is friends with a ghost. |
| 2 | 28 | When the school newspaper is in danger of shutting down, Molly goes on a mission to save it. |
| 2 | 29 | When Scratch discovers he loves a game he stubbornly refused to try, he must try to hide his growing obsession. |
| 2 | 30 | June and Darryl accidentally transform Scratch’s ectoplasm into a living being. |
| 2 | 31 | Scratch’s family and friends imagine what his life might have been. |
| 2 | 32 | Darryl and Scratch run a magic show scheme and are challenged to a magic-off by a rival magician. |
| 2 | 33 | Scratch uses a curse to take away Molly’s fear. |
| 2 | 34 | When Principal O’Connor makes Darryl join a team sport, Darryl creates an esports team. |
| 2 | 35 | Scratch stresses about getting Molly the perfect gift, while Molly crafts a winter wonderland for the seniors. |
| 2 | 36 | Determined to have the perfect day, Molly asks Scratch to cast a time-loop curse so she can fix every mistake when her day keeps going wrong. |
| 2 | 37 | Molly and Scratch must find a way to stop Jinx from taking over the human world. |
| 2 | 38 | A flood of lost memories forces Scratch to make big decisions about his afterlife. |
This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.