Three otherworldly women are using threads and shears to dictate people's lives. A demon explains this to another demon, and then declares that if someone where to usurp them, they could turn the world to evil. A whole slew of demons attempts this, but the women prevent them from doing so by throwing away the shears.
Demons steal shears and scissors from random people, and then show up around an antique sale, where the magical shears are. The demons run rampant, and then the Ghostbusters (who were practicing identifying ghosts and demons) get called. They start zapping at the demons, who throw clothes at them and then teleport away. They leave, with Ray fixing his proton pack which broke, and the three women from the beginning note that they must find the shears or else humanity is in danger.
When they get to the firehouse, they find it crawling with demons. The Ghostbusters start firing at the demons, but then Ray drops the scissors he used to cut the tape he fixed the proton pack with, which turn out to be the magical shears. A demon scoops them up and reveals his evil intentions, then the demons go away. Then, the three women show up and introduce themselves as the Fates. They explain that they need the shears returned to them lest demons control humanity's destiny. Then, the Fates send the Ghostbusters to the Underworld.
There, they start tracking the shears and find the River Styx. They have to cross it, but the ferryman demands some precious material in return. The Ghostbusters give him a sandwich from Ray and a lucky rabbit's foot from Winston, so he lets them ride in his boat.
Then, the Ghostbusters find the biggest demon, the Lord of Evil, declaring he will control everyone's destinies, starting with those of the Ghostbusters. The Ghostbusters fight off some demons, and then run and get the shears, but find themselves on the level above them. With time ticking, they have to jump down, and they land back in New York. Then, they return the shears to the Fates.
This episode provides examples of
- All Up to You: Upon arriving after the demons escape with the prize, the Fates task the guys with retrieving the shears, saying all of humanity is on the line.
- Astonishingly Appropriate Interruption: Upon getting into the Underworld, Winston says, "So this is..." and Peter says, "Swell!".
- Big "WHAT?!": The guys jump off an upper level just as their hour in the Underworld runs out, arriving back in front of the firehouse for a mostly decent landing. Peter congratulates Egon for timing it out so perfectly, only to do this when Egon reveals he didn't actually calculate their chances. He then faints when Egon says he simply crossed his fingers.
- Card-Carrying Villain: One demon wants the world turned to evil.
- Does Not Like Spam: The ferryman complains about always getting white bread.
- Ethereal White Dress: The threads of fate are woven by three otherworldly women in white dresses.
- Evil Gloating: When the demon in the cape steals the shears, he boasts about how he's going to use them to control the destiny of mankind. Peter bemoans how there is always a speech from characters like this, but Egon wants to hear more so they can get a handle on what they're dealing with.
- Faint in Shock: The antique salesman passes out when he sees the demons, and so does Peter upon finding out that Egon didn't know that they'd be safe.
- The Ferryman: Upon arriving at the River Styx, the guys are greeted by the Ferryman and told they need only meet his price in order to cross. Unfortunately, the guys don't have more lavish items like gold or silver on hand, not even a crummy decoder badge. All Ray has is a white bread cheese sandwich, while Winston offers his lucky rabbit's foot. The Ferryman begrudgingly takes these items.
- Flashy Teleportation: When the demons teleport, it makes a noise.
- Godzilla Threshold: Jumping down from the upper level was dangerous, but the Ghostbusters had to do it anyway because humanity's destinies were at stake.
- Greater-Scope Villain: The Lord of the Stench commands the mooks and personally claims the shears, but he then says that he serves an even more powerful villainous overlord.Winston: The Lord of Evil?
Peter: Yeah, but I'll bet he can't dance to save his soul. - Hair of Gold, Heart of Gold: The Fates want what's best for humanity, and they're all blonde.
- "I Can't Look!" Gesture: Ray covers his eyes as he falls.
- Last-Second Joke Problem: Humanity is saved... but Peter's unconscious from shock.
- Let Us Never Speak of This Again: While going across the River Styx, Peter questions why the Ferryman doesn't just catch some fish if he's so hungry. Upon seeing one of the deformed fish in the river (and it talking to him), Peter and Egon agree they're glad they didn't see that.
- Light Is Good: The Fates don't want evil to dictate human lives, and they wear white.
- Mondegreen Gag: When Egon says "the River Styx", Peter thinks that he said "the river stinks" and notes that it does smell terrible.
- Mythology Gag: Upon reaching the Underworld, Peter says, "People are always saying I should come here", referencing him being told to "burn in Hell" in the original movie.
- Names to Run Away from Really Fast: One demon is the Lord of Evil.
- Noodle Incident: The ferryman says, upon getting Ray's sandwich, "White bread? Why is it always white bread?!", indicating that other people have given him bread before.
- Not So Stoic: Egon screams when Winston swerves.
- Pre-Asskicking One-Liner: Before doing the "seismic ripple" on the demons, Egon says, "Let's bust 'em".
- Pun: When Egon says, "Good old terra firma!", Ray says, "Yes — the more firmer, the less terror!".
- Race Against the Clock: The Ghostbusters only have a limited amount of time before the demons take over.
- Red Eyes, Take Warning: One of the demons has red eyes.
- Speak in Unison: When Egon says, "Nothing here is exactly what it seems," Peter and Winston say in unison, "Right!".
- Spell My Name with a "The": One demon is called the Lord of Evil.
- Sucks at Dancing: Discussed when Peter quips that the Lord of Evil probably can't dance.
- This Is Gonna Suck: Upon hearing that the Fates need the shears, Winston says, "I don't like the sound of this".
- This Is the Part Where...: When Ray is knocked out, Peter tells Egon that this would be the part where Egon thinks of a plan.
- Threads of Fate: The Fates use magical thread to determine the length and direction of people's lives.
- Underworld River: The River Styx runs through the Netherworld, and the team needs to bargain with its ferryman to cross it.
- The Weird Sisters: The Fates, of course. Barring different hairstyles, all three look alike and are young. When the demons attack, they send the shears away into time and space, kickstarting the plot. After the demons finally get it, the Fates task the Ghostbusters with getting the shears back.
- You Fool!: The run in the Legion of the Stench bemoans being tasked with stealing shears and thread. The Lord of Stench shouts this in response, explaining just how important those objects are.
