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All I can say is: YES OMFG PSYCH IS BACK ON!!!!


Sigh, after a few month hiatus the new season of Psych premiered last week and it was pretty good. The episode itself featured an overall dark and mysterious feeling and had a clever plot twist in the end.


Not that I’m impressed with plot twist, I just wasn’t expecting it at all. I had a suspicion that Shawn had something to do with the haunted house, but the fact that he was behind the entire scheme from the start really surprised me.


The atmosphere between Shawn and his parents was an another good addition and it gave us the opportunity to get into his background.


In general, I enjoyed the premiere and hopefully the rest of the season is as good as this one was.


Links: Official Site | IMDB | Wikipedia | Episode Summary

Ah, Psych. You can’t imagine the joy that went through my heart on Tuesday night when I saw the promo for the Psych Christmas Special. Although I would prefer a Burn Notice special (or at least a cameo!), Psych was also on my Xmas list. We get to meet Gus’ parents for the first time (played by Keith David and Phylicia Rashad) as coincidentally they were charged with the murder this week of an ornery neighbor.

I was quite impressed to hear the Psych theme song re-recorded for the holidays. I don’t write much about the opening theme songs of shows (and how little they are used these days) but I think this change to the classy tune was well done.

The most obvious overlying story arch has to be Shawn’s relationship ladder leap in the previous episode; he is still silently obsessed with Jules. Psych has done surprisingly well so far without the presence of any major plot driving device and I wouldn’t be disappointed if the writers stayed away from any Shawn and Jules relationship (unfortunately, though, I am not able to turn back time).

Thus, I feel the beginning to the Shawn and Jules relationship started with this episode. For the first time (that I can remember), the writers have given Jules a personal life (a necessary precursor to any relationship). I’m not saying they’ll be together very soon, as several other standard TV relationship practices must occur before Jules realizes she has feelings for Shawn. I’ll sum it up in 5 stages (with no explanation): 1) Hatred, 2) Jealousy, 3) Realization 4) Forgiveness and finally 5) Awkwardness.

Although the stockings were hung and the halls were well decked, Psych’s special wasn’t filled with Christmas cheer. Formulaic, the detective work seemed fairly standard while the jokes were few and far between.

But hey I can’t complain too much, as an average Psych is better than not having it at all.

Links: Official Site | IMDB | Wikipedia | More Reviews | Episode Summary

Technorati Tags: Psych, USA+Network

In Psych’s finale (titled Bounty Hunters), the widower hires a bounty hunter (played by Kevin Sorbo) to help solve the case. Not wanting to feel left out, Shawn and Gus also try to find this suspect in hopes of the $50,000 reward. If you aren’t aware, one of the most popular professions that boys want to do when they get older (outside of comic book hero and secret agent) is that of a bounty hunter (by the way, these dreams don’t change as we age).

I apologize but I have to get something off of my chest; the last scene of the finale really pissed me off. The relationship between Shawn and Jules thus far has just been, well, non-existent. Only in passing has Shawn flirted with Jules and sometimes she gives him some kind of ‘look’ in return. However, at the end of the episode (and completely out of no-where) Shawn leans over and attempts to kiss Jules, like she had been wanting it all along.

Well ladies and gents, that is what is commonly referred to as the Ladder Theory. Shawn attempted to jump ladders with Jules and fortunately fell off completely ( he got shut down). If that romantic moment had occurred between Shawn and Jules, then I believe it would be the beginning of Psych’s demise.

In order for any romantic interest between Shawn and Jules to work, the writers must 1) ease it in over a series of 5-6 episodes and 2) have it occur in such a way that wouldn’t make the audience uncomfortable.

The finale wasn’t anything spectacular and for the most part it was quite predictable (but still entertaining). This ½ season ended on such a sour note with that awkward moment between Shawn and Jules that I have a hard time putting it behind me.

Bah, be gone Psych and don’t come back until January!

Notable References:
*Tango and Cash
*Judge Reinhold (and how much he was a disappointment when Shawn and Gus met him)

Links: Official Site | IMDB | Wikipedia | More Reviews | Episode Summary

Technorati Tags: Psych, USA+Network

Psych reminds of Rex Grossman (I’m a Bear’s fan) and what every media outlet dubs him as either Good Rex or Bad Rex (which after a while gets real fucking old). With an original air date of August 17, this episode of Psych did not disappoint (Good Psych). Gus plays the role of the psychic to fool his Uncle Burton (played by John Amos), which adds a surprisingly good secondary plot line. Possibly the best scenes this week were when Uncle Burton made fun of Shawn as the assistant and Shawn would then flip the criticism back at Gus.

Shawn had to let Gus take the lead when Uncle Burton was around but then be the psychic when Detective Lassiter or Jules was present. Hilarity ensues when everyone was in the same room because the writers did an all star job maintaining the balance between complexity and confusion.

The plot involved Shawn and Gus finding the person who poisoned a food critic (original enough, not exactly unique). Shawn uses his ‘psychic ability’ to get himself a job as an astrological forecaster (underlying jokes aside) and Shawn bases his horoscopes on people he knows in real life. Because of this Lassiter walks backward into doorways and Jules thinks her true love is Shawn because he is wearing an Apple Jacks T-Shirt (I don’t remember a better set-up to a joke in Psych to date).

The episode of Psych this week was an original idea for a plot, and in all it was pretty decent. Again there have been better episodes this season, but I will take this episode over some of the trash I’ve seen this season (Bad Psych).

Technorati Tags: Psych, Rex+Grossman, John+Amos

Unlike the previous week’s episode of Psych, this week (original air date August 10) started off fairly good. I love obscure references to both old school television series and rare movies; Psych usually has a fair share of both (some more obscure than ever). This time Gus and Shawn had a lot of random CHiPs references, as well as a very well timed Footloose reference.

The case this week is about a dead jockey, with the suspect as an old bully of Gus and Shawn. I’d have to say though that I really don’t care that much about who killed whom in this episode, as it wasn’t really that hard to know who did it. Maybe it is after watching years of Law and Order, but I swear I can pick out the culprit better than anyone. I’m enjoying everything else in the episode though.

I know it is too easy, but I really like short people jokes (who doesn’t?). Even more than that, I enjoyed Shawn’s critique of his father’s wardrobe while at the track. Not that I know anything about fashion (I don’t) but I’ve witnessed my fair share of horrible tourist/gambler shirts at casinos; they are all pretty bad looking. I think the only reason people buy those shirts is they are able to wear them where no one they know can see them. I too enjoying being retarded when I know no one I know could judge me.

Almost lost in the commotion at the end of the episode was Shawn using a Wikipedia reference with Gus; the first time I’ve heard any entertainment show (outside of Colbert Report) bring up Wikipedia as a source. I also enjoyed the randomness of the real murderer offering buttons (wtf buttons?); buttons have always been just plain awkward (more in my Random Thoughts later).

Overall I enjoyed the episode, although lately it has been hit or miss. I think I’d prefer if Psych stayed at a consistent above-average level, instead of being half really good and half somewhat bad.

Technorati Tags: Psych, CHiPs, Footloose, Law+and+Order, Colbert+Report, Wikipedia,

From the opening scene I could tell this wasn’t going to be Psych’s best episode. We see a replay of Shawn and Gus’ childhood where they are racing their bikes. Usually this has some relevance to their case later in the episode, but this time it was completely useless (they unsuccessfully tried to incorporate it later). Going from the replay and back to real time, Shawn and Gus race desk chairs down the hallway at the Police Station. Was I the only one who thought that it wasn’t funny? If you ever want to know when I feel that comedy is being forced upon us, this scene is a good example.

The only scene I truly enjoyed was when Gus got his car pimped out and he got pulled over for sitting in the driver seat by one of the inept police officers under Detective Lassiter (racial profiling in this case can provide comedy).

The villain in the show was also annoyingly cheesy, but the plot was okay. We didn’t get to see much of the villain, but when he did get screen time Shawn used the smirk on his face to conclude that he was involved in the crime much deeper than originally thought. I personally believe the plot line itself was OK, but I don’t really watch Psych because solely because of the plot. I like witty writing that uses the full strengths of both the actors and the characters they portray to form around the storyline. That just didn’t happen in this episode.

This episode wasn’t as poor as the premiere, but it fell far enough away from the norm for my tastes. Hopefully the coming week’s episodes are going to be as good as the 2^nd and 3^rd episodes of the season, but right now it is up in the air. It is a shame too, because there really isn’t anything else good to watch on Friday nights.

Technorati Tags: Psych, USA+Network

This episode of Psych, cleverly titled “Psy vs Psy,” pits two psychics against each other when the Feds come into town to help solve a money laundering case. Probably the best episode so far this season, I really felt involved as Shawn had an extremely difficult time trying to show up the attractive Fed psychic.

Although I had a good feeling who the murderer was in the end, I don’t know if that was because I’m such a good detective or if the writers of the show intentionally made it that way (I think it is the former). Needless to say, I would have been confused had the episode ended differently.

One problem I had with the episode was how polarized Detective Lassiter acted toward the male Treasury agent. For the first half of the episode Lassiter acted overwhelmed, until (somewhat randomly) he has bad feelings toward the agents because they are interfering in his case.

That sudden switch reminds me of an episode of Scrubs, when J.D. switches to the other side of the argument to avoid Carla’s anger. John Dorian says that Carla would be unable to handle a patient because she was already looking after Kelso’s patient. Carla gets angry; but before she has the opportunity to yell at both of them, J.D. sidles himself over to the other side. Dr. Dorian then starts to yell at Kelso and everything is normal.

I believe the best way to solve my problem would be to just have Lassiter dislike the Federal agents from the beginning. It gets rid of the poor transition and although it is unoriginal, but it works. Other than that though I’d have to say that my fears have been put to rest regarding Psych from what I mentioned previously. I can’t wait for next week.

My favorite quote of the episode:

Gus: If you want to beat her, then we actually have to work the case. Utilize my knowledge. You know I have a coin collection. I’ve studied tender from around the world. I have over 85 different buffalo head nickels, Shawn.

Shawn: Okay first of all, and this is key, don’t ever under any circumstances ever admit that to anyone outside of these walls.

Technorati Tags: Shawn+Spencer, Pysch, Detective+Lassiter, Scrubs

Psych normally airs on Friday night, but I usually have to DVR it and watch it later Sunday because of my busy schedule. I probably could have watched it Friday night, but I was putting it off because of the bad second season premiere.

The season premiere was far from good. Sure, it had its laughs but the writers shied away from their winning formula. Usually, Detective Lassiter (played by Timothy Omundson) is the blunt of Shawn’s (the psychic) jokes, with Gus (the sidekick) trying to avoid doing as much detective work as possible. However, the season premier had Shawn (played by James Roday)and Gus (Played by Dulé Hill) double-team Lassiter with little plot or detective work and all jokes. The episode was mildly funny, but it was probably the worst Psych episode to date and having it start the season put an uneasy feeling in me. The difference between the season 2 premier and every other episode reminded me of the creative inequality seen in the first few seasons of the Simpsons, compared with the last 10 seasons. Another example is the quality difference found in the first 16 episodes of Aqua Teen Hunger Force and the rest of the series. Simpsons and ATHF have lost their edge and I did not want this to happen to Psych.

Fortunately, the second episode of the season was back to normal with the spectacular writing and acting I had come to expect. Lassiter was on a ‘literal’ hot streak of solving cases, causing Shawn and Gus to receive little work. I will leave out the episode summary but Shawn’s off-the-wall discovery which, as always, turns out to be correct brought great dialogue and an exciting ending. Not the best Psych episode, but compared to last week’s abysmal premiere this episode was pretty good. I’m happy Psych is back on track, although I shouldn’t expect every episode to be as fantastic as I’m used to.

I can hope though, and I’ll be watching next week (it’s already set on my DVR).

Technorati Tags: Psych, USA+Network, Simpsons, ATHF, Aqua+Teen+Hunger+Force, Timothy+Omundson, James+Roday, Dule+Hill