Eight seasons, two movies, and a whole bunch of cases.
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Shawn Spencer (James Roday Rodriguez) isnt actually divining anything from the spirits, of course.
The real magic ofPsych, though, is how it tells the procedural format to suck it.
They never had any guaranteed money, but they sure hadguaranteed fun.
What could be more important in life?
It was so dull it inspired them to take another crack seven seasons later with Remake, a.k.a.
Cloudy … With a Chance of Improvement, an episode ranked much higher here.
The jealous receptionist did it, because green screens cant hideeverything, we guess.
The nicest thing we can say about the episode is Shawns courtroom objection to unfair surprisery.
With all those gimmicky jump scares, zombies, and tangents about the perception of reality?
This is my partner …Burton Guster Black Spencer.
120. Who Ya Gonna Call?
A waste ofGhostbustershomages, too.
This is my partner …Francois.
Game, Set … Muuurder?
Shawn realizes the shadows are in the wrong spots for the time of day.)
But dont take our word for it.
He too cant fully remember what happened.
We dont need these truth bombs!
Hes the shows worst character, nodoubtabout it.
This is my partner …Burton Trout, no relation.This is my partner …Bad News Marvin Barnes.
The betrayal is just too much for viewers.
This is my partner …Scrooge Jones.
(It goes without saying that Shawn and Gusabsolutelybelieve in wolves and were-hybrids.)
Its an easy skip.
(His acrostic motto needs work.)
Lassies mojo returns with a vengeance when the culprit shows no mercy about his impending fatherhood.
(Lets blame erosion and bad weather.)
It suffers from Psychstill working to escape its generic early season syndrome.
This one centers on aPimp My Rideesque company thats actually a front for a chop-shop and drug-smuggling operation.
One business partner kills another in a jealous rage to take it over?
Too bad you dont need to be present for nitrous oxide to work its magic.
This is my partner …Ovaltine Jenkins.
(Shawn and Gus witness the commotion when they swing by to heckle Lassies thespian chops, obviously.)
An expensive heirloom ring goes missing from a hotels safety-deposit box, and dead bodies start to follow.
(Of course, its the jealous sister who wanted the inheritance for herself.)
This is my partner …Gus.
Just call him Peter Panic.
This is my partner …Galileo Humpkins.Gus, dont be …a little girl about this, okay?
Chief Vick still gets a nanny and takes a nap.
Thats a wrap on her backstory.
(Shawn, mediocre kicker; Gus, very annoyed intern.)
Because their contracts prevented them from doing dumb shit like riding ATVs?
Its the weakest ofPsychs sports-themed episodes.
This is my partner …Dequan Smallpox Randolph.
Earth, Wind, and … At least the duo get one hell of a heroic moment when they save people from a burning building.
Truer Lies (Season 3, Episode 14)
Four words:quatro queso dos fritos.
(Felony alert.)
Yes, its hard to follow.
But the assassins are very much real?
This is my partner …Hollabackatcha.Gus, dont be …this crevice in my arm.
Gus is ladyless yet again after the ordeal, something Shawn seems a littletoopleased by.
Gus, dont be …the new Meshach Taylor.
Bye, bitch.Psychs final season begins in earnest now.
And what a link it is!
A married couple has a pretty ingenious identity-theft plan to acquire daters personal info in their speed rounds.
Its a shame they drugged one of the guys a little too much and killed him.
At least it brings Shawn and Juliet closer together.
We have to sit through some dumb drama involving global currency certificates and special-ops moles first.
Serious Shawn moment here.
I want to be happy too, Juliet overhears him admitting to Gus.
For some reason, I cant imagine that happening without Juliet.
Nothing will ever be the saaaaame!
Gus, dont be …Fine Young Cannibals cover of Suspicious Minds.
Nothing else important happens.
Gus, dont be …the one game at Chuck E. Cheese that isnt broken.
Sorry, but this aintJaws.
Gus, dont be …Leon from the Like a Prayer video.
We wish Jules got more of those moments.
This is my partner …Ghee Buttersnaps, a.k.a.
This is my partner …Ingle Woods.
Im tired of your mouth writing checks that my ass has to cash.
It may be his best disguise yet.
The only way the duo can properly investigate?
By having Shawn run for mayor, of course!
(Hill gets a requisite walk-and-talk as a nod to hisWest Wingdays.)
The stunt does nothing but remind Juliet that Shawn is a charade.
This is my partner …Bill Ofrights.
See where this is going?
He accidentally shot a jockey instead.
It isfunky, but in the musty way.
She isnt.Psychis better than that narrative cliche.
This is my partner …Django Unchained.Gus, dont be …Weepy Boy Santos.
The teams favorite taco-truck owner turns up dead R.I.P.
(On the menu this week?
Gumball soup, pudding ribs, and Froot Loops quesadillas.)
Its fitting that its going to another cop, Henry tells him, raising a new family.
Its a reminder that despite its creative riches,Psychsomehow was never able to nail a sports episode.
The episode somehow falls victim to making a treasure hunt the platonic ideal of an adventure dull.
Its a weak narrative, but who cares?
The more she thinks about the lie, the angrier she gets.
She asks Shawn to move out so they can take an indefinite break.
It sucks seeing the couples demise, but its the right thing for her to do.
This is my partner …Jonas Gustavsson.
Gus, dont be …the ribs that flip over Fred Flintstones car.
Its perfectly fine but a filler episode.
It all happens after the department connects several recent deaths of young women to a man called Mr.
He disavows his ideology when Juliet pretends to love him, right before she overpowers him at gunpoint.
It doesnt get much deeper than that.
Gus, dont be …Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Marzipan.
Nip and Suck It!
This is my partner …Blue Ivy Carter.
Its a smart creative decision that keeps Henry rooted in the station for two seasons.
This is my partner …Jonathan Jacob Jingly Smith.Gus, dont be …the ten tigers of Canton.
Luckily, her strong immune system has other plans.
Gus, dont be …Nic Cages accent fromCon Air.
Hes the worst Gus.
A true-crime-bookstore owner named Whip Chatterly (Whip … cream, was it?)
assists the guys with the investigation.
Under the influence of some moderate pain medication.
Gus, dont be …the iiiiit in Wait for iiiiit.
The novelty factor keeps things light, and everyone is clearly having a fabulous time.
This is my partner …Robert Jones, but you’re free to call him Boooooooooob.
(This isPsychs third and final holiday episode.)
Where would they all be without him, you ask?
Shawn rarely ruminates about his relationships, but when he does, its guaranteed to be a lovely moment.
Gus, dont be …Keith Sweat now.Gus, dont be …the way Eriq La Salle spells Eric.
A Touch of Sweevil (Season 8, Episode 8)
The last bit ofPsychmagic.
The new head detective is essentially Lassies female clone (I always assume that everyone is guilty,always!
she declares), making everyone realize theres no point in trying to hang on to the past.
Things reallyarechanging and ending for the show.
It doesnt take a psychic to see how much people love you, Shawn tells him.
Ask your wife, your son, your crew.
You ask them which theyd rather have, six more months with you or a million dollars.
You know damn well what theyll answer, and they wont have to think about it for a second.
This is my partner …Sports Mackintosh.Gus, dont be …an old sponge with hair hanging off it.
and a braggadocious wine investor who is murdered at a vineyard.
Wed watch this unlikely trio go club-hopping any day.
Its just as important to us earthlings!
The duos sci-fi sleuthing outfits are always a series highlight.
This is my partner …Gurton Buster.
(CustomPolice Academyuniforms are excitedly made for the occasion.)
As always, the pairs lack of basic understanding of police procedure makes for A+ entertainment.
This is my partner …Mission Figgs.
Theres Something About Mira (Season 2, Episode 11)
Surprise!
Seems like a whole lot of work for a few crates of fine merlot.
Well overlook it just for the fun flashbacks of college Gus.
Hes a slacker, a womanizer, and immensely proud of his 50-jobs-and-counting drifter lifestyle.
I finally figured out a way to use my special gift, Shawn tells his father.
You should be thrilled.
Youre the one who made me this way.
Im good at this.
If people didnt give him a chance, showrunner Franks lateradmitted, we were dead in the water.
Oh, and the whole psychic thing?
Shawn calls himself one after sensing that a desk clerk believes in such spirits.
Let the fun begin!
Shawn and Gus know one of the schools priests from their Sunday-school days (Ray Wise!
Hey, there are worseExorcisthomages than this.
This is my partner …Shawn.
Weird kid who lives down the street and eats nothing but mayonnaise on saltines?
The SBPD sure has a history of dirty employees, huh?
I totally saw it coming, Gus says when finally told, just likeLady in the Water.
Shawn gets the guy, by the way.
(Theres absolutely no doubt in my mind, he declares, that Ive been murdered.)
Its a small step forPsychbut a giant leap for Gus.
Its a bruise to Henrys ego, but it brings him and Shawn closer together.
This is my partner …Methuselah Honeysuckle.
And, dare we say it, he finally embraces the ridiculous and/or roundabout way Shawn operates.
Gus, dont be …a gloomy you.
It all ends with a pleasant twist, naturally.
(Put some respect on William Devanes and Carl Weatherss names.)
(Well let you guess who does what.)
This is my partner …Imhotep, or He Cometh in Peace.This is my partner …Control Alt Delete.
(Lassieclaimsits because his therapist wants him to try new things, but those shuffle steps and cramp rolls?
They come naturally to him, baby.)
This is my partner …Santonio Holmes.
This is my partner …Magic Head.
(A department that deals exclusively with treasures?, Shawn asks in amazement.)
Its always nice to see Santa Barbaras humble police department enjoy a victory in government one-upmanship.
Gus, dont be …a paranoid schizophrenic.
Gus, dont be …the mystery Mousketool.
ImagineWhip It,only way more murder-y and just as entertaining.
This is my partner …Longbranch Pennywhistle.
They even party at his compound until Lloyd miscalculates the situation and steals a few items.
Gus, dont be …the remake ofYours, Mine and Ours.
While Im at it, dont be the original, either.
A perfect summation of their work, no?
This is my partner …Radio Star, and Im afraid your video will kill him.
Its good fun and a good reminder to enjoy the safety of your 401(k).
Its a great redemption moment for Shawns questionable past with an able assist from Guss super-sniffer.
This is my partner …Schoonie U-Turn Singleton
41.
The episodes real fun comes from having Despereauxs true identity decided once and for all.
We cant imagine a better way to leave the character.
Gus, dont be …The Howling II: Your Sisters a Werewolf.
I dont know if Im ever gonna walk again, he tells the duo.
Welcome back, old friend.
Oh yeah, and Gus is going to be a dad!
If this is truly the last time well see these characters, its a rewarding conclusion.
Watching Shawn psychically kick ass against seasoned officers of the law never gets old.
(One guy models on a billboard outside her office; another is an old creative-writing classmate.)
Leave it to Shawn and Gus to turn the shows confines into a cute, highly enjoyable buddy vacation.
It was kind of hard to penetrate that twosome.
I mean, theyre really into each other.
This is my partner …Larenz Tate.
But what a guy Mr. Yin turns out to be!
He also gaspis Mr. Yangs father.
The profiler admits his lack of credentials, and the team still respects him after they finish the case.
The Break-Up (Season 8, Episode 10)
This is a very satisfying series finale.
Youre gonna be better than fine, Shawn tells him.
I just cant help thinking that the only problem that you really had this whole time … is me.
Oh yeah, and Shawn and Jules get engaged!
Everything is tied up as best as it can be.
What more could we want from an ending?
Chivalry Is Not Dead … Haha, just kidding.
(Hes a legacy, duh.)
Some society this is!
And you know what?
Just give in already, Henry.
Gus, dont be …a giant snapping turtle.
A long-gestating reconciliation of sorts ensues between father and son.
This is my partner …Lemongrass Gogulope.
Wed take it (again) from the top any day.
(Hockey with words, Shawn taunts.)
Anything to get into a good college though, right?
If Youre So Smart, Then Why Are You Dead?
The parallels between him and Shawn are intentional (minus the murderer part).
(You astound me.
I dont know how you do it.
You, sir, are unstoppable.)
Wed be remiss if we didnt mention that this episode also debuts Guss signature pickup line about Pluto.
Ive never lost anyone close to me before in my entire life, he yelps.
Jesus, how stupid-sad is this?
Its awful and unfair.
to get him to attend the open-casket funeral of Shabby, the Santa Barbara aquariums beloved sea lion.
This is my partner …Hummingbird Saltalamacchia.Gus, dont be …exactly half of an 11-pound Black Forest ham.
Its a transformative episode that spurs him to reevaluate his life, career, and worldview.
This is my partner …ShDynasty.
Gus, dont be…an incorrigible Eskimo Pie with a caramel ribbon.
(What are the odds?)
The killer was bound to be an avenging counselor whose father had died at the camp years ago.
(You might have actuallyundersoldthis thing, Shawn quips.)
The heightened reality makes for textbookPsychfun.
(Blood bubbling in a light fixture is … not a good sign.)
It also, yes, brings the trio closer despite the Torrance-esque rampage, becausePsychis like that.
This is my partner …Fellatio del Toro.This is my partner …Eddie Adams from Torrance.
This is my partner …Patty Simcox.Gus, dont be …a Traveling Wilbury.
Deez Nups (Season 7, Episode 7)
A game-changing episode that punches you right in the gut.
(It wouldnt be Lassiters wedding unless he apprehended one last criminal as a single man.)
Falling in love with you was never part of the plan, he explains.
Im good at what I do, and what I do is good, isnt it?
As with Dual Spires, you dont need to know the source material to thoroughly enjoy the episode.
This is my partner …Domo Arigato.Gus, dont be …the second time ever I saw your face.
Rather, he was murdered while investigating a foxy colleague who was selling encrypted data to a drug kingpin.
This is my partner …Detective Miles.Gus, dont be …the American adaptation of the British Gus.
We cant stress this enough: Everything Despereaux touches is gold.
This is my partner …Yasmine Bleeth.Gus, dont be …both Ashlee Simpson albums.
I want to talk to that cat, he implores.
As soon as hes finished licking himself.
Without further comment, heres the moment when ShawnbecomesShawn:
11.
And … so does our dear Lassie.
Watch and learn, skeptics.
This is my partner …Doughnut Holschtein.
(Gus, face.
Shawn, foot and ankle.)
Their friendship is still meaningful and #goals, of course.
(Dont worry, they still eat a lot of cinnamon.)
They were like, Youre the one who knows the show; go and venture to make this happen.
I couldnt believe we were going to do this.
(you could read the rest of the featurehere.)
This is my partner …Lodge Blackman.Gus, dont be …the scream from Holding Back the Years.
Both women are saved from inevitable death, but at what cost?
Abigail ends things for good, Juliet develops crippling PTSD, and Mr. Yin escapes into the night.
The game isnt over, which is a brutal but sometimes necessary taste of reality for thePsychworld.
(No wonder Lawson herselfconsidersit her favorite episode.)
and teach her not to, uh, physically attack every suspect.
The Scarecrow is unsuccessful.
(Photographic evidence above.)
If he could do that, he could do just about anything.
This is my partner …Lavender Gooms.
(Which is,amazingly, the real name of Hills great-aunt.)
The big reveal, that Mr. Yang is actually a middle-aged woman, earns its gasps.
This is my partner …Sterling Cooper.Gus, dont be …the last of the famous international playboys.
Extradition: British Columbia (Season 4, Episode 1)
Hello, Pierre Despereaux!
We guess ittechnicallystill makes him an art thief?
But it doesnt matter.
Shawn has a new best friend, and in 42 minutes, Despereaux becomes the stuff ofPsychlegend.
Not exactly in that order.
It was always about the characters.
