Written By Steve
Score: 6/10 (Decent!)
Bottom Line: Watch It
To-The-Point: Psych returns for its third season with many changes in store. With a different time period for the opening flashback, Shawn breaking the law, and a few emotional moments, Psych takes some risks but almost falls flat.
Complete Truth: Psych is one of my guilty pleasures; I enjoy watching the show, but I can't quite explain to others why. The mysteries are usually just average, there isn't much suspense or action, and the humor tends to rely on obscure pop culture references that target a small demographic. However, I have seen every episode so far (including the unnecessary kid-friendly cartoon shorts) and I've been hankering to find out what would happen to Shawn and his father after the Season 2 cliffhanger - spoiler ahead, so either close your eyes or drive to the store and buy season 2 (just not both at the same time) - involving the surprising return of Shawn's mother, Madeleine.
"Ghosts" begins with a flashback to a different era of Shawn's life - his high school years, or as I like to call them, hell on earth. We finally get to witness Shawn's only arrest by his father, Henry, which leads to an attempt by the director to pass off actor James Roday as a teenager by slapping a wig on him (if it works on Corbin Bernsen, it has to work for James, right?), some comical angst-filled dialogue, and a peak at a rookie version of Lassiter.
We soon discover amidst Furby and Square Pegs shout-outs that Shawn is dealing with many issues in his life, including the return of his mother, solving a haunted house investigation, and discovering that Gus is being forced to quit the Psych Detective Agency because of his bosses at Central Coast Pharmaceuticals. With Henry busy trying to win back his ex-wife and Lassiter undergoing a psych evaluation by Madeleine, Shawn must prove to himself that he can save Gus while trying to understand his parent's relationship.
Now, I'll use my psychic ability to reveal that...wow, is that lamp a naked chick?
The Season 3 premiere of Psych follows the typical formula of past episodes, with a familiar case (ghosts have already been done twice before ), quirky banter between Shawn and Gus, and a couple of B-stories that flesh out the characters. The humor here maintains the balance that has defined the series, alternating between slapstick physical antics and witty back-and-forth ranging from clever to obscure to potty-mouth. A huge mistake with this episode, however, is the focus on secondary characters that provide no comedy whatsoever. Christopher McDonald a.k.a. Shooter McGavin is essentially wasted throughout with boring narrative bits, while Cybill Shepherd performs admirably but sucks the humor out of every scene she appears in. Not only do characters such as the maid fall completely flat, but they also steal time away from Jules and Chief Vick, who barely appear at all.
Since "Ghosts" merely offered the standard range of comedy that provides smiles but not laughs, the episode relied entirely on the mystery to elevate the proceedings into becoming a memorable episode. Here, however, is where everything completely falls apart. I won't ruin anything for you, but take comfort in realizing that there is no climatic reveal. Actually, I don't know how you could take comfort in that statement - it actually causes quite a case of mild discomfort. Instead, we are left disappointed and blue-balled with a nonsensical explanation that is selfish, riddled with plot holes, and actually presents evidence that they never even revealed to the audience prior to Shawn's accusations.
Besides tedious B-stories and a misguided mystery, "Ghosts" also taints the return of Psych by altering the light-hearted tone that attracted me to the show in the first place. I don't have a problem with further developing characters or story arcs that encompass multiple episodes, as my favorite shows include Scrubs and How I Met Your Mother. Unlike those shows, however, Psych has usually focused on individual episodes that are easy to digest and fun to watch, thus setting the tone for the entire series. With "Ghosts", we are awkwardly thrust into emotional and dramatic scenes (now with real tears!) that shift the entire tone of the show and disrupt the kooky antics surrounding it. There are also suspenseful moments that I appreciated - including a ghostly woman interrupted by a barking dog and a raspy-voiced phone call coming from inside the house! - but these actually work because they serve to enhance the happenings rather than disturb them.
Overall, the writing felt 'off' because of these reasons, and for also crossing the line between Shawn being likable to appearing selfish and apathetic towards others. Hopefully, Psych can regain its footing with next week's episode while finding a better balance between humor, drama, and a clever mystery. Otherwise, Psych may lose its charm and appeal - which includes Jules and Chief Vick. Bring back the sexy law enforcers!
Side Note: Miss the pineapple? It's in the fruit bowl on Henry's kitchen table when we first meet Shawn's mother.
Created by Steve Franks
Written by Steve Franks
Directed by Steve Surjik
Starring James Roday, Dule Hill, Corbin Bernsen, Kirsten Nelson, Timothy Omundson, Maggie Lawson, and Cybill Shepherd
Fridays at 10:00 pm EST on the USA Network
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