Ten Reasons Why Psych is the Best
- Charlie Finstrom
- Apr 24, 2019
- 7 min read
"Gus don't be exactly half of an eleven-pound black forest ham" *Spoiler warning*
Psych is a classic. Following in the footsteps of Monk, Criminal Minds, and Saturday Night Live, creator Steve franks has created a perfect blend of comedy, romance and action in this dramady tv show on USA Network. The show follows Shawn Spencer (James Roday) and his life-long best friend Burton Guster aka Gus (Dulé Hill) as they help solve cases for the Santa Barbra Police Department. Shawn spencer growing up with a detective father, Henry Spencer (Corbin Bernsen) has gained a very keen eye for solving cases and after convincing the SBPD that he is a psychic, Gus and he work under the close watch of chief Karen Vick (Kristen Nelson) alongside head detective Carlton Lassiter (Timothy Omundson) and his partner Juliet O’Hara (Maggie Lawson) to solve cases ranging from a murder is a small town to a notorious serial killer.
So lets get started, shall we? (in no particular order) PSYCHO's unite!
1. The Pineapples
Did you know that there is a pineapple in (almost) EVERY SINGLE EPISODE OF PSYCH. Don’t believe me? Watch them and keep your eyes open. They are spread throughout the series sometimes as simply as being placed in a fruit bowl or a lot trickier like in a pineapple upside down cake or as the main feature on Henry's race shirt he makes Shawn wear in "Down the Stretch Comes Murder".
Also, the pineapple was originally just an adlib. While filming the pilot episode actor James Roday saw a prop pineapple in the kitchen and decided to grab the pineapple and ask Gus if he should, “slice this up for the road” as they were preparing to head off for their first investigation. They liked the adlib so much they just had to keep it!
If you don't want to rewatch the entire series to find all of the pineapples here is a psycho ran site that will point them out for you.
2. The Strong Female Leads
Chief Vick alone resonates girl power, having to fight for her position and respect as a woman in the work force but also having a baby in season one and not missing a beat! Also in seasons 1 and 2 she is refereed to as the inter-room Chief and at the end of season two steps down from her position because the mayor had not promoted her to Chief of police yet and was done waiting around. So in the final scene after getting a call from the mayor, she goes on to tell that she had just been offered the chief of police position! "I can sit here all night, Betty. I have a sixth month old at home who still has colic. I consider this a reprieve."
Also, can we talk about Juliet for a minute! This girl is amazing, moving from Miami to Santa Barbra to become Junior detective, and later with the approval of Chief Vick DEMANDS Carlton gives her the respect she deserves by being lead on a case. Also, how many times she has gotten into a struggle with the bad guy and came out on top. For example in Scary Sherry when Jules overcomes Alice Bundy even though Alice has an ax in the beginning of the fight, “You are under arrest you crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy bitch!”
Can you say GIRL POWER!?
3. The Theme Song
“I know you know” that this is a really addictive song.
Not only does this theme song perfectly summarize Shawn’s point of view but it was also performed by the creators! That’s right the band that created this song, The Friendly Indians, is the band of the creators Steve Franks and writer Tim Meltreger.
Also, you’re not a true psych-o if you can’t name the specialty episode based on the different way the theme song is plays #truefacts. Ranging from the Christmas and Bollywood versions to the creepier duel spires and heeeere's lassie versions and many more!
Heres the full list enjoy having this song stuck in your head for the rest of the week!
4. The Bromance
James Roday's Shawn Spencer and Dule Hill's Burton Guster has one of the best bromances I have seen in a long time. Their friendship drove the show in a buddy cop film from the 80's way, but in a generation that has had time to come around to the idea of it.
Their relationship is one for the ages and is never more evident then in the final season, where the show struggles to wrap up Gus's story. Even though all throughout the show Gus is looking to have a "normal" life, but realizes that what really matters is his friendship and that he is better off with Shawn than he ever would be on his own.
You know that's right (here are some of the best Shawn and Gus moments from Psych: the movie)
5. The Psych-outs
It is very common for tv shows or movies to have bloopers or deleted scenes in their DVD's, but it is way less common for shows to keep these intentionally to air along side of your series. WELL...Psych did it.
Over the course of Psych's eight season the show has put together over two and a half hours of "Psych-outs." These are bloopers and deleted scenes or jokes that were released either on the official USA Network website or airing at the end of the episode.
I wont say too much more but if you think psych is funny you HAVE to watch these. They include many takes different jokes the cast has tried or takes of them breaking into song and dance.
Here's the link
7. The Catchphrases
Psych is KNOWN for the catchphrases and call-outs to earlier episodes. Some have started as adlibs and some have been written in but either way they are some of the best I have ever heard and will forever make me laugh.
Here we go:
The long running never changing ones:
* Either Gus or Shawn saying "Suck it," "C'mon son," or (high-pitched) "whaaaatt"
* Gus's go to conversation starter, "You heard about Pluto? That's messed up"
* Shawn's: "I'm sensing something" (followed by some obscure movement), "wait for iiiiiitttt", and a very dramatic "ME"
* Gus's "You must be outta yo damn mind," "Its a company car, shawn!" and "I hear that"
*Also "the blueberry"
Next some of the top "Gus don't be......"
* "a rabid porcupine"
* "this crevice in my arm"
* "A giant snapping turtle"
* "The comma in Earth, Wind & Fire" (in the movie)
* "such a gloomy you"
* "The one game at chucky cheese's that isn't broken"
* "The American adaption of the British Gus"
* "The only black lead on a major cable network"
* "A gooey chocolate chip cookie"
* "The ribs that flip over Fred Flintstones's car"
(and many more)
Also throughout the show Shawn gets into a habit of introducing Gus with many different aliases, including but not limited to:
"Gus 'silly pants' Jackson"
"Gus T.T. Showbiz" (the extra T is for talent)
"Chesterfield McMillan and wife"
"Shawn" (no affiliation)
"MC Clap Yo Handz"
"A Playa Named Gus"
"Trending Ontwitter"
For the full list of Gus's nicknames
8. The Specialty/ Theme Episodes
Where do I even start? There are SO many theme episodes its amazing! These theme episodes were something that really started to define the series in a sense. From "American Duos" to "Duel Spires" to "Psych: The Musical" there is almost nothing the show didn't pay tribute to.
Here's a list of some of those episodes (In no particular order):
* 100 Clues (1985's Clue) "It's a secret party, it's a secret party." Thank you James and Dulé for that and the chocolate dance, it will be forever remembered in my mind.
* Duel Spires (Twin Peaks) Did you know that about half of the original cast of Twin Peaks made guest appearances in this episode!
*Psych: The Musical, in a true musical form psych pulled off one of their biggest episodes ever, beautifully tying up a long held plot thread. Not only were all of the songs originals, but it is really fun to watch.
* Murder?... Anyone?.... Anyone?.... Bueller? Not only did the show end in true "The Breakfast Club" fashion with the episode ending in Gus's narration like Brian's letter on behalf of the group, and Shawn pumping his fist like Bender after walking through a field, but throughout the episode Shawn, Gus and other characters make reference to numerous John Hughes movies.
* The Polarization Effect (It's A Wonderful Life) This episode featuring Tony Cox as Shawn's guardian angel gives us a glimpse into Shawn's mind that we all needed, showing how he feels the other characters would be living if he were to not return to Santa Barbara.
Here are some more theme episodes
9. The Supporting Cast
I love so much how the show doesn't just revolve around the lives of Shawn and Gus but also involves the other reappearing cast as well. Episodes like "Rob-A-Bye Baby" where the story revolves around Shawn and Gus have to find a babysitter for Chief Vick, "Cirque Du Soul" where Lassie and Marlowe reunite, but have difficulties upon meeting her parole officer who has it out for Lassie, and in "Scary Sherry," "Juliet Takes a Luvvah," and "Talk Derby to Me" the episodes revolve around Juliet going undercover to solve a case. These episodes and many more are all perfect examples of how Psych gives a well rounded feel to every single one of their main cast members.
Also can I mention how well Psych did at involving relationship development into the series. Take for example the relationship that Shawn has with his dad, while sometimes a little odd, they go from being estranged to having an actual, and sometimes loving relationship. In the episode where Henry gets shot, it shows Shawn walking along side his cart as they wheel him into surgery giving a sense of comic relief saying "90% of gunshot wounds are psychological" then goes on to say "you gotta save him, that's my dad in there" showing how much he actually does care.
10. The Romance
I know what your thinking, #Shules is a classic "will they or wont they" romance, and yes that is true, but riddle me this, have you ever seen so much romantic tension and build up? I mean "very close talking" how badly did you just want them to kiss, come on.
Also the show did a very good job of not letting the romance side-plot distract from the main plot, while giving it well deserving times in the spot light, they also did a good job of letting it fade into the background when necessary.
Lastly when Shawn and Juliet did (finally) get together the show did a very good job with their relationship development--i.e Gus finding out, Lassie and eventually the Chief finding out, then when Juliet found out that Shawn wasn't actually psychic. They spaced these events out perfectly. It wasn't moved along so fast as to where the relationship became stagnant for the rest of the series, and it didn't prolong it to the point where it distracted from the main plot and dragged throughout the entire series. Shawn and Juliet definitely had their ups and downs, especially when Juliet found out Shawn's secret.
You cant tell me you didn't at least think about crying when Shawn Proposed.
"We are a we, we are an us, we are lovers in the night time so we support each other even when we make questionable decisions" (Psych: The Movie)
コメント