Psych, a show that truly stands out against any other show I’ve watched, and wildly outranks any show I’ve seen from the 2000s. Psych is a detective comedy-drama that aired from 2006 to 2014 on the USA Network. It follows our main dynamic (and insanely humorous) duo, Shawn Spencer and Burton “Gus” Guster, who have known each other since childhood, as they aid the SBPD—Santa Barbara Police Department—to solve murder mysteries over the course of 121 episodes, including the two-hour long Psych: The Musical, and followed by 3 movies. Shawn Spencer, who is a hyper-observant, yet albeit childish, “psychic” detective and Burton Guster, a nerdy pharmaceutical salesman—who has unfortunate luck with the ladies—solve cases after starting their “psychic detective agency” called “Psych”.
The show has a plethora of emotional ups and downs, and numerous nerdy references and special easter eggs. A key symbol of the show is a pineapple, which is sneakily hidden in every single episode. As Shawn and Gus solve cases, they’re joined by multiple other characters, more prominently Juliet O’Hara and Carlton “Lassie” Lassiter. Carlton Lassiter is a stone-faced detective who dislikes Shawn and Gus’s antics, but warms up to them by the finale. He works as an on-the-job partner to Juliet O’Hara, a sweet, lighthearted but assertive, female detective at the SBPD who has romantic tension with Shawn Spencer, that may or may not be acted upon. The chief of the SBPD, Karen Vick, also makes a common appearance in the show and movies, and is the one who initially recruits Shawn as the “head psychic detective of the SBPD” in the beginning of the show. Another main and recurring character is Shawn’s father, Henry Spencer, whom he doesn’t share the best relationship with.
The comedy is a big part of what makes this show so great. Shawn and Gus’s interactions throughout the show always make me laugh and were majorly ahead of their time. Shawn introduces Gus by a new name each time they interview a suspect or witness. Many fans refer to Gus by these nicknames as a humorous inside joke. Just a few of my favorite ones are, “Sh’Dynasty”, “Lavender Goomz”, “Gus TT Showbiz” and “Gus sillypants Jackson”. These names are typically partnered with a silly and witty remark as Gus plays alongside them, like the scene in which Gus is introduced as Sh’Dynasty.
Suspect: “Excuse me, who are you?”
Shawn: “Shawn Spencer. That (pointing to Gus) is my partner Sh’Dynasty.”
Shawn: “It is spelled S-H-comma-to-the-top-Dynasty.”
Suspect: “Comma to the top?”
Gus: “That’s a god’s comma.”
(Season 6, Episode 16, Psych)
With all this being said, I think the thing that truly makes Psych such an amazing show is the characters. Not only are they funny, but they have personalities that make you feel attached to them, and find yourself relating to the issues and feelings they have. Alongside that, they grow along with the show, and you see a lot of character development in not just the characters themselves—but their relationships with other characters as well. Take Henry Spencer and Shawn for example. They share a complex relationship with tons of daddy issues and bad communication from Shawn’s childhood. Shawn blames his father for his parents’ divorce and for the way that he turned out. Over the course of the show they grow closer and their bond gets better, and you really see the way they interact with each other and understand one another as the show progresses.
With all this being said, I can confidently say that Psych truly is the best show of all time, in many aspects, and it’s truly an unforgettable show. I recommend you watch it if you can find the time, it’s available on both Peacock and Prime Video. Happy streaming!
