Embrace the Deception Psych Seasons 2 + 3 Review

Psych Seasons 2+3 Review
USA Network

In between the lines there's a lot of obscurity
I'm not inclined to resign to maturity
If it's all right, then you're all wrong
Why bounce around to the same damn song
You'd rather run when you can't crawl


I know, you know, that I'm not telling the truth
I know, you know, they just don't have any proof
Embrace the deception, Learn how to bend
You're worst inhibitions tend to psych you out in the end





Psych just gets funnier and funnier as you continue to watch it. Fake psychic detective Shawn Spencer (James Roday) and his partner Burton Guster (Dule Hill) continue to solve crimes, often with the assistance of Det. Carlton Lassiter and Juliet O'Hara of the Santa Barbara Police department.


Season 2

In season 2, we get to know Gus better, including meeting his family. We meet his mother, Winnie Guster (Phylicia Rashad) and father Bill (Ernie Hudson) in the Christmas episode - “Gus' Dad May Have Killed an Old Guy” and his Uncle Bernie in an episode titled “Meat Is Murder, But Murder Is Also Murder”. We also meet Gus'...wife? Mira

In this season Shawn and Gus meet a rival psychic, have to find chief Vick a nanny, have to exonerate Gus parents for murder, Shawn joins the case of a telenovela, Gus becomes a model, and a mummy is suspected in a murder.

Guest starts include Tim Curry (in a hilarious episode titled America Duos making fun of American Dreamz and American Idol), Lou Diamond Phillips, John Amos, Kevin Sorbo (from Hercules), Kerry Washington, Saul Rubenik (from Warehouse 13), Bianca Kajlich, and Cristián de la Fuente.

This season builds upon the relationships in the first season, especially the relationship between Shawn and his father, and introduce Gus' family. At the end of season 2 there is a shocking cliffhanger, as Shawn's mother returns.

The show never skips a beat, sometimes funny, often hilarious, and always exciting to watch as Shawn and Gus stumble towards the answers in true Psych fashion.


Season 3

In season 3, we learn more about Gus and Shawn's past, even going to their High School reunion. We also see Gus' day job as a pharmaceutical salesman.

We meet Shawn's Uncle Jack (Steven Weber), his old flame Abigail, and have to revisit the biggest case of Henry (Shawn's dad's) police career. We also meet Chief Vick's sister Commander Barbara Dunlap 0f the Coast Guard (Jane Lynch). We spend Christmas with the Gusters including Gus' sister Joy (Faune A.Chmbers), Minnie (Phylicia Rashad) and Bill Guster ( Keith David).

In this season Shawn and Gus relive the 70s, solve a murder without a body, go treasure hunting, attend a sea lion funeral, join the fire department, join a pro football team, have to solve a “Friday the 13th type murder at a camp, Juliet O'Hara joins a roller derby team, Gus is taken hostage at a bank robbery, Lassiter is the prime suspect in a murder investigation, and they all get involved in a plot by serial killer Mr. Yang.

Gus' mother(Cybill Shepard) stirs things up when she has to give psych evaluations of the police officers including Lassiter.

This season Shawn's old flame Abigail(Rachel Leigh Cook) returns, and we get to see Shawn team up with Officer Juliet O'Hara as partners in “Talk Derby to me”. Their relationship continues to get closer and closer throughout the season, which helps as their on screen chemistry is electric.

This season has guest stars Rachel Leigh Cook, Cybill Shepard, Faune A. Chambers, Phylicia Rashad, Keithe David, Jane Lynch, Steven Weber, Alan Ruck, Gary Cole, Serinda Swan, Milena Govich, Bruce McGill, Mykelti Williamson,Jonathan Silverman, MacKenzie Austin, Justine Bateman, Ally Sheedy, Jimmi Simpson, Jere Burns, and Jordan Baker.

Shawn and Gus' PI agency, Psych, has a higher profile after such an extensive list of solved cases, and they end up in a lot of interesting places this season. Shawn and his dad's relationship continues to grow this season, and we finally meet his mother. We also see Juliet and Lassiter fleshed out more this season. The show is as funny as it ever has been, and this seasons guest starts are top notch, including a great turn by Jane Lynch (Glee) as chief Vick's sister.

Another great season.


Season 2
4 out of 5 stars

Season 3
5 out of 5 stars

Can't wait to watch season 4!

Psych You Out in the End: Psych Season 1 Review

 Psych: Season 1

USA Network

To be honest, the only reason I purchased Season 1 of USA's Psych was because it was on sale for 14.99. This wouldn't be the type of show I would normally buy. I'm not usually into the whole police/cop show. That being said, this is one of the funniest shows I have seen in quite some time. After I saw a few episodes, I went out and bought Seasons 2 and 3.


The show stars James Roday as Shawn Spencer and Dule Hill as Burton “Gus” Guster. The show is about a perpetual slacker (Spencer) with a photographic memory who uses this memory to convince the police that he is psychic. Shawn and Gus then start a detective agency and Shawn also convinces his clients that he's psychic. Gus is the “smart” one and the skeptic, and often assists in solving the cases using his intelligence, and always assists in getting Spencer out of trouble.


The way in which Spencer has his “visions” is often hilarious and ridiculous. He and Gus solve almost every case using his unique skill set, in which he was trained by his former police officer father when he was a child. The chemistry between Gus and Spencer is the highlight of the show, often entertaining in it's own right.


The supporting cast, police officers Carlton Lassiter and Juliet O'Hara also contribute to the entertainment of the show, O'Hara by her quiet acceptance of Spencer's abilities, and Lassiter by his complete dismissal of Gus, Spencer and his abilities (both real and imagined).


One of the most impressive aspects of the show is its utter lack of sex and violence, especially in a TV landscape filled with both.


This show reminds me of another show, Eli Stone, that ran on ABC for two seasons. In that show, though, the visions were real, and often assisted Eli in solving the cases. This show is less serious, and more humorous, though certain aspects are similar.


I look forward to the next 3 seasons of the show. Hopefully the casts can keep the chemistry and humor that they share this season.


4 out of 5 stars