Light-hearted US crime procedural series Psych follows Shawn Spencer, played by James Roday, who is used the Santa Barbara Police Department to solve crimes. With his heightened observational skills, Spencer spots the small details that everyone else misses and uses these skills to solve crimes, but pretends he uses psychic abilities instead. Think of a more twee version of The Mentalist and you get the idea.
Shawn is joined by his business partner Burton “Gus” Guster (Dulé Hill). With this third season, the two leads now know their parts inside out and bounce off each other well, particularly during the episodes’ many comic moments. Roday in particular seems to be relishing the role as he delivers Shawn’s many quips and sarcastic comments with obvious delight, and the bond between the pair helps lift even the most case-of-the-week out of mediocrity.
Alongside the two leads, Shawn’s father Harry (Corbin Bernsen) gets involved with many of the cases, in particular an episode where his most famous case is overturned. The interactions between Harry and Shawn are always highlights of the episodes, ringing true of many typical father/son relationships.
However, the rest of the team – Carlton Lassiter (Timothy Omundson), Juliet O’Hara (Maggie Lawson) and Karen Vick (Kirsten Nelson) – often seem surplus to requirements. Lassiter spends most of his time chasing after women, while O’Hara seems to be filling the pretty blonde woman role. It’s a shame that, while half of the show’s regulars are so fleshed out and believable, the remaining three cast members fill such clichéd police officer roles.
Amongst the third season’s guest stars are Glee’s Jane Lynch as Chief Vick’s sister, while Lost’s Jeff Fahey appears as a daredevil who is being targeted, while Mykelti Williamson of 24 fame pops up as a football coach. Cybil Shepherd also makes a recurring guest role as Shawn’s mother Madeleine, giving viewers some welcome insight into where Shawn’s skills came from.
Unlike other contemporary detective shows, Psych is refreshingly not always about murders, with treasure-hunting and ghost-hunting storylines in Season 3. The former, titled ‘The Greatest Adventure In The History Of Basic Cable, is a particular highlight and has an air of National Treasure about it as Shawn, Gus, Henry and Shawn’s uncle Jack search for some missing coins.
Viewers who like a bit of grit and gore in their crime procedural shows might find their minds wondering, but if you’re looking for a cop drama that doesn’t take itself too seriously, Psych should be right up your street.
Released on DVD on Monday 21st February 2011 by Universal.