User reviews

Still to this day ranks up there as one of the best episodes of all TV.

I'm not sure what the few bad reviews of late are talking about. This is literally the best episode of the show out of 8 seasons. It's a little more on the serious side which is something we aren't use to but it really lands. The last episode built to this point now we're full in. Plus jimmy simpson is amazing as always. This is the episode that really launches the show into elite tier. The next 3 seasons are just pure perfection and 6 is really the top of the mountain the best of the best as good as it gets. This episode is what made it all possibly and launches us into the next tier. So bow down and enjoy.

Just came here to make sure this has 10 out of 10 stars. I've just finished rewatching it and its still as good for the 5th time. The characters and the warmth and comradely. I saw one of the negative comments and I'm thinking I can't believe they're taking it so seriously, it's a light and fun comedy tv show and its exactly that. Its freaking hilarious, the references, jokes and overall energy of the show is wonderful. This episode just summed all of the stuff that they've been preparing for us throughout the previous episodes, with a little twist. Sometimes timing is a bi*tch, as we all know from our own lives.

Looking at the way Monk has gone, I cannot help but watch Psych with an air of caution. The success of the show is down to such a simple formula week-to-week that I doubt it would work as it does of/when it starts mixing it up in an attempt to stay fresh. The start of season 3 has Shawn's mother enter the fray and I was worried that this would be the start of the rot in the way that movie series usually have to introduce a baby etc as a device to make the same characters seem fresh and allow for story lines. Fortunately this doesn't happen and for the vast majority of season 3, Psych sticks to the formula that I so enjoyed in season 2.

It goes like this: we have a mystery that Shawn solves by way of his amazing skills of deduction, which he has to dress up as psychic visions in order to get a consultant's fee. He works alongside his friend Gus (who provides business sense and a car) and, although death is always involved, essentially goes through the case with a carefree wit and a bagful of popular culture references and irreverent approach to life. It sounds really simple but it is not easy to make something so silly work like Psych has done for the last few seasons. And it is silly – no point in denying it, the writing is good enough to provide solid stories to frame the silliness into engaging enough episodes but really it is silly. What makes this a non-issue though is that it is a lot of fun. As before this stems from the quick wit, mugging and references (self, films, music, TV etc) that it throws up. How many other murder mysteries have a pineapple in every episode? And how many do but yet also have good mystery plots? Well, just Psych I guess.

Season 3 stays fresh apart from a few missteps. The introduction of some "serious" threads don't work – the clumsiest being Lassiter's ex-wife in a later episode, although I assume this is to allow a romance to be part of his character in season 4. Likewise the final episode, although reasonably exciting, is a warning to all those involved that the show simply doesn't work as well when it moves away from the light-hearted fun that is its engine. For almost all the episodes though, it manages to maintain this fresh air and it comes off the consistent delivery of the dynamics of Shawn and Gus. At some point I guess the writers will let this slide or change the dynamics or characters in order to create narrative but this has not happened yet (and I hope it does not as it destroyed season 5 of Monk – which still has not recovered). These two play off one another and everything else with glee and aplomb, matching the structure of the episodes in throwing out references here there and everywhere. Big Punisher references, 80's high school movies, 80's slasher films and even references to their own critics (a character saying they're tiring of Shawn's mugging gets "what are you, Entertainment Weekly?" as the hilarious response).

The cast don't disappoint either and keep their focus on their jobs. Hill and Roday know their jobs are to deliver these characters in a fresh and fun way, keeping things free-flowing and enjoyable for the audience. They do this really well and deliver on the writing with a great double-act that regularly has me laughing. I'm not saying that their performances are Shakespearian but they have a set of things to do and they do these really well. Again I live in fear of the day the writers decide that the show should have development and depth because I don't think Roday will be as good at that, but then the show itself won't be either – but this has not happened (yet). Lawson is good and manages to keep her character fresh with an edge of sex appeal but not to the point where it gets in the way. Omundson is weak when the script needs more from his character in terms of depth but in regards the general situation he is funny and plays it well (ironically he is less funny when trying to be funny in the "outtakes"). Bernsen and Nelson are also good and all of these supporting players do better in season 3 in regards carrying things when the main two are off-screen. Not a lot is put on them but generally they have better material this time.

Psych continues to be something I struggle to recommend to people because it is not "brilliant" in the way that some things of real quality will appeal to many – this is a bit too silly for everyone to enjoy. However, season 3 yet again repeats the charm of the series as a whole, building on solid plots and writing consistent characters to formula, the whole thing is a great deal of fun that makes for easy and enjoyable viewing. I look forward to season 4 and hope it can maintain what it is doing and not collapse like its companion Monk has done over the last few years.

Overarching mysteries are the worst. It was a development in several series that ruined my enjoyment of those series. I would like to see a regular episode ten times more than ones like this.

Other than the kiss near the end, this is a terrible episode. Faced with the possible murder of a young waitress, simply because he hit on her earlier in the day, Shawn shows practically no real concern. Shawn is selfish, immature and insensitive, but this is ridiculous. This series works best as a light hearted farce with a few serious moments thrown in. Any attempts at a full episode of real emotion falls flat.

I hate every cop/crime/whodunnit series episode with "serial killer versus the lead" stories. So cliche, so overdone, so boring.

I hate lighthearted series trying to do drama, especially when the writing and the actors cannot support it. I am sorry, but the lead (who is not a gifted actor anyway) cannot act drama to save his life. It was embarrassing watching him trying to act seriously.

But most of all I hate the whole "will they or won't they" love drama between tv characters. So cliche, so overdone, so boring, at the end you just do not care if those two will hook up or not.

This show is good for its silliness. Hopefully they haven't tried another drama episode like this and just stayed in what they do best: a nice lighthearted series. But usually those annoying serial killers have the nasty habit to return.