Customer Reviews

Psych: The Complete Third Season

5 star:		(65)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

"Psych" is one of those lucky shows that -- like a fine wine -- seems to get better as it ages. Not that you should stick it in a cellar and forget about it for fifty years, though. The third season of this quirky comedy/mystery show is definitely worth seeing at least a few times -- James Roday and Dule Hill continue to be absolutely hilarious as the faux psychic and his frazzled friend, and their cases continue to get even weirder.

"Psych" may be breaking up when Gus is given a choice by his boss -- his pharmaceutical job, or the agency. To prove their worth, Shawn offers to investigate the company VP's haunted house... and Gus soon finds that there's more than meets the eye to this haunting. Meanwhile Shawn's mother (Cybill Shepherd) drops in for work, stirring up some old skeletons for our favorite faux psychic.

Among the cases Gus and Shawn take on: a vanishing body at the high school reunion, a treasure map, the implosion of Henry's greatest case, roller derby robberies, Coast Guard clashes, a murdered sea lion, a body hidden in a Nativity scene, a firebug with a murderous secret, a murdered footballer, an old summer camp haunted by an axe murderer, and an attempt to clear the name of a pathological liar.

Their cases become personal when Lassiter (Timothy Ormundson) is accused of killing a drug lord, and Shawn is determined to prove that the disgraced cop didn't do it. And the Yin Yang serial returns to Santa Barbara, wanting Shawn as the newest "challenger." So he/she leads Shawn through a ghastly series of riddles... and if Shawn doesn't outwit him/her, those close to him may die.

Clearly Steve Franks is sticking to the old adage: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." "Psych" ain't broke, so the third season of coasts along smoothly in a flurry of pop culture references, bizarre dialogue ("Señor pantalones del fuego?") and crimes that befuddle the SBPD.

It does end and begin unusually -- the season premiere is a twistaround of the usual mystery, and finale quickly becomes a serious, deadly game of cat-and-mouse. But the mysteries in the middle of the season are perfect examples of "Psych": the writers deftly juggle funny-sounding plot twists (roller derbies, stowing away on a murderer's boat) with some twisty-turny police work.

There's even an endless parade of pop culture references -- "Speed," Hamlet, the Peanuts dance, "Gone With The Wind," and of course "Friday the 13th." However, "Psych's" biggest charm point has always been the insanely kooky dialogue. Mostly Shawn provides it ("Just once, can you grab life by the little Lassiters and follow your instincts?") but the other characters get some good lines here and there ("All I can remember after that are hundreds of those tiny razor sharp claws and teeth." "Lower primate my ass. I recognize a military formation when I see one!").

Roday is eccentric, charming and eternally kooky, as if Shawn is deliberately living out his life like a TV show. But he gets to show a very serious, intense side in the finale. Hill continues to be the normal one with a mild goofy side ("I'm King Kong!"), and gets to do a daring rescue by leaping through a wall of flames. And Ormundson gets to explore some of Lassiter's other facets (his crumbling marriage and his brief removal from the force).

The third season of "Psych" is all about the weird and the wacky, but also injects some very serious, very creepy moments as well. All around a wonderful success, and it bodes well for what comes up this summer.

'Psych' is perhaps the primary example of what can happen when intelligent people stop obsessing over Gritty Angst and start having fun. This show has always been terrific and wittily unique, but its third season finds new ways to turn convention on its head, which makes for some extremely satisfying television. Plus, it gets bonus points for being seriously re-watchable.
Recommended to everyone, but especially to the people who think there's no way the concept of a fake psychic could stay interesting this long. I am so very ready for Season 4.

This is one of my favorite shows. It's lighthearted & there's no graphic corpses....you can safely pick this show to watch while you're eating dinner, if you are so inclined, without seeing maggots or an autopsy (I no longer watch CSI, Criminal Intent, or even NCIS anywhere near the dinner hour). My favorite is when they run away screaming like girls & the many fake names that Gus gets (Knick Knack, the candystriper, & Methuselah Hunnicut). All of the characters are wonderful. This is a fun show you can watch with the family. I love it!

Comedy doesn't get much better than this show. It follows the adventures and misadventures of Shawn Spencer (James Roday) and his best friend Gus (Dule Hill) as they solve cased for the Santa Barbara police. The catch? Shawn has convinced them he gets the clues he uses not because of his keen powers of observation (the truth) but because he is a psychic. While the chief of police Karen Vick (Kirsten Nelson) and detective Juliette O'Hara (Maggie Lawson) appear to believe him, head detective Carlton Lassiter (Timothy Omundson) is opening disbelieving. Rounding out the cast is Corbin Bernsen as Shawn's dad Henry. Henry knows the truth but plays along reluctantly, sometimes for his own reasons.

This season finds Shawn and Gus taking on some of their wackiest cases yet. They get involved in the death of a sea lion. Gus is held captive in a bank robbery gone bad. There's murder at the roller derby and among stunt men. They go on a treasure hunt. The camp they attended as a kid is being haunted by a serial killer (in a great Friday the 13th spoof).

Cybil Shepherd shows up a few times as Shawn's mother, a character we've only heard about before. She adds a good dynamic to the cast as well.

While each week has a fairly decent mystery, the real reason I look forward to this show is the comedy. This show is wacky. Shawn and Gus have some fast paced dialogue that always makes me laugh. And Shawn can put a reference to 80's culture into just about any conversation. The physical comedy of those two is just as fun. Yes, the other characters get chances to shine in the comedy department, but this is James Roday and Dule Hill's show, and they nail it week after week.

About the only weak show here is the series closer which tries to get serious with a serial killer kidnapping someone close to Shawn in an attempt to get him to play the killer's games. This show doesn't do serious. It worked out okay, but the goofiness is what I love.

That one weakness is minor compared to the fun of this season. Get this season and you'll be laughing before you know what hit you.

I am a devoted Psych viewer and believe that Psych is quite possibly the best show on TV today. No two episodes are quite alike. Shawn Spencer's (James Roday)wittiness and Gus' (Dule Hill) responsible nature work wonderfully together. I think my favorite part of the show is trying to find the pineapples. Every single episode will make you laugh til you cry.

As far as reviews go this is not one for Pysch fans because they already know just how awesome it already is. If you are unfamilure with Psych but love funny, witty shows then you should really check out this show. James Roday and Dule Hill are an excellent comedic team and the cast of supporting characters really help make this show spectacular. But then again what can you expect from a network like USA which has a line up of incredible shows. Obviously I am not that seasoned in writing reviews but dont let that stop you from checking it out.

Psych, crime...comedy? As a huge fan of crime dramas I decided to give Psych a shot after seeing a commercial on tv. It did not disappoint. In fact, it completely flew by my expectations and I can now say I am addicted. This is the one show that I literally laugh out loud with every episode. I love the pop culture references. It reminds me of Gilmore Girls, but this reaches beyond the female demographic. Please give this show a try; you won't be disappointed!

As for the dvds, add to your cart and wait for the price to drop to a reasonable level. At only 16 episodes per season I wanted to be sure to pay no more than $1 per epsisode. The price dropped a little while ago and I snatched it up.

Psych is the best tv series I've ever seen - all three seasons have been great. We don't have the right cable channel to get this when it is new but we get the seasons after they are published on DVD. Our whole family laughs and laughs at this show. What's weird is that the children, men and women all love it. Everyone should have copies of this.

The show's snappy fun writing, and a fantastic cast have completed another great season with some of my favorite episodes yet. The third season has more "theme" type shows: a high school reunion gives a chance to use many John Hughes references in "Murder?...Anyone?", a re-opened case from the 70's gets the team rolling like Starsky and Hutch in "Disco Didn't Die. It Was Murdered," "Gus Walks Into a Bank" turns the bank-hostage plot on its head and "The Greatest Adventure in the History of Basic Cable" is like watching Indiana Jones' con-man brother. I love the video commentaries--obviously the people involved in the show have great chemistry.

If you haven't yet given Psych a try, there's no need to start at the first season, although eventually you will want them all. Its basic premise is a crime-fighting duo, using trumped-up psychic powers. It avoids the CSI/L&O-type violent, freakish or scary murders, the death is almost gently treated and the directors never emphasize the gory details.

The dialogue is fantastic and adds to the fun. If you are familiar with the 80's, or are a dedicated movie watcher, there are lots of fun "throw away" references that will have you laughing. I still crack up when I watch a scene of Shawn and Gus arguing. Shawn: "I decided to be and therefore I am...Socrates said that." Gus: "No, that was Decartes." Shawn: "No, that was the cologne we wore in high school." Gus: "No, that was Drakkar Noir." Shawn: "No, that is a wine." Gus: "no, that's PINOT noir."

I really have only three quibbles with the show. One, although there are podcast commentaries on some episodes, the sound quality is terrible. I have to turn up the volume almost full, which leaves show quality earblastingly loud. More significant, the problems of the Canadian location are starting to become more evident. There are very few blindingly sunny days when they are outside, although there are many overcast ones. Their breath steaming in cold air in "Murder?...Anyone?" was a dead giveaway we weren't in SoCal anymore. There is also noticeable lack of diversity in general casting. I've lived in Southern California, and it rarely looks as white as their background casting is (beach scenes, restaurants, bank scenes). But those are small details when compared to the overall acting, writing, and feel of the production. It's worth everything I paid and more.

A very clever show the whole family enjoys. The camaraderie between Gus and Shawn really makes the show.