"Psych" Review: I Know You Know This Is a Good One

My fiance and I don’t watch any of the same shows. So any time I get to talk about one of his faves, I have to take the opportunity.

And that’s the case this week, as his favorite show, “Psych,” returns for its fifth season…

If you’ve never seen it, “Psych” follows police consultant Shawn Spencer (James Roday) and his best friend and partner/sidekick Gus (Dule Hill). Shawn’s father, Henry (Corbin Bernsen), honed Shawn’s powers of observation over the years, and now Shawn uses those powers to help the police solve crimes. But since he can’t really explain his skills, he makes the police think he’s psychic.

Reluctantly going along with Shawn are Santa Barbara Police Chief Karen Vick (Kirsten Nelson) and Head Detective Carlton Lassiter (Timothy Omundson). Lassiter’s partner, Juliet O’Hara (Maggie Lawson), is a little more willing to go along with him.

“Psych” is known for being a lighthearted, fun show. So the season four finale, in which both Juliet and Shawn’s girlfriend were kidnapped and nearly killed by Mr. Yin, was a real departure. Thankfully, the show has rediscovered it sense of humor in the premiere, but the repercussions of the finale continue to resonate. Juliet has temporarily transferred to a post in City Hall and doesn’t seem anxious to return to her regular job. Shawn’s screw-ups with the Yin case have caused the police to be a little less willing to use him—especially since the SBPD has hired Shawn’s father to manage all police consultants. And Henry is even more unwilling to put his son in danger.

In the premiere, Shawn decides that he and Gus need to solve a kidnapping to show the police—and his father—that they are still useful. And Shawn gets even more excited when the case allows him to fulfill a childhood dream—taking karate lessons.

By making the case about two Asian gangs, it allows us to see some cool karate action (not from Shawn), with kicks coming almost as fast as the quips between Shawn and Gus. But the case is also interesting and you can follow along with all of the clues that Shawn picks up along the way.

Roday and Hill have the best chemistry of any duo on TV, and they’re a lot of fun to watch. And it’s great to see a TV veteran like Bernsen with such a great comeback role. Plus, Lawson will always have a special place in my heart since she starred in my favorite Disney TV-movie of all time, “Model Behavior.” Omundson and Nelson are solid as well.

With “Monk” off the air, “Psych” is left to carry the banner for USA as its longest-running show. And the network couldn’t have a better show leading the charge. I highly recommend it.

And to paraphrase the show’s theme song, I know, you know that I AM telling the truth…

“Psych” premieres Wednesday, July 14th at 10 p.m. on USA…

Photo Credit: Williams and Hirakawa/USA