Psych – Pa does not love Fa

(Season 3, Episode 10 – “Six Feet Under The Sea”)

Finally, the mid-season break is over, and our favorite psychic detective agency is back in business. Thankfully, the time off hasn’t rusted the skills. Shawn and Gus were in top form, tackling a case that not many shows could pull off. I mean, really, can you see Horatio dealing with the death of Shabby? If the crazy case wasn’t enough, Ted McGinley, Cousin Rog’ himself, was along for the ride. That’s the casting equivalent of one of Shawn’s off the cuff references.

The case was a little more complicated than it first seemed. Shawn’s “Oh no…” moment, when he discovered that Shabby had been murdered confused things for me later in the episode. The original clue made it look like Shabby was done in by a harpoon, or some such. The revelation of the bullets found during the autopsy kind of came out of left field after that.

Looking past that, the case was full of all those things that are so likable about Psych. Considering all the things we’ve learned about Gus, of course he would want to attend the funeral. And, along those lines, it came as no surprise to learn that he has level three thread management capabilities on the sea lion message boards. That’s just Gus. It was the perfect balance between Gus’s nerdery and Shawn’s nuttery.

Ted McGinley, as Randy, was another great bit of casting for the show. He totally worked as the hair obsessed (hair analysts, ha!) wildlife TV personality. The complete randomness of the Australian hissing owl on his shoulder was great, and he was viable as a suspect for a while. There was the possibility that he was mixed up in the diamond smuggling, what with the world traveling. His alibi being his vanity was a funny, and clever, twist.

Jules and Lassiter didn’t get a lot to do on this one, but the small parts they did play look to have lasting effects. Starting with Lassiter, his relationship with Shawn is a complicated thing. There is the bickering, and the insults, but there is also an unspoken respect.  Shawn’s line at the end, after revealing that the diamonds were on the boat, again shows signs of this. “I’m helping you. It’s a two way street.” I doubt that we’re ever going to see the two of them palling around on their off time, but the slow growth of their working relationship is fun to watch.

As to Jules… Much like Gus being involved with the aquarium, it fit perfectly that she would get swept up in April’s story, and be compelled to help. Of course, the more telling bit was that final scene between April and Shawn. It wasn’t made clear whether Jules actually confessed an interest in Shawn,  or April just inferred it. Either way, all signs point to some more progress on that front in the coming episodes. I’m looking forward to that.

Finally, as is to be expected, there were a host of great quotes and references this week. I’ll just hit on a few of my favorites.

• Gus complains that Shawn got him kicked out of the S-Mart. Shop smart. Shop S-Mart.
• “There’s not really a burglary ring at a gentleman’s finishing school, is there?” – Gus’s ruse to get Shawn to the funeral.
• “Pa does not love Fa.” A play on the famous line from The Day Of The Dolphin
• “Thesealion. What is that, French?” – Lassiter, not getting it.
• “This is like Out Of Sight, but super gay.” – Shawn referencing the Clooney/Lopez movie.
• “Sea amenomes… sea anenomes…” Poor Gus. It’s funny because it’s true.

Overall, another really good episode. After the near radio silence that was TV through the holidays, it’s great to have Psych back with new episodes.

Clacked by Brett Love
on Jan 09, 2009 @ 23:00 EST5EDT