Warning: This review contains spoilers.
USA’s
PSYCH picks up right where last year left off in the new season
premiere, “Santabarbaratown 2.” Shawn (James Roday) vows to find Henry’s
(Corbin Bernsen) shooter, even though Jules (Maggie Lawson) warns him
that he’s too emotional to be part of the investigation. Emotional, he
is, but he’s also still Shawn, which means he is the best chance of
bringing the bad guy to justice.
Most of the time, on television, when
the cops are after a perp, anyone who is too close to the case is
promptly taken off the job. Sure, it’s practically a cliché at this
point that the detective will still pursue whatever leads they can, and
most likely catch the villain. But they are usually ordered to stay
away, and they sometimes get in trouble for refusing to do so.
PSYCH breaks this streak when Karen
(Kirsten Nelson) tells Shawn to go after Jerry (Max Gail), as the police
don’t know where to look for him. From a storytelling perspective, this
is great because it doesn’t do what everyone else does, and makes it a
bit easier for Shawn to stay focused. From a realistic point of view,
though, this may be campy, stretching things too far, as Karen couldn’t
actually condone Shawn’s actions, even in the roundabout way that she
does, and still be considered a smart boss. She has to know she’s
setting up a potential disaster waiting to happen. She’s supposed to be a
professional!
Henry, too, does the wrong thing, giving
Shawn clues from his hospital bed. In Henry’s case, it’s a little more
understandable because he has limited contact with the outside world,
and Shawn may be the only person that he can pass what he knows onto.
But why would Henry want to put his son in danger? Shawn may routinely
work with law enforcement, but he doesn’t carry a gun, and he can’t be
prepared for this.
Gus (Dule Hill) is worried about him, of
course, but Gus also tries to beg out of helping Shawn with his task.
Gus can be a wimp, but at a time when his friend really needs him, and
this is that time, he should be able to man up. The fact that he does so
only reluctantly, with the rules of an out being brought up repeatedly,
is disappointing.
PSYCH is a comedy, so we know right from
the start that “Santabarbaratown 2” won’t verge too darkly. Yet, we
also see Shawn act in a manner he never has before. His jokes have a
biting bitterness behind them, not usually present. He acts shaken, and
his heart isn’t in being funny. He barely pretends to be a psychic when
finding a secret room in Jerry’s house. He seems to crack the one-liners
out of habit, or to ground himself, rather than to try to be funny for
others, as he usually does. It’s a whole different way to see the
character.
For a second, at the very beginning,
Shawn really gets raw. Thinking his father might die, he says some deep
words. Roday handles the moment fantastically, balancing Shawn’s
personality with how anyone would feel in this situation. It’s weird for
the role to go in this direction, but also satisfying when we see how
much Henry’s injury affects Shawn.
Which is promptly ruined by Woody (Kurt
Fuller), entering prematurely with a body bag. And it’s not the last
time Woody, whom I normally love, screws up a scene this week.
This continues throughout the episode.
For every time Shawn lets his anger out and wrecks Jerry’s house, he
also sneaks into a gun club wearing half a fake beard. I understand the
desire to keep the tone of the series faithful to the rest of the
installments, but shooting Henry in the manner they did breaks that
rule. While Shawn shows signs of being changed a bit, no one and nothing
else matches this shift. I really wish they embraced the drama in
“Santabarbaratown 2,” even if for only one hour.
The worst offense along these lines is
bringing back Chelsea (Arden Myrin), Henry’s stalker ex-girlfriend, who
stays by his side in the hospital. Even Henry can’t be allowed to wallow
and reflect upon what has happened, being dragged into unnecessary
punch lines.
The best part of the episode is when
Lassiter (Timothy Omundson) helps Shawn. It’s not entirely unexpected,
from glimpses we’ve been given of Lassiter’s depth before, and based on
the circumstances, but it does make for some very enjoyable moments and
terrific dialogue between the characters.
Though, why Lassiter only goes as far as
he does, instead of helping finish the job, is confusing, and a bit of a
plot hole, even if it gives Shawn the opportunity to confront Jerry
himself.
As a PSYCH episode, “Santabarbaratown 2”
is good, and ranks as average when held up against other installments.
But compared to what it could have been, a brave, new choice that would
let the actors and writers try something new, it’s a bit of a
disappointment.
PSYCH airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET on USA.
- See more at: http://www.seat42f.com/tv/psych-review-season-7-episode-1-santabarbaratown-2#sthash.k5T5U3s4.dpuf
USA’s
PSYCH picks up right where last year left off in the new season
premiere, “Santabarbaratown 2.” Shawn (James Roday) vows to find Henry’s
(Corbin Bernsen) shooter, even though Jules (Maggie Lawson) warns him
that he’s too emotional to be part of the investigation. Emotional, he
is, but he’s also still Shawn, which means he is the best chance of
bringing the bad guy to justice.
Most of the time, on television, when
the cops are after a perp, anyone who is too close to the case is
promptly taken off the job. Sure, it’s practically a cliché at this
point that the detective will still pursue whatever leads they can, and
most likely catch the villain. But they are usually ordered to stay
away, and they sometimes get in trouble for refusing to do so.
PSYCH breaks this streak when Karen
(Kirsten Nelson) tells Shawn to go after Jerry (Max Gail), as the police
don’t know where to look for him. From a storytelling perspective, this
is great because it doesn’t do what everyone else does, and makes it a
bit easier for Shawn to stay focused. From a realistic point of view,
though, this may be campy, stretching things too far, as Karen couldn’t
actually condone Shawn’s actions, even in the roundabout way that she
does, and still be considered a smart boss. She has to know she’s
setting up a potential disaster waiting to happen. She’s supposed to be a
professional!
Henry, too, does the wrong thing, giving
Shawn clues from his hospital bed. In Henry’s case, it’s a little more
understandable because he has limited contact with the outside world,
and Shawn may be the only person that he can pass what he knows onto.
But why would Henry want to put his son in danger? Shawn may routinely
work with law enforcement, but he doesn’t carry a gun, and he can’t be
prepared for this.
Gus (Dule Hill) is worried about him, of
course, but Gus also tries to beg out of helping Shawn with his task.
Gus can be a wimp, but at a time when his friend really needs him, and
this is that time, he should be able to man up. The fact that he does so
only reluctantly, with the rules of an out being brought up repeatedly,
is disappointing.
PSYCH is a comedy, so we know right from
the start that “Santabarbaratown 2” won’t verge too darkly. Yet, we
also see Shawn act in a manner he never has before. His jokes have a
biting bitterness behind them, not usually present. He acts shaken, and
his heart isn’t in being funny. He barely pretends to be a psychic when
finding a secret room in Jerry’s house. He seems to crack the one-liners
out of habit, or to ground himself, rather than to try to be funny for
others, as he usually does. It’s a whole different way to see the
character.
For a second, at the very beginning,
Shawn really gets raw. Thinking his father might die, he says some deep
words. Roday handles the moment fantastically, balancing Shawn’s
personality with how anyone would feel in this situation. It’s weird for
the role to go in this direction, but also satisfying when we see how
much Henry’s injury affects Shawn.
Which is promptly ruined by Woody (Kurt
Fuller), entering prematurely with a body bag. And it’s not the last
time Woody, whom I normally love, screws up a scene this week.
This continues throughout the episode.
For every time Shawn lets his anger out and wrecks Jerry’s house, he
also sneaks into a gun club wearing half a fake beard. I understand the
desire to keep the tone of the series faithful to the rest of the
installments, but shooting Henry in the manner they did breaks that
rule. While Shawn shows signs of being changed a bit, no one and nothing
else matches this shift. I really wish they embraced the drama in
“Santabarbaratown 2,” even if for only one hour.
The worst offense along these lines is
bringing back Chelsea (Arden Myrin), Henry’s stalker ex-girlfriend, who
stays by his side in the hospital. Even Henry can’t be allowed to wallow
and reflect upon what has happened, being dragged into unnecessary
punch lines.
The best part of the episode is when
Lassiter (Timothy Omundson) helps Shawn. It’s not entirely unexpected,
from glimpses we’ve been given of Lassiter’s depth before, and based on
the circumstances, but it does make for some very enjoyable moments and
terrific dialogue between the characters.
Though, why Lassiter only goes as far as
he does, instead of helping finish the job, is confusing, and a bit of a
plot hole, even if it gives Shawn the opportunity to confront Jerry
himself.
As a PSYCH episode, “Santabarbaratown 2”
is good, and ranks as average when held up against other installments.
But compared to what it could have been, a brave, new choice that would
let the actors and writers try something new, it’s a bit of a
disappointment.
PSYCH airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET on USA.
- See more at: http://www.seat42f.com/tv/psych-review-season-7-episode-1-santabarbaratown-2#sthash.k5T5U3s4.dpuf
USA’s PSYCH picks up right where last
year left off in the new season premiere, “Santabarbaratown 2.” Shawn
(James Roday) vows to find Henry’s (Corbin Bernsen) shooter, even though
Jules (Maggie Lawson) warns him that he’s too emotional to be part of
the investigation. Emotional, he is, but he’s also still Shawn, which
means he is the best chance of bringing the bad guy to justice.
Most of the time, on television, when
the cops are after a perp, anyone who is too close to the case is
promptly taken off the job. Sure, it’s practically a cliché at this
point that the detective will still pursue whatever leads they can, and
most likely catch the villain. But they are usually ordered to stay
away, and they sometimes get in trouble for refusing to do so.
PSYCH breaks this streak when Karen
(Kirsten Nelson) tells Shawn to go after Jerry (Max Gail), as the police
don’t know where to look for him. From a storytelling perspective, this
is great because it doesn’t do what everyone else does, and makes it a
bit easier for Shawn to stay focused. From a realistic point of view,
though, this may be campy, stretching things too far, as Karen couldn’t
actually condone Shawn’s actions, even in the roundabout way that she
does, and still be considered a smart boss. She has to know she’s
setting up a potential disaster waiting to happen. She’s supposed to be a
professional!
Henry, too, does the wrong thing, giving
Shawn clues from his hospital bed. In Henry’s case, it’s a little more
understandable because he has limited contact with the outside world,
and Shawn may be the only person that he can pass what he knows onto.
But why would Henry want to put his son in danger? Shawn may routinely
work with law enforcement, but he doesn’t carry a gun, and he can’t be
prepared for this.
Gus (Dule Hill) is worried about him, of
course, but Gus also tries to beg out of helping Shawn with his task.
Gus can be a wimp, but at a time when his friend really needs him, and
this is that time, he should be able to man up. The fact that he does so
only reluctantly, with the rules of an out being brought up repeatedly,
is disappointing.
PSYCH is a comedy, so we know right from
the start that “Santabarbaratown 2” won’t verge too darkly. Yet, we
also see Shawn act in a manner he never has before. His jokes have a
biting bitterness behind them, not usually present. He acts shaken, and
his heart isn’t in being funny. He barely pretends to be a psychic when
finding a secret room in Jerry’s house. He seems to crack the one-liners
out of habit, or to ground himself, rather than to try to be funny for
others, as he usually does. It’s a whole different way to see the
character.
For a second, at the very beginning,
Shawn really gets raw. Thinking his father might die, he says some deep
words. Roday handles the moment fantastically, balancing Shawn’s
personality with how anyone would feel in this situation. It’s weird for
the role to go in this direction, but also satisfying when we see how
much Henry’s injury affects Shawn.
Which is promptly ruined by Woody (Kurt
Fuller), entering prematurely with a body bag. And it’s not the last
time Woody, whom I normally love, screws up a scene this week.
This continues throughout the episode.
For every time Shawn lets his anger out and wrecks Jerry’s house, he
also sneaks into a gun club wearing half a fake beard. I understand the
desire to keep the tone of the series faithful to the rest of the
installments, but shooting Henry in the manner they did breaks that
rule. While Shawn shows signs of being changed a bit, no one and nothing
else matches this shift. I really wish they embraced the drama in
“Santabarbaratown 2,” even if for only one hour.
The worst offense along these lines is
bringing back Chelsea (Arden Myrin), Henry’s stalker ex-girlfriend, who
stays by his side in the hospital. Even Henry can’t be allowed to wallow
and reflect upon what has happened, being dragged into unnecessary
punch lines.
The best part of the episode is when
Lassiter (Timothy Omundson) helps Shawn. It’s not entirely unexpected,
from glimpses we’ve been given of Lassiter’s depth before, and based on
the circumstances, but it does make for some very enjoyable moments and
terrific dialogue between the characters.
Though, why Lassiter only goes as far as
he does, instead of helping finish the job, is confusing, and a bit of a
plot hole, even if it gives Shawn the opportunity to confront Jerry
himself.
As a PSYCH episode, “Santabarbaratown 2”
is good, and ranks as average when held up against other installments.
But compared to what it could have been, a brave, new choice that would
let the actors and writers try something new, it’s a bit of a
disappointment.
PSYCH airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET on USA.
- See more at: http://www.seat42f.com/tv/psych-review-season-7-episode-1-santabarbaratown-2#sthash.k5T5U3s4.dpuf
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