Psych - "Yang 3 in 2D"

***Note: imdb.com lists the episode title as "Yin 3 in 2D", but the Psych web site lists it as "Yang 3 in 2D".***

     USA's Psych completed it's fifth season last night with "Yang 3 in 2D", the latest chapter in Shawn's (James Roday) battle with the Yin Yang serial killer. Whenever Yin and/or Yang show up in an episode, the show takes a decidedly darker turn. Shawn's bravado is shaken, and often he appears genuinely concerned. After all, in the past, the killer has almost taken out his mother, Madeleine (Cybill Shepherd) and the woman he loves, Juliet (Maggie Lawson), among others. Last night, Yin almost got best friend Gus (Dulé Hill), although Shawn was also captured and got a front row seat for the execution. I love Psych's trademark goofiness, but it's always nice to see a change up, and Yin Yang sure provides it.

     The episode began when a girl named Allison (Mena Suvari, American Beauty, American Pie) showed up at the police station, scared, claiming she had just escaped from Yin. No one believed her, except Shawn, spurred by the fact that she had a picture of a young Shawn with Yang (Ally Sheedy), whom he did not remember meeting as a child. Although the background in the photo was fake, the two of them together was real. Shawn put Allison at his father Henry's (Corbin Bernsen) house for safe keeping, but she was quickly re-kidnapped. Shawn followed several clues to find her, including watching some video diaries made by the deceased Mary (Jimmi Simpson).

     In the end, Shawn and Gus fell right into Yin's trap, and for the first time we saw the second half of the serial killer team, this one played by Peter Weller (Dexter). Juliet got Yang out of jail, broke into Yin's fortress of a house, and figured out Allison's true nature. But it was Yang, who has had an unhealthy fascination with Shawn all her life, who saved Shawn and Gus, killing Yin. Not only that, it was revealed that Yin was her father.

     It makes me sad to think that this might be the last chapter in the Yin Yang story. I count all the Yin Yang episodes among Psych's best hours, and I feel like there was more room to play here. I was disappointed Mary was killed in the last round, and even more so that Yin was taken out this time, especially because Weller is terrific. Wouldn't it have made it a better story if Yang and Yin escaped, only to return in a year or so as a team, stronger than ever? Maybe even take out one of Shawn's closest friends or family next time? Granted, that may go too dark for this series, but I would have loved a further escalation.

     Instead, Yang is the only survivor, and she is going back to jail, already declared mostly harmless. Sure, she could always break out of prison and revert to her evil ways, spurred by the joy she might (or might now have, it wasn't clear) gotten from killing her father. She didn't actually do any of the earlier killings, but last night's episode might have given her a taste for murder. Yes, that would be a great episode, but I'm not convinced that is the path they will be taking.

     I was pleased to see the return of Madeleine Spencer. Henry called her with a simple question, not intending to involve her, but her arrival in town upped the suspense factor in the episode. Clearly, Shawn was not happy about it, having another important person in his life to worry about. Shepherd's inclusion in the series has long been a tease, originally looking like she was signing on to the cast, and then only doing a handful of episodes. My TiVo still lists her as a principal cast member for every episode of Psych that airs. I'm always pleased to see her, but she's been in far too few episodes of the series.

     Speaking of underused, why was Chief Vick (Kirsten Nelson) barely in the season finale? She is constantly the least-seen character on screen, and sits out episodes frequently. As one of the original cast members, it would be nice to see her get some more story. Whatever happened with the possible Vick/Henry love plot? It went away far too quickly.
 
     Back to last night's episode, I have been pleased by the slow growth of Shawn and Juliet's relationship. I know the people behind the series may have been hesitant to finally put their two romantic leads together, having danced around the issue since Juliet's first episode, the second episode of the series. Having decided to go for it, they've backed off from making it central to most of the episodes, likely to protect and nourish it, without overdoing things, or risking jumping the shark. But it's a coming together of equals, as evidenced by their promise to protect each other in this episode. They are perfect for each other.

     The final scene of the finale, where Lassiter (the amazing Timothy Omundson, who has only gotten better with each season) witnessed the two of them together in a more-than-friends way, was wonderfully executed. I look forward to the repercussions of that, as it will surely interfere with both of their jobs.

     Also, kudos for using the extended version of the theme song in the finale, which has popped up more and more recently. It is far superior to the shortened version, and the show seems to have taken note of that. I also enjoy any alternate versions, such as the Christmas one used last week.

     Psych will return to USA next summer for its sixth season.


For frequent mini-reviews and occasional tv news, follow Jerome on Twitter.

Article first published as TV Review: Psych - "Yang 3 in 2D" on Blogcritics.

Dexter Ends Season

Showtime's Dexter has had a season different from any that came before it. Each major character had some serious shakeup to who they were and how they saw others. Dexter (Michael C. Hall) worked against a gang of bad rapists instead of individual killers. He had some help. Not only that, he discovered he isn't devoid of feeling. Angel (David Zayas) spent most of the season at odds with his new wife. Laguerta (Lauren Vélez) continually upset almost everyone, and was sort of villainized for awhile. Thank goodness that was corrected in the finale. Deb (Jennifer Carpenter) got some major depth, while Quinn (Desmond Harrington) finally became sympathetic and likable. Plus, an amazing array of guest stars, including the delectably dark Peter Weller!

And Dexter finally found someone that truly understood him in Lumen (Julia Stiles), a girl who didn't see him as a monster and refrained from judgment. His partner in this year's main killing spree, she gave Dexter something he has needed for a long time: hope. Not a fan of Stiles, her soulful portrayal of the women gang-raped and out for revenge won me over. The fact that she healed and softened in the end made it even better. While I certainly understand why she couldn't stay with Dexter, I was highly disappointed that she left, and hope she comes back to the show in some capacity. Maybe even to help Dexter find his eventual peace, which is my hope for a series finale.

The Lumen situation does present some interesting food for thought, though. It was revealed that Dexter actually did love Rita (Julie Benz) early on this year as he struggled through her death and his guilt, while not directly responsible, from his part in it. However, he was able to move on very quickly to Lumen, whom he also developed loving feelings for. Sure, Lumen was someone truly unique in his life, but there still should have been some hesitation. Unless, and this is very possible, he almost immediately felt stronger for Lumen than he ever did for Rita. I don't want to detract from Rita, as she has plenty of fans, myself included, but Lumen's acceptance of Dexter's true nature surely allowed more honesty between them, and a better understanding.

Lumen's attackers were played by a wonderful group of male actors, but none better than Jonny Lee Miller as Jordan Chase. The former star of Eli Stone took the believing man he had built for the title character in that series and amped him up into a twisted, evil figure. His performance was chilling and authentic. While he was eventually dispatched with fairly easily, very anticlimactic, he was more a tool to help Lumen and Dexter than a true nemesis, anyway, so it worked. There were times he was a genuine threat, but mostly he was a plot device, and a killer good one at that.

The other new character who quickly wormed her way into viewers' hearts was Sonya (Maria Doyle Kennedy, The Tudors). She is Dexter's nanny. Yes, there needed to be some sort of plot device to free single dad Dexter up to do his dark deeds, but she is so much more than that. The writers were smart by giving us an actual character, rather than just an excuse, and Kennedy was surely the right woman to do it. Hopefully she will be even more visible as Astor (Christina Robinson) and Cody (Preston Bailey) return to stay with Dexter, which I very much wish will be during next season, and not between episodes.

Part of me thinks that Astor and Cody leaving to stay with their grandparents was a convenience trick this year. Part of me thinks it was good storytelling. The answer is probably some combination of the two. There was a purpose for their absence, and Astor's mid-season appearance showed that splendidly. It wasn't that they didn't care about Dexter, but of course Astor needed to get away from where her mother was killed and anything that reminded her of Rita for awhile. Robinson has grown as an actress, and it showed. Bailey, who took over the Cody role in season two, has obviously grown physically from beginning to end of this season, so maybe he'll get some actual plot next year, too.

I have always liked Dexter's sister (and the actor's real life spouse), Deb. Originally she was there as comic relief. Her growth into super detective has been extraordinarily satisfying. Her skills finely honed, she had so much shine in this finale. Carpenter's acting was nothing short of brilliant as Deb caught Dexter and Lumen red handed, then let them go without seeing their faces. An earlier Deb wouldn't have had the emotional maturity to do that. Nor would she have ever been able to forgive and stand by Quinn. It is so satisfying when a character is evolved so perfectly, and this is a grand example. Can we get her an Emmy nomination already?

One last thing, can Masuka (C.S. Lee) have a story? He's been an awesome supporting player for five years, but I can't recall him ever having a plot of his own. It's time he got one. He has certainly earned it.

Dexter has already been renewed for a sixth season, and will return to Showtime late next year.

For frequent mini-reviews and occasional tv news, follow Jerome on Twitter.


Article first published as TV Review: Dexter Ends Season on Blogcritics.