Psych ended its run in 2014, but that hasn’t stopped its popularity. If anything, the show has gained even more of a cult following. Psych: The Movie premiered in 2017 followed by Psych 2: Lassie Come Home in 2020. This November, Psych 3: This is Gus will premiere on Peacock.
Psych is an incredibly rewatchable show. Yes, there are through-line plot arcs, but there are also plenty of stand-alone episodes if you need something to fall asleep to. The cast includes James Roday Rodriguez as Shawn Spencer, Dulé Hill as Burton ‘Gus’ Guster, Maggie Lawson as Juliet ‘Jules’ O’Hara, Timothy Omundsen as Detective Carlton Lassiter, Kirsten Nelson as Chief Karen Vick, and Corbin Bernsen as Henry Spencer with a long list of recurring characters and fun, surprise guest stars.
The first two movies are worth a rewatch before the third movie premieres, but here is a list of standout episodes that also deserve another look.
“One Maybe Two Ways Out” (Season 5; Ep 9)
A spy contacts Shawn for help after she has been framed for murder. Espionage, undercover agents, secret identities, this episode has it all. But most importantly, it has Jules discovering Shawn’s true feelings for her. And after waiting five and a half seasons, viewers finally got to see Juliet and Shawn’s first kiss.
Best Line - “Take lots of pictures. Not of sights. Don’t take pictures of buildings. Take pictures of moments, because that’s what matters.” - Shawn
Notable Guest Stars - C. Thomas Howell, Nestor Carbonell, Franka Potente
“High Top Fade Out” (Season 4; Ep 7)
Members of Gus’ college acapella group reach out to Shawn for assistance in solving the murder of their fallen friend. There is bad blood between Gus and the group. Given his obsession with acapella, Shawn is all too happy to jump in and help. Not only did they attract high-profile guest stars for this episode, but Boyz II Men performs an acapella rendition of the theme song. This is also the first appearance of Woody (Kurt Fuller), the coroner, who later will become a recurring (and fan favorite) character.
Best Line - “Gus, don’t be the American adaptation of the British Gus.” - Shawn
Notable Guest Stars - Kenan Thompson, Jaleel White, Tony Todd
“1967 A Psych Odyssey” (Season 8; Ep 6)
Detective Lassiter wants to be the new Chief of Police in Santa Barbara. After making a terrible impression in his interview, he forms a plan to solve a decades-old crime involving the Mayor’s uncle. We are then treated to a 1967 flashback as all of the series regulars take up new roles in a murder mystery in the past. And any episode featuring Dulé Hill singing or dancing is well worth your time.
Best Line - “I will have to rely on my interview with the Mayor and my people skills. Oh, I’m screwed.” - Lassiter
Notable Guest Stars - Loretta Devine, Peggy Lipton, John Kapelos
“Last Night Gus” (Season 6; Ep 2)
A Hangover-style mystery unfolds when Shawn, Gus, Woody, Lassiter, and Henry all wake up with no recollection of their antics from the previous night. Piece by piece, they put together what happened as they desperately try to exonerate themselves from a murder. The comedic timing and chemistry between this group makes this one of the funniest episodes of the entire series.
Best Line - “I can’t help it, Shawn, my body craves buttery goodness.” - Gus
Notable Guest Stars - Ed Lover
The Yin/Yang Trilogy
“An Evening With Mr. Yang” (Season 3; Ep 16), “Mr. Yin Presents” (Season 4; Ep 16), & “Yang 3: In 2D” (Season 5; Ep 16)
The mysterious Mr. Yang is obsessed with Shawn and threatens the very existence of his family and friends. And just when everything seems to be resolved, enter Mr. Yin.
This is a bit of a cheat since it is multiple episodes, but the finales of Seasons 3, 4, and 5 are a three-part crime thriller. Although Psych is mostly known as a comedy, these three episodes have some genuine jump scares and mind games that will keep you awake and alert.
Best Lines - “Gus, don’t be Topher Grace on the beach at the end of In Good Company.” - Shawn
Notable Guest Stars - Ally Sheedy, Jimmi Simpson, Rachel Leigh Cook, Peter Weller, Mena Suvari, Cybill Shepherd
“Psych: The Musical” (Season 7; Ep15)
Musical episodes are a sure sign that TV shows are towards the end of their run. It’s been done so many times that it may elicit a groan. However, not only is "Psych: The Musical" a surprise Part 4 to the Yin/Yang trilogy, it really does work, both plot-wise, and musically. The plot unfolds as a mentally ill playwright escapes from the local hospital to sabotage the new production of his play at the local Santa Barbara theatre. The ending credits scene with Gus singing “Jamaican Inspector Man” is the perfect encore for the episode.
Best Line - “Gus, don’t be the very model of a modern major general.” - Shawn
Notable Guest Stars - Anthony Rapp, Barry Bostwick, Ally Sheedy, Jimmi Simpson
An Homage to Cult-Favorites
Another cheat, but it’s hard to mention one without the other. If there is one thing Psych never shies away from, it’s their fascination with pop culture. With these two episodes, they pulled in characters from the source material to recreate roles in the spirit of the originals.
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“Dual Spires” (Season 5; Ep 12) - A loving tribute to the short-lived, but classic show, Twin Peaks, Shawn and Gus find themselves in a quirky, suburban town trying to solve a murder. The theme song even gets a rendition by Twin Peaks songstress, Julee Cruise. For fans of the original show, there are plenty of Easter eggs to feast upon.
- Best Line - “I am a woman of science, and law, and accounting. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t feel.” - Donna Gooden
- Notable Guest Stars - Dana Ashbrook, Catherine E. Coulson, Sherilyn Fenn, Sheryl Lee, Robyn Lively, Ray Wise, Lenny Von Dohlen
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“100 Clues” (Season 7; Ep 5) - For their 100th episode, Psych does an homage to the 1985 film, Clue, based on the board game of the same name. Gus and Shawn are invited to a party at an exclusive mansion and are forced to figure out who among the attendees is the killer. This episode is good fun for fans of the film and it is lovingly dedicated to the late, great Madeline Kahn, one of the stars of the original movie.
- Best Line - “Gus, don’t be the second time ever I saw your face.” - Shawn
- Notable Guest Stars - Garrett Morris, Martin Mull, Lesley Ann Warren, Christopher Lloyd, Curt Smith
The Despereaux Saga
“Extradition: British Columbia” (Season 4; Ep 1), “Extradition II: The Actual Extradition Part” (Season 5; Ep 10), “Indiana Shawn and the Temple of the Kinda Crappy, Rusty, Old Dagger” (Season 6; Ep 10), & “Lock, Stock, Some Smoking Barrels and Burton Guster’s Goblet of Fire” (Season 8; Ep 1)
The biggest cheat of them all, four episodes disguised as a feature-length film. But since Pierre Despereaux (Cary Elwes) is the best recurring character of the series, all four are a must-watch. Elwes is the master of charm and smarm and Shawn and Gus never know whether he is dead or alive, a good guy or a bad guy, trustworthy or just a con man. And neither do we. And that is magical.
Best Lines - “Trust me, Gus, we hear Despereaux’s pitch, then it’s smoked salmon, poutine and Coffee Crisp from here on out.” - Shawn
Notable Guest Star - John Rhys-Davies, Mädchen Amick, Olivia d’Abo, Vinnie Jones
“American Duos” (Season 2; Ep 1)
The premiere of Season 2 is the best stand-alone episode of the series. It is everything you need to know about the series. It is hilarious, there is a great mystery, the guest stars are as good as it gets, and the performance at the end of the episode will make any newbie a Psych fan for life. This is Shawn and Gus at their best and Nigel St. Nigel delivers a list of one-liners for the ages. This episode has Gus and Shawn infiltrate a singing competition to find out who is trying to kill the brutally honest judge’s life.
Best Line - “I feel as if I have been incarcerated in a blueberry.” - Nigel St. Nigel
Notable Guest Stars - Tim Curry, Gina Gershon
Psych 3: This is Gus premieres November 18, 2021, on Peacock where the entire series and both films are currently available.