Psych (Season 5)

Psych had a big act to follow after the pretty amazing Season 4, and while Season 5 is definitely great, I wouldn't quite say it managed to top it.

Season 5 focuses mostly on the romantic subplot between Shawn and Juliet, which is probably at its most compelling. I'm glad the show didn't bother drawing it out much further, and the stretch of episodes where they get together is probably the best part of the season. I especially love Juliet's temporary boyfriend, Declan Rand, who's a really funny side character. I'll be honest, I was a bit unsure about the two of them at first, but this season made me warm up to the couple, especially once they get together. The minor subplot about Gus and Lassiter learning they're dating is a ton of fun. Similarly to Season 4, Shawn has a bit of a character arc throughout the season, this time being about his dashed confidence after what happened with Mr Yin. It's subtle, but I like that he's a lot more unsure and insecure this season. Similarly to Season 4, there's a really big variety of episodes, from a fun Twin Peaks homage, to returning characters, to neat guest stars, to a documentary episode. I don't quite think all of the experiments pay off this time, The Polarizing Express being one of the show's weakest episodes, but more often than not, this season is still a ton of fun.

However, Season 5 of Psych has a pretty big issue that none of the show's other seasons seem to have, and that's its tone. It's pretty obvious that the season is trying to go for an incredibly light-hearted tone, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. Psych is a comedy after, an optimistic Blue Skies one at that, so it makes sense that the show runners would want to keep the show light. However, this starts to become an issue when Psych tries to deal with darker topics, from Juliet dealing with her PTSD from Season 4, to the big finale of the Yang trilogy. I'll elaborate on the latter later, but I found it to be incredibly unrealistic that Juliet suddenly gets over nearly dying in a single episode thanks to Shawn, Gus, and Lassiter bugging her (which isn't a good idea at all, don't annoy someone into confronting their trauma!). I don't think the show needed to give her a dark storyline about it, but it could have been an interesting subplot and the show could have dealt with the topic far more gracefully and gradually. Thankfully, while this season definitely falls short on the drama, it at least excels when it comes to the comedy. I'm not sure if this is the funniest season of the show, but it's definitely up there, especially with the hilarious first three episodes.

Despite my gripes, I did still really enjoy this season, and there were a lot of episodes I liked:

Feet Don't Kill Me Now: This was an episode that I didn't know I wanted until I got it, as it has Shawn and Juliet pretty much switch partners for a day. Gus and Lassiter don't interact too often, so seeing them team up was a ton of fun, and the whole tap class thread led to a lot of funny interactions.

One, Maybe Two, Ways Out: Similarly to the last few midseason finales, this was a slightly more high stakes episode as it tosses the cast into a spy thriller. The action is fun throughout, but the real highlight is the surprising twist at the end where Juliet accidentally learns that Shawn has feelings for her.

Extradition II: Another Despereaux episode! And Shawn and Juliet get together too?! Part of why I like this one better than its predecessor is because it's the first one where Shawn and Despereaux actually team up. While seeing them be enemies is fun, seeing them be friends is even more fun, and their dynamic is a ton of fun to watch. And of course, the final scene with that big kiss is amazing.

Dual Spires: Out of all of the movie homages in Psych, this Twin Peaks homage is probably the most inaccessible if you haven't already seen the show. I haven't, but that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the episode's unique vibe. The joking references to Twin Peaks come fast and the meta commentary is just subtle enough to be funny, I'm definitely coming back to this one once I actually see the show.

We'd Like To Thank The Academy: This episode was just a funny concept executed incredibly well. Shawn and Gus getting police training just felt inevitable at this point, and their goofing off throughout was incredibly entertaining to watch. The guest appearance from Ralph Macchio was great, and the episode was packed with funny lines and references to The Karate Kid.

Yang 3 In 2D: Despite my criticisms with the finale, there are things that I really liked about it. The reveals about the Yin family and Shawn's connection to them were really interesting, if a bit convoluted. Allison Cowley was a great villain and her fight with Juliet was a ton of fun, and the cliffhanger of Lassiter seeing Juliet and Shawn kiss was definitely an exciting set-up for Season 6.

Overall, Season 5 is a bit of a step-down with its inconsistent tone and weak plot threads, but the strong comedy, large variety, and fun main storyline about Shawn and Juliet still keep it incredibly entertaining.

4/5 Stars