
(S02E15) "First you treat a woman like a person, then a princess, then a Greek Goddess, then a person again" -- Shawn's advice on how to treat a woman.
For nearly two seasons Shawn Spencer has been 'The Man'. He could get into any place, do anything, and be with pretty much any girl he wanted. Wherever he went he was the center of attention. This week, the shoe was on the other foot as the spotlight was painfully pulled away from Shawn and pointed to some of the other members of the cast.
And, you know what? I LOVED it!
I don't think I have ever seen an episode where Shawn is the sanest person in his small circle of friends and relatives -- that job has gone to Gus in many cases. So, it was very refreshing to see another side of the young Spencer, especially the flustered side of him -- again, another side we have rarely seen. Not even the satisfaction of a murder reveal could give him any comfort and a bit more of the spotlight, since the murdered victims actually killed each other. Face it, this was Shawn's Lonely Guy episode.
The scene that solidified this feeling for me was the one after Gus and the rest of the models left Shawn talking to his father while they drove away in the stretch limo on steroids. With a blues song in the background Shawn skulks back to the room that he is renting in the models' loft and falls asleep on his tiny twin bed with images of what he would have done with the models dancing in his head. What probably got Shawn's goat is that he wouldn't have been in this state if he didn't take Gus to the CIAO party in the first place.
Gus. If you want to know where the spotlight was this week it was on him. Who the heck was that guy strutting his stuff in designer clothing? It certainly wasn't the Gus we knew -- the one that spent the remainder of his birthday at the arcade. This was Tan, Model Supreme. He was a totally different person: suave, funny, smartly dressed, good smelling. In fact, he was Shawn this week while Shawn was Gus.
We've seen bits and pieces of this side of Gus in previous episodes, but it was full blown this time around. It really showed the comic chops that Dule Hill has gained since he left The West Wing and joining the frivolity of Psych. His transformation from pharmaceutical rep to supermodel wannabe was great to watch. Gus needs some more of these character changes from time to time.
Also sharing the spotlight this week were Henry, Lassiter, O'Hara, and even 'Interim' Chief (still?) Karen Vick. Lassiter and O'Hara were definitely affected by their time with the Ciao models. Lassie decided to upgrade his wardrobe with some newer ties, while Jules decided that she could be a cop and dress like a woman at the same time (Yowsa!). I do hope that O'Hara decides to keep that look as the series continues. Chief Vick jumped into the spotlight while trying to get some dirt from Shawn about his father's interest in her friend.
Speaking about Henry...I have never seen him so unsure in the two seasons that the show has been on. He was totally clueless about the way he should go with the woman Vick introduced him to. However, that all changed when she decided to show off some of her assets then attack him in the restaurant's bathroom, which was one of the funnier scenes of the night. By the way, that was Amanda Pays, who happens to be Corbin Bernsen's wife in real life, as Henry's blind date
Even after all of the fun that this show was there was actually a pretty important and serious moment at the end of the episode that took place between Shawn and his father. As mentioned before, the situation between Henry and his wife hasn't really been brought up too much, and it is definitely a sore point with Shawn. From what I can gather his mom left one day and never came back.
Now, Henry wants to move on, and he doesn't want to feel guilty that he's going to move on. But, Shawn isn't quite ready to let it all go. In fact, he was pretty angry that his dad was going on another date with the woman who practically attacked him at dinner. However, he reluctantly came to terms with it all because, in spite of everything, he loves his father and really doesn't want to see him alone. I really, really liked that ending as it brought a new dimension to the Shawn-Henry dynamic.
Next week -- Didn't we have a monster theme during the first season finale? Well, we have another one for the second season finale as Shawn and Gus Meet the Mummy.















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-09-2008 @ 1:27PM
bruce said...
I still want to know more about who and where Shawn's mother is. I'm sure one day we'll have an episode where she shows up in town, unannounced, for some reason (e.g.her current husband was murdered). I'm sure the'll get a famous actress to play Shawn's mom and Henry's ex-wife.
But when the show started, it was clear that Shawn did not like his father and he didn't even know that Henry was back in Santa Barbara (he heard it from another cop). I can't imagine a situation where parents split up, and the kid hates the father and doesn't stay in touch with the mother. I also can't imagine a mother leaving her husband and going into hiding, never keeping in touch with her child -- regardless of her feelings about the child's father.
It's just odd that Shawn never kept in touch with his mother, OR his father until Henry showed up back in town (where his house had always been?). I guess there are just a lot of questions about Shawn's family that remain unanswered and that don't make a whole lot of sense.
On another note, I've noticed that James Roday (who plays shawn) has been co-writing a lot of Psych episodes lately. I wonder if it's just writing shawn's dialogue or actually the whole plot and concept ideas.
Anyway, fairly good episode over all. I agree that we need to have a resolution about the "interim" chief designation.
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2-09-2008 @ 3:29PM
Michael said...
The scene with all the models (including black and tan) strutting in slow-motion in the fog with killer 80s music blaring was hands down the best scene on television this year...hands down.
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2-09-2008 @ 3:51PM
Richard Lawler said...
"I'm black, he's tan. I can't believe you just made that assumption. You and your family should be ashamed."
This show is so great.
Clearly, Shawn's mom is something they'll need to go into soon, especially if they keep focusing on his and henry's relationship.
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2-09-2008 @ 5:17PM
mike m said...
I don't know why, but this ep just didn't do it for me. I think because they have completely abandoned the whole psychic angel. Now, he's just some detective who is really good. And we already knew that. I'm not sure why, but the feel of the show this episode was much less comedy oriented. Though still good, there are some areas I felt it was weak this week.
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2-09-2008 @ 5:33PM
mike m said...
oops. typo. angle, not angel. although i guess shawn could be an angel too...now that would be interesting. Where is Roma Downey when you need her! She could play Shawn's mom! ;-)
2-09-2008 @ 6:09PM
RazorD said...
Much much better than last weeks episode, episodes like this remind me why the show is one of my favourites.
Lets hope the NBC run does well and we get a bit more attention of it.
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2-09-2008 @ 7:30PM
Harish said...
Don't forget the beginning, when Lassiter first sees Shawn and Gus at the murder scene and sits down with them and asks Shawn what he knows. I know they've been getting a better relationship, but that was a great moment.
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2-09-2008 @ 11:36PM
jake said...
How has no one not mentioned the Call back joke in the flashback at the beginning yet?
"Pictures last forever Shawn, I want you to look your best."
This was soooo a reference to the previous episode and the horrible pic of Henry.
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2-10-2008 @ 1:53AM
Joe said...
I believe the "Amanda Pays" you speak of is actually Amanda Detmer. So say the credits, at least.
Also, the psychic angle has almost disappeared, but I kinda like it. Barely a finger to Shawn's temple all episode. However, I think the show was great when Shawn and Gus were just a step in front of the police, or had the one clue that fit everything together. Now it seems like the police are doing the dirty work and Shawn and Gus are solving it all.
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2-10-2008 @ 8:28AM
Bill said...
Both were in the episode. Amanda Detmer was the wife of the designer guy. You may remember her from What About Brian or Saving Silverman. Amanda Pays was the woman dating Shawn's dad. You probably don't remember her as the StarLabs doctor lady from the early 90's tv series The Flash, but that's what I know her from.
2-11-2008 @ 12:55AM
PurpleSlog said...
I played the "Come on Eileen" snippet at the end over and over a few times I was laughing so hard.
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2-17-2008 @ 5:31PM
jason smith said...
what song are they playing when walking slow-mo in the fog?
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2-19-2008 @ 1:45AM
mp said...
Wasn't it "Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)" by Pet Shop Boys?
Now I have a question. That whole "person/princess/goddess/person" quote sounded very familiar. Has it come up in a previous episode?
2-23-2008 @ 4:41PM
jason smith said...
thank you Mp
2-23-2008 @ 10:49PM
The Bowery Thrush said...
Was there a pineapple in this episode? I looked all over no luck.
The only thing that distracted me in this episode was the worst Australian accent I've ever heard.
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