Psych is a television show about the adventures (and often misadventures) of Shawn and his friend Gus. After calling in a tip (for reward money) after viewing a newscast, Shawn is brought in for questioning by Carlton Lassiter, a hardball detective, who is convinced that Shawn must be involved with the crime he solved. Shawn, who was trained by his father (a career cop) to be the perfect detective, using his hyper-observation and photographic memory to convince the authorities that he is in fact psychic. One 45 minute adventure (plus commercials) later, Shawn is running a psychic detective agency with his unwilling partner in crime, Gus.
There are various steroetypes and tropes present in the series, often for comedic effect. Shawn Spencer is the classic screw up. He's charming, brilliant, but lazy and unmotivated. Burton Guster acts as the perfect foil to Shawn's inanity. Gus is reserved, responsible, and a little stuck up and humorless at times. There is a great cast of supporting actors too. Juliet is a part time love interest part time fem fatal. Carlton Lassiter is the egotistical, alpha male cop who is just as dedicated to his job as he is socially inept. Shawn comes from the stereotypical divorced and dysfunctional family. His father is authoritarian and always disaproving of Shawn's actions. After all, he spent all of his time trying to make Shawn follow his footsteps into being a cop, only to have Shawn rebel against him. Shawn's mother is as brilliant as she is removed and distant.
One of the great things that the cinematography of the show captures is the back and forth of the characters. As seen in the link, the focus of the camera is on the eyes. This is before the viewer even realizes that they are engaged in a staring contest. The shifting back and forth between each person only raises the drama. There are other various small touches that add up. Close ups of fist bumps and other body language, shifting to a profile shot for the delivery of snide comments, and highlighting objects in a closeup that are key clues to the story. There are several layers of self referential humor ("I solve a case about once a week and another around Christmas and Thanksgiving" -Shawn) and running gags.
Overall what makes the show work is the quirky humor and the strength of the actors.
I might watch Psych now. It doesn't seem too bad.
ReplyDeleteIt's a little off beat and silly. although sometimes it's actually really smart if you pay attention. There are definitely people who wouldn't appreciate it, but my tongue-in-cheek opinion is they must be dead on the inside. The first season starts slow but picks up halfway through. The Second and Third seasons are probably the best.
ReplyDelete