USA Network’s comedy-drama “Psych” has some of the highest ratings of current TV shows. It is also, as of its renewal for a seventh season, the network’s longest-running series currently on air. Why? Well, the work speaks for itself. With a highly perceptive (and slightly tapped) starring role, and witty humor reminiscent of slapstick comedy, it’s no wonder that the show is such a success. Quirky and out-of-control, there are high expectations for the upcoming season, which premieres this winter.
Season six, which ended April 11, 2012, was full of nail-bitingly hysterical suspense, ridiculously sticky situations, and humorously portrayed romance. As “psychic” police consultant for the SBPD, Shawn Spencer (with his fiercely loyal sidekick Burton Guster) cracks a slew of cases involving extravagant art thieves, seemingly impossible cold cases, and dastardly murders; all while managing to get in as much trouble as possible along the way.
With a consistent, killer intro to every episode (an anecdote from Shawn’s childhood), the show has set up for itself a familiar, yet interesting and original structure. Each anecdote precludes an underlying theme or idea which recurs throughout the rest of the episode, and automatically pulls the viewer in, giving them something to think about. Spencer’s rocky relationship with his father and his eternal, lifelong friendship with his partner Gus provide depth and intrigue to the show, and provide a dynamic, both comical and smooth. While some of the lines may be corny and various action scenes seem far-fetched, rather than being a flaw, these actually help give the show its recognizable flair.
Although the show was already solid, season six brought a few minor improvements. More specifically, the art direction seemed more sophisticated, and the quality and composition of shots is better than ever before. Not to mention, the development of character Carlton Lassiter in the series is also more prominent; at one point, Lassie even turns to Shawn and Gus for “supernatural” help, in the episode “Heeeeere’s Lassie,” when the detective finds himself plagued by ghosts in his new apartment.
As excitement for the winter premiere of season seven slowly mounts, “Psych’s” popularity grows as well, as more and more people are taking interest in a show that offers something so refreshingly different than the reality TV rubbish that clogs the TV networks. However, there are a few possible issues that may await us in season seven; due to the consistency of each episode, there will need to be more plot twists to compensate for what may be taken as monotony as each episode ends in a solved case. Basically, the show needs to be interesting despite its almost redundant nature. There is little to worry about, as the series continues to receive high ratings and push its way to the top of the scoreboard. Hopefully, season seven will live up to expectations, and continue to be the show that has provided audiences with laughs for nearly a decade.
