“Psych” is an incredibly easy show to dissect, thrash and generally make fun of in nasty, yet truthful ways. I could probably go an a marathon-esque rant about all the things that could’ve been better, and no-one of any wits at all would’ve argued against it. ‘Cause when you boil away the water and poke through the charred remains, you have to admit that “Psych” lacks some very vital ingredients that I’d normally demand without hesitation.

Did you notice the italics? They’re there for a reason, you know.

Normally I’d be happy blast “Psych” into American Television Hell where it by all accounts should belong. But I won’t do that since despite all its shortcomings and glaring faults, “Psych” is actually a good show that I really liked. That doesn’t exclude the facts that it could’ve been a lot better - love does blind, but it doesn’t cut off your entire head - with a few tweaks and additions.

“Psych” is a detective show about a guy named Shawn, whose deductive reasoning and observational skills are so utterly spectacular that he can tell you ten things you didn’t know about yourself just by looking at you. He can even solve real crimes just by watching the television; in fact, he’s already pulled that feat off a number of times. One day he solves a crime by watching a news report, calls in the tip and heads off to the police station to collect his well deserved reward. However, this time around he’s solved a crime so complex that the only sane explanation for it is that he’s in on the whole shebang. Well, either that, or he’s a psychic and has supernaturally divined the answer from the very ether itself. Which for some insane reason sounds all the more likely to the police than the real reason.

Now Shawn has to carry on the lie of being psychic so he won’t have to go to jail for purgery or what-not. His fellow “psychic detective” is his childhoodfriend Gus, who actually has a real job but doesn’t mind being dragged around town while Shawn “divines” the answers to cases the police can’t crack.

“Psych”’s closest cousin in the TV world would appear to be a cop show like “Bones” or “C.S.I.”. They’re all shows that hinges their plots on one way to reaching the conclusion, whether it’s through some small remnant of DNA or, in this case, “psychic abilities”. I say “appear to be” the closes cousin, ’cause in truth they’re actually pretty far removed from one another (they probably don’t even exchange Christmas cards). The best comparisons for “Psych” is rather a show like “Reaper”, that settles for funny comments and witty observations above making the story believable. And just like “Reaper”,  “Psych” does this to the extent that you find yourself not giving a shit if the plot’s so thin it makes cellophane look dense.

So yeah, “Psych” is actually a comedy show in slightly different package, but numb relief doesn’t always equal “dumb relief” (though the humour isn’t exactly high-brow all the time either). There’s nothing wrong with liking a show that isn’t particularly realistic, yet incredibly charming and entertaining. “Psych” has all those qualities; witty banter, funny situations and as the show progresses, some quite well-built central characters.

The thing I really missed, though, was an overreaching plot arc. Any respectable show has one, and every show that has one - nearly no matter how lame it is - is better for it. I can understand that the writers of “Psych” are loath to include them because of the somewhat reduced accessibility to new viewers, but I can’t see why there isn’t included some small measure of character development. They get expanded upon, but no matter how many new addendums you include, you can’t shroud the fact that they’re terribly stoic and, after a while, a bit predictable.

Also the “amazing and mind-blowing” solutions to the crimes got a bit predictable by the end. Yeah, we get it, all right? It’s always the hawt girl that Shawn takes a liking to that’s done the dark deed (and if she hasn’t, you can bet your ass she’s done something else that’s just about as nasty).

All in all I’d say that “Psych” is a solid show if you judge it by what it sets out to do. And that is, after all, a reviewers responsibility. That’s why I’d heartily recommend this show to anyone looking for something easy to rest their ever-spinning eyes on. Life is at it’s best when you’re having fun, and television isn’t even remotely different in that regard.

7.0 /10 (weak)