Spoiler Free Advance Review: Psych - “Santabarbaratown 2”

Season 7, Episode 1

Air Date: Wednesday, February 27, 2013, 10/9c on USA

Rating: ★★★★★

Shawn has a plan, what could go wrong?

The past year has been a tough one for Psych fans. Season six ended with Henry (Corbin Bernsen) getting shot. Then came the announcement that season eight would be only eight episodes rather than the usual 16. A few weeks ago, it was announced that Maggie Lawson (Juliet O’Hara) would be filming a pilot for a show on ABC after season eight, leaving her future, as well as the show’s, in limbo. All this before a single episode of season seven even airs. Never mind that it has been almost 11 months in between seasons, leaving me to wonder, where’s the network love? Will this long wait be worth it in the end for Psych fans? The answer: Wait for iiiiiiiiiiiiiit………. Yes!

“Santabarbaratown 2” picks up right after Henry is shot, which has to be a difficult thing for the writers—having to write a comedy around a somber event. But they nail it with the right blend of humor and seriousness. This is especially true with Shawn (James Roday) and how he copes with his father’s fate, not to mention how it impacts the decisions he makes over the next few episodes. (Yes, I was lucky enough to screen the first three episodes of season seven.)

There is an amusing blast from the past when a favorite character makes an unexpected return, followed by some scenes with Woody (Kurt Fuller) that are hilarious and, as he puts it, “awkward.” Henry isn’t the only beloved Psych character whose future existence is in danger. Without giving anything away, I just have one word: “Cranberry.”

Gus and Shawn are back!

I like that Gus (Dule Hill) seems to be slightly more toned down this season. In last season’s “Santabarbaratown,” I found his eating habits more annoying than funny. This might have something to do with some of the severe consequences his gluttony causes in the first few episodes of season seven.

Visually, a few things seem to have changed, the biggest of which is a slightly different psych vision when Shawn sees things, adding a more layered 3-D effect. I’m not sure if pointing out what’s missing is a spoiler, but the other thing I noticed so far in the first three episodes is there are no flashbacks of young Shawn. Has Skyler Gisondo gotten too old for the part, or will we see a fifth actor playing a young Shawn Spenser? Or does he simply not fit the story yet?

While keeping this advance review of the season seven premiere of Psych spoiler free, here are two personal thoughts about what’s to come:

I can’t say which scene, but you’ll know what I am talking about when you see it. Juliet is absolutely stunning in episode 2, “Juliet Takes a Luvvah.”
Usually I’m not a huge fan of episodes directed by James Roday, but episode 3, “Lassie Jerky,” has to be one of my top five favorite Psych episodes.

Any doubts I had about Psych’s seventh season have been put to rest. Psych is back and, so far, it has hit the ground running. Can it keep getting better or will it run out of steam?

Tune in to the Season 7 premiere of Psych, Wednesday, February 27 at 10/9c, only on the USA Network. And when you’re finished watching, don’t forget to enter our Contest. The winner gets a really cool prize pack valued at $134.25!

For more information on Psych, visit the official website.

Follow Psych on Twitter.

LIKE Psych on Facebook.

Biography of the Author(Read Below)..
Latest Posts (view them )..

Greg Staffa

I provide testosterone to the site. You won’t be reading about how nice a actress looks in a dress or how much of a hunk Matt Bomer is in my reviews. I describe colors using words like brown, not taupe. My twitter name is @staffaroadtrip because I love road trips and have done two different 48-state road trips since 2008. My favorite show is White Collar.