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Vote for Spencer. Review: Psych – “Santa Barbarian Candidate”

Season 7, Episode 10

Air Date: Wednesday, May 1, 2013, 10/9c on USA

Rating: ★★★★★

“Without me, Santa Barbara turns into Detroit.” – Shawn

When the Mayor of Santa Barbara is found murdered, Shawn (James Roday) must find a way to keep his main suspect from taking over as interim Mayor, even if that means running for office himself.

Shawn Spencer for Mayor

Having actually run for mayor in my hometown back in 2005, I was excited for this episode and “Santa Barbarian Candidate” does not disappoint. I love the idea of Shawn running for mayor and the reactions of those like his father Henry (Corbin Bernsen), who sums it up perfectly with one word —  “Idiot.” I think my only minor complaint is the writers often write Shawn’s dialogue with a wide range of maturity. I rather enjoy Shawn’s silliness and childish behavior, yet moments like his first TV interview just seem too immature, especially given the reason why he’s running. Shawn drags things out long enough to find the evidence he needs to put away a killer.

I think it’s fun when a show tosses out inside jokes about a character or TV show that an actor has previously been on, and with an election themed episode, fans must have seen something like this coming:

Gus( Dulé Hill): “I could have made it all the way to the White House.”

Shawn: “Ya, maybe as an Aide.”

Gus: “Of course.” 

Shawn: “Say Yes Mr. President.”

Gus: “Yes Mr. President.”

Shawn: “Sorry Charlie.”

Gus: “Man, you don’t know. I’m just saying, I could have been the black James Carville.”

While the dialogue appeals to the casual viewer, it’s also a reference to the show The West Wing where Dulé Hill played Charlie Young, Personal Aide to the President for seven seasons. It has no impact on the scene but rather a fun gesture for the audience.

After weeks of toying with us, I was getting tired of the whole ‘Shawn and Juliet’ game I feel is being played on the audience, but I really like how it is handled in “Santa Barbarian Candidate.” I must admit, the dance scene gets to me as Shawn nonchalantly asks Juliet (Maggie Lawson) if she would like to dance.

Juliet: “Too bad for you, you don’t dance.”

Shawn: “Yeah, too bad.” (As he takes her hand and they start dancing.)

Juliet: “When we went to take the dance class, you said you had shin splints.”

Shawn: “Not entirely true. I went to the Montecito Scottish ventriloquist festival with Gus. I felt so guilty about lying to you that I went back and took that dance class, all by myself.”

Juliet: “You did?”

Shawn: “They say it’s all about your connection with your partner. If you have the right partner, there’s nothing you can’t do.” (He slowly dips Juliet.)

Juliet: “Where was this Shawn Spencer when we were dating?”

Shawn: “He’s right here.” 

What a touching moment.

I think this is one of the more touching moments in Psych’s seven years because it shows Shawn in an unselfish moment. His learning to dance was, in many ways, a gift to her. The range of emotions just in Juliet’s eyes—from confusion to amazement to love—is emotional to watch. Juliet is clearly torn having to choose between what her heart and mind want. Juliet’s ultimatum that Shawn tell Chief Vick (Kirsten Nelson) everything caught me off guard, and it was done early enough in the episode to make me wonder whether he would really do it before the episode was over.

The murder and Shawn’s mayoral campaign kinda got lost amid the Shawn and Juliet storyline but I don’t mind because I love how the ending plays out. Juliet knows something is up when she glances up and sees Shawn but when she looks over to Gus and sees his expression, she realizes Shawn is about to tell the Chief the truth and must decide if this is what she really wants.

I think the Chief already knows. There was a lot of pressure on Vick in season one while she was interim Chief. Whatever Shawn may be, psychic or not, what he is doing seems to work, and at the time she needed him as much as he needed her. I’d love to see a flashback scene to the meeting Chief Vick first had with Shawn. Speaking of Chief Vick’s interim days, will we ever get another episode with her kid again?

I enjoyed “Santa Barbarian Candidate” very much and things seem to have gotten back on track. I wasn’t upset over Juliet learning Shawn’s secret shocker but instead, I was bothered by how it was handled. I like Shawn fighting to win her back and not giving up. Juliet loves Shawn but still feels hurt, yet given what happens in the Chief’s office and her decision to not let Shawn confess, Juliet now not only knows the truth, but Shawn’s lie is also on her. Things could still get interesting between Shawn and Juliet and I look forward to where the writers take us.

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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.

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.