TV Review: Psych – Tuesday the 17th

Posted by Kevin Carr (kevin@filmschoolrejects.com) on February 14, 2009

Psych

Psych, USA, Airs Friday 10/9c

Episode: “Tuesday the 17th” (Season Three, Episode 15)

Synopsis: Shawn and Gus are approached by Jason Cunningham, a childhood camp-mate who is planning on re-opening Camp Tikihama, where they spend their summers as kids. A counselor has gone missing, and Shawn and Gus are asked to solve the mystery without involving the police. Meanwhile, Lassie’s ex-wife has asked to meet with him, and he has sudden hopes of reconciling the marriage.

Review: I really have mixed feelings about this episode. On one hand, I loved the nod to the many 80s slasher flicks over the years. Again, this shows how the people behind Psych have a true love for 80s pop culture. In this respect, they have a great grasp on the elements of Friday the 13th – from the name of the camp director being Jason (from Friday the 13th) Cunningham (from the director of Friday the 13th) to the design of the opening sequence and credits.

James Roday directed this episode, and he knows his 80s trivia. However, about half-way through the show, things take a really weird turn. On one hand, this is also a nod to the 80s slasher films where people are isolated at a camp ground with a psycho killer on the loose. But the darkness behind the story just didn’t quite gel with a standard Psych episode.

The side story with Lassie and his wife (played by a woefully aged Justine Bateman) really seemed out of place. I suppose it was the only way they could fit Lassie and the Captain in the show. But even by pulling Jules into the shenanigans at Camp Tikihama seemed a bit of a stretch.

Ultimately, the first half was more awesome than awesome. The last half was just plain weird… although the Psych Out at the end with Gus in the canoe was hilarious.

Finally, did anyone else notice the Hannah Montana quality of Sissy (Luisa D’Oliveira) the camp counselor? I felt just a bit dirty after seeing her in a bikini.

Up Next: Cybill Shepherd and Rachael Leigh Cook reprise their roles as returning guest stars in this season finale which has Shawn and Gus looking for the Yin Yang serial killer.

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Matt Bacon

I loved this episode, and I was waiting for your review to post this here.

I would call this a good "spoof episode" because it combined elements of all good slasher films and made it (intentionally) funny! Yes, the second half was crazy, but honestly, I've seen plots of movies that are just absurd. Kudos to Psych for pulling off such a feat!

My only complaint was that the older Miley Clone wasn't in a bikini for a longer period of time!

Tiffany

I have to disagree. The episode was amazing, yes, but my favorite storyline was Lassiter's-by leaps and bounds. Timothy Omundson did such an amazing job with his ending scene!

RobertFure

I liked this episode, but it was indeed weird. There were a lot more horror references in it that you didn't point out. The "missing girl" is named Annie - same name as the victim in the first F13. Texas Chainsaw Massacre sound cues and strobe. Unfortunately I guess my DVR cut out a little early as I didn't see the psych out. =(

Kit

I watch it online so missed the psych out but gained from the annontations that USA decided were needed - the little extra trivia bits including notes on where the names came from and common slasher tropes just worked so well for this episode. Was it over the top? Of course. Was Jules' trip out there a bit contrived? Yeah, it was. But she added just a great juxtoposition and dose of sanity to the standard slasher victims that she became my favorite part of what may be my favorite Psych episode. Especially her moment of awesome at the end. And Lassie's bit was good character development that worked with the tone of the episode, contrasting with the insanity yet moody enough to fit very well. So there's one person at least who absolutely loved this episode!

TV Review: Psych – Tuesday the 17th

Psych, USA, Airs Friday 10/9c

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