Psych - The Breakup

After eight years the doors of Psych are closed in the series finale which features Shawn (James Roday) and Gus (Dulé Hill) working one more murder case while Shawn struggles to tell his best friend that he's decided to move to San Fransisco to be with Juliet (Maggie Lawson). While offering a typical wacky adventure, "The Breakup" makes several nice nods to the show's past while showcasing that Lassiter (Timothy Omundson) is in good hands without Juliet, Shawn, and Gus as Betsy Brannigan (Mira Sorvino) proves more than up to the challenge of solving crime without the use of a fake psychic (and her choice of Junior Detective is a nice touch as well).

The murder itself is less interesting than the episode's trappings which include the long-discussed Billy Zane playing the episode's killer as well as a surprise cameo from Val Kilmer. With Gus landing a swanky new job (under the tutelage of Bud from The Cosby Show) with all the trimmings (a soda fountain and treats in the break room) Shawn struggles with how to tell his best friend this is their last case together asking advice of Lassie and Henry (Corbin Bernsen) to find ways to soften the blow. In the end his choice is classic-Shawn, allowing for an ending that's far less sad than one might suspect.


There's much to enjoy here including the taped messages Shawn leaves Lassie, Gus, and Val Kilmer and the ridiculous two-wheeled student driver car that the Psych duo steal from their old high school to evade a killer. Before the credits finally roll we also get a Monk reference, a proposal, and a wacky ending that reminds viewers that just because the show is coming to an end doesn't mean these characters aren't still out their solving crimes and making pop culture references.

I've been a fan of the show since the beginning, and although I think some aspects have improved while others have gotten a little stale over the years, I'm sad to see it all come to an end. If it does have to end it's nice to see creator Steve Franks let the cast go out in style with a show that highlights the various relationships in the show, particularly the core friendship of Gus and Shawn, and find a way to offer an enjoyable final episode that celebrates the show more than it mourns its passing.