One Important Character Is Unfortunately Missing in the Otherwise Elating 'Psych: The Movie'

After the series ended in 2014, Psych returns to the small screen through a Christmas special – a TV movie called, er, Psych: The Movie.  Yeah, yeah.  I wish the title was more distinctive, especially considering that, if all goes well, creator Steve Franks plans to make five more Psych movies.  So what’s the next one going to be called now?  Psych: The Movie 2?   Moreover, if it was going to be identified as “The Movie”, then it should have been through a more appropriate medium than the 88-minute, commercial-break-divided TV movie that it is.  Instead, it should have been released in theaters – or, the very least, in VOD.

Nonetheless, it’s an elating early Christmas treat for every Psych fan.  There’s nothing particularly “special” about this special.  It’s as if it’s just another episode of the series.  But that’s totally fine.  In the first place, the show has been generally witty, well-written, tonally amiable, and highly entertaining; revels in wide-ranging pop culture references and non-staling recurring jokes; and, when needed, can get very suspenseful or touching.  Psych: The Movie turning out to be mostly like what the series had typically been is more than enough.

It was a lot of fun to revisit its characters, especially the quirky, bantering, mystery-solving duo of “psychic detective” Shawn Spencer and Burton “Gus” Guster.  James Roday and Dulé Hill is as funny and sharp as ever in they return to their iconic roles.

Set three years after the series finale, Psych: The Movie sees Shawn having settled down in San Francisco, and having opened a new Gremlins-themed detective agency in Chinatown – “Psychphrancisco”, as he named it.  Meanwhile, Gus has also moved to San Francisco, working in a new pharmaceutical company full-time and working with Shawn part-time, as usual.  One day, Juliet finds herself being targeted by a trio of vengeful criminals – a “Thin White Duke” David Bowie wannabe, a black gentleman ninja, and WWE Superstar Charlotte Flair.  Thus, to address the threat, the whole Santa Barbara gang gets back together.

Well, not exactly the whole gang.  There’s one important character missing: the delightful Detective Carlton Lassiter.  It’s because actor Timothy Omundson has had a minor stroke, preventing him to participate, save for a small cameo scene, in which Juliet shared a poignant, heart-to-heart video call with him.  His absence is a huge let-down.  Hopefully, he’ll be in the next Psych movie.

Aside from the lack of Lassie, another disappointment is that Shawn never had enough moments where he impressed with his eidetic memory and be ridiculous with his “psychic” shtick.  He didn’t even unmask the big bad.  He and Gus did some detective work, but it wasn’t up to their usual standards.

Overall, I largely enjoyed what Psych: The Movie was able to offer.  A complete reunion would have been my preference, but given the circumstance, it did well in providing fans the opportunity to once again savor the beloved Psych universe.  Most importantly, it’s very thrilling to know that, based on the evident implication of the epilogue, this isn’t the last time we are going to see of it.

At this point, confirmation of more upcoming TV specials would be a cool Christmas gift.  Or better still, an announcement of a complete series revival!