Season 7, Episode 01
Santabarbaratown 2
"I just... I just don't think it's a good time for you to go."
Directed by Mel Damski
Written by Bill Callahan and Steve Franks
Henry’s old partner, Jerry Carp, has shot Henry for uncovering some of Carp’s nasty old secrets. A few decades ago, Carp joined Henry’s other two partners to turn a blind eye to Ellis Beaumont’s crack production, and to hinder Henry’s work finding the source. Fortunately, Shawn shows up just in time to stop Carp from finishing the job, and Henry is rushed to the hospital in critical condition. While Henry tries to recover, Psych and the SBPD work to hunt down Jerry Carp. Unfortunately, Carp wasn’t just on the take a few decades ago – he’s still involved with some very powerful and dangerous people, who are very interested in making sure nobody knows what they’re up to…Tropes:
- Abhorrent Admirer: Chelsea returns, and spends a lot of time being generally overbearing and creepy towards Henry while he’s recovering.
- Aw, Look! They Really Do Love Each Other: The entire team pulls together on behalf of Henry and Shawn.
- Shawn's relationship with Henry has always been strained. The episode opens with Shawn terrified and babbling as Henry goes into surgery. Afterward he gives a tear-jerking speech as Henry lies unconscious in bed.
- Arms Dealer: It turns out Carp is involved with a ring of these, who are smuggling guns to war-torn regions under the guise of a nonprofit organization sending in food.
- Bait-and-Switch Comment: It looks like Vick is going to chew Shawn out for his out of control behavior. Instead she starts telling him that she can't... have him... on this case... She can't afford that... It would be irresponsible... It would compromise the case...
- Batman Grabs a Gun: Shawn has held a gun a few times, rarely has he pointed one at a suspect.Karp: ... that's my gun.
Shawn: So you know it works. - Big Damn Heroes: Just as it looks like Karp is about to kill Shawn, he gets shot multiple times. Juliet, behind the black.
- Binocular Shot: Used in a couple scenes, with Shawn spying on Julian Drake’s compound.
- Breather Episode: Not this episode, definitely not. But within the episode, you have occasional moments to break the tension in highly emotional scenes(like Woody showing up with an unnecessary bodybag after Shawn's tearful speech to the unconscious Henry).
- Chekhov's Gun: Lassiter spends a lot of time gushing over and playing with one of Jerry's landmines, emphasizing the double-click. Guess what Shawn steps on later?
- Determinator: Shawn never gives up on a case once he's decided to take it. This time, though, he really takes it to a whole new level.
- Dirty Cop: Henry’s old group were all these (except for Henry), but Jerry Carp takes it up to eleven. While the others accepted bribes to look the other way from a major crack dealer, Carp got involved with underground gun smugglers and worse of his own volition.
- He Knows Too Much: Jack Atwater knew some of what Carp was up to, but he’s hit by a sniper before he can cut a deal for information.
- It's Personal: Shawn pursues the case with a single-minded fury that makes Jules and Gus a little nervous. He doesn’t even pretend it’s not because they shot his dad.
- Jurisdiction Friction: Turns out the FBI is already involved in investigating Carp and Vest’s gun running, and the SBPD is told to stay out of it. This does precisely nothing to deter Shawn.
- Land Mine Goes "Click!": Shawn and Gus accidentally “Wake up” a live land mine that someone hid under Psych’s couch. They end up calling the bomb squad in to dispose of it.
- Mexican Standoff: Twice, Shawn ends up calling a two-way situation with people pointing guns at each other one of these. The usual response is that there’s not enough people involved.
- Oh, Crap!: At the gun range, while Shawn's holding a gun...Employee: Jack don't come out here unless there's a problem.
Shawn: Oh, really?
Gus: Please don't do this, Shawn. - O.O.C. Is Serious Business:
- Shawn is “Emotionally compromised” by this particular case, especially in the beginning – he doesn’t even try to sneak into Carp’s house, smashing the door in and then breaking a lot of Carp’s stuff in a rage.
- Lassie also acts out of character by breaking the law to help Shawn, though it's more because Shawn's obsession with the case is affecting Juliet too.
- Running Gag: Woody turning up in inappropriate situations with a body bag or two.
- Skewed Priorities: Shawn and Gus try to get the bomb squad’s robot to bring them some nachos Gus made while they’re literally sitting on a live land mine.
- Surprisingly Realistic Outcome: Tiny blue Toyota Echo vs. house. Car is now broken in half.
- Vomit Indiscretion Shot: Shawn intercepted some Chinese takeout heading to Julian Drake’s compound, and put an ipecac in it to complicate things while he snuck in and got Carp. Unfortunately, Gus didn’t know and ate some of it.
- Wig, Dress, Accent: Shawn’s “Soupcan Sam” disguise returns. Gus gets in on it too, this time, leading to them sharing a fake beard.
