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25 Best Psych Episodes Ranked

If you're a fan of delicious flavor, you can't stop spouting Gen-X pop culture references, and you're pretty sure you've heard it both ways, you're probably a fan of the USA series "Psych," AKA a "Psych-o." The loopy series that was part cozy mystery, part buddy comedy, and chock full of mayhem and whimsy managed to garner a devoted fandom over its eight-season 2006 — 2014 run, thanks in part to its clever writing, incredible chemistry among the cast, and hilarious running gags. The AV Club's Emily St. James described the series as "almost too manic, as if the creators watched 'Moonlighting' and 'Remington Steele' and all of the other great goofy detective shows and said, 'You know what? It can be done crazier!' "

Much more than a typical light whodunit, "Psych" stars James Roday Rodriguez as Shawn Spencer, a perpetual slacker with an eidetic memory who can't seem to find his place in the world. After pretending to be a psychic to get out of a legal pickle, Shawn ends up turning the con into a long-term gig as a psychic police consultant, much to the chagrin of his retired cop dad Henry (Corbin Bernsen). Luckily, he's got his best friend Burton "Gus" Guster (Dulé Hill) to keep him semi-anchored — that is, when he's not contributing to the delinquency of Spencer. Grab your Snyder's of Hanover and the nearest pineapple, because it's time to rank the top 25 episodes of "Psych."

25. High Top Fade Out (Season 4, Episode 7)

Shawn and Gus (AKA "The American adaptation of the British Gus") are BBFL, but they spent some time apart in college — long enough for Gus to join an ensemble singing group and bust out some sweet '90s harmony, as Shawn learns in "High Top Fade Out." When a member of Guster's estranged singing group Blackapella is murdered, his pals (played by Jaleel White and Kenan Thompson) are convinced he was murdered. Despite a decade of bad blood between them, what's left of the group reunites (with the addition of Shawn) under the name "Quarterblack."

In the spirit of Motownphilly, the theme song for this episode is performed by Boys II Men, and on USA's "Psych All-Night" event in 2014, Dulé Hill declared "High Top" his favorite episode in the series. The episode would also mark the debut of unprofessional but surprisingly competent coroner Woody (played by Kurt Fuller). The episode would also feature plenty of spicy Shules conflict, as she worked through her jealousy over Shawn's girlfriend Abigail Lytar (played by Rachael Leigh Cook). 

24. Extradition: British Columbia (Season 4, Episode 1)

"Psych" is full of memorable recurring characters, but one of the most endearing is World's Greatest Art Thief Pierre Despereaux (Cary Elwes), who first makes his appearance in "Extradition: British Columbia." While hitting the slopes in BC for a bromantic ski weekend, Shawn's eagle eye spies Despereaux, an infamous gentleman art thief and Lassiter's white whale. The notorious Despereaux is known for being so good that police have never been able to make any charges against him stick. After an antique necklace worth millions and a painting go missing, Jules and Lassie team up with local cops to try and catch the slick thief.

When Shawn and Gus nearly catch up with Despereaux, he decides to make things interesting by handing them some clues since his skills have become so good that art thieving has lost some of its appeal. Amid the ensuing shenanigans, Shawn and Gus end up in Canadian jail before Spencer finally puts together the clues. The chemistry between Despereaux and the Psych team makes for some amusing banter, and there's something of a self-referential joke in Shawn's choice of a vacation spot, since the series was actually filmed in Vancouver.

23. Yang 3 in 2D (Season 5, Episode 16)

The third and final episode in the Yang trilogy (not counting the appearance of Yang in "Psych: The Musical"), "Yang 3 in 2D" features a guest appearance from Mena Suvari as alleged Yin-Yang killer victim Allison Cowley, who turns out to be a fangirl and wannabe working under his tutelage. 

Once again, Yin (Peter Weller) gets all up in Shawn's business, and Shawn and Gus enlist the help of Yang to catch him. The episode contains a touching moment with the discovery of VHS tapes recorded by the long-dead Mary Lightly for Shawn and Gus (AKA Don Cheadle, Jr.) as well as a fantastic Juliet-centric fight scene; ultimately, Yang was never a serial killer at all — just raised by one. It also features the unintentional outing of Shawn and Juliet's relationship, when Lassie catches them kissing through the interrogation room window at the police station.

22. Shawn and Gus of the Dead (Season 2, Episode 16)

When a 3,000-year-old mummy disappears from the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum — the alarm triggered from inside the museum — its assistant curator is convinced she may be dealing with something supernatural. 

When Lassie blows off the case, she tells him she's not looking for him. She's looking for "someone with skills beyond the normal person," pointing to the picture of "Psychic Paleo-sleuth Shawn Spencer" next to Zippy the Dinosaur, the fossilized T-Rex skull and murder weapon Shawn and Gus (AKA Patty Simcox) found in "65 Million Years Off" (Season 2, Episode 2). When Shawn arrives on the scene, he quickly assesses the clues with his "psychic" senses before declaring the mummy walked out on its own. Eagle-eyed viewers can find cameos from the mothers of Steve Franks and Dulé Hill, as well as an Easter egg referencing room 237 from "The Shining."

21. Scary Sherry: Bianca's Toast (Season 1, Episode 15)

"Psych" does holiday-themed episodes like none other, and the best among them are Halloween episodes like "Scary Sherry: Bianca's Toast."  

After the suspicious death of a sorority pledge at the ominous Wispy Sunny Pines (an abandoned mental asylum with Hitchcockian vibes), Juliet goes full Legally Blonde for a weeklong undercover investigation at the university. When she can't get a break in the case, she turns to Shawn and Gus (AKA Bud from "The Cosby Show") for assistance on the DL. While Jules, Shawn, and Gus look into what may or may not be the "lumbering ghost of Doreen Harthan" at Beta Kappa Theta, Lassie gets saddled with training salty, middle-aged rookie detective Goochberg (Mercedes Ruehl), who shares his affinity for guns but not his aptitude for using them safely and has a host of strange ailments, each with its own bizarre backstory.

As a series of seemingly ghostly phenomena haunt the terrified Greeks and Juliet gets way, way, way too into character, Shawn helps unravel part of the mystery, revealing that the second victim was involved in the accidental killing of the first as part of a hazing exercise gone terribly wrong. While the mystery behind this episode isn't much of a mystery for long, the episode was a fan favorite thanks to some epic Gus squealing, decent character development surrounding Shawn's relationship with his dad, and a standout performance from Shannon Woodward as the unforgettable Alice Bundy. 

20. Lassie Did a Bad, Bad Thing (Season 3, Episode 11)

The Season 3 "Psych" episode "Lassie Did a Bad, Bad Thing" finds Carlton Lassiter under the microscope when he is accused of killing big-time gang member Ernesto Chavez moments after learning Chavez is going into witness protection. 

Although Lassie claims his innocence, he is put on suspension while Internal Affairs investigates the case. When Lassie enlists the help of Shawn and Gus, they jump into the investigation feet first, determined not to let their boy go down. Things start to get dicey when Shawn suspects a dirty cop is involved. 

While the episode has plenty of the wit and shenanigans that would become the series' trademark, it's the Lassie-centric storyline that makes this entry a gem. The episode reveals loads of lovely details about the character, including his love of the show "Cops," the "Bad Boys" ringtone on his phone, and the fact that there are eight guns stashed throughout his house.

19. Indiana Shawn and the Temple of the Kinda Crappy, Rusty Old Dagger (Season 6, Episode 10)

When a shipment of artifacts is stolen from a museum while being watched by Shawn and Gus, the former knows exactly who to call: World's Greatest Art Thief Pierre Despereaux. 

After learning that the collection belonged to an eccentric billionaire who recently died, Shawn, Gus, and Despereaux embark on their own Indiana Jones-inspired adventure revolving around a relatively low-valued Civil War dagger. The adventure culminates in a boat chase and explosion in which Despereaux is apparently killed. 

It's eventually revealed that the dagger is a key to a hidden treasure, and Despereaux — who faked his own death — absconds with a Rembrandt. An appearance from John Rhys-Davies, Sallah in "Raiders of the Lost Ark," adds to the magic of this episode.

18. Gus Walks Into a Bank (Season 3, Episode 8)

When the efforts of Gus to cash his paycheck go awry in "Gus Walks Into a Bank," Shawn finds himself separated from his best friend, who is being held hostage on the other side of a police stand-off, alongside the other bank customers. 

Unable to sit idly by, Shawn manages to finagle himself into the bank, where he works from the inside to defuse the situation with gunman Phil (Alan Ruck), who turns out to be working under duress after a group of men kidnapped his wife and forced him to rob the bank. 

The episode features a guest appearance from Gary Cole as badass hostage negotiator Cameron Luntz, who Juliet dated briefly. In addition to featuring a genius plan for a zip line snack delivery system, the episode also boasts some of the snappiest dialogue in the series — as well as a hidden song by show creator Steve Franks' band The Friendly Indians.

17. Santabarbaratown (Season 6, Episode 16)

It's fitting that a detective series excelling in pop culture tributes would include one to Jack Nicholson's classic noir film, "Chinatown." 

In "Santabarbaratown," Shawn is working a case that ties into one his dad worked two decades ago, when a woman who went missing in 1991 is found at the site of a homicide Shawn and Gus are already investigating. When it's revealed that the two victims are connected, Henry gets permission from Chief Vick (Kristen Nelson) to join the investigation. 

The episode contains multiple references to its source material, including a direct parody of the scene where (spoiler alert!) Evelyn Mulwray (Faye Dunaway) tells Detective Jake Gittes (Nicholson) that her sister is also her daughter. Shawn pieces together the fact that Henry's old cop buddy is a dirty cop a little too late, and Henry ends up getting shot, ending Season 6 on a cliffhanger.

16. Not Even Close... Encounters (Season 5, Episode 3)

When kidnapping witness and conspiracy theorist Roy Kessler (Charles Martin Smith) claims to have been party to an alien abduction in "Not Even Close... Encounters," Lassie is quick to dismiss it, while childhood ufologists Shawn and Gus (AKA Gurton Buster) are more than eager to investigate the case. To keep themselves objective, they agree to Scully each other's Mulder throughout the investigation by constantly ear-flicking one another.

The fellas enlist the help of their asthmatic childhood friend Dennis (Freddie Prinze Jr.), who has outgrown his awkward nerdy phase and is posing as a "total jock" around his super hot wife. As it turns out, Dennis has a secret lair filled with awesome nerdy artifacts from "Battlestar Galactica," as well as renaissance fair garb, and he's thrilled to help them track down a possible UFO sighting. After shenanigans that involve Gus in Geordi La Forge's visor and Shawn in Adama's helmet, it turns out Kessler is the target of a villainous CEO's takedown scheme, all part of a corporate greed-laden plot. In a fun twist, Dennis gets busted in his secret nerd cave, only to learn his grateful wife is also a closet geek.

15. Deez Nups (Season 7, Episode 7)

"Psych" isn't known for being overly dramatic or emotional, but "Deez Nups" is about as heart-wrenching as the series gets. 

When Lassie and Marlowe's wedding plans collide with those of a crime boss at the Agua Verde Hotel and Casino, all of Lassiter's favorite things come together to give him the perfect wedding. The night before the wedding, Henry, Gus, Woody, Shawn, and Gus literally abduct Lassie for a party bus bachelor party, while Marlowe (Kristy Swanson), Juliet, and Chief Vick party at the hotel. Over the course of the evening, Buzz McNab (Sage Brocklebank) is revealed to be moonlighting as a party stripper, Chief Vick passes out, and Marlowe is kidnapped. They save Marlowe in time for the wedding, which quickly turns into a shootout with the mafia, but Marlowe and Lassie finally manage to tie the knot and seal things with a kiss after the action ends.

With everyone on a high note after the festivities, Shawn and Juliet are enjoying each other's company at the reception. But things take a devastating turn when Juliet finds a piece of evidence in the pocket of Shawn's jacket and suddenly realizes he's been lying to her about being a psychic all along. After Shawn all but tells her the truth, a brokenhearted and humiliated Juliet throws a drink in his face and exits the wedding, leaving the couple's future in doubt.

14. American Duos (Season 2, Episode 1)

There's nothing quite like relishing in the personal humiliation of others as they try out for talent search reality TV shows like "American Duos," a show that Gus is obsessed with but Shawn refers to as a "knock-off of the other knock-off of the original knock-off of that other show." 

When Shawn and Gus are enlisted to protect surly, hypercritical "Duos" judge Nigel St. Nigel (Tim Curry) after he is targeted with death threats, Shawn hatches a plan to go stealth as wannabe duo Shawn Spinstar and Gus T.T. Showbiz ("The extra 'T' is for extra talent"). Despite a performance that could best be described as drunken caterwauling, Shawn and Gus make it through the first round because they have to protect Nigel.

As the death threats turn into assassination attempts, Shawn and Gus balance working the case and working it with help from cheerleading camp dropout and overly intense choreographer Juliet. Besides the hilarious '80s music sendup from the Psych guys, the episode is notable for the christening of the car owned by Gus, as Nigel wryly exclaims, "I feel like I've been incarcerated inside a blueberry!"

13. 100 Clues (Season 7, Episode 5)

"100 Clues" is the "Psych" tribute to the 1985 cult classic murder mystery "Clue," based on the board game of the same name, and it's a delight from start to finish. The episode features three stars from the original film including Christopher Lloyd (Professor Plum), Lesley Ann Warren (Miss Scarlett), and Martin Mull (Colonel Mustard). The episode is also one of several to feature an appearance from Curt Smith of "Tears for Fears." 

After Shawn is invited via singing telegram to a dinner party at famed Santa Barbara mansion "La Bella Rosa," things quickly go wonky when the party host is revealed to be rock star Billy Lipps. Fresh out of prison after Shawn helped put him away five years ago, Lipps is up to no good once again, and Shawn soon realizes all of the party guests are connected to the band in one way or another.

Just as in the film "Clue," the lights dim and a guest is killed during the blackout. Lassie and Jules soon arrive to help sleuth out the killer, and the mystery deepens as everyone present is a plausible suspect. Like the movie "Clue," "100 Clues" has several alternate endings. In ending A, the butler did it; in ending B, the biographer did it; and in ending C, the manager did it. When the episode originally aired, fans voted on the ending they wanted most, with that ending airing in their region.

12. Murder?...Anyone?...Anyone?...Bueller? (Season 3, Episode 2)

Between all the awkward conversations and forced interactions, class reunions can sometimes be hell. But Gus and Shawn's 13-year school reunion goes completely off-the-rails when Shawn is convinced he sees a body drop from a window, causing him to spend the rest of the reunion obsessing over the mystery. After Lassie appears on a date with the school's "bitchiest banana" (Shawn's words), the fellas team up to sleuth out what happened despite having no body and no suspect, and hijinks ensue.

"Murder?... Anyone?... Anyone?... Bueller?" shakes up the slow-moving Shules will-they, won't-they drama by bringing in a romantic rival in Shawn's high school love interest, Abigail. There's also some amusing insight into high school Shawn and Gus — perhaps unsurprisingly, Shawn joined the custodial union in high school while Gus was captain of the pep squad, among other revelations. The episode is an homage to teen movies, giddily dishing up plenty of John Hughes movie references. It's also noteworthy that Rachael Leigh Cook, who plays Abigail, was the lead in the 1999 teen comedy "She's All That."

11. Extradition II: The Actual Extradition Part (Season 5, Episode 10)

"Extradition II: The Actual Extradition Part" brings back one of the best "Psych" characters, World's Greatest Art Thief Pierre Despereaux. 

When Shawn and Gus are beckoned to Canada by an imprisoned Despereaux, the gentleman thief declares his intention to prove he is indeed the world's greatest thief and then immediately follows through by using their car to escape from prison and steal a famous piece of art. Before the guys can rat him out, they learn that Despereaux is back in prison, having quietly returned their vehicle to the prison parking lot. 

When Shawn and Gus tell him that a body was found at the crime scene, Despereaux proclaims his innocence, taking credit for the theft but not the murder. The guys don't believe him at first, and Shawn is distraught that his former hero could be a stone-cold killer. Eventually, Shawn and Gus help prove that Despereaux was framed by a crime lord's wife. With the crime of the week wrapped up in a neat little bow, Shawn has a long, sorta-romantic talk with Juliet that ends in a kiss, finally bringing the couple together after five seasons of near misses.

10. Tuesday the 17th (Season 3, Episode 15)

This "Psych" tribute to classic slasher films begins with a clever Rick Roll and only gets sillier from there. 

When a missing counselor threatens to sabotage the grand re-opening of Camp Tikihama, Gus and Shawn's old stomping grounds, their former campmate (Mackenzie Astin) hires them to find her. The run-down camp is rife with creeps, and the body count starts to stack up quickly until Shawn realizes the gag: the camp isn't reopening as a kids' camp. It's reopening as a slasher movie-themed murder mystery camp, and Shawn and Gus are unwitting beta testers.

As the group celebrates the successful dry run, though, things inexplicably go authentic when a real ax murderer comes out to play. With a handful of low-grade scares and solid references to Camp Crystal Lake, the James Roday Rodriguez-directed episode is one of the best Halloween episodes in the series. It's also worth noting that Tuesday the 17th can only follow Friday the 13th since Tuesday is four days after Friday.

9. Shawn Takes a Shot in the Dark (Season 4, Episode 9)

In "Shawn Takes a Shot in the Dark," Henry Spencer's militant training of young Shawn comes in handy when Shawn draws on his childhood lessons to escape an abductor (played by Michael Rooker) after his solo investigation of an ice cream truck crash goes south. With Henry and Lassiter in pursuit, Shawn is shot, escapes, and gets himself re-abducted. It's the most imperiled we've ever seen Shawn, but in typical "Psych" fashion, the show manages to keep things light despite the high stakes.

The episode is a tribute to the Peter Sellers film "A Shot in the Dark," and contains a handful of references to the 1964 Inspector Clouseau mystery. The emotional storyline in "Shawn Takes a Shot" provides an opportunity to move along Shawn's relationships with Henry and Juliet. The depth of Henry's love for his son is on display, with Henry fighting fiercely to get his son back. 

Shules shippers finally get a bit of a payoff in this episode as well. When Juliet momentarily misunderstands a cryptic phone call from Shawn, she is forced to accept her true feelings for him for the first time, with Shawn also understanding that she cares for him, thanks to her awkward response.

8. Office Space (Season 7, Episode 11)

"Office Space" boasts what is arguably the most hilarious slapstick humor scene in "Psych," and it's so good it warrants a second watch.

After Gus rage quits his job with a salty letter to his boss, he instantly regrets it and decides to retrieve his letter of resignation before his boss finds it. When he arrives at his boss's office, he finds the guy dead, clutching Gus's letter in his hand. In a panic, Gus grabs the letter, tries to eat it, and then completely freaks out, accidentally touching just about everything in the office. 

When he goes to his bestie for help cleaning up the crime scene, Shawn predictably makes things even worse, veritably bathing the office in Shawn and Gus DNA while they clean up the crime scene together. In their desperation, they turn to Henry, but by the time they make it back to the office, Juliet and Lassie are already on the scene. Eventually, Juliet and Woody get pulled into the lie, with Shawn and Gus diapering Woody and taping him to their sofa at his request since he can't keep a secret ("I'll sing like a bird to anyone who'll listen," he pleads). 

Dulé Hill hands-down steals the show in this memorable episode, which also boasts a terrific appearance from David Koechner of "The Office" and "Anchorman."

7. Lights, Camera, Homicidio (Season 2, Episode 13)

When there's a murder on the set of Gus and Henry's favorite telenovela "Explosión Gigantesca de Romance," the "Psych" guys are more than happy to work the case. 

After one of the actors, Jorge, gets suspended from the show while under investigation for the crime, Shawn quickly becomes convinced of his innocence. Shawn and Gus are happy to take the case, which puts them on set and gives them unlimited access to craft services food. While working the case, Shawn tries his hand at acting as Chad the delivery guy. Shawn's terrible Spanish throughout the episode is ironic since in real life, San Antonio native James Roday Rodriguez is a biracial Latinx and speaks at least some Spanish. Like many of the best "Psych" episodes, "Homicidio" features an alternate version of the theme song — in this case, en Espanol. 

6. Heeeeere's Lassie (Season 6, Episode 11)

"Heeeeere's Lassie" is the "Psych" tribute to Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining," and includes a handful of references to classic psychological horror films like "Poltergeist" and "Rosemary's Baby." 

When strange things are afoot at Lassie's new apartment, he enlists the help of Shawn and Gus (AKA Fellatio Del Toro), who can't wait to get on board and Scooby-Doo the mystery. As the mystery deepens, Lassie gradually goes full Jack Torrance thanks to a psychoactive drug he's getting dosed with by a homicidal nurse who turns out not to be a nurse at all.

The episode features an Overlook Hotel-inspired take on the theme song and numerous "Shining" references including creepy twins, room 237, a tricycle kid, a boiler room, a maze and "Dies Irae." With appearances from Louis Gossett, Jr., Sara Rue, and William Shatner along with some trippy camera angles, this classic horror send-up is full of surprises and big moments. But the highlight is watching Lassie come unglued, thanks to a fantastic performance from Timothy Omundsen that culminates in a recreation of Jack Nicholson's famous door-chopping scene.

5. Dual Spires (Season 5, Episode 12)

It's evident that "Dual Spires" is the "Psych" tribute to "Twin Peaks" from the first second of the episode, which features a close-up of a chocolate bunny and Shawn's comment to Gus that a woman in Washington had invented silent window shades back in the '90s (thank you Nadine Hurley!), which he declares a "triumph of innovation." 

Seconds later, Gus (AKA Lodge Blackman) opens a mysterious email with a copy of The Great Northern newspaper, featuring an article about an upcoming Cinnamon Festival in the tiny, secluded town of Dual Spires. Suffice it to say, the episode has so many references to its source material that it's virtually impossible to catalog them all. It also features appearances from a number of "Twin Peaks" alumni including Ray Wise, Dana Ashbrook, Robyn Lively, Sherilyn Fenn, Sheryl Lee, Catherine E. Coulson, and Lenny von Dohlen.

Even the music is inspired by "Twin Peaks," featuring a Julee Cruise dream pop cover of the intro, a near-dupe of the eerie New Age piano Laura Palmer theme, and a breezy light jazz-infused score. Like the synonymous town it's inspired by, Dual Spires appears superficially Rockwellian but is oozing with weird energy, and soon it becomes clear there are scandalous secrets bubbling under the surface. 

When a Laura Palmer-inspired murder of Paula Merral (an anagram for Laura Palmer) tears the townspeople apart, Shawn and Gus are on the job to "investigate, catch bad guys, and eat pie." The episode is a fantastic tribute to the David Lynch/Mark Frost iconic, groundbreaking series, but also works perfectly well as a standalone episode for anyone not familiar with the source material.

4. The Break-up (Season 8, Episode 10)

The final episode in the "Psych" series, "The Break-up" features the (near) break-up of the show's most important couple: Shawn and Gus. 

After Gus takes a new job with loads of posh perks from an office snack buffet to a luxury company vehicle, Shawn makes plans to move to San Francisco to be with Juliet. But first, he has to find a way to break things off with his soulmate, Gus. Taking Lassie's advice, he decides to work through one last case together before breaking the news to his bestie. After a terrifying treasure hunt and a car chase in a driver's ed car with Shawn and Gus both steering, Gus finally watches the emotional goodbye disc Shawn filmed for him. In it, Shawn confesses that he wondered if his friend's life would have been better off if Shawn hadn't asked him to play detective eight years ago. Shawn also filmed a disc for Lassie in which he confesses he isn't a real detective, but Lassie ejects it before he can hear the whole truth, indicating that he probably already knew.

Shawn's words move Gus, who realizes the best moments of his life were in the time he spent with Shawn, inspiring Gus to quit his job and move to San Francisco so they can run Psych together. In turn, Shawn decides to make a big move, proposing to Juliet. The episode has a near-perfect ending, leaving the door open for the series of "Psych" movies that would follow, and feating appearances from Mira Sorvino and Billy Zane as well as a cameo from Val Kilmer, who Shawn referenced several times during the series.

3. Mr. Yin Presents (Season 4, Episode 16)

The second episode in the Yang trilogy, the Hitchcock-inspired "Mr. Yin Presents" would bring back infamous profiler Mary Lightly (played hilariously by Jimmi Simpson) and self-confessed serial killer Yang (Ally Sheedy). Under lock and key after the events of "An Evening With Mr. Yang," Yang has written a tell-all, and Mary, convinced that Yang wasn't operating alone, has been lurking around Santa Barbara since they caught her. When the waitress who served Mary, Shawn, and Gus at a diner turns up dead, Shawn realizes Mary was right, and the race is on to find the Yin to Yang's Yang.

During a fantastic Hannibal Lecter-inspired scene when the guys visit Yang in the mental hospital, Yang confesses having a partner. Not long after Gus pieces together Yin's Hitchcock theme, Shawn becomes convinced Mary is Yin, a red herring that drives much of the plot movement for this episode — at least, until the real Yin kills him. The action culminates with Yin forcing Shawn to choose between Abigail and Jules. Against all odds, Spencer manages to save both but is forced to let Yin go in order to do so. 

As far as intensity and mystery go, this is solidly one of the best episodes in the series. It also finally frees Shawn to move on with Juliet when Abigail decides to opt out of Shawn's dangerous lifestyle and sees Henry accepting a job at the SBPD.

2. An Evening With Mr. Yang (Season 3, Episode 16)

"An Evening With Mr. Yang" introduces the bane of Santa Barbara, the long-dormant Yin-Yang killer, just in time to interfere with Shawn's dating life. The game-loving Yang is back and looking for a new challenger, setting his sights on the new psychic on the block. Shawn immediately suspects weirdo homicide task force profiler Mary Lightly. Simpson's deadpan delivery of limp handshakes and lines like "My father's name was Mary, his father before him was named Mary, and his father before him was named Craig" make him something of a scene-stealer.

As the treasure hunt commences, ferroequinologist Gus (AKA Sterling Cooper) elevates the mayhem when Shawn encourages him to help lighten the mood. Yang ups the stakes when he changes the game and grabs Shawn's mom (Cybill Shepherd), who the gang manage to rescue just in time. In a twist, Yang turns out to be a woman (played by perfectly cast Ally Sheedy). The episode would be the first in the Yin-Yang series and end with Juliet confessing her feelings to Shawn at the worst possible time.

1. Last Night Gus (Season 6, Episode 2)

A shout-out to "The Hangover," "Last Night Gus" is brimming with everything that makes "Psych" fun to watch. 

Like its source material, the episode begins with a group of guys — in this case, Shawn, Gus, Woody, and Lassie — enjoying a night out; it then quickly cuts to the aftermath, leaving the gang to piece together the details of a wild, forgotten night. Things avalanche when they are called to the precinct and begin to suspect they were involved in the death of a stranger in a Hawaiian shirt. To further complicate things, Juliet tells Shawn they need to discuss their "game-changing" phone call from the night before, of which Shawn has no recollection. 

Packed with laughs from beginning to end and featuring a surprisingly grown-up discussion between Shawn and Jules about whether they are ready to move in together, this is the episode where "Psych" was firing on all cylinders, the very best of a series well worth revisiting.