The 10 Episodes of ‘Psych’ You Need To Watch Before It Leaves Netflix

Psych’s first episode wasn’t exactly must-watch television, but it did something that was rare for a network show of its time. Psych clearly and confidently laid out its sweetly quirky, sometimes intentionally B-grade tone while introducing us to one of our favorite best friend duos, Shawn (James Roday) and Gus (Dule Hill). However, this episode is on the list mostly because it includes one of the best pieces of dialogue from the series. As Gus says, “You named your fake detective agency ‘Psych’? Why not just call it, ‘Hey, We’re Fooling You and the Police Department, Hope We Don’t Make a Mistake and Someone Dies Because of It’?” Why indeed, Gus.

Gus Nicknames: None

[Where to watch Psych episode “Pilot”]

Shawn and Gus always knew their way around an homage episode, and this Season Five gem is one of their strongest. In a clear love letter to the beloved cult show Twin Peaks, our favorite “psychic” and best friend head to cinnamon festival in the tongue-in-cheek-named Dual Spires. I won’t ruin any more Twin Peak parallels, but this episode features cameos from Sherilyn Fenn, Sheryl Lee, Dana Ashbrook, Robyn Lively, Lenny Von Dohlen, Catherine E. Coulson, and Ray Wise. It’s almost like a reunion!

Gus Nicknames: Lodge Blackman; “Gus, don’t be the scream from Holding Back the Years.”

[Where to watch Psych episode “Dual Spires”]

As the name implies, Shawn and Gus go on an adventure, and yes. It is ridiculous. Shawn’s notoriously unreliable Uncle Jack comes to town claiming to have found an ancient Spanish treasure. Our favorite BFFs soon find themselves going head to head with a group of raiders in their chase for treasure. “The Greatest Adventure” was the first episode of Psych to be nonlinear, and it was one of the earliest that allowed the series to stretch its absurdist roots. Placing essentially two modern day cops in the middle of an Indiana Jones-esque adventure is insane, but Psych is the only show that can make that premise both believable and funny.

Gus Nicknames: Ernesto Agapito Garces con ya de Abelar; Big Baby Burton; Black Star; Homeskillet

[Where to watch Psych episode “The Greatest Adventure in the History of Basic Cable”]

There was a moment in Psych when the series changed from being about one insane/highly intelligent person and his rational friend bumbling through adventures to a series that delved into real emotional stakes. “Shawn Takes a Shot in the Dark” is somewhere in the middle of that turning point. While working on a case involving an ice cream truck, Shawn stumbles, alone, onto something much bigger. It’s an episode that places Shawn in real danger, which is rare for this light-hearted detective series. There’s also a great Shawn and Juliet moment in this one, which is something we can all enjoy.

Gus Nicknames: Doughnut Holschtein

[Where to watch Psych episode “Shawn Takes a Shot in the Dark”]

Shawn and Gus have (obviously) never been opposed to pretending to be professions that they’re not, and in this episode, they have their bounty hunter caps on. This episode is just a really good mystery episode. Structurally, it’s pretty by the books — a crime has been committed (a man’s wife has been murdered), Shawn and the rest of the Santa Barbara PD think one man is guilty, they’re wrong. However, Psych’s strength has always been how well it balances its humor with a typical crime format. “Bounty Hunters!” contains a great mystery and even better jokes, making it a must-watch Psych episode.

Gus Nicknames: Galileo Humpkins; “Gus, don’t be a little girl on this.”

[Where to watch Psych episode “Bounty Hunters!”]

Psych did a Clue special in honor of its 100th episode, which sounds like a sentence that should be surprising, but isn’t. Shawn and Gus attend a secret party at a historical mansion hosted by an aging rockstar, Billy Lipps. However, things quickly turn from celebratory to murderous. There’s all of the classic Clue finger pointing, but the episode really picks up when Lassy and Juliet jump in. The coolest part about this episode is that it has a choose-your-own-adventure twist. Depending on what Shawn theory you believe, you can watch two different endings. So the question remains, who did it?

Gus Nicknames: Domo Arigato, “Gus, don’t be the second time I’ve ever saw your face.”

[Where to watch Psych episode “100 Clues”]

Lassy has been on a roll lately and doesn’t need Shawn. After his series of successful cases, he decides to throw Shawn a bone and brings him to investigate the latest crime — a body that has washed onto the beach. Shawn immediately becomes convinced that the victim’s attacker was a T-rex. This episode showcases one of the best relationships in the series — the exasperated, one-sided rivalry Lassy has with Shawn. It’s insane, over-the-top, but it works.

Gus Nicknames: “Gus, don’t be a giant snapping turtle.”

[Where to watch Psych episode “65 Million Years Off”]

With October approaching, this Friday the 13th spin-off is an especially topical pick. A childhood friend hires Shawn and Gus to find a missing camp counselor, but when they return to the abandoned camp, things start to become a lot more lively in a scary way. It’s a classic creepy slasher-esque story, and the episode does a good job with balancing Psych’s natural campiness with the genre’s tropes.

Gus Nicknames: Slicks

[Where to watch Psych episode “Tuesday the 17th”]

Between the bachelor party, bachelorette party, and a wedding, this one is a big event episode. While attending Lassy’s wedding at a casino resort, the gang crosses paths with a major crime boss. Despite the cringe-worthy title, “Deez Nups” has a lot of on-point comedic moments, but what earns it a spot on the list is the fact that it contains the biggest payoff of all: Juliet finally learns that Shawn is a fake psychic. Cue gasp.

Gus: None

[Where to watch Psych episode “Deez Nups”]

Shawn and Gus track down a madman playwright with a thirst for killing critics. In order to find their man, Shawn must confront a villain from his past. However, forget all of that. The reason you need to watch immediately is for the special’s 16 songs and multiple choreographed numbers. As far as surprise musical episodes go, Psych’s special is one of the most delightful.

Gus Nicknames: Lil Wayne; King Mongkut; Gigi Van Tran; “Gus, don’t be kites up on strings;” “Gus, don’t be the very model of a modern major general”

[Where to watch Psych episode “Psych: The Musical”]

[Where to watch Psych]