In this week’s season finale episode of Psych, we saw Shawn Spencer up against the mysterious Mr. Yin, the counterpart to the already apprehended Ms. Yang from season three’s finale. In my post about the Mr. Yin episode, I asked the question of whether Mr. Yin could possibly turn out to be someone we’ve already met. Readers have come up with some really interesting theories, but the most compelling one to me answers my question in the most interesting way: we have met Mr. Yin … and we have not.
First, let me highlight a few details. Remember that last scene, when Mr. Yin looked longingly at a photo of Yang and what looked to be a young Shawn Spencer? One of the criticisms I (and others) had was in how Shawn somehow did not remember Yang at all from his childhood. How could that be, when he posed with her in a photo?
Let’s get this out of the way right now: Yin is clearly a man — that’s a man hand, baby. But what of Mr. Yang’s voice? To me it clearly sounded like Shawn’s father’s voice (Corbin Bernsen), though several commenters noted that it sounded an awful lot like James Roday. After going back and watching that scene a few times myself, I agree that it could definitely be James Roday’s voice, albeit somewhat disguised. Although Yin’s voice is familiar, obviously Mr. Yin is neither Shawn nor his father — their locations during key moments support that.
So, who is Mr. Yin, then? How have we seen him AND not? The answer that makes the most sense to me: Yin is Shawn’s forgotten twin brother.
Now, before you go scoffing at that, hear me out. Shawn having an evil twin fits the mood of this show perfectly. Although Yin is a proven killer, there are opportunities for some serious humor here. Shawn and Gus have been all about pop culture references, and throwing an evil twin into the mix would both frighten and thrill these guys. Imagine Yin posing as Shawn in later episodes or, better yet, Shawn trying to pose as Yin? Tons of possibilities. Plus, it gives Roday an outlet for doing something a bit different acting-wise.
The existence of a twin explains why “Shawn” appears in the photo with Yang and doesn’t remember her — it’s not Shawn. It also explains why he’s got it out for all of the Spencers, not just Shawn. One issue that will need addressing is how Shawn did not know he had a twin brother and why Henry kept that news from him. It could be excused that Shawn does know and he just never talked about it before, but that seems unlikely. However, that sure would piss off a long-forgotten twin brother, wouldn’t it?
So, what do you think? Are our commenters onto something here? I guess we’ll have to find out next season, unless I can get on the horn with James Roday and get him to spill a spoiler to us … but do you really want that spoiled now?
Clacked by Keith McDuffee
on Mar 12, 2010 @ 14:00 EST5EDT
i think i got it!! think about it, an evening with mr yang. shawn is buying popcorn for his date, juliet shows up and asks him on a date, right? he was shocked, his answer was just dry. but who else wud b listening to this other than the person shawn bought the popcorn from. it was only them 3 there, maybe mr yin didnt want to get caught in that episode
BUt yin looks to old to be shawns twin brother but that doesn’t mean it can’t be his brother what if Henry had an affair with Yang and had a kid Before haveing shawn. Plus think of it Henry and Shawns mom are divorsed so mabye cause henry had an affair while he was with shawns mom then mabye thats why they got divorced.
The carrector that played Yin was Christapher Turner. if this helps.