I love an episode of television like this. Psych is one of the few shows on television that knows exactly what it is and isn’t afraid to get wacky. Last week’s vampire theme was great, but this week was even better. Considering the recent hoopla over Seattle’s Phoenix Jones, a comic book/masked vigilante sendup was superbly timed.
I also liked the change in television conventions; I’m always a big fan with a show changes the rules. When a series brings in a guest star like Joey McIntyre, you really expect him to be more heavily involved with the plot … in this case, actually being the Mantis. Having Miles Fisher’s Reginald the Reporter actually being the vigilante was a nice twist. Though, we all should have seen it coming a mile away; the superhero obviously was going to be the mild-mannered reporter.
Stray Observations
“Yes, but you have a supernatural psychic gift. The Mantis is solving crimes using his natural instincts and sharply honed abilities.” – Juliet
“She’s right, Shawn. I mean, if you were a regular guy solving these crimes, that’d really be impressive, but everyone knows you’re a psychic. I mean, it’s really an unfair advantage.” – Gus
“This guy can’t even fly … or activate into half of something you just happen to need at any given moment.” – Shawn
“I just gave you a setup containing Mr. T, Crocket, and a word that rhymes with Mork. And I got nothing! Not even a Battle of the Network Stars joke.” – Juliet
“First, I used a classic combat distraction mode….” – Shawn
“….You went boneless, didn’t you….” – Gus
“….I used my entire body as a weapon.” – Shawn
“I woke up with the fire alarm blaring, wearing that ridiculous painted on costume, which means … he saw me in my underwear.” – Shawn
“You mean like on Different Strokes?” – Gus
“Yes, Gus, just like on Different Strokes.” – Shawn
“That’s not cool.” – Gus
“No it’s not, Gus.” – Shawn
“I know you know I’m not telling the truth. I know, you know.” – Shawn, proving once again that Psych does more with its theme song than any show on TV
“The Mantis is not your nemesis, Shawn. You don’t have an alter ego, a cool suit, or a tragically ironic origin story. You’re just a hater.” – Gus
“Shawn, I thought you said we were just going to scare them away. They don’t seem scared to me!” — Gus
“That’s because you just went up on your toes and started dancing!” — Shawn
“Besides it was Shawn, why psychically realized the Mantis had been framed, and led him to Cominos headquarters. He really deserves all the credit.” – Shawn
“I wouldn’t say that … Not that it isn’t true, I just wouldn’t say it.” – Lassiter
Clacked by Ivey West 
on Nov 03, 2011 @ 01:36 EST5EDT
This episode was brilliant. I LOVED what they did to the credits. And the Adam West Batman-esque fight scene was just fantastic.
Also, the show often gives shoutouts to people with character names– and besides guest starring in Season 1, Carlos has also recently joined the Psych writing staff.
Easily the best episode of the season, and instantly one of the classic, show defining episodes. The opening theme really threw me. I kept expecting them to throw the lyrics in there…somewhere. I didn’t realize I had to wait through half the episode!
I have to give myself a little pat on the back for picking out Reginald as The Mantis the second he appeared on screen. I mean really, could he couldn’t have looked more like Christopher Reeve and Brandon Routh if they had taken scenes from the original movies. The fact that he showed up as a television reporter only sealed the deal for me.
As for the theme song reference when talking to Joules, Gus giving Shawn a hard time for not having any actual talent, the Original Batman Pow references …Well that was just classic Psych, and further examples of what sets this show apart from all the rest. I can’t think of any other show that keeps around so many running jokes, yet still manages to keep them fresh. (Tap Dancing, The super sniffer, Gus used to be Bud, etc.) I do have to say I was really surprised they didn’t throw in a Major League reference when Shawn knocked out Reginald in his catcher gear. “Mr. Parkman, you’re a good ball player, but I want to say, that you’re standing on the tracks and the train’s is about to come through, bonehead.” Maybe they’re saving that for next week’s episode!
I’m ashamed of this, but…did anyone notice they used the wrong to/too in the first comic panel? It has Lassiter say “You saw him to Guster?”instead of “too.”
I mean, I loved the episode, but that annoyed me for a while.