Episode Title: "The Amazing Psych-Man & Tap Man, Issue #2"
Writer: Saladin K. Patterson
Director: Mel Damski
Story:
Gus (Dule Hill) and Shawn (James Roday) fail to chase down members of a drug cartel, but a vigilante hero known as "The Mantis" gets the job done for them, leaving the thugs tied up before he makes his escape.
Back at SBPD HQ, Juliet (Maggie Lawson) praises The Mantis' heroism, making Shawn jealous. After figuring out that the cartel is operating according to the lunar character, Shawn predicts the date of their next deal. However, once SBPD arrives on the scene, they again find The Mantis has already taken care of the cartel members and fled.
The Mantis' apparent inside info leads Shawn to believe a new transfer to SBPD by the name of Scott Reynolds is the vigilante. After a call comes in about another cartel deal, Shawn races to the scene and confronts The Mantis. However, the vigilante knocks him out and switches clothes with Shawn, briefly leading everyone to believe that he is The Mantis.
Shawn confronts Reynolds (Joey McIntyre) about his double identity but quickly realizes he's wrong, insulting Reynolds and his grandmother in the process. Meanwhile, SBPD gets info about a large shipment from a cartel member in custody.
When The Mantis sends Shawn his clothes back after having them laundered, he tracks down the dry cleaner and gets The Mantis' address. He and Gus sneak into The Mantis' apartment where they're confronted by the vigilante, who turns out to be a local reporter covering the cartel. Framed by the cartel and wanted by SBPD for the murder of an informant, The Mantis agrees to work with Shawn and Gus.
Shawn figures out that the cartel is using glass to ship their drugs. At the warehouse where the next shipment is set to arrive, The Mantis helps SBPD take down the cartel. Afterwards, Shawn and Gus help the vigilante make a quick escape when Gus aka "Tap Man" blows sand in Lassie and Jules' faces.
When Shawn stops by The Mantis' apartment to return a shirt, he finds him gone and quickly realizes that he skipped town with the missing drug money. Using his own vigilante identity, "The Catch" he finds The Mantis and holds him off just long enough for SBPD to arrive and make the arrest.
Breakdown:
SBPD is only big enough for one egomaniac and that's Shawn Spencer. With the arrival of The Mantis came the kind of vigilante hero young Shawn Spencer and best bud Gus could only dream of growing up to be. As we all know, it didn't quite turn out that way…
In 'The Amazing Psych-Man & Tap Man, Issue #2,' the boys not only took down a drug cartel, but the Clark Kent poser who tried to run off with their money in the name of comic book hero worship, as well.
This was probably the most fun episode of the season so far, with Dule Hill, who has a background in dance, putting his moves to good use as "Tap Man" and Shawn living the dream of many a middle-aged NKOTB fan in groping Joey McIntyre. Also the stylized opening and well-placed "pow," "zap," "whiff" signs in the warehouse were a nice touch.
I was however, a bit disappointed by the twist at the end. 'Psych' could use another crack pot recurring character and The Mantis, who looks more like Scorpion from Mortal Kombat than an insect, would provide an excellent excuse for Shawn to dress up like Yogi Berra and Gus to tap dance. Fingers crossed for a third issue of The Amazing Psych-Man & Tap Man.'
Crave Online Rating: 9 out of 10.
