Season 3, Episode 9
Christmas Joy
"...What the heck're YOU looking at?"
Directed by John Landis
Written by Saladin K. Patterson
Brittany Wilcox, age 8, enters the Psych office to beg them to help get Santa Claus out of jail. Turns out a scuffle at the local Santa’s Village attraction ended with “Santa” and a few other people getting carted off by the police. While Shawn points out Santa’s injuries are purely defensive, getting him off the hook, he and Gus soon discover that “Santa” is actually Brittany’s father, Carl, something she neglected to mention. It soon becomes obvious that there’s more going on here, and Carl and Brittany are known con artists and thieves who are up to something rotten. Meanwhile, Joy, Gus’ little sister, comes to Santa Barbara for the holidays. It seems she and Shawn had a fling while she was in college, and both of them are interested in having another – unbeknownst to the Guster family. When Carl’s partner Ted turns up dead in Santa’s Village, Carl is hauled in for questioning, but he’s adamant he didn’t kill Ted. Now, Shawn has to find out what’s going on for real before it’s too late, and Carl ends up dead too…Tropes:
- Affectionate Pickpocket: Shawn has to recover his wallet twice at the end of the episode. First from Brittany, then from Carl.
- Bad Santa: A Mall Santa at the local “Santa’s Village” attraction politely asks some of the children on his lap about their plans for Christmas. Far from being innocent conversation, it turns out to be a way to figure out which houses will be empty on the big night, and ready to be robbed.
- Badass Bystander: When Carl is assaulted, a bystander uses Krav Maga to knock the assailant out.
- Christmas Episode: The second in the series, complete with the same Variations on a Theme Song as the first.
- Con Man: Carl, Ted, and Brittany are a team of them.
- Crocodile Tears: Brittany is a master at these, and guilts Shawn and Gus into taking the initial case with them.
- Even Evil Has Loved Ones: Even if Carl knowingly involves his daughter in his schemes, he legitimately cares for her, and is worried that murder charges will cause him to lose her to the system.
- Even Evil Has Standards: Carl Wilcox and Theodore Meltregger were scam artists and thieves, but they drew a hard, clear line at violence. Their third partner, Moncrief Johnson, had no such scruples, and turned on them after they turned him in.
- Forgiveness: The running theme of the episode.
- Hidden in Plain Sight: How Theodore Meltregger’s body was hidden: he was dressed up as one of the “Wise Men” statues in Santa’s village.
- Like Father, Like Daughter: At the end of the episode, both Carl and Brittany try to pickpocket Shawn. He catches onto both of them.
- Little Miss Con Artist: At age 8, Brittany is a textbook example; she’s already a competent scam artist who isn’t afraid to chew out her father, and actually seems more devious than he in many ways.
- My Sister Is Off-Limits: Gus certainly feels that way between Shawn and Joy.
- Noodle Incident: Shawn mentions that he’s been banned from another Santa’s Village in the past, though he doesn’t go into detail.
- Old Flame: Shawn and Joy have this dynamic, and both are interested in rekindling it... without the Gusters finding out.
- Pragmatic Villainy: Shawn accuses a bookie named Frank of killing Ted Meltregger for not paying his debts. Frank replies that dead people don’t repay their debts – but injured ones do. Besides, he has a solid alibi.
- Scooby-Dooby Doors: Shawn and Joy try to sneak into each other’s bedrooms late at night, while a confused Gus wanders around wondering what’s going on.
- Sexy Santa Dress: Joy wears one while working at Santa’s Village. Shawn is… very appreciative.
- Tuckerization: Ted Meltreger gets his name from Psych writer/producer Tim Meltreger.
- Unconfessed Unemployment: Gus’ father was laid off from his job a few weeks ago, and now claims to be working nights. He finally confesses the truth near the end of the episode.
- Unexpected Kindness: Gus and his parents find out about Shawn's fling with Gus' sister Joy. This leads to an argument where everyone is mad at one another, and Shawn leaves their house fearing that he ruined the night. When he returns to make amends however, it turns out that the Gusters have already made up and are no longer mad at Shawn—Gus happily invites him inside and his parents let him spend the night with Joy.
- Unwitting Instigator of Doom: Joy revealing her fling with Shawn causes he parents to renege on forgiving each other for their mistakes, and also causes everyone to be mad at Shawn. Later subverted as they all make up off screen, and are willing to invite Shawn back in the house.
- Wounded Gazelle Gambit: Shawn and Gus confront Carl during work at Santa’s Village. Carl yells for help and runs off, claiming they attacked him. Shawn and Gus are promptly thrown out.
