Aliens, UFOs, nerds, and ..... Freddie Prinze Jr.? Yes it's all here in this episode, and suprisingly it all concerns one person.

First off, Freddie Prinze did an amazing job as Dennis, the sci-fi fanatic, in this episode. His timing in everything worked and he really had me beleiving that a guy like him could be a fan of sci-fi/comics. The one thing about his presence I did not like was his recinciliation with his wife. I think the writers made it too easy for the couple to settle their differences. It would have made for a better story line if the couple didn't have that easy transition to being a good couple again.

Shawn (James Roday) and Gus (Dule Hill) reconnect with their old friend Dennis (Freddie Prinze Jr.).

 As for the episode itself, I have to say it could have been better. I know aliens is a big topic for many shows, and it's even bigger for this one which is why I was dissapointed in the story. Granted the opening sequence was by far the greatest one of the series (in my oppinion), the rest of the episode became alittle confusing for an episode of Psych. The conclusion of the case itself presented once again Shawn with a way to easily stall the bad guys untill Juliet and Lassie show up. With this being Psychs second "Alien" episode (the first was episode 1.11 "He Loves me, He Loves Me Not, He Loves Me, Ooops He's Dead) I expected more from the writers.

Finally, I was a little down because we the viewers were not given two things we love in an episode of Psych. For starters, not much time....scratch that, zero time was given to the season story arc. Unless you count more angery banter between Lassie and Henry then you would have some story arc. Secondly, and I hate that we were not given one this week, but Shawn never once gave Gus a fake nickname. Maybe the writers thought it wasn't nessecary since the news called him "Gurton Buster" but I think we as viewers were jipped out of a comedic moment.

With a big name actor in the cast, this episode didn't do much more to add to the star power that Freddie Prinze generated. In other words, I think this episode should have been abducted from the entire season. C

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Psych 5.03 "Not Even Close ... Encounters" Review

Although the name Freddie Prinze Jr. might be synonymous with cheeky teen romantic comedies, the actor has been cast in the upcoming eighth season of 24, which began production yesterday, though it won't premiere until Jan. 17, 2010. Prinze will be a regular in the role of Davis Cole, a recently returned Marine who runs CTU Field Ops and views Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) as a kind of mentor.  The announcement has already started buzz that Prinze may be the new young stud to take the place of Jack Bauer, and carry on the torch for 24.  However, a closer look reveals that this is hardly the first time the show has introduced a strapping young lad with a grand "Jack Bauer" career path.

Chase Edmunds (James Badge Dale) and Mike Doyle (Ricky Schroder) were both introduced in the past, with the air of one day replacing Mr. Bauer surrounding their characters, though neither ever came close to filling his shoes.  However, Chase lost his hand and sort of dropped out of site, while Mike Doyle had a bomb blow up in his face (which pretty much solidifies that he won't be replacing Jack Bauer anytime soon).

Prinze is the latest to join the cast, but we also learned earlier this week that Jennifer Westfeldt will be joining the cast as ambitious journalist Meredith Reed and Chris Diamantopoulos who will play a tough White House chief-of-staff  Rob Weiss(is there any other kind?).  Also on the eighth season cast of the real-time action series will be John Boyd, playing a geeky but hip CTU analyst named Jonah Schwartz, and Anil Kapoor (from recent Slumdog Millionaire fame) as Arman Hashemi, a Middle Eastern leader.

Source: Hollywood Reporter

Freddie Prinze Jr. to Join "24"