Summary
While the Brat Pack’s Ally Sheedy might be best known as the star of numerous classic teen movies, her best comeback role was as a surprisingly scary serial killer inPsych. In many ways,Psychwas surprisingly ahead of its time. The comedic detective show’s premise of a fake psychic working with the police department to solve crimes was borrowed in the later hitThe Mentalist, resulting inPsychtaking many hilarious shots at the more self-serious series. The comedy mystery hybrid was also home to a TV first whenPsychwas the first show to remakeits own episode.
Another element ofPsych’s success that turned out to be surprisingly prescient was the show’s ‘80s nostalgia. From obscure movies to largely forgotten pop bands,Psychconstantly referenced the pop culture ephemera of Shawn and Gus’s youth. ‘80s references were almost as ubiquitous aspineapples inPsych, with the procedural bringing back many stars from the era in guest roles. In the decade sincePsychended its 8-year run, ‘80s nostalgia has become a mainstream phenomenon. FromStranger ThingstoTop Gun: Maverick, the decade was everywhere throughout the 2020s. This eventually resulted in 2024’s Brat Pack documentaryBrats.
Psych: Why Anne Dudek’s Character Was Replaced After The Pilot
Before Juliet, Lassiter had a different partner on Psych, a character played by Anne Dudek. But she was dropped after the pilot. Here’s why.
Ally Sheedy Is Incredible In Psych As The Serial Killer Yang
Psych’s Scariest Villain Was A Major Departure For The Brat Pack Star
The role of Mr. Yang was originally intended to be a one-off appearance for Sheedy.
Bratsfocuses on the so-called Brat Pack of the ‘80s, a loosely connected group of actors who headlined many of the most popular teen movies of the decade. Among them was Ally Sheedy, star ofThe Breakfast Club,St. Elmo’s Fire,Short Circuit,WarGames,Oxford Blues, andBlue City. Years beforeBratsbrought Sheedy back into the spotlight,Psychcast the Brat Pack member as the serial killer Mr. Yang. This was a departure for Sheedy, who typically played heroic roles in dramas and comedies. Even her darker projects, likeFearandMan’s Best Friend, saw her play unambiguously heroic characters.
The role of Mr. Yang was originally intended to be a one-off appearance for Sheedy, playing a serial killer who becomes obsessed with Shawn after encountering him during his childhood. Her first episode, season 3, episode 16, “An Evening with Mr. Yang,” saw Yang arrested after a tense game of cat-and-mouse with the police, Gus, and Shawn. Sheedy then went on to reprise the role three more times over the next four seasons, and Yang even had aplannedPsychmovie cameothat never came to pass. The antagonist remains one ofPsych’s most enduringly popular villains.
Ally Sheedy Can Still Reprise Her Yang Role Despite The Character’s Death
ThePsychmovies utilize a lot of inventive techniques to bring back fan-favorite characters, including a few who weren’t alive the last time viewers saw them.
Yang died a surprisingly redemptive death in her final appearance, season 7, episode 15, “Psych: The Musical.” Despite this, there is no reason to think that Yang can’t appear again in the franchise’s upcoming fourth movie spinoff. ThePsychmovies utilize a lot of inventive techniques to bring back fan-favorite characters, including a few who weren’t alive the last time viewers saw them. For example, Jimmi Simpson’s Mary Lightly first appeared in “An Evening With Mr. Yang” and was killed in season 4, episode 16, “Mr. Yin Presents…” However, Simpson still reprised his role in twoPsychspinoff movies.
Mary appeared as an angel in “Psych: The Musical,” before his spirit made a cameo inPsych: The Movie. SincePsych’s seasons and moviesbrought back Simpson’s Mr. Yang victim Mary repeatedly after his tragic death,there’s no reason Ally Sheedy’s Mr. Yang couldn’t appear again inPsych’s fourth movie. It would be hard for the series to justify this given how fitting her character’s ending was, but Mary’s cameo in the movie was originally going to include an appearance by Yang’s severed head. As such, the show’s fourth spinoff (if it happens) could come up with an equally unexpected comeback.
Psych Revived The Brat Pack Throughout Its 8 Seasons
The Brat Pack Put In Plenty of Psych Guest Appearances
Psychfeatured a lot of Brat Pack members in cameos, allowing the show to indulge its obsession with all things ‘80s while also giving the stars of the era a carer boost. Molly Ringwald appeared as Lavender McElroy in season 6, episode 6, “Shawn, Interrupted,” while her love interest fromThe Breakfast Club, Judd Nelson, played Dr. Steven Reidman in season 4, episode 13, “Death Is in the Air.” In season 7, episode 14, “No Trout About It,” Anthony Michael Hall played the new interim police chief, Harris Trout. Hall racked up three appearances in the series before Trout’s firing.
WhilePsych’s fourth movie spinoffhasn’t confirmed many details yet, the outing is likely to bring back many of the familiar characters that viewers loved from the original series. The first threePsychmovies featured plenty of comebacks from guest stars and the original run of the series was instrumental in bringing back the Brat Pack. As such, it would make perfect sense for Ally Sheedy’s Mr. Yang to put in an appearance next timePsychreturns to screens.
