Psych
"Jules, will you marry us? Me, mostly me. Even though Gus is always gonna be part of the deal, and that someday he'll have his own Juliet, and her name will be Juli-ay, and she'll be Jamaican, and together we'll be one big giant frosted black and white cookie?" - Shawn Spencer
Shawn Spencer and Burton "Gus" Guster are from the long running USA series Psych. Best friends from first episode to last, Shawn and Gus' relationship was the heart and soul of the show, and what's so amazing is that it was never painted in a less important light in order to elevate their respective romantic relationships. Shawn and Gus were the most important people in each other's worlds, and eight years and over 100 episodes proved that absolutely nothing could ever break their lifelong bond.
The series began with Shawn coaxing Gus into opening a fake psychic detective agency with him so that they could have adventures together and put Shawn's amazing observation skills to good use. Gus had a steady job in pharmaceutical sales, so he was able to fund all of Shawn's whims, and even though he complained often about that fact, Gus always went along with everything in the end. Gus was introduced as the organized, practical, more mature rock to help ground Shawn in reality, but as the series evolved, so did his character. Shawn helped Gus to embrace his inner child and loosen up, and the two of them together never failed to have the most fun possible in any given situation. Knowing each other so well, the inside jokes and random personal trivia were endless, and watching the show just felt like hanging out with some old friends.
Shawn and Gus' friendship is something to aspire to, and the best thing about it is that there was never any forced drama used as a plot point to drive a wedge between them. Sure, they had minor tiffs in some episodes, but their issues never lasted past the end of any given episode. They were always the first ones to call each other out on their crap and make fun of each other in the good natured way that only family can. Even the last episode, which had Shawn finally deciding to move to San Francisco to be with his girlfriend Juliet, was all about Shawn and Gus' relationship. The entire thing was about Shawn's feelings about leaving his best friend and how he couldn't come to terms with it. Then, when he finally left, Gus followed right on behind, giving up his brand new job with very little hesitation (only turning around 12 times is little hesitation for Gus). It proved that even after the final episode, Shawn and Gus would continue on as they always had, and that their lives would be forever intertwined. Come on son!
Quotes
3x2: Murder Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?
Abigail: "Oh wait, I get it. You guys are dating. You're together. Everything makes sense."
Gus: "We are not dating."
Shawn: "Are you kidding me? He was voted most likely to succeed. Do you think he's gonna date me?"
Shawn: "Burton Guster has been my best friend since we were five, and maybe, just maybe, if any of you can look yourselves in the mirror and know that you've been half as good a friend to someone else as Gus has been to me, well you too can be considered great. Give it up for my best friend, Burton Guster."
3x8: Gus Walks Into a Bank
Gus: "Shawn, I just want you to know that no matter what happens, I care about you, and I appreciate you...and, well...I love you Shawn." [he hugs Shawn]
Shawn: "Okay, buddy. I hear ya. But, you know I'm gonna be back in like half an hour, right? Wow, that is a tight hug."
5x11: In Plain Fright
Shawn: "Gus, seeing as how we might be dying at any moment, I have a confession to make. Remember when you got bummed out when I started seeing Abigail? You thought things between us were gonna change and you ate all those waffles to try and deal with it?"
Gus: "What the hell are you talking about Shawn?"
Eve: "I don't think this is really time for this!"
Shawn: "I hooked up with Juliet."
Gus: "So?"
Shawn: "So? We're breaking up the duo, it's not just Shawn and Gus anymore. Now it's more like the Say Say Say video."
Gus: "You've been after her for five years."
Eve: "Five years?"
Gus: "He's really not that smooth."
Shawn: "Oh, I'm not that smooth? 'Hey, you hear about Pluto? That's messed up, right?' How many times has that landed?"
Eve: "Guys, guys!"
Gus: "That's a player's move, Shawn."
Shawn: "It's not a player's move, that's like an astronomer's move. Look, Jules and I are an item now. The least you could do is show some emotion."
Gus: "Wait a second, you're mad at me for not being mad?"
Shawn: "I am shocked at you for not being shocked. And I'd like you to be a little sad, 'cause I'm a little sad."
5x15: Yang 3 in 2D
Gus: "I don't blame you, Shawn. I want you to know that...that if I had a chance to do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing. You're my best friend, and we got a chance to live out our childhood dreams. I don't blame you, okay? And I'm sorry if I couldn't always cut loose the way you wanted me to."
Shawn: [to Yang] "You kill him, I kill you. You got it?"
6x12: Shawn and the Real Girl
Melinda: "Shawn and Gus, now that was a really interesting relationship. It was kind of hard to penetrate that twosome. Initially when they came into the house I um...I actually thought that they may have been together. I mean, they're really into each other. Like really into each other."
8x10: The Breakup
Shawn: "Alright, Gus, if this is it I really need you to know something."
Gus: "I know, Shawn."
Shawn: "You do?"
Gus: "Yes, I do. You love me. You love me the way that men can love each other and still have wives, and children, and connecting pools."
Shawn: "Yes, but maybe the pools thing isn't going to work."
Gus: "It doesn't matter Shawn!"
Shawn: "Yes it does, because it's all my fault!"
Shawn: "And so, I accept that this is my fatal flaw. I just can't quite...engage...all the way when I really need to, when it really matters, you know? When the chips are down, so...I guess what I'm saying is that I'm sorry, Gus. I'm sorry that I can't do goodbyes. I tried so hard to tell you, man. I just...I just suck at the real stuff. But you know that. But you're gonna be fine. You're gonna be better than fine. I just can't help thinking that...the only problem that you really had this whole time...is me. And I've kept you from the life that you deserve, you know? The life that you've earned. The life that you'd have if I hadn't barged into your office eight years ago and said 'We're gonna play detective...whether you want to or not'. I love you, man."
Photos
