Dobson is somewhat of an enigmatic figure in the Psychverse, mentioned many times but never seen. That is, until the series finale. In "The Break-Up", Dobson has a hard time understanding why Shawn, who had apparently never so much as even acknowledged his existence, sent him a farewell message before his move to San Francisco. Shawn tells Dobson that he's heard a lot about him and that he sounds heroic, the kind of guy he wishes he'd spoken to and "could have worshipped as a child and an adolescent." Dobson is then given a 'friendship bracelet' by Lassiter, but only because Brannigan had made yet another batch. When Dobson remarks to Lassiter that it's weird Shawn sent him a farewell message, Lassiter, knowing Shawn, shrugs it off and says "Not really."
Trivia[]
- Dobson is portrayed by Val Kilmer, who himself also finally appears on the show after having been mentioned in several episodes.
- Dobson is mentioned in a total of 14 episodes before finally being seen, usually by Lassiter:
- In S2E4 "Zero to Murder in Sixty Seconds", Lassiter greets three off-screen officers by name, including Dobson.
- In S2E8 "Rob-a-Bye Baby", Lassiter yells to Dobson that he wants him on tactical for a case, only to be surprised that he's not around.
- In S3E9 "Christmas Joy", Gus confronts Lassiter while he's talking to Joy as he suspects him of ulterior motives, and Shawn defuses the situation by telling Lassiter Dobson is calling for him.
- In S3E12 "Earth, Wind and... Wait for It", Lassiter learns Bodie Lambert was located and yells to Dobson to call the Barstow PD and tell them not to make a move before he gets there. Dobson is heard replying "Yes, sir" and "Will do".
- In S3E16 "An Evening with Mr. Yang", Vick is frustrated the Yin-Yang Killer could have delivered a package without anyone spotting him and Lassiter replies that no one had to sign for it as Dobson simply found it outside of the file room.
- In S5E3 "Not Even Close... Encounters", Dennis Gogolack is remotely controlling Lassiter's laptop at Shawn's request and Lassiter yells to Dobson to come help him with his IT issues.
- In S5E14 "The Polarizing Express", Lassiter gets off the phone with Dobson, who had apparently been sent out on a fruitless errand to find another lead on the Czarsky case.
- In S6E2 "Last Night Gus", the police are inside the house of the deceased Scott Williams and Lassiter sends Dobson away to interview all of Scott's coworkers.
- In S7E7 "Deez Nups", Lassiter walks over to Dobson to ask him to tend bar at his wedding.
- In S7E9 "Juliet Wears the Pantsuit", Lassiter tells Shawn that his and Juliet's break-up won him $300 because he had made a bet with Dobson that their relationship wouldn't last.
- In S7E14 "No Trout About It", Harris Trout suspends our protagonists and says he'll be putting Dobson in charge of the Leo Quinn case, to which Lassiter responds by claiming that Dobson doesn't know anything about the case and is also lazy.
- In "Psych: The Musical", Vick witnesses some more of our duo's antics and exasperatedly asks Dobson to find out how early she can retire and still get benefits.
- In S8E2 "S.E.I.Z.E. the Day", Lassiter gives the department an inspiring pep talk after saving Trout's life and then goes home to tell Marlowe that he gave "the speech" and that Dobson asked him for his autograph afterwards.
- In S8E7 "Shawn and Gus Truck Things Up", Lassiter receives a call from Dobson and is told that some of the money Smokey extorted from the food trucks has been linked to two bank robberies.