In the vast world of television, it’s rare to find a show that’s perfect or even a show that’s close. From never-ending hospital dramas to short-lived cult classics, the television industry continues to offer audiences a plethora of plots and characters that range from devastating to downright absurd. Schitt’s Creek walks the line between these feelings and does it with a wit that makes the show almost perfect.
Born from the mind of Canadian father-son duo Dan and Eugene Levy, Schitt’s Creek tells the tale of a wealthy, well-connected family finding themselves in the town of Schitt’s Creek after an embezzlement scandal that leaves the family penniless. Throughout the show’s six seasons, the haughty and pretentious Rose family become heavily involved with the town and its residents and experience the small-town life they once thought to be a nightmare.
When I initially began this show, I was stunned at how unlikeable I found the characters to be. The Rose children, David and Alexis, seemed nothing short of insufferable, as Alexis seemed to complain about anything and everything and David had the same amount of empathy and emotional depth as a No. 2 pencil. Their parents Moira and Johnny were self-involved and neglectful of their children and seemed to be stuck in the glory days of their success and fame.
Nevertheless, the show was witty and creative and its characters were well written and exaggerated. As the family navigated their first few months in the town, I became invested in their new life.
A testament to Dan Levy’s brilliant writing, every side character in the show is fully fleshed out and have equally zany personalities to mirror the Roses, like the town mayor Roland Schitt and cafe owner Twyla. The strong personalities of the town’s residents make for a perfect backdrop for the Rose family to not only come to terms with their financial situation but also find a love for each other that had been stifled.
After watching the show in full, I am in awe of the way the characters progressed throughout each season. David and Alexis not only find romantic love with their respective partners, but they find love for each other and develop passion and drive. Moira and Johnny return to their former glory through their own diligence, ambition and mutual support of each other. While the Rose family essentially learns how to become decent human beings over the course of the six seasons of Schitt’s Creek, they still remain entertaining and don’t lose the not-so-subtle charms of their affluent life.
In addition to all of this, Schitt’s Creek serves as a shining example of positive LGBTQ representation within the entertainment industry. David’s sexuality is never speculated or ridiculed by the characters of this seemingly backward town or his family. Everyone in his life accepts him wholeheartedly, showing that LGBTQ stories do not need to be told from the perspective of suffering and can just be from the perspective of an equal existence.
Schitt’s Creek served as the little show that could. With a limited budget and facing rejection from major cable networks after its initial pilot, the show eventually grew to become a cult classic with the approval of both fans and critics who fell in love with the show. The show ended its run with adoring fans who had come to know and love the residents of the town and characters who received their new and improved happy endings.