We have a new favourite people!
Don't you just love it when a show massively exceeds your expectations? At first you're hit by this pleasant wave of surprise ("Oh, this isn't as cheesy or cingey as I thought it was going to be!") which builds to a steady stream of enjoyment where you allow your critical mind to switch off for a couple of episodes ("I'm very entertained by these characters and their interactions!"). You don't want to get too complicit though, six seasons is plenty of time for a show to go off the rails, which is why it's even more wonderful when it doesn't and continues to get better!
Schitt's Creek is my latest TV obsession for a number of reasons. The writing is sharp, the characters are instantly recognisable and likable despite their flaws which could have very easily made them insufferable if written badly . It takes a refreshing and homophobia free approach to LGBT+ representation and every episode is filled with laughs without having to ever lower the bar of the shows moral standards. It also goes out on it's own terms after 6 seasons opposed to cancellation, something I always respect especially when a show is at the height of its popularity.
At its core, Schitt's Creek has an incredibly simple message; money doesn't equal happiness a fact that is both true in life and for the show since its budget was incredibly small compared to its competition at the emmys.
1. Plot
An incredibly wealthy family lose all their money to embezzlement and are forced to live in a small town called Schitt's Creek which Johnny (Eugene Levy), purchased as a joke birthday present for his son David (Dan Levy) a few years prior. Unable to afford anything else, the Rose family rent rooms in a seedy motel with the spoilt children (now in their 30's) only a door away from their eccentric parents.
Alexis' first port of call is to replace her jet-setting ex boyfriend as she grapples with the dating scene in a small town. David on the other hand has to face his own loneliness when his fake friends abandon him and he realises most of his career success was bought by his parents. The mother, Moira, battles with mental health and addiction in the wake of the end of her acting career while Johnny has to find a way to sell the town and swallow his pride as he tries to build a business from scratch.
Throughout the series the Roses learn to make connections, rely on each other and let down their barriers. Each season peels back another layer to the characters and lets them develop in a way that feels very natural while still keeping them funny.
The family is always at the butt of the joke and not the small town they are living in. The townsfolk themselves are more progressive and open minded than the Roses which is a nice step away from the expected small town hillbilly stereotype. The closest the town has to a hillbilly is the mayor Roland Schitt (a fantastic name) and while he may be annoying he's certainly not prejudice. In-fact if you overlook his appearance and quirks he's very generous to the Roses despite their multiple attempts to take advantage.
2. A New Kind of Comedy
One of the things that drew me to the show and kept me watching was the very modern brand of comedy it has. In older sit-coms, comedy always has to have a victim. You're either laughing at the stupidity of the character telling the joke or it's a mean spirited jibe at another character, often going for the jugular. This kind of comedy can be very funny however it can also be used as a cop out for lazy writers. When this kind of humour gets lazy it also tends to get mean and then, when pushed, it gets offensive. Some of the most well known examples of this are The Big Bang Theory and How I Met your Mother. Even shows like Community haven't been immune to taking a low punt every now and then.
Schitt's Creek is one of the new shows demonstrating that there's a smarter and kinder way to write funny. While characters do argue and banter there is always this undertone of care. The comedy comes from the situation and the mannerisms of the characters instead of the verbal sparring. A lot of the funniest moments in the show actually come from the superb performances. Dan Lavy has inherited his father's gift for prompting a laugh with the twitch of an eyebrow and Annie Murphy can do more with a hand gesture than the entirety of other sitcom casts combined. These actors just have funny bones and the creme de la creme of this mix is Catherine O'Hara as Moira. The visual comedy of Moria's outfits, the way she speaks and moves is just inherently amusing. Schitt's Creek doesn't have to rely on verbal sparring because why would it when so much comedy lies in just seeing a character enter a room?
3. Simply the Best
The writing isn't the only place where Schitt's Creek is paving the way.
It's not unusual to see LGBT+ characters on TV anymore. We have more representation than ever before but that doesn't mean it's always done well. David's Pansexuality is something covered in the first season of the show and since then his sexuality has just been a fact of his character. The show doesn't hide from it and David has both female and male love interests in the show and both of them are treated with equal respect. There is no episode where David ever has to face any discrimination or homophobic comments and his relationship with Patrick on the show has to be one of the healthiest depictions of a gay romance I've ever seen. Their relationship isn't about "gay issues" it's about them and they get to have some wonderful romantic episodes and interactions. What's even nicer to see is that they act like a couple! They get to casually kiss and touch like couples do. So many shows get these interactions wrong but I completely believed in David and Patrick's relationship.
That's not me saying that there's not a place for shows that cover LGBT+ issues and homophobia. There absolutely is. However, what we lack in our representation at the moment is balance. By taking homophobia out of the equation Schitt's Creek shows us a positive and happy depiction of queer life which is something I've been personally craving for a long time. David and Patrick are funny and sweet and they actually make each other better people! I hope this paves the way to similar representation in other shows.
4. Conclusion
What started out as a low budget family project has become one of the most popular sitcoms of the last decade and for good reason. There's a pathos and authenticity behind the comedy which I think everyone can find comfort in. It's hilarious but also heartwarming and I believe it's success is going to prompt a surge of similar shows on our screens. I'm certainly excited for whatever Dan Levy does next.
I cannot recommend this show enough if you're looking for some good escapism over lockdown. I binged all six seasons in a few months and am now dipping back in for seconds with a big smile on my face. Me and my housemates will forever be quoting this to each other and singing "Little bit Alexis" out of tune at the top of our voices.
Fabulous writing, fabulous performances and very, very funny... what more could you want?
10/10