A Love Letter
5/5
Spoilers
Dear Schitts' Creek,
When I saw your crude name appear amidst the 'now on Netflix' menu some seasons ago, I sighed. To me, you seemed to be another crass American sitcom that would wink at its audience and repeat the same old puerile jokes. Perhaps you would be better than Big Bang Theory, but what isn't? I thought you didn't deserve my attention. I passed you over, running back to the tender embrace of Frasier.
Then you won lots of awards, a record breaking explosion of Emmys. I hate to think of myself as so 2D, easily swayed by something shiny in hand, but I am. Perhaps there was more to you than met the eye? Oh, how naïve I had been but at least I found you eventually, and how wrong I had been.
You were not some big Network cash cow. You were not a punchline tree whose fruits were withering on the vine. You were a modest, smart, and outstanding little Canadian comedy who had defied expectations and grabbed the world's attention. And most importantly, for me at least, you were full of love at heart.
What joy you have brought us over these last few months. In the midst of lockdown malaise and seasonal blues, your warm centre has defrosted my cheeks sufficiently to smile. But how have you managed this? What makes you head and shoulders above those others batting their eye lashes, vying for my attention?
The first thought is that it was the community of characters you laid out before us. As the Roses are sent to this poverty-purgatory, you gave us what initially looked like a weird backwater town, a group of misfits who would be laughed at and eventually reformed. As series after series went by, it turned out you had given us a cast of comical, knowing, and caring community. They understood the foibles of the Roses as much as the Roses understood them. They constantly showed us what acceptance looked like, what friendship was. You gave us Bob with his spare garage space and jaunty jog; you gave us Ronnie, sassy but loyal; Stevie, the outsider who came in; and of course you gave us Roland and Jocelyn, key your whole being. You made it seem like she was simple and he was a hick antagonist. They were anything but, from Jocelyn's endless knowing smiles to Roland's final defence of Johnny in the New York board room.
Perhaps it was the normalisation of an LGBT relationship. Sure, many programmes will include a same-sex relationship, but there is always a point. Typically, it is that homophobia still exists in the 21st century. Sure, that's an important topic, but you showed that for LGBT relationships to be seen as part of the norm, they need to exist without comment at times. David and Patrick were in a normal relationship, accepted by all without question.
Maybe it was the Rose family themselves. Again, you took my expectations and subverted them. You saw what I would think: self-centred, materialistic rich people stuck in their own personal hell - clearly they were going to have to learn humility through a series of embarrassing episodes that simultaneously proved why they should look down on the residents of Schitts' Creek. Then you gave us the episode where, presented with a reunion with their old-life friends slandering the town in front of Roland, Johnny broke first and told them where to go. These people were sweet and well-meaning, on a journey of realignment and regrouping, not fodder for a weekly humiliation.
Of course, I would be remiss in not seeing your strongest asset: Catherine O'Hara. How joyous it was for you to bring her back to the forefront of our lives. A wonderful actress, a hilarious comedian, and brilliant as Moira Rose. We will never say "bebeh" the same again, thanks to you.
I think, though, it is your combination of the above with still hilarious, witty scripts. The writing, the performances, the scenarios were all wildly amusing whilst retaining the massive heart at the centre of it. You made me laugh throughout and you made me care for these characters. You gave me laughter and warmth. You have been a highlight of my lockdown and I will love and miss you in equal measure.
Adieu, dear Schitt's Creek, and merci.
Yours,
E. J. O. Cruxton
Comments