by Genevieve Hoover
Perhaps it was because my parents had initially recommended it to me or the Netflix trailer that harkened back to cringeworthy 70s sitcoms, but I was reluctant to watch “Schitt’s Creek.” In the weeks following the initial lockdown, when it looked as though we would never be returning to Olaf, I found myself desperate for escape. In the moments between awkward Zoom breakout rooms, online exams, and collapsing internships, I turned to Netflix to keep my sanity.
The pop-culture phenomenon “Schitt’s Creek” debuted on Pop TV — a Canadian channel — in 2015 and gained widespread acclaim and a cult following once it dropped on Netflix in 2017. The show received a stunning send-off in 2020 after the airing of its final season by winning nine Emmys, breaking the record for most wins in a single season of a comedy.
“Schitt’s Creek” follows the wealthy Rose family who, having lost all their money and assets, is forced to move to a town they bought on a whim in rural Canada. There is no real Canadian-ness to the show, however, so poutine and hockey fans might be a little let down.
The first two seasons were entertaining in a cute, 20-minute episode sitcom way, but it wasn’t until I fell in love with the character David Rose that I sunk into an obsession with “Schitt’s Creek.” I am ashamed to say I watched seasons three to five in just one week, and season six, which premiered on Netflix just a few days ago, in one day.
Dan Levy shines as David, an overdramatic and high strung former art gallery owner with a penchant for black clothing and kilts. Throughout the show, David transitions from a selfish, formerly wealthy man-child to a successful business owner and adoring husband.
I was fully on board for the sweet romance between David and his business partner Patrick. In the midst of the comedy, “Schitt’s Creek” gives a glimpse into the struggles of a real relationship: jealousy, intimacy, and even heartbreak.
It is on the basis of Dan Levy’s brilliantly sarcastic performance alone that I maintain “Schitt’s Creek” deserved every Emmy it got and more. But I would be remiss if I did not at least mention Moira Rose’s incredible wig collection, or Alexis Rose’s enviable fashion sense. Moira’s relatable, if histrionic reactions to career setbacks capture the mindset of many of us during quarantine and the upcoming election, because let’s face it, we’d all “kill for a good coma right now.”
If you are looking for a socially-distanced activity to entertain you on these lovely fall nights I cannot recommend Schitt’s Creek highly enough. So, pop a bottle of zhampagne and get on with it because as Vanity Fair wrote, “Yes, ‘Schitt’s Creek’ really is that good.”
