On the other side of the coin, the town of Schitt’s Creek has evolved from nasty stereotype to welcoming home… for most of the characters, at least. With the beloved series now wrapped, we’re putting on some Rose-colored glasses to remember 14 of the best episodes—from country hijinks to earworms to unprecedented (and joyous) LGBTQ+ representation. Because this series’ strongest point—and a huge determiner in favorite episodes—concerns the Rose family’s personal arcs, some of this list will tend toward the spoilery. But, for what it’s worth, I went into the series already knowing about several key moments, but enjoyed them all over again once they were in the proper context. To wit—preemptively, I’m going to award honorable mentions to unforgettable moments in the series: Moira’s disastrous line readings in “Wine and Roses” cemented how bonkers Catherine O’Hara was taking the character (the first time this show made more than one of us properly laugh); while David’s “I like the wine and not the label” metaphor in “Honeymoon” summed up pansexuality in a way that was palatable to share with family; and every single double-take-inducing throwaway one-liner from Alexis “omg ew David!” Rose. With Moira’s depression about living in Schitt’s Creek evident, Johnny hopes to restore her spirits by throwing her a surprise birthday party. But she’s so morose that he can’t get her to show up to anything unless she believes it’s a fundraiser… and then she insists on taking over the planning. The layers of who knows what resemble classic Arrested Development, yet it’s also its own unique story—especially once an exasperated David lets Moira in on the surprise, and she realizes just how much effort the entire town has gone to for her sake. It’s a first step made even more monumental because it’s a concession from the soap opera queen.
Season 2, Episode 8: “Milk Money”
The first taste of just how absurd life in Schitt’s Creek is comes when an enterprising Johnny gets himself mixed up in the raw milk business. From Alexis sabotaging the supply with her vague order of “things” to a hilariously tense run-in with the police, it’s a ridiculous effort from the Roses to try and fit into Schitt’s Creek, and realize how far they have to go. Well, some Roses—elsewhere, David is tasked with helping Jocelyn pick out an outfit to run against Moira for town council. Not only do we get to see David in his element, with his big-city skills actually valued by the Schitt’s Creek community, but it’s clear that Moira has found some manner of town participation that actually matters to her.
Season 2, Episode 13: “Happy Anniversary”
The series does have its formulaic moments, with each finale seeing at least one Rose family member make some peace with their situation. Yet each of these moments is so satisfying that we don’t mind and even come to welcome who it will be each season. Still attempting to cling to their old lifestyle, Johnny and Moira go out to a fancy Elmdale restaurant to celebrate their anniversary. But while they had initially gotten out of making it a double date with Roland and Jocelyn, they wind up in an etiquette nightmare when first they run into a couple from their old lives, and then Roland and Jocelyn happen upon this foursome.
Season 3, Episode 13: “Grad Night”
While all of the Roses undergo transformations over the course of the show, Alexis may be the one who most comes into her best self. As incredible as her accounts of escaping sheikhs’ palaces are, at the start of the series she exemplifies wealth in excess—not needing to be anything but a pretty, giggly rich white girl because no one has ever demanded more from her. While her return to high school ten years later is mostly played for fish-out-of-water laughs, she is genuinely proud of her accomplishments—and, despite her studied nonchalance, devastated when the rest of her family can’t actually make it to her graduation. Then in walks Moira and the Jazzagals, to sing “Baby I’m Yours” to her daughter despite their prickly, awkward relationship. Not only does it highlight Alexis’ special day (and David’s forgotten birthday), but it’s Moira choosing her children over her other engagements—while still remaining in the spotlight. That’s how you do plausible character development.
Season 4, Episode 5: “RIP Moira Rose”
It was a close tie between this and season 2’s “Moira’s Nudes,” but this episode builds on the ridiculousness of the prior one. Instead of illicit photographs, Moira is obsessed with a rumor of her death on the Internet, and the floodgates of supportive, fond memories it opens from people who never actually knew her. But that delight is short-lived, as she has to hide from the one reporter who comes to Schitt’s Creek to write a proper obituary, and she realizes just how fleeting a presence she has actually had in the public sphere. Yet ironically (or perhaps by design), this episode is equally Alexis’. From tweeting an empty RIP for her own mother to her surprise bonding experience with David over meeting Ted’s girlfriend, she shows incredible range. It’s rare that an episode can make you giggle uncontrollably over “Nom nom for us, David!!!” and then tear up at Alexis’ admission that she’s in love with Ted, and so will never tell him, in the space of just a few minutes.
Season 4, Episode 6: “Open Mic”
Of course I have to include one of the top David/Patrick moments, with the latter’s swoony rendition of Tina Turner’s “The Best” at Rose Apothecary’s inaugural open mic night. Not simply because of how sweet it is, but how unexpected, even four seasons in. Having watched David fumble his way through hookups in Schitt’s Creek, and having learned (in episodes like 3×10 “Sebastien Raine”) how bleak his love life was before, the audience is ready for Patrick’s performance to be as embarrassing as David seems to believe it will be. But instead, as Patrick stuns the room, we watch David rendered speechless, then softened, then truly moved. Even more shocking is that Moira is, too.
Season 4, Episode 13: “Merry Christmas, Johnny Rose”
Holiday specials can be hit-or-miss, but this one sparkles precisely because of how it addresses nostalgia for holidays long gone, as with Johnny missing the Roses’ decadent Christmas parties; and how making new traditions, even if humbler, is key to moving on with your life. But what most sticks with me, and what keeps this from devolving entirely into feel-good schlock, is the final moment. Johnny, laughing, notices an errant menorah too close to a garland: “Last thing we want is to have the motel burn down!” And Moira just murmurs, “Or is it?” Cut to black. Brilliant. Just because the Roses had a good Christmas doesn’t mean they’ve all accepted their existence in Schitt’s Creek.
Season 5, Episode 8: “The Hospies”
I knew I needed a Stevie episode, which was a little tough to determine since she undergoes constant, incremental changes over the course of the entire series. But this episode from midway through season 5 is definitely a turning point, as her fling with hotel reviewer Amir gets a nasty reality check: He doesn’t want them to get more serious, because he doesn’t see her ever doing more than working in Schitt’s Creek. It’s the rare truly gut-punch moment, and for a character who we’ve so grown to love. How surprising, then, that it’s Moira who lifts Stevie out of her self-pity with a bottle of wine and a completely unexpected proposal: Audition for the role of Sally Bowles in the town’s production of Cabaret. Viewers were as stunned as Stevie, but as we’ll see, it’s exactly the kick in the ass that she needs, to do something that terrifies her.
Season 5, Episode 11: “Meet the Parents”
This affirming episode (one of our Best TV Episodes of 2019) is further proof that Schitt’s Creek inhabits an idealized alternate reality that is unconcerned with our world’s bullshit. Rather than setting up the arrival of Patrick’s parents as the opportunity for David to accidentally out him, instead Mr. and Mrs. Brewer come at the revelation from a completely different angle: Of course they know Patrick is gay, but they just don’t understand why he didn’t feel close enough to tell them? Their ensuing conversations are still bittersweet because, despite not retreading a familiar queer story, the episode examines the divides that still exist between millennials and their parents.
Season 5, Episode 14: “Life is a Cabaret”
As you might have noticed, Schitt’s Creek loves its musical moments. But for last season’s finale, they smartly did not let Cabaret overtake the entire episode. Two excellent numbers show what the community has been building toward all season: Patrick killing it as the Emcee with “Wilkommen,” and Stevie’s authentically good but not surprise-Glee-level “Maybe This Time.” But really this finale is the opportunity to take stock of where everyone is at, now that we know we have but one season left. Playing Sally didn’t automatically cure Stevie’s ennui, but she has proven to herself that she can do the terrifying thing. David’s growing frustration at being undercut with every attempt to share his and Patrick’s engagement doesn’t make their news any less sublime. But then there’s Moira, taking the final moment as usual: Upon learning that The Crows Have Eyes III: The Crowening has been canned, that the last thing she actually poured her heart and soul into (even more than Cabaret) has been dismissed, she retreats into her wig closet to weep with genuine brokenheartedness. It’s truly uncomfortable but authentic to Moira’s journey, as the last holdout to accept (or not) Schitt’s Creek.
Season 6, Episode 8: “The Presidential Suite”
This episode’s B-plot of Johnny and Moira trying to outfox Roland and Jocelyn as to which co-owners get to try out the swanky new Presidential suite at the new Rosebud Motel is a bit of a throwback to the Roses’ and Schitts’ early-series clashes. Yet it shows how far they’ve come, with Moira willing to gift her sole luxury to the sleep-deprived parents who admittedly need it more. And really, it’s almost a sly misdirection as to the importance of the episode’s other plot: Ted flies in to surprise Alexis for a weekend, but because of time zones and other travel-related mishaps, they only get one day together. This would be bearable if she were eventually going to join him in the Galápagos, but over the course of their scant time together it becomes clear that their lives are no longer aligned.
Season 6, Episode 12: “The Pitch”
The final three episodes feel more like one combined entry: Together they chart the Roses’ triumphant final arc in Schitt’s Creek and their bright futures. Yet what cements them on this list is individual, small-yet-mighty, emotional moments. Of course it was wonderful to see Johnny returning to the business world with his killer pitch, and Stevie warming to the board room atmosphere. But it’s Roland who, two episodes before the end, gets his ultimate moment of the series: Ducking back in after their presentation, he overhears the entire firm laughing at how far Johnny has fallen. Roland, who seemed the most likely to blow the presentation, turns steely in a way we’ve rarely (if ever) seen, and chastens each and every one of them for their complete lack of humility. Like Ruth, I’m ashamed I ever underestimated him.
Season 6, Episode 13: “Start Spreading the News”
The crux of these three episodes is David and Stevie’s conversation on the hood of her car, staring at the idyllic cottage that represents his and Patrick’s future in Schitt’s Creek. As they debate why David really wants to go back to New York City, Stevie gently but firmly strips away his excuses, until they’re both crying. Why do you want to go back, she asks, when it’s “done nothing but hurt your feelings?” It’s hard enough seeing Stevie begging to understand, but then David responds, the most vulnerable we’ve ever seen him: He wants to prove that he’s “not a joke” and that he’s “won.” It’s some of the show’s best writing: candid, raw, real. The kind of scene you’ll watch on repeat on YouTube for years to come. Twyla’s reveal that she had won the lottery was great, too. For a show so obsessed with money, this retroactive joke about Twyla being a multimillionaire all along, yet remaining the same old Twy, is the perfect little twist.
Season 6, Episode 14: “Happy Ending”
Patrick singing Mariah Carey’s “Always Be My Baby” at the altar. Alexis’ nose-boops as farewells. The sign! The series finale was more of a victory lap than anything else, but the Roses went out in style and exactly on their own terms.
