A pandemic snowball, a six season off-beat comedy of short (22 or so minutes) interludes, a bourgeois roughhouse of privilege denied as the Rose family find themselves marooned on a desert island. Or as near to a desert island as they can be. Billions embezzled, luxuries a thing of the past – and only the purchase of the town of Schitt’s Creek, a birthday joke, to save them.
Businessman Johnny Rose (Eugene Levy) along with his wife Moira – an afternoon TV soap star – and their adult children David and Alexis are forced to take residence in the seedy Schitt’s Creek Motel. It’s to be their home for the next six seasons.
It’s a ragbag narrative as, in their own way, each adapt to their new circumstances. At it’s best, Schitt’s Creek is sublime comedy and gentle pathos as wealth in extremis adjusts to penury and lack of privilege previously taken for granted. Now the Roses must navigate the ways of hicksville America – even if Moira (Catherine O’Hara) retains her boho luxe wardrobe of Alexander McQueen, Versace, Givenchy, Jil Sander alongside her outrageous wig collection.
Over six seasons and 80 episodes, however, Schitt’s Creek in reality is too much of a good thing and outstays its welcome.
As audience, we invest in the characters and their individual and collective journeys. Moira’s costumes may provide the razzle dazzle, but the real star is David (Daniel Levy). Gay, a precious, neurotic indulgent, whilst remaining true to himself, David goes through a total transformation. And his friendship with Stevie (Emily Hampshire), the dorky motel owner, is a highlight. The other characters, however …. not the same.
Moira remains self-obsessed throughout – although by the finale, she can relate to others in her own way. But Alexis (Annie Rose) with her extremely annoying mannerisms (pterodactyl hands) is infuriating and Johnny a dullard. And the same can be said about most of the townsfolk – the foolish slob of a Mayor, Roland Schitt (Chris Elliott) in particular. Personally, could have seen a lot less of him although some critics argue the relationship between Johnny Rose and Roland Schitt as central to the series – something I personally do not buy. The women townsfolk come out of it much better, although TV series with regular extras permanently silenced (Moira’s choir for one) to save money is counterproductive.
With its short and generally sweet episodes, Schitts’s Creek is easy-going candy – if a particular narrative isn’t working, it’ll soon be over and the next will come along. But by season six, the ‘over’ couldn’t come soon enough.
The separate 40 minute Netflix documentary on the making of the final season is a worthwhile closure.
Rating: 62%
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