I’m sure we all remember the initial rush after quarantine started, when we thought school would only be out for a few weeks, and we collectively rejoiced in the special comfort that was a Netflix membership. 

As I scrolled through the seemingly endless catalogue of shows to pick my daily binge, I like to believe that it was fate that led me to land upon Schitt’s Creek, with its comical-looking thumbnail of a sweater-clad man confidently holding what appeared to be a deer. Intrigued, I began the first episode, and two weeks later, I was done with all six seasons.

The plot centers around the Rose family, consisting of siblings Alexis and David, their mother, Moira and their father, Johnny, who lost their enormous wealth after being defrauded by their business manager. As a result, the family is forced to settle in the town of Schitt’s Creek; Johnny previously had purchased the entire town as a gag gift for his son at the height of the family’s wealth. Viewers are first introduced to the Roses as a family who have little regard for the wellbeing of anyone but themselves, as they fret about seemingly minute details, such as the condition of Moira’s wigs in their packing boxes.

The charm of the show doesn’t belong in its plot which, while heartwarming, does not hold enough of the viewer’s attention to stand on its own. Rather, its beauty lies in the unfolding of the characters’ personalities and their journey of discovery. 

The initially-pampered Alexis spends much of the first few seasons struggling to carve out her own path for the future, while her brother David seems to have trouble finding where he fits in his family’s new structure. Meanwhile, matriarch Moira Rose, a former soap opera actress who enjoys nothing more than using membean-level vocabulary in otherwise simple sentences, struggles to find her place in a community where everyone seems to look out for the wellbeing of one another. 

Perhaps the most endearing quality of Schitt’s Creek is its powerful ability to make viewers forget about their own troubles, even if it is just for the extent of a 20-minute long episode. The setting of the show was so tastefully designed as to be without the horrors that plague us outside of our screens; sexism, racism and homophobia seem to be absent from this town as they embrace every citizen, regardless of identity, orientation or race.

When I watch TV, I attempt to forget about the intolerance that exists in our community. Schitt’s Creek, while colorfully named, does just that. It leaves me laughing, crying and rooting for the characters as they endeavor through their struggles. Even breakups on the show leave me rooting for a better future for both sides of the situation, a sentiment I rarely feel when watching other shows. There is an aura of maturity and realness that envelopes the town, and they seem to accept that, while detached from urban society, their actions still have consequences. 

At the 72nd Emmy Awards, held on September 20, 2020, Schitt’s Creek earned seven awards, the most of the night, winning “Outstanding Comedy Series” and acting nods for each of the four main stars. Schitt’s Creek demonstrated that a show on a small town family and their mundane problems could beat out veteran sitcoms, with usually more serious plotlines, demonstrating that creating a show on the basis of good and righteousness can be successful, setting an example for our own society. 

Many of you are probably upset that Schitt’s Creek beat your favorite show at the Emmys, or that the first few episodes of the series are some of the blandest television you have ever watched. I insist that if you continue watching, Schitt’s Creek will surely find a place in your heart. 

Schitt’s Creek is available to be streamed on Netflix, Pop TV, and CW Seed. 

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