I finished watching Schitt’s Creek a few days ago. The show has been stuck in my mind since then for two reasons:

  1. I enjoyed just about every dang second of it.
  2. I’m disappointed by the ending of the show.

In fairness, the conclusion of a tv show will never satisfy every viewer, and this is especially true when a show becomes widely watched and beloved. Game of Thrones, anyone?1 However, for a show as smart and caring as Schitt’s Creek, I expected more real growth from the main characters than what we got.2

The Rose family blew through the town of Schitt’s Creek like a slow whirlwind, affecting its citizens in myriad ways. The tears and heartfelt goodbyes that the Roses received when three-quarters of them left in the series finale demonstrated that they all left indelible marks on those with whom they had relationships. Therefore, it leaves a hollow feeling when it’s only David who stays behind. The rest leave with some fond, peculiar memories, but in some cases, little personal growth.

Were it not for his new husband, Patrick Brewer, David would have been out of the town in a flash, opening up a new location for his Rose Apothecary somewhere in New York City. That is, if he had ever been able to open up the Schitt’s Creek store in the first place without Patrick’s help. I’m grateful for his sensible realization that he’d be happier with his husband and business in the place that’s given him so much. His new house isn’t half bad either.

Alexis’s exit made the most sense. She’s at the beginning of a grand new adventure. Her blossoming PR firm, Alexis Rose Communications, was born out of her determination to get her G.E.D., find something to do with her life, and chase after that goal. It’s a great tragedy that her relationship with Ted Mullens had to end for her to achieve her dream (and he to achieve his), but sometimes life gets in the way of even the best relationships.3 Alexis’s life before her time in Schitt’s Creek was certainly colorful, but it was aimless. By the end of the show, she’d found an exciting path to travel. It just so happened that the path led away from the town. Nevertheless, her emotional parting conversations with Twyla Sands show that she understands the value of her time spent there.

Johnny, always the patient, level-headed patriarch,4 birthed a new business with the help of the wonderfully acerbic Stevie Budd. Their sure-to-be successful chain of motels will give them all security and purpose, along with, one can assume, a new mountain of cash. Why the headquarters of Rosebud Motels couldn’t be located in Schitt’s Creek, I have no idea. How nice would it have been to give back to the town, and Roland and Jocelyn Schitt, that took the Rose family in at their lowest point by making it a major hub for this business? California is nice,5 but why is it an essential location? If that was the case, why wasn’t it necessary for Stevie to come along to California? It’s an interconnected world. They started the new business in Schitt’s Creek and got noticed, so why couldn’t they keep that momentum up in the city?

Moira may have been the worst of the bunch, in this case. As we saw in the season five finale, titled, Life Is a Cabaret, upon learning that her beloved crows movie wouldn’t be getting a premiere event or distribution deal, she let out a scream to split the heavens and collapsed into a sorrowful heap. She spent a decent amount of the subsequent episode in a near-catatonic mess, hiding in her closet behind its flimsy accordion door. Her hard work was going to go unseen, but more tragically, her burgeoning ticket out of the titular town was being stolen from her.

However, when things turn around for The Crows Have Eyes III: The Crowening, leading to her reprisal in the reboot of her star-making soap opera, Sunrise Bay, she ultimately takes the role. The job would necessitate her presence on set outside of Schitt’s Creek, but why couldn’t the town be her home during the show’s downtime? Instead, she’s always been the most eager to return to a life of recognition and riches. It’s a shame to never see that desperation fade. I do not doubt that she became a better person since losing her past life, but even the newfound closeness her family experienced was never enough to fill the hole that fame dug into her. Even after her heavy goodbyes to the group that loved her the most—her fellow Jazzagals—she was all too willing to put the town in her rearview mirror, so to speak.

I loved this show and will surely watch it again in the future. However, the ending could have had a better message—one of growth, appreciation, and love for the people of Schitt’s Creek. They were always more welcoming and caring than the people who turned their backs on the Rose family at the beginning of the show. The journey was fun, but for me, still fell short of being spectacular. 📺

  1. While that show had its issues, I don’t think its conclusion was nearly as bad as the internet makes it out to be. But much like Star Wars fandom, nobody hates Game of Thrones quite like a Game of Thrones fan. If you’ve spent any time on the internet, you know that subtlety is a rare find. ↩︎

  2. WARNING: there are some major spoilers beyond this point. ↩︎

  3. I’m still sad about that one. Seriously, how great were they together? ↩︎

  4. At least, compared to the rest of his family. ↩︎

  5. I may be a bit biased here. ↩︎