On the heels of week three of quarantine, it’s safe to say that living through a pandemic is certainly taxing on everyone’s mental health. We’re all experiencing an inescapable situation with an uncertain future, and naturally we’re all feeling incredibly anxious and admittedly a bit scared. That’s normal and it’s okay to feel whatever it is that you’re feeling.
The internet is currently flooded with articles offering lists of things you can do to make your time in quarantine productive – but frankly, I find most of them a bit unrealistic. Am I really going to learn a new language while worrying about the global population’s possible impending doom? Yes, I have the time to technically take 7 yoga classes a day from my living room, but is that really something I need or want to be doing? I’m here to give you permission to ignore all of the people on your Instagram posting stories about their quarantine accomplishments and making you feel like crap for sitting on your couch and blowing through all your snacks day one.
If you have the energy and mental capacity to learn French while quarantined, more power to you. But if like me you’re finding yourself exhausted and burnt out and needing an easy way to lighten your mood, I have the perfect recommendation for you:
Binge watch all six seasons of the masterpiece that is Schitt’s Creek.
While Schitt’s Creek largely flew under the radar up during its first few seasons, the show has increasingly developed a large following over the past year, and with good reason. It’s hilarious, heartwarming, pure entertainment, and undoubtably one of the best comedies to grace the small screen since The Office. And unlike The Office, Schitt’s Creek concluded on a high with its recent series finale, wrapping up six perfect seasons while the show was still at its best (sorry, I will never forgive The Office for destroying Jim and Pam, quit while you’re ahead TV showrunners).
There is one silver lining to the nightmare that is the coronavirus pandemic: the government is basically requiring us to stay at home and watch TV all day for the safety of ourselves and our country – being a lazy piece of you-know-what and binging TV all day is now regarded as an act of heroism. We’ll never have an opportunity like this again. This quarantine, be a hero for your community and park your butt on your couch, log into Netflix (or use your ex’s password, we won’t judge) and spend 6 glorious seasons with the Rose family.
Here’s a few reasons why it’s well worth your time:
THE CAST. Intentionally put in all caps because this point deserves some serious emphasis. Whatever you’ve heard about this cast, you haven’t heard it enough. Fans of comedy know that Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara have a long history of working together, and this is the pair at their best. Truly no one on TV shines brighter than Catherine O’Hara as Moira Rose. From the accent that can only be described as “unique” to the way she wears that wardrobe like no other human can, O’Hara becomes Moira in every way, and specifically in a way you have to see to believe.
Dan Levy’s Expressions. Prepare to laugh so hard you have to rewatch a scene because you couldn’t hear your TV over your hysterics – simply because of a facial expression made by David Rose (played by Dan Levy, Eugene’s son). Every raised eyebrow, every look of horror, every quip that comes out of his mouth is delicious and perfect and manages to punctuate a wide range of moments in the show.
It’s LGBTQ Representation. As Human Right’s Campaign notes, the show’s exploration of LGBTQ issues and characters truly makes it such a standout. David Rose, played by Dan Levy, breaks barriers by being one of television’s few openly pansexual characters. Schitt’s Creek pushes the envelope by making LGBTQ acceptance the norm rather than the exception. In fact, the townspeople never seem to bat an eye at David’s pansexuality or his relationship with Patrick, and instead embrace them as part of the community. This representation speaks volumes for queer people around the world living in rural areas and sends the message that acceptance can be found anywhere. The one challenge we do witness to this theme of acceptance, found in the form of Patrick coming out to his parents, ends up becoming a heartfelt moment showing how most parents want to ensure their children are happy no matter whom they love or who they are.
And on that note, one of the best parts of Schitt’s Creek is…
David and Patrick’s Love Story. I don’t want to share any spoilers, but just know that there’s a reason why every Schitt’s Creek fan can’t hear the song “Simply the Best” without weeping.
Character Growth and Development. The character development on Schitt’s Creek is comparable to Walter White’s riveting arc on Breaking Bad – but instead of watching a sweet science teacher evolve into a ruthless meth-making maniac, we watch the Rose family become better versions of themselves in ways that feel relatable and accessible. By Season 4, Alexis blossoms from a vapid con who does community service in high heels into a warm, kind-hearted person who wants to better herself and her community. The same goes for David, who actually goes out and gets a job. Johnny pushes himself to get back in the business world, and Moira uses her cultural savoir faire to turn herself into a linchpin of the local “society” scene.
In Summary…
Decider put it best: If you still aren’t sure if a journey to Schitt’s Creek is right for you, know this: it’s like if the Arrested Development family actually liked each other and weren’t just bound by obligation. It’s got the good soul of Parks and Recreation but completely devoid of the politics that oftentimes even indirectly spoke to the world around us, and this show rivals the romantic comedy warm and fuzzies of The Mindy Project, but focused around normally hot people instead of insanely hot people (which does, in fact, make it even hotter). Schitt’s Creek is so good, but it’s even better when you know exactly why.
