Schitt’s Creek: Why I’m Loving the Couples on this Show
By Rebecca Patterson, MSMFT
I’m a big advocate for listening to your body. My body, as of late, has been craving an increase in easy. So much has felt hard, politically and culturally, and the air is increasingly heavy. Easy can be hard to find in a quarantine. Enter: Schitt’s Creek.
This character-driven comedy has been my go-to pause button from the stressors of the world. These characters are not necessarily the people to learn everything from as they are certainly flawed and the clear product of their privilege. But, there are a few things they have done so right in their romantic relationships that it pulled me to explore what it looks like to learn from the TV characters we are spending so much time with these days.
David and Patrick are by far my favorite couple on this show. A refreshingly accurate representation of a queer couple and one of the few balanced portraits of a pansexual man - I am so grateful this couple exists in pop-culture! But the particular moment I’m valuing right now is how the couple negotiates being propositioned for a threesome. This includes discussing why this person would be a good choice with whom to open up, acknowledging that this is a new and uncertain territory for them to walk into, both openly consenting, and setting rules like, “If one of us wants to leave, we both leave.”
Alexis and Ted are an unlikely couple but I’m struck by their support for each other’s careers. They both make incredibly selfless choices in order to encourage the dreams of the other. More importantly, they do not shy away from naming the cost that following their dreams places on the relationship and the real sadness and uncertainty this creates. This is a perfect example of a both/and - I can both support your career goals and be sad that this means I spend less time with you - a truism many couples would benefit from openly naming.
Moira and Johnny are an unrelenting support system for one another. They provide countless lessons in having your partner’s back when they are at their lowest or facing hardship. Even more refreshingly, this older married couple with adult children take advantage of moments that ignite the flame of young love in a way all long-term couples can aspire to - shout out the skinny dipping episode!
Before judging yourself for what you consume in order to make life these days a little easier, see if you can sit back and find something of value you’ve learned. I value that these characters grow constantly over the seasons, reminding me that empathy and selflessness are buildable skills. We are all consuming a lot of media these days - I hope my reflection on the characters I’ve welcomed into my life will help you build values of your own!