The Power of Love and Acceptance
Schitt's Creek swept the entire comedy category tonight at the Emmys, taking home all seven awards presented in the first hour. The show was nominated for 15 total Emmys this year, and they've won nine so far (two awards were untelevised). As anyone who's seen this show can attest, I can truly think of no other show that is so deserving of these awards. Schitt's Creek shows a family as they come together and become the best versions of themselves as they learn and grow and adjust to life in the titular town. What starts as simply a funny comedy turns into one of the most heartfelt shows that I have ever watched.
I think that the thing that sets Schitt's Creek apart from any other show is the amount of warmth, kindness, love, and acceptance throughout the show. There is no homophobia or bigotry in this world. The residents of the small town are warm, funny, kind, dorky, and accepting. Even the major, Roland Schitt, who I kind of expected to be at least a little homophobic when I first watched, makes no "jokes" or remarks about David's pansexuality. In fact, in the first season, when Johnny tells Roland "My son is pansexual," Roland just replies "Oh yeah, I've heard about that. It's that cookware fetish," but he has nothing negative to say.
The absence of homophobia throughout the show is one of the most wonderful and powerful things about this show. Dan Levy, the creator/writer/showrunner, made sure that the main queer romance in the show between David and Patrick was treated just like any heterosexual couple. We watch their relationship develop and witness highs and lows, but nothing bad happens simply because they are queer. The lows in their relationship, such as miscommunications and disagreements, are typical things that happen in any relationship.
David and Patrick are also allowed to be physical on-screen without repercussion. One of my favorite episodes, Pregnancy Test (4x02) had five kisses between David and Patrick within a single 21 minute episode. Compared to other shows like Modern Family that didn't even show an on-screen kiss between Mitch and Cam until the second season I believe, Schitt's Creek's casual displays of intimacy and affection help normalize queer intimacy. Where many shows/movies/etc. tend to over-sexualize or under-sexualize queer characters, Schitt's Creek just allows them to be queer and in love without making it a big deal.
As the show progresses, the characters soften and become better versions of themselves. Annie Murphy's character Alexis Rose has one of the best story arcs I have ever seen. Alexis transforms from a flighty socialite in the first episode into an intelligent woman who knows her worth and has so much love for her family by the finale. By the finale, Alexis is constantly telling her family that she loves them. Her last words on the show are even "I love you." While the queer representation in this show is incredible, it's also just a true testament to the power of love and acceptance. As Dan Levy said in his acceptance speech when the show won the Best Comedy award, "[This] show is, at its core, about the transformational effects of love and acceptance" and he's right. Every single character in this show grows and becomes a better person because they are loved and supported. Schitt's Creek is truly a place where everybody fits in and becomes better because of that. In a speech last year given at the GLAAD Awards, Dan reflected on his time in the closet and how he got to where he is today. He says, "Support, encouragement, and love. Three relatively simple acts of kindness that can change the course of a person's life." While he was reflecting on personal experiences, he later says, "When I found myself in the position to tell stories on a global scale, I seized the opportunity to make a television show that might, in its own way, offer some support, encouragement, and love to those who might not have it in their homes, in their schools, or in their day-to-day lives."
So yes, while Schitt's Creek is impossibly funny, it's also so full of love and warmth and I couldn't imagine any other show being so deserving to sweep the Emmys and win every single comedy award in their final season. I hope you're all staying healthy and taking care of yourselves, and for the love of god, watch Schitt's Creek.
~Maddison
