Schitt’s Creek Season 6, Episode 4
“Maid of Honor”
Posted by Gillian
“Maid of Honor” is a filler episode. And I don’t mean that as a criticism. Like most things, Schitt’s Creek manages to do filler episodes better than other shows. For this show, filler doesn’t mean an episode that just serves to fulfill the contractual number for the season. It doesn’t mean wasted time, for the audience or the characters. It simply means an episode that isn’t obviously pivotal, serving to set up or wind down a storyline or test a character’s resolve. We’re almost a third of the way through the final season, and so far the episodes have been chock full of moving parts and fair number of tense situations. But this week we got to just hang out and watch our favorite characters coast a bit.
David and Patrick don’t have to pick out their wedding venue or overcome the return of a childhood affliction, they just need to pick up Patrick’s suit. Moira doesn’t have to fret over whether her movie will be released or dive into a new type of promo ill-prepared, she just gets to watch and share her film’s trailer. Johnny has to deal with a surprise squatter at his new motel, but at least he doesn’t have to worry about the motel itself. And Alexis doesn’t have to chase her client around to make sure she doesn’t reveal embarrassing family secrets to the public or chase her trekking boyfriend down via Skype, she just has the simple task of casually convincing Stevie to hand the Maid of Honor reigns back over to the right woman for the job. They all just got to move steadily along.
It was by no means a dull episode. I don’t think these characters – always so expertly written and perfectly acted – could be dull even if they all just took a 22-minute nap. As always, there were great jokes and lovely moments, callbacks and new developments, flawless costumes and an endless array of entertaining facial expressions and gestures. And, like all great episodes of television, seamless references to both boy band members and 90s TV darlings.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable episode and a reminder that not every episode of a Capital F Final season of a beloved show has to carry the weight of that finality. Sometimes an episode can just be an episode of the show you love. Sometimes being funny and charming and light is more than enough. And a reminder of how Ronnie feels about Patrick doesn’t hurt either.
No more watches needed here to get my superlatives surging anew. Let’s get to ‘em!
Love That Journey For Her: Alexis Insisting Stevie be David’s Maid of Honor
OK, so Alexis isn’t quite out of limbo, and it seems she’ll still be in Schitt’s Creek for a while before finally heading to the Galapagos. Based on her repeated reminders that she’s around for a month, “The Job Interview” must have actually taken place pretty immediately after the first two episodes, and the “weeks” she and Ted were lamenting having gone without seeing each other were just the time since Ted left, not since Alexis realized her flight scheduling snafu. But while she’s hanging in the waiting room, at least she’s still managing to demonstrate how much she’s grown over the years. After spending most of the day trying to subtly edge Stevie toward begging her to take over as David’s Maid of Honor, Alexis not only ends up insisting Stevie keep the job, she assures Stevie she can do it and offers to help her if she needs it.
All because Alexis can see Stevie needs something positive to hold onto right now. As Stevie herself laments, she has no idea what she’s doing right now. She’s left two jobs in the span of a week, one of which she actually liked and comes with a business partner she loves (she doesn’t say that part, but we know), and now that she’s run scared (reasonably so) from Larry Air and its questionable commitment to safety, she’s no closer to knowing where she wants to go from here.
And although being David’s Maid of Honor isn’t likely to bring about an epiphany about her life’s course, sometimes it’s nice to just focus on something certain – even when that comes in the form of someone else’s happiness – while the uncertainty of your own life swirls around you. Trying to decide what to do with your life after thirty plus years of not allowing yourself to give it any actual thought can be overwhelming. It’s hard to know where to start. And having something else to focus on – even something as undoubtedly time consuming and a bit bewildering as planning a bachelor party for someone who thinks a gorgeous ryokan in Hakone with a hot spring-fed onsen on the balcony counts as “super easy” – can be incredibly grounding.
That’s what Alexis decides to give to Stevie, despite having assumed since they were kids that she’d be her brother’s Maid of Honor. It was obviously important to Alexis, but she was able to not just recognize but act on the fact that, whether she realizes herself, it’s more important for Stevie at this point.
David might joke that Alexis is going soft, but you can tell in his face that he knows it’s more than that. Alexis cares about Stevie, and in this moment, she cares more about her than she cares about getting to wear Keira Knightly’s green dress from Atonement. This isn’t at all out of character for the Alexis we know now, but it’s still always nice to see this part of her shine through.
Moira’s Rose’s Garden’s Honorary Rose of the Week 4856: Jocelyn
I was surprised that Jocelyn had such a hard time coming up with something at least arguably positive to say about the The Crows Have Eyes 3: The Crowening (and no, I shan’t be shortening that title for ease of reading at any point in this or any other recap, thank you so much asking) trailer when Moira showed it to the Jazzagals – especially since she had three viewings in a row to come up with something. She’s usually quite good at that kind of thing, and it seemed a bit out of character for her to draw a complete blank. But I can look past that for two reasons: 1) Ronnie’s reaction faces to her failure are fantastic; and 2) SHE CAME THE FUCK THROUGH with the review she ultimately delivers to Moira.
Wow is right, Moira.
Honestly, it’s a shame for all of us that Jocelyn didn’t get the job recapping this season. That review is so incredible, I was obsessed from the first few words and loved it all the way through. I’m torn between hoping there’s a huge pile of crumpled pieces of paper littering her kitchen floor, evidence of draft after panicked draft written over the course of several hours rewatching the trailer over and over, downing multiple pots of coffee as poor Roland Jr. sat quietly in his high chair, and the idea that Jocelyn managed that flawless review in a single go.
However she did it, I hope it’s not the last we hear from her during the movie’s promotional period. Maybe Alexis Rose Communications is looking for an intern.
For the First (and Mostly Likely Last) Time: The Mariah Carey Award for Outstanding Achievement in Schitt’s Creek Fandom Contributions: Kelly Clarkson.
For blessing us all with the “A Little Bit Alexis” remix: A Whole Lotta Texas:
“Roland in the Bedroom” Funniest Bit: The Roses Attempt to Watch Moira’s Trailer
Yes, it was the teaser for this episode, but that didn’t stop it from being a wholly hilarious cold open. From Moira asking Johnny to close the curtains then scolding him for making it too dark, to having to drop her family’s dramatically held hands (twice!) to actually start the video, to being confused by the ad because she doesn’t recognize the footage from the movie, and finally to David – and even Johnny – giving up on watching when the motel’s internet causes frequent buffering (“It halted! Someone hit resume!”), there’s so much perfectly on brand humor crammed into a few minutes. It’s exactly what you want in a cold open, and exactly what you expect from the Rose family.
The “David Plucking at the Plastic Sheet” Funniest Moment: Roland Begrudgingly Putting Down the Loaded Gun.
One of my favorite behind the scenes tidbits from this show is the fact that apparently nobody on set can make Eugene Levy – a man who has spent his career acting alongside entire ensembles of comedians who specialize in inducing tear-provoking laughter via deadpan delivery of absurdity – break like Chris Elliott. I’ve enjoyed Christ Elliott since his early-90s show, Get a Life, and I generally do find him very funny (his delivery of “You take my little hand” in Scary Movie randomly pops into my head with alarming frequency given how long it’s been since I’ve seen that movie and it makes me laugh every time) but I don’t think Roland is anywhere near the funniest character (or that Chris’ is anywhere near the funniest performance) in the show. So learning that Eugene Levy finds him so hilarious surprised and intrigued me when I first learned it, and now I’m just delighted by it.
Moments like this one remind me of how Chris Elliott can construct absolutely perfect comedic moments. The humor of Roland (such as it is) so often comes from him just being an oblivious dummy, which can make it seem like Christ Elliott is just bumbling around, being as over-the-top obnoxious as possible without giving the details much thought. But then he makes a face like this:
and it reminds you that he’s actually as intentional (and capable) as the rest of this cast.
I truly do understand people who basically just tolerate Roland – he’s the weakest link in the show for sure (although in such a strong ass chain, that’s not much of an insult) – so it’s all the more satisfying to get glimpses of Chris Elliott’s comedic strengths when he’s given the chance.
Aw, David! Sweetest Moment: David Asks Alexis to Give Him Away
I assumed David was going to ask Alexis to officiate, and maybe that’s why his asking her to give him away felt especially moving to me. But the meaning behind the ask became more clear – and more meaningful – the more I thought about it. Because for as much as Johnny and Moira have worked to become better – or at least more involved – parents since landing in Schitt’s Creek, the truth is that for the vast majority of David and Alexis’ lives, they really only had each other (well, and Adelina). And although we know David definitely played the parent role more often once Alexis was able to start galavanting around the globe, I really love the hint that this request gives that Alexis took care of him too, perhaps more so when they were younger. I definitely can see Alexis as a carefree and precocious tot, taking David’s hand and giving him the equivalent of “nobody cares” pep talks when he was anxious about something as a child. It’s a sweet thought that leads to a lovely decision by David. And given Annie Murphy’s and Dan Levy’s respective enviable abilities to control their tears ducts such that they can make their eyes glisten and well up without actually shedding any tears, I have no doubt that this moment in David and Patrick’s wedding will make me shed all the tears they’ll manage to gracefully hold back.
Bonus points for this truly being a literal moment only, since Alexis immediately makes it about her and how important her new role in the wedding is (arguably the most important of the day).
Blouse Barn Durability Award for Best Look of the Episode: Stevie’s Larry Air Uniform
A moment of quiet reflection for all the times we won’t see Stevie in this look after this episode, since she (again, very reasonably) quit Larry Air. And it’s not just because I am certain (or maybe just hopeful) this will launch at least a handful of role play or full-on Pan Am fics – the actual airline or the show, I’m not picky. I just think Stevie looks fly as hell (Listen, I am who I am and I’m not at all sorry). Not that I don’t love her daily uniform of jeans and flannels (I know she claims she only drinks red wine, but she’s at least let her thoughts wander a time to two to getting a wine fridge “just in case,” OK?), but she just really pulls this 70s flight attendant look the hell off.
And Introducing (No One Has Ever Accused Me of Being Decisive, Y’all) the Moira’s Crow Feather Headband Accessory of the Episode: Moira’s Crow Feather Headband
God bless Dan Levy for seemingly never taking a break from scouring the internet and thrift shops for items to contribute to the Schitt’s Creek wardrobe department.
Honorable Mention: Alexis’ giant gold hoop earrings.
If Mean Girls and Schitt’s Creek exist in the same universe, Regina George only had hoop earrings as her thing because Alexis allowed her to.
A Vocabulary Lesson from Schitt’s Creek’s Resident Sesquipedalian
Canticle [kan-ti-kuh l], n. 1) one of the non-metrical hymns or chants, chiefly from the Bible, used in church services. 2) a song, poem, or hymn especially of praise. As in, “No need to self-flagellate, Jocelyn. Even if yours is the lone dissenting voice in the canticle.”
Envisage [en-viz-ij] v. to contemplate; visualize. As in, “We must keep the carriage in the wake of the mare. A golden globe, perhaps, but I won’t let myself envisage that.”
Obsidian [uh b-sid-ee-uh n] n. a volcanic glass similar in composition to granite, usually dark but transparent in thin pieces, and having a good conchoidal fracture. As in, “John, it’s practically obsidian in here!”
Thaumaturgy [thaw-muh-tur-jee] n. the working of wonders or miracles; magic. As in, “It was [me the whole time] indeed, thanks in large part to the thaumaturgy of our special effects department.”
And because I feel Moira would approve of the her-level voluble achievement, I’m putting Jocelyn’s whole damn review of the The Crows Have Eyes 3: The Crowening trailer right here for your appreciation and enjoyment. You’ll have to look up the big words for yourself, though. “From the first ominous syllable of the narrator’s tale, one can feel the hair on one’s arms standing at affrighted attention. Yes, there will be blood. And, yes, you will be horror-struck. But, more than that, you will be lured, against every instinct for self-preservation, to look inside, and face your very own futile resistance to transfiguration.”
A Lotta Bit Alexis
We got three tasty factoids this week! I love when the writers are generous.
- She planned Megan Fox’s bachelorette party on an island off the coast of Montenegro where nothing is illegal.
- She once hooked up with three different GQ Men of the Year at the GQ Men of the Year party. I guarantee the number’s higher if you count the ones she’s hooked up with NOT at GQ Men of the Year parties.
- Diplo (still!) sends her nudes!
And a Tiny Bit of Twyla:
- Her uncle had a parrot that kept asking her to take her bra off. I’m very glad for Twyla that she remembers this as the bird being a creep, rather than her uncle.
AND for One Week only: a Lil Bit Mo’ o’ Larry Air:
- Flight attendant training lasts less than a week. To be fair, Carol never pretended that Safety First was one of their core principles.
- There are 18 lawsuits currently pending against the company, one of which is by Larry himself, and presumably that’s not stopping him from still actively running the company.
- They only fly to Hoboken, Windsor, and South Dakota (which sweet Patrick has heard is actually quite scenic!)
Estate Sale Auction Items
- Between the (perfect) digs at both The Love Guru and John Carter, this was a tough episode on terrible movies.
- It’s the suit, Roland.
- Moira is relatable:
Jocelyn: “I was just grading book reports.”
Moira: “Tell me about it!” - The way David spritzes himself with cologne added five years to my life.
- I didn’t think he quite rose to level of an I’m Darlene’s Cousin, Who the Fuck Are You award, but the definitely-a-prosecutor-and-not-just-a-shady-squatter did deliver one of my favorite lines of the episode when Roland interrupted him to insist that he must be putting away gals as well as guys and he immediately responded, “No, never women.”
- We should all be drinking Tyme Orange Soda. Do you realize that soda is made with 99% real drink?
- Was it just me or were Moira’s pajamas even more luxurious looking than usual?
- When will this show run out of place names with an Elm prefix? I hope never.
- David’s excitement about the wedding is truly adorable. From being both not and very much sure about his feelings on bowties and barely being able to joke about getting married right away before he shouts about how much he wants pageantry, he’s bursting with joy (and possibly still urine? TBD if that comes back at any point) over his impending nuptials and it’s so fun to see him so unabashedly enjoying the process.
- I know he won’t, but I wish David would at least consider letting Alexis also be his flower girl. I would kill to see her do a quick change out of a gown of flowers into something somehow more scene-stealing than a GOWN OF FLOWERS to give him away. A girl can hope.
Do you think the guy staying in Johnny and Roland’s motel is actually a lawyer? Should David let Alexis be his flower girl, too? How many times have you watched the The Crows Have Eyes 3: The Crowening trailer so far? Chat with us in the comments!
Featured Image Source: CBC/Pop
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