Cons:
The only real complaint about this episode was that I missed seeing Jocelyn and Twyla and some of the other townsfolk, but I'm sure we'll get to check in with them in no time at all!
And if I had a nitpick, I thought the whole thing with Alexis reading the date on her plane ticket wrong was a tad too unrealistic. Sure, I can see her making that mistake... but are you telling me she never sent her flight confirmation email to Ted? Are you telling me he never checked in for the arrival time, in making his plans to pick her up when her plane landed? I guess it just seems silly that Alexis' mistake wouldn't be discovered until literally just before she's about to go to the airport.
Pros:
Let's start with Moira and Johnny. Moira is still in distress because of her film being cancelled, and after getting trapped in the closet during a minor fire at the motel, she comes to a realization about her relationship to acting. She decides to call it quits, and celebrates by going out for a picnic with Johnny. But when she calls her agent to formally quit, she learns that her movie has been picked up by a streaming service, and gets back into the game!
I love the journey of Moira struggling with her career, and whether or not she wants to move on from that part of her life. It can be a scary thought to give up something that has been so important for so long. When Moira decided to walk away, was that a moment of clarity for her, or just a despondent decision to call it quits because of another bad break? And jumping back in to her career feels like an unhealthy move, given how badly she reacted to bad news, but does that mean she really should hang up her acting hat? It's an interesting question, and I'll be excited to see where things land when the show wraps up.
Also, in terms of comedy beats, Roland carrying Moira out of the room while she cries for her wigs, and Johnny standing there wet and half dressed, were both pretty hilarious images!
The other main story of the week features Patrick and David trying to find a wedding venue. They find what appears to be the perfect place, but the price is too high unless they get married in a month, when Alexis will be gone on her trip with Ted. But then, of course, it turns out Alexis was wrong about her departure date. In the end, Patrick and David don't book the venue, because they hear the sounds of pigs being slaughtered at the farm next door, and are told that this happens on the first Sunday of every month. Patrick later suggests that they have the wedding at the motel, and David says he'll consider it.
First of all, even though this episode isn't actually about Patrick and David's relationship, there were lots of cute moments with them. One thing I've noticed about the way their relationship is portrayed is that there's a lot of casual touching. If they are in a room together, they are usually standing next to each other, and David usually has his hands on Patrick. This shouldn't be something remarkable enough to notice, and I'm sure it happens all the time with fictional straight couples on TV. It's just nice to see that kind of casual intimacy showcased with a queer couple, and with nobody making a big deal about it. We've been denied this kind of representation for so long!
I really like how Patrick and Stevie were there to help the Rose siblings realize some problems in their relationship. Alexis is going on and on about going on her trip and how excited she is to get the hell out of town. Meanwhile, David is about to put down more roots than ever, and can't help feeling some resentment about that. It's all happening in the background until the moment when David declares that he still wants to go through with the wedding at the nice venue, even if it means Alexis won't be there. Obviously he calms down, and he and Alexis make nice.
I though it was interesting to have a story about these two adult siblings navigating their changing relationships to each other. They did not grow up in a conventional household, and have spent a lot of time away from each other up until now. But since moving to Schitt's Creek, they've lived together and become even closer as siblings and friends. It's weird to recognize the end of a phase in your life as it's happening. Alexis is moving away for six months, and David is getting married and moving in with Patrick. I think the exploration of their relationship is going to be a key theme this season, and I'm excited for it.
Finally we've got Stevie. Her decision to be in Cabaret last season was a big indicator that she's stuck in a rut and wants to try new things. We get another hint of that here, as she starts to tell Alexis that she's really jealous of her big trip. When sitcoms end, usually they end with the characters entering a new part of their lives, signaling a shift to the status quo. I can't think of anything more status quo changing for this show than Stevie Budd stepping away from the motel or even moving out of town. I suspect that might be where we're going, and I like that journey for her character.
It was nice to see Stevie paired with Alexis for a lot of the episode, too. Historically she's been paired with David or Johnny for scenes, which is also great, but this was a nice switch. Stevie's comedy bits were also some of the best parts of the episode. I loved that she was still in her stage makeup, and that she and Alexis were mistaken for a couple.
This was a good start to the season, setting up lots of character beats and plot threads that I'm really excited to explore further! This show is something really special, and I'm glad I get to watch its final season unfold.
9/10
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