'Schitt's Creek' Season 6 Episode 8: Alexis' most sincere episode is a bittersweet farewell to Ted
Spoiler alert for 'Schitt's Creek' Season 6 Episode 8 'The Presidential Suite'
It's the latter half of the final season of 'Schitt's Creek,' and the heaviness of a final season is starting to sink in. Cracks in relationships are starting to show, and not everyone gets the happy ending we wish they could have.
While 'Schitt's Creek' is a comedy, it's always made room for a genuine heart. While it's easy to forget that many of the characters are in very serious situations, this episode brings that stress into the spotlight.
The focus of this episode is the difficult conversation between Ted Mullens (Dustin Milligan) and Alexis Rose (Annie Murphy). The two of them have been pulled apart by their careers, and Ted's three-year contract is the final nail in their coffin.
Despite Ted not having come back for a break-up, a break-up is what we get. It's a break-up that's as gentle as the rest of the show tends to be.
It's the rare bittersweet end to a relationship, that happens not because of dramatic circumstances or character conflict, but simply because it's what's best for both the characters. It's rare to see a couple part because of the love they have for each other.
That love is sold strongly this episode. Annie Murphy and Dustin Milligan have done the best they can to sell their chemistry over their Skype chats, but the two of them really needed to be in the same room together to do the couple justice.
The contrast is especially strong given that Alexis has abandoned some of her more caricaturistic traits to give her some moments of shining sincerity throughout the episode.
It's that sincerity that shows how the break-up isn't a case of careers being picked over love, but out of mutual respect for each other's dreams. It's not that either character is refusing to sacrifice their career for the relationship — it's that neither one of them would let the other once sacrifice their dream.
'Schitt's Creek' is a gentle show whose strength is in how much the characters love each other. It's rare that the show uses that for anything but moments of sweetness.
When it does decide to go bittersweet, however, it leaves an ache that will linger for a while after 'Dedicated to the One I Love' plays through the credits.
The next episode of 'Schitt's Creek' airs on March 3 on Pop TV.