Pop's Schitt's Creek - Episode 5.12 "The Roast"
Johnny fills in for Moira at the annual Mayor's Roast, as David distracts Moira from finding out that Stevie and Patrick have been taking private dance lessons.
In 2018, there were 495 scripted shows airing amongst the linear channels and streaming services. The way people are consuming content now is so different than it used to be. It happens according to one's own schedule. As such, there is less necessity to provide ample coverage of each specific episode in any given season from a show. Moreover, it is simply impossible to watch everything. As such, this site is making the move to shorter episodic reviews in order to cover as many shows as possible. With all of that being said, here are my thoughts on the next episode of Pop's Schitt's Creek.
"The Roast" was written by David West Read and directed by Laurie Lynd
Every season of Schitt's Creek has seen the Rose family grow and mature in some way. Every episode leads them further into becoming good and decent people. They have changed so much over the course of the series. They have all found personal happiness in unique and surprising ways. But it's also so meaningful to see them continue to develop these relationships and make choices they never would have made before. Alexis can be so self-involved at times. She loves Ted. This is a healthy and functional relationship. However, she is only now starting to realize that he gives so much and compromises his life in order to make things better for her. She has never really made a sacrifice like that before for him. As such, she sees it as a good opportunity to do so when he is selected for an exclusive program to work with animals on the exotic Galapagos Islands. That's a destination that Alexis has no interest in visiting whatsoever. It's a place where she has never been before either. She has seen so much of the world. Ted wishes to share a new experience with her. That may be a large hurdle. However, he wants to make this a great opportunity for both of them. After thinking it over and realizing he can't pass up this opportunity, Alexis agrees to support him. That is so significant and meaningful. Sure, she doesn't want to think too much about the details at this precise moment. She doesn't want to think about all of the vaccinations she will need to get or the fact that they'll be sleeping in tents outside. The beauty of the beach and spending this time with Ted is enough for her to see this as something special for her and this relationship. That's really the grounded and emotional element of this episode. Elsewhere, it's just amusing to see how David struggles to keep his mother distracted so she doesn't find out about Patrick and Stevie taking private dance lessons without her. Of course, it's somewhat weird how the show suggests she was suppose to be performing at this Mayor's Roast only for her to not really be doing anything besides this dinner with David when that is going on for Johnny and everyone else in town. That's a little forced in order to create this expected conclusion. But it's also just fantastic to get this little tease of Patrick and Stevie performing. They talked up the intricate and complex choreography that Moira has planned for this musical. It does look complicated. And yet, they nail it when Moira and David walk into the room. Moira doesn't even have an outburst over this secret rehearsal. Instead, she just sees David's friends as betraying his confidence by lying about what they were doing every night. And yet, David already knew what was going on. So that means everything turns out perfectly fine. He also gets to enjoy this sneak preview of what his boyfriend and best friend have actually been doing together. And finally, Johnny is forced to step up as a performer during this Mayor's Roast. It's less of an official event and more of a casual get-together at Roland and Jocelyn's house. The pressure is still on for him to perform well too. Of course, his jokes are too long and confusing for his audience. They don't work. When he eventually goes even meaner, that's when all of this works for him. He still struggles. It's not as if a switch turns on and he is this wonderful performer. He only gets a couple of good zings in. And yet, that is also enough to show that he is a contributing member of this society as well who understands the people who also live here.
