For the Love of Moira – The Arc of a Memorable Character
By John J Kelley | March 27, 2020 |
A wintry pilgrimage to the Schitt’s Creek-inspired Rose Apothecary Pop-up in Sharon Springs, NY
You are blind to reality and for that I am most proud.” – Moira Rose, Schitt’s Creek
Five years ago, the Canadian Broadcasting Company premiered a sitcom conceived by Dan Levy, son of renowned comedy legend Eugene Levy. The story revolves around the trials and tribulations of the wealthy Rose family who, after an unscrupulous relative absconds with their fortune, are forced to relocate to their only remaining asset, a rural town with the unfortunate name of “Schitt’s Creek,” which the patriarch had once purchased as a joke. Now in its sixth and final season, what began as a modestly successful comedy has grown into a cultural touchstone, gathering critical accolades and engendering a deeply devoted fandom.
And, now, a tiny confession … I’m a total acolyte to the cause. In my view, the world would be a kinder place if everyone watched this show. You see, Schitt’s Creek offers much more than the usual fare of sitcoms in which characters, no matter how well-drawn, ultimately fall into routine patterns and increasingly rely upon self-referential puns. A stellar ensemble cast is certainly a key ingredient of the show’s success. But the real strength of Schitt’s Creek, in my opinion, is its writing, which over the course of the series has explored deeply personal journeys for each of its main characters.
And after repeated viewings – hey, in times like these a gentle comedy can draw one in like a bee to a field of clover – I find myself even more enamored for I now see how even seemingly innocuous exchanges in early episodes laid the seeds for character arcs that deliver emotional payoffs later in the series. And in this discovery, I see lessons for my own stories, lessons others may find helpful as well.
Unfortunately, unspooling the film, so to speak, on how Dan Levy and his team of writers pulled off such a feat, involves a few spoilers. But even if you haven’t yet watched the show – and, again, you should – I will limit my reveals to the character played by inimitable comic address Catherine O’Hara. So let’s get started on exploring the evolution of unforgettable matriarch and former television star Moira Rose.
Early Hints of a Shielded Heart
Never let the bastards get you down.” – Moira Rose, Schitt’s Creek
Moira Rose is a woman who wears armor. Not literally, of course, though many of her over-the-top fashion choices carry a distinctively military flair. Instead, Moira shields herself with flamboyant wigs, eye-catching jewelry, and a biting sarcasm delivered with an indecipherable accent. Of all the Rose family, she remains the most defiant, determined not to lower herself to the standards of a community she regards with open disdain. The writers make it clear Moira is a force to be reckoned with as she engages townspeople over the course of Season 1. In the series premier she insinuates that Stevie, the manager of the roadside motel in which they now live, may have stolen a valuable keepsake. In another uproarious early scene, she slaps the mayor – at his insistence, to be fair – to facilitate a potential sale of the town which now holds them in involuntary exile. Moreover, she’s notoriously detached from her children, with the running gag of one early episode centered around the fact she can’t recall her daughter’s middle name.
And yet, even within the laughter, the writers allow space for sewing deeper threads. In an episode harkening back to her prior soap opera fame, Moira gets drunk while filming a commercial for a local vintner. The vulnerability she displays in the episode, fearing that her star has dimmed, plays an important part in her journey that only comes to fruition seasons later. Other scenes reveal an abiding devotion to her husband, Johnny Rose, an admirable trait that defies her normally self-centered actions.
But the key moment of Moira’s arc in the first season, in my opinion, is one in which she and Johnny deign to attend a party thrown by the mayor. While smoking weed with Jocelyn, the mayor’s wife, Moira lets slip a clue. She confides that she understands the town and its people because she is from a place just like it, a place she couldn’t wait to escape. And in that instant, all her fierce defenses – the costumes and all the other artifices with which she surrounds herself – suddenly make sense. Moira simply cannot accept that circumstances have led her back to a world she fought so hard to forget.
Signs of Growth
I am suddenly overwhelmed with regret. It’s a new feeling for me, and I don’t find it at all pleasurable.” – Moira Rose, Schitt’s Creek
In subsequent seasons, the writers ran with every aspect of Moira they introduced in Season 1. Acknowledging, begrudgingly, that her family’s detour into Schitt’s Creek may not be as temporary as she would prefer, she mounts a campaign for a vacant town council seat. She proves a surprisingly formidable opponent, turning her glitz into charm, and at one point reveals more of her humble roots to a group of women entrepreneurs. Moira also joins “The Jazzagals,” the local women’s a cappella singing group, furthering her ties within the community.
Meanwhile, closer to home, she and daughter Alexis, through fits and starts, slowly transform their awkward relationship into something approaching normal. While the writers take care not to alter her fundamental nature, Moira in many ways begins to exhibit a maternal instinct. In Season 5, she even gives Stevie, suffering from a recent heartbreak, the lead in a community performance of Cabaret in order to show her a world outside herself. The result is a touching moment for both character arcs, with Stevie finding her voice on stage and Moira realizing that, beyond her usual bravado, she may genuinely possess a knack for stagecraft and inspiration.
Even her own long-stagnant career receives a boost when she lands the lead for the third installment of a cheesy horror film — The Crows Have Eyes 3: The Crowening. It is this last, surprising turn that again raises Moira’s hopes for a return to former glory, a desire the writers never diminish from Moira’s character, staying true to a core motivation they gave her from the start.
Building to a Satisfying Climax
One must champion oneself and say, I am ready for this!” – Moira Rose, Schitt’s Creek
Now, in its final season, though not yet fully concluded, the writers have masterfully brought Moira’s arc full circle. From the crestfallen depths of a cancelled theatrical release of her new “Crow” film, which brings her to an all-time low, Moira in true-to-form fashion picks herself up, only to have the movie go viral on a new streaming service, thanks in part to daughter Alexis’s publicity chops.
But all of this is only a teaser to Moira facing her true demon, the fear first introduced to audiences all the way back in Season 1, when she had faltered during the taping of the fruit wine advertisement. For as fortune would have it, Moira’s newfound streaming success has prompted interest in a potential revamp of the soap opera that made her a household name years before.
In a remarkably well-crafted episode, an old producer and a former co-star arrive in town, keen to entice Moira to sign on to the new project. The prospect, while appealing, triggers old fears. For the first time, Moira acknowledges to her family that she has long felt she sabotaged her television career by pushing too hard in contract renewal negotiations, and the situation dredges up feelings of inadequacy about her talent. Alexis, who over the course of the series has grown into an independent young woman, senses something is askew and gets Moira to acknowledge the possibility that she did not in fact destroy her career but rather was pushed off the show due to machinations of her co-star, the same smarmy man who just rolled into town hoping to entice Moira onto the new project. As Alexis explains, Moira’s star is rising so the producer and her former co-star need her more than she needs them. “There is nothing wrong with asking for what you deserve,” she emphasizes as Moira leaves.
Moira arrives at the meeting, hesitant but assured, pointedly declining an offer of cocktails to celebrate her signing on. In an inebriated state, her former co-star lets slip his part in her failed contract renewal. Ultimately, Moira ends her participation in the new project on her own terms by making demands she knows they won’t be able to accept.
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Pretty dramatic for a sitcom, is it not? And here’s the thing, as mentioned at the start — all the major characters of Schitt’s Creek have similarly complex evolutions. I find it inspiring that a show can be such a comedic gem; and yet Dan Levy and his team of writers have still crafted these incredibly complex character arcs, including relationships that mature as the characters grow. Studying it has prompted me to scrutinize my character development more carefully. In even short stories I find myself considering details – the first spoken words of a character, their first actions on the page – to see if they should be infused with more meaning. Or, conversely, if some thread exists that can be put to better use for showing character development later in the tale.
Have you ever had a similar inspiration from other written or performance works? Are there character threads in your current manuscript that could benefit from a tighter continuity — some aspect of personality at the start that could be more fully fleshed out at the end? Or perhaps a fear that could be more fully explored? Or are you a Schitt’s Creek fan yourself? If so, what character arcs have most surprised you in the show? Please share your thoughts in the comments — I look forward to hearing them.
[coffee]
John J Kelley crafts tales of individuals at a crossroads, exploring themes of growth, reconciliation and community. His debut novel, The Fallen Snow, about a young soldier’s homecoming at the close of WWI, received a Publishers Weekly starred review and earned an Honorable Mention nod at the 2012 Foreword Reviews Book-of-the-Year Awards.
Born and raised in the Florida panhandle, John graduated from Virginia Tech and for a time served as a military officer. Today he lives with his partner in Washington, DC.
John, I share your love for Schitt’s Creek, though I haven’t yet seen the final season. (Netflix, hurry up!) For me it is David who has completely won my heart–I mean, I love all of them, but especially David. I’ve been rewatching the show with my son, and I love it even more the second time through–because of the emotional arcs. I think I didn’t notice the characters’ emotional arcs as much the first time because I was so blown away by the sharp comedy and perfect timing. This time, I’m noticing how carefully constructed the emotional growth is for each of the characters–moments of change, of falling back into old patterns, and of more change. It’s perfectly done.
My apologies for the slight season 6 reveals … I did hold back on several things :). It was seeing the one culmination episode for Moira that sparked the post. It was just such an “aha” moment, and you’ll be pleased to see the other characters get their opportunities as well.
I know a team of writers is involved, but it’s Dan Levy’s “bebe” so to speak. He obviously has a clear vision of where these stories that have been building are headed. I would love to ask him how much he knew from the start vs how much evolved from the earlier seasons that were filmed back before it became such a hit.
Like you, I didn’t notice the arcs as much the first time through, laughing so hard at the flawless comedic execution. I very much enjoyed picking up on them on the second run, and envy your discovery of them.
Enjoy!
PS – I love the David, and particularly the David / Patrick storyline as well. But I have to admit Alexis is the character who most surprised me. Plus I think Annie Murphy displays pure genius as an actress for making a character appealing that on paper – as Dan Levy once explained – could be very unlikeable, particularly at the start of the series.
Alexis is the character I’m perhaps the most interested in seeing how her arc turns out–I can see where the others are headed, but I don’t really see it for her (which is not to say that I don’t see her changing in the first seasons, just that I don’t know where she’s going to end up). Thanks for this discussion, John!
I think you’ll be surprised, but saying nothing more. Besides, there are two more episodes, and even I’m uncertain on where she lands. But boy has she come along away since they rolled into town.
Take care of yourself. Be and stay well.
Love Schitt’s Creek, and all of its characters! I hadn’t stopped to think about the many ways Moira’s clothing, wigs, and even her singular vocabulary act as armor to create space between her and the real world, and had completely forgotten about that season-one reveal you mentioned: that she came from a small town. Now everything makes sense.
We watched The Haunting of Hill House series on Netflix recently, and ooph—so much to unpack in terms of characters. The fix-it-guy father whose world broke around him was able to fix one foundational thing in the end. I have a fix-it-guy character in my wip, so I paid much attention to him, but really they are all worthy of study (as is the brilliant structure of the thing).
Thanks for such a fun post, John. I hope that NY’s Rose Apothecary store opens again in the near future, and that Sean and I can visit.
I love The Haunting of Hill House! The structure of the story struck me too, that and the exploration of how the home – and the incidents there – had such profoundly different impacts on each character. I was impressed that they took that psychological aspect of the original novel, and gave it a thoroughly modern spin. Plus adding family dynamics — What a brilliant way of reimagining such a classic novel.
Fix-it guy as character type — Yes, yes … more on that, maybe your next post :).
PS – Jim and I thought of you on our trek. It was one of the more spontaneous trips we’ve taken in a while – two days up and back on the first weekend in February. We didn’t even book a hotel until on the road Friday morning, and I only realized we would be driving right through Binghamton when I saw the signage.
When all this craziness eventually fades, we’re seriously thinking of going up again just to enjoy the Sharon Springs area, pop-up or not. We stayed in Cooperstown for the February trip, which was nice Maybe we could do a day of exploration with you guys!
It’s a date! I know of a great place for dinner in beautiful Cooperstown, too. I hope our small businesses don’t suffer too much, though worry about them (and everyone and every other thing) a lot.
Stay well!
Thanks for this analysis, John! I haven’t seen the show yet, but have been thinking a lot recently about just this aspect of character development: planting seeds that will come to fruition later. Might have something to do with spring finally making an appearance!
It is an enjoyable show. Plus it’s a CBC show, which harkens back to other well-executed Canadian shows we saw while living in British Columbia several years ago.
And, yes, bring on spring! Watching the plants and trees come back has been the one thing that has made this surreal time bearable.
Here’s to hoping it inspires all of us to retreat into our stories and find the hidden gems just waiting to be polished. Take care, and happy writing, Barbara!
Horrible human beings who transform are as old as Scrooge and as recent as Ove. Fallen heroes who rise again are a new staple of fantasy fiction, as well.
I’d love to hear examples of mousy characters who roar, or righteous people who come off their pedestals and slum with the rest of us. There are many ways to draw an arc.
Anyone?
I agree that Moira’s character is in many ways the more traditional arc of the series, though an enjoyable one for a comedy.
Personally, my favorite storyline, as mentioned to Heather is that of Alexis, the shallowest of creatures at the start who surprises herself in the discovery she in fact does care for other people and can stand on her own two feet.
As for mouses that learn to roar, the character of Stevie more than fits the bill. Her take as Sally Bowles belting out “Maybe this Time” in Cabaret marks a real arrival for her character, recognizing and proclaiming that she deserves happiness.
Part of my appreciation of the show writing is that so many characters, even ones that first appear secondary, become fully fleshed out as the seasons unfold. That they were able to pack all that into a show still filled with laugh out loud moments reveals a big heart. For me it’s a testament to good storytelling.
Don – mousy who comes to roar? Currently reading A.K. Larkwood’s debut epic fantasy, The Unspoken Name, and I think the protagonist Csorwe fits your order (I’m about halfway – she definitely starts mousy, and the roaring has just begun).
John, nice character analysis. We’ve been meaning to watch Schitt’s Creek. Thanks for giving a final nudge.
I think you’ll enjoy it. The one thing I’ve said to others is there’s a slow build at first. We actually had watched the premier early on and enjoyed a few laughs, but never when further. Only a couple of years later did we stumble upon it for a second viewing, and then another, and then another. By halfway through Season 1, we were on board.
I think the writing has improved every season, which is why I am curious how much of the character arcs were planned in advance, and what was derived from teasing out seeds they had unwittingly planted in those earlier seasons.
Don, the lead in Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine is a socially awkward weirdo of breathtaking stature, scarily so and she evolves into an unlikely heroine at story’s end, but yet retains some of her fierce oddity to the last page.
John, I love Schitts—very fresh and funny stuff, with even the minor characters well done. Like Therese, I forgot Moira’s small-town upbringing, but have enjoyed her evolution, along with many of the cast’s. I am only at the end of Season 5, so I had to skip your later season’s reviews, but am looking forward to getting into it. That show, like The Good Place, gives a nice respite to troubled times.
I will have to look up The Good Place, which I’ve heard of but know nothing about. My partner calls this the golden area of shows, with everyone competing for the new streaming market. So many I have on my list, and for all the wrong reasons more time to seek them out.