Schitt’s Creek Review: Life is a Cabaret (Season 5 Episode 14)
Remember when I said that every episode of this show gives a different performer a chance to shine? Well, Schitt’s Creek Season 5 Episode 14, “Life is a Cabaret,” belongs to Emily Hampshire (Stevie Budd).
Hampshire’s portrayal of Stevie week after week is chock full of sarcasm, one-liners, and general aloofness. She plays it so chill that it’s easy to forget that it’s a skilled actress making specific choices in every moment, and not just Hampshire being herself.
But no one was forgetting what a powerhouse she is as she belted out “Maybe This Time” on stage in Cabaret, the Season 5 finale’s show within a show.
Spurred on by a beautifully encouraging pep talk from Moira, Stevie stepped on stage and found her confidence, and with it, her voice.
“What the hell is your secret, Stevie? You just stand your solid ground, refusing to be anything but you… now, why don’t we take our Sally by the hands, and go out there and show those people everything she can be, if only she were more like you.”
And boy, does she ever.
Stevie channels her own struggle with watching her friends move forward in healthy relationships while she’s stuck on the sidelines into a show-stopping rendition of the Sally Bowles standard.
“Maybe This Time” encapsulates all the things Stevie’s been feeling since her relationship with Emir unraveled, and Hampshire infuses it with a vulnerability we haven’t yet seen from Stevie. It is so moving, it prompts David to proudly exclaim “That’s my friend!” just to be associated with the performance.
Moira has earned the right to declare “Cabaret” a success, but that doesn’t take the sting out of learning that her comeback movie has been shelved. As much as Moira’s grown during her time in the town, she still dreams of returning to her former glory.
Moira has been pinning all those hopes on this film, and learning that it won’t see the light of day is devastating. We end the season watching Moira lock herself in her closet in front of the entire town. The question is, at what point will Moira realize that directing is her true calling? Look what she is able to pull out of Stevie!
On most episodes of Schitt’s Creek, the scenes that pack the biggest punch are the ones that feature Patrick and David and their wonderful-totally-regular-but-special-because-it’s-so-rare-to-see-on-television relationship.
For that reason, it’s particularly clever to underscore this finale with the idea that Patrick and David are unable to get their moment in the spotlight. It allows for us to celebrate their engagement with them while not losing sight of the fact that this episode is undoubtedly Stevie’s.
The biggest question looming as we say goodbye to the Rose family and the inhabitants of Schitt’s Creek for a while is whether Alexis will really get on a plane and join Ted in the Galapagos.
Despite the guilt her parents are laying on her, Alexis seems ready. And sending Ted off with a pun only he could love (it’s time for Ted to Galapa-go) points to her being fully committed… and yet, the choice was made to have him go ahead of her.
The chance still remains that she panics and doesn’t go.
So much to look forward to in the sixth (and final!) season.
What did you think of this episode of Schitt’s Creek? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Schitt’s Creek airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on Pop.
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Tamar Barbash
Tamar Barbash is a TV-loving mother of three. She hosts the Shipping Room podcast where she has the opportunity to take advantage of her social work degree and dive deep into relationships portrayed on television. Tamar loves nothing more than to overanalyze the lives and experiences of fictional characters and she's so excited to be able to do that as part of the Tell-Tale TV community.