Schitt’s Creek Review: The Presidential Suite (Season 6 Episode 8)

Presidential suite — more like heartbreak hotel.

Schitt’s Creek Season 6 Episode 8, “The Presidential Suite,” showers us with love and laughs, only to devastate us emotionally with an early goodbye.

This is the episode that reminds us why we fell head over heels for this series and how, even in heartbreak, we can still admire the beauty of these human characters. But it’s also a cruel reminder that this series is just too darn good at what it does.

Only Schitt’s Creek could break our hearts into a million pieces and still have us thank them for it.

In an unexpected, yet inevitable, turn of events, Schitt’s Creek says an early goodbye to series fan-favourite and veterinarian to our hearts, Ted Mullens.

The nature of the goodbye is, of course, sombre as a romantic pop-in quickly turns into a last meal for Ted.

But the means behind his departure doesn’t allow us the luxury of feeling bitter. Not when his goodbye is consumed whole by the tragedy and beauty of a wrong committed for all the right reasons.

Alexis and Ted come to the heartbreaking conclusion that they will have to sacrifice their love for one another in order to allow each other happiness.

The decision is selfless and an important showcase of the incredible growth these once stereotypical characters have undergone during their time together.

It also helps the two actors at the root of this difficult scene carry us to the end with a honesty and grace that elevates the scene to a standard of storytelling unmatched by any of Schitt’s Creek’s competitors.

This breakup is emotional and a little cruel. But the last thing this glorious goodbye could do is leave a bitter taste in our mouths.

Alexis Rose deserves to be happy — and believe it or not — this break up is the only way to see her get what she deserves.

This is the first time in Alexis’ life that she has put her love for her career and family above her romantic love affairs. It also marks an important turning point for her character as she puts her needs first while also acknowledging that to take away Ted’s needs would be selfish.

It’s expected of Ted to come to this decision, but for a woman that just recently learned what missing people feels like, this is a big development.

Annie Murphy gives this character we know all to well new layers to fall in love with as she demonstrates not only the emotional toll this decision is taking on Alexis throughout the episode, but the strength it takes for her to stand by her decision.

Give Murphy all the awards — she deserves every single one for the amount of work she has put into fleshing this character out.

The couples of Schitt’s Creek are responsible for much of this episode’s heartbreak — but they are also the root of all our enjoyment.

Moira somehow finds a way to amp up her diva antics in order to guilt Johnny into using the Presidential suite for their own personal gains. Just when you thought Moira couldn’t be more extra if she tried, the woman starts screaming hysterically at the touch of cold tap water.

We do not give Catherine O’Hara enough praise for the beauty that is petty Moira Rose. And if we do — it’s still not enough.

From intense eye contact, while attempting to dust to dorky President Nixon impressions, Moira and Johnny are the quirky couples we deserve without all the nasty conflict. And they are complemented beautifully by Jocelyn and Roland, who have their own chaotic ways of demonstrating what true love can look like.

Patrick and David, Schitt’s Creek’s sweethearts, can’t help but keep the couple shenanigans going with a botched spray tan (that is very much necessary to the integrity of this episode), and a memorable wedding photoshoot.

Patrick’s sarcasm jumps out at David and respectfully so. That tan is awful. Not nearly as awful as Stevie’s enjoyment at watching this train wreck go off the rails.

No wonder pettiness is such a crowd pleasure with this latest installment.

Speaking of crowd-pleasers, everyone’s favourite real estate, photographer, tree farmer Ray Butani is back just in time to introduce us to his photoshoot portfolio. I stand by how many volcano photos he included in the binder, one just wouldn’t have been enough.

I’m glad we get to see Patrick voice some concern about David’s behaviour during this wedding planning process. That much-needed honesty is coupled nicely with a sweet, but reluctant, second photoshoot. This time, sadly without Ray’s under the sea backdrop.

“The Presidential Suite” is a perfect testament to the relationships of this series as it navigates them through humility, laughter and, when necessary, heartache.

This episode showcases a flawless version of the formula Schitt’s Creek burst onto the scene with six years ago. The balance between creating relationships that will impact viewers emotionally and never allowing them to teeter too far into the ugliness of toxic television romances is an impossible one.

Yet as Alexis and Ted toast to a raw relationship of immeasurable growth and respect, it’s clear this series has managed to succeed in something heartbreakingly special — something we can’t quite put into words.

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 Tuesdays at 9/8c on CBC and Pop TV.

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