20 Episodes of ‘Schitt’s Creek’ That are Simply the Best

One of the greatest comedic phenomenons of the last couple of years is a little Canadian gem. It’s been hailed as “the little show that could.”

With six seasons, Schitt’s Creek has many memorable episodes filled to the brim with both heart and humor. Created by comedic legend, Eugene Levy, and his equally talented son, Daniel Levy, the show gives us an intimate look into the dynamics of a family that has nothing left to lose except one another.

We took on the monumental task of narrowing down the best of the best from all six seasons. If you haven’t seen this show, tread through this list carefully to avoid being spoiled of important plot points.

At the time of this list, the 2-part series finale hasn’t aired, so those episodes haven’t been accounted for.

Below, in chronological order, are 20 Episodes of Schitt’s Creek that are simply the best:

1. Our Cup Runneth Over (Season 1 Episode 1)

We can’t have a list of Schitt’s Creek‘s best episodes without including the episode that started it all. This is our first introduction to the Rose family, and while it may not be the best image of them, we somehow know they won’t be like this for long.

Besides, it is the first time we witness Moira’s dramatic reaction to uncertain situations, Johnny’s steadfast calm, David’s utter disdain and judgy demeanor, and Alexis’ flippant dismissal of the crisis at hand.

This is also our first introduction to the town itself, and we immediately fall in love with it. While Roland rubs us a little wrong from the beginning, we absolutely love Stevie’s sharp tongue.

Stevie: I’m only doing this because you called me rude, and I take that as a compliment.

Stevie shows us that the Rose family is in for a rude awakening with the citizens of this quaint little town. If Stevie’s interactions with David on that first day are anything to go on we know their bond will become one of the greatest TV friendships of all time.

2. Wine and Roses (Season 1 Episode 6)

All great actors have at least one role where they get the opportunity to play a drunk version of their character. On Schitt’s Creek, Catherine O’Hara has had that opportunity both on Season 1 and Season 6.

The first drunk Moira we see is on “Wine and Roses” when Moira tries too much of Herb Ertlinger’s fruit wine while trying to shoot a TV spot for the winery. This leads to an array of reactions from Moira between her sobbing that she can’t do the role and her stumbling her way through the name of the winery more times than we can count.

Moira: You’ll remember the experience, and you’ll remember the name: Herb Irvling-ger. Burt Herngeif. Irv Herm-linger. Bing Liveheinger. Live Link. Burt Herkern. Burn-. Agh! Bingo Lingfucker.

If Moira’s day is exasperating for her and Johnny, it is nothing like David’s day. He is going through something that he thinks is a heart attack.

Stevie ends up taking him to Ted Mullens, who is actually a vet but still manages to diagnose David with a panic attack. This moment really humanizes David for the audience and finally gives us a reason to connect with him on a personal level.

3. Town for Sale (Season 1 Episode 13)

From the very beginning, the Rose’s came to Schitt’s Creek with the intention of one day selling the town and getting out. So when Johnny finally gets a generous offer for the town on the Season 1 finale, the family goes crazy.

Moira and Alexis immediately work to tie up their loose ends and allow themselves to dream of the glitz and glamour they left behind. David offers to take Stevie with him and — for the first time ever — shows complete heartbreak when she turns him down.

Stevie: You have this like whole life there, with all these fancy friends. Who, in my head, at least all dress like you, and I feel like I’d get lost in the mix.

David runs off when he feels that no one else even cares about what he does or needs. This move is the lowest we ever see David and really sets the stage for him to grow steadily upward as the series progresses.

It’s a huge disappointment for the Rose’s when the deal falls through, but it all works out for the best in the end.

4. Finding David (Season 2 Episode 1)

Another great comedic episode is the Season 2 premiere episode. David is missing and the whole family — and Stevie — is looking for him.

Well, Moira is really looking for her crocodile handbag, but that’s neither here nor there.

Moira: Where’s David? Or his bags?

When they finally find him he is on an Amish farm driving that family crazy. Going back to this episode now that we know how far David has come is equally funny because he’s not that person anymore.

It’s a perfect example of how much trouble this family has with communication. Back then Alexis couldn’t be bothered to communicate to her parents that she knows where David is, nor could David be bothered to tell someone other than Alexis.

5. Family Dinner (Season 2 Episode 2)

This season 2 gem is a highlight on Catherine O’Hara’s comedic reel. The absurdity of the whole situation is compounded by the fact that it’s the first time this family has really had a home-made meal together.

It is clear that this recipe isn’t Moira’s as she claims it to be; however, her family — especially David — let her claim it as her own with only a little bit of teasing. Also, where would we be in this world if not for the infamous “fold it in” debate.

David: I, I understand that, but how, how do you fold it? Do you fold it in half like a piece of paper and drop it in the pot, or what do you do?

The other gem from this episode is evidently Alexis’ struggle to break things off with Ted after his proposal to her at the end of Season 1. She doesn’t want to hurt his feelings, but at the same time allows her vagueness to misconstrue the lines.

This is a big moment for Alexis as well as Ted — they are both characters that have never really had to deal with an awkward break-up before and it shows. This is truly the beginning of both of these characters’ growth arcs which is always beautiful to witness.

6. Happy Anniversary (Season 2 Episode 13)

Season finales on Schitt’s Creek tend to be extremely emotional affairs. Season 2’s finale is probably one of the most emotional ones of the whole series.

On the Rose end of things, we get to see them come together by the close and be a family like they’ve never done before. This rare moment is highlighted by Moira and Johnny admitting their love for their children and, in return, Alexis and David breaking down their walls to do the same.

The bigger moment of the episode though has to be when Johnny and Moira end up having an anniversary dinner with not only the Schitt’s but two friends of theirs from their old life. This is the penultimate moment where Johnny admits that he actually likes the town he lives in and sees the Schitt’s as true friends. (Does anybody have the tissues?)

Johnny: And that town you passed through, it’s not called Schittsville. It’s called Schitt’s Creek. And it’s where we live.

Ted deserves a mention for this episode as well because it is the first time he shows that he still has feelings for Alexis. She asks him about getting over it and he replies that it takes a lot, but his eyes scream that he is still very much in love with her.

7. New Car (Season 3 Episode 3)

If you came into Schitt’s Creek huge fans of the comedic dynamic that exists between Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara, you are extremely pleased with the course of Schitt’s Creek Season 3 Episode 3, “New Car.”

On this episode, Catherine O’Hara’s Moira leads the charge with her fantastically ridiculous character creation for the sake of buying a car. Eugene Levy’s Johnny just goes along with the ruse and tries his best to compliment the situation.

Moira: I was snatched from my crib at birth by Russian mobsters.

It creates so many laughs, we usually have to rewatch the episode just to capture moments that we miss the first time. Ultimately, the roles work, and the two are able to get the car they want for a lower price than is originally offered.

David reassures Stevie in a rare moment of sincerity that she won’t end up like her great-great-aunt. All because she has the drive to do more even if she doesn’t have the means yet to do it.

8. Driving Test (Season 3 Episode 4)

Early on, vulnerability between David and Alexis is very rare. However, that starts to change the minute Alexis breaks up with Mutt and asks David to give her a hug.

Throughout Season 3, we get to see David and Alexis really thrive in their roles as siblings to one another. No moment shines greater than when David has to go for his driving test to renew his license.

He is freaking out about the test and sending himself into a panic. Having heard enough, Alexis delivers her most poignant line of the whole series.

Alexis: People aren’t thinking about you the way that you’re thinking about you.

Meanwhile, Johnny makes his biggest move yet by offering to go into business with Stevie. It’s a big win for the one character who has yet to have any since before they came to Schitt’s Creek.

9. Friends and Family (Season 3 Episode 12)

A huge moment for David is the creation of his own business — Rose Apothecary. For weeks, he works diligently with Patrick to make sure every detail is perfect and ready for the big opening.

Only, the problem is David wants the opening to be small and limited to friends and family. However, word gets out and the whole town shows up to make their grand opening a huge success.

Patrick: I gotta hand it to you, David. Who knew you had that many friends or family members for that matter?

Another success? David and Patrick share their first hug in celebration and the air crackles with sexual tension.

Transversely, this opening brings about a realization for Johnny and Moira. While walking home they discuss what to do with the oversized family portrait and Moira suggests they get rid of it because they aren’t those people anymore.

10. Grad Night (Season 3 Episode 13)

Not only is this the episode that marks the start of David and Patrick’s relationship but also the relationship between Alexis and Moira. Both are monumental moments in the show’s history that really can’t be discredited.

First off, we have David realizing that he now has people in his life that care about his birthday and want to celebrate it with him. Through the course of this realization, David also realizes that his business partner has some really big feelings for him.

Patrick: I’m really glad that I invested in your business, David.

Their kiss in the car at the end of David’s birthday “date” is the icing on the cake of a really special episode. David puts out a vulnerability for Patrick that we are only just starting to see, which will eventually become synonymous with their relationship.

The other major milestone in this episode that makes this an episode worth remembering — unlike Alexis’ first graduation — is the vulnerability Alexis’ high school graduation brings out in Moira. These two characters have always failed to connect and now they are realizing that a little music and attentiveness go a long way toward bridging that gap.

11. Pregnancy Test (Season 4 Episode 2)

If you’re looking for the best of Catherine O’Hara’s comedic work, then “Pregnancy Test” is definitely that. Her progressive breakdown of Moira’s calm in the face of a potential unplanned pregnancy is the stuff of legend.

Moira: Now she’ll have to move into one of those homes for unwed mothers!

When Johnny finds a pregnancy test in Alexis and David’s trash he assumes it is Alexis’ and begins to freak out. He shows the test to Moira and David which causes the funniest series of reactions the show has ever had.

While the test doesn’t belong to Alexis — her secret is actually about starting college — it does create a hilarious conversation between her and Johhny where they are both being completely honest despite not being on the same page. It’s Moira who actually stumbles on the real owner of the pregnancy test — Jocelyn.

David has his own worries to deal with during all of this because he’s trying to create intimate moments between him and Patrick in all the wrong places. When Stevie offers up her own apartment to them it creates another problem in the form of Jake.

All of these separate shenanigans make for one of the funniest episodes of Schitt’s Creek of all time. And it breaks the mold with how it depicts the normalcy of David and Patrick’s relationship.

12. Open Mic (Season 4 Episode 6)

Before Schitt’s Creek Season 4 Episode 6, “Open Mic,” aired not many fans knew just how talented of a singer Noah Reid is. However, Patrick’s rendition of The Best leaves no doubts in anyone’s minds — Noah can sing!

This is a big moment for David — he leans in and trusts Patrick 87% to not embarrass them or their store when he proposes the idea of an Open Mic Night. It leads to David being serenaded and ultimately shown that this person he’s in a relationship with is all in and loves him immensely.

David: Worst case scenario, I watch improv.

Even Moira is brought to tears by the performance, which is just as memorable if not a bit more than David’s reaction. The two Rose members are not known for being openly vulnerable, and yet, this musical number brings it out of them easily.

Alexis memorably hires Ray to help Johnny and Stevie rebrand the hotel and put them on the internet to gain more customers. It’s a big moment for Alexis because we get to see just how good at public relations she could be.

13. The Olive Branch (Season 4 Episode 9)

There’s no denying that David and Patrick are Schitt’s Creek‘s most popular couple. And every couple has moments of doubt and discord.

Mid-Season 4 Patrick’s ex shows up and creates a conflict between David and Patrick that lasts for a couple of episodes. Then on “The Olive Branch,” David decides that enough is enough and tries to reconcile with Patrick.

David: Consider this my olive branch?

At first, things go wrong, and Patrick assumes they are going to break up. Then David dances to Tina Turner’s The Best in full view of the town as they shut down Rose Apothecary for the evening. It’s a groundbreaking moment for David that really shows just how much Patrick’s love is changing him.

Meanwhile, Moira steals Alexis’ idea for a Singles Day and proposes it to the town council as a Singles Week. The laughs really come in when Stevie reveals her new face to Mr. Rose as a thank you for his miscalculated, but heartfelt, gift.

14. Singles Week (Season 4 Episode 13)

Ted and Alexis are the couple to root for. This means that Ted finally coming back to Alexis after nearly a year apart ranks high in our hearts of romantic moments.

However, Ted never would have gone after Alexis if he hadn’t first sat down and had a heartfelt conversation with David. During the course of this conversation, David tells him that when he’s got it he should hold tight to it. 

David: Umm, have we met? I’ve been burned so many times. I’m basically the human equivalent of the inside of a roasted marshmallow.

It’s a beautiful conversation that helps both Ted and David admit their feelings to the ones that they love.

Patrick may have told David he was his Mariah Carey, but that doesn’t mean David is immediately ready to return the sentiment. So, it’s wonderful when David finishes his conversation with Ted and immediately goes back to Patrick to utter those three special words. 

15. Meet the Parents (Season 5 Episode 11)

Of all of the episodes of Schitt’s Creek, this is the one that really put it on the map for the LGBTQ+ community. Most shows that cover a coming out story make things tragic or negative for dramatic effect.

The beautiful thing about this episode is that Patrick is given the opportunity to experience coming out to his own parents — while not on his own terms — in an environment that is nothing but supportive and loving. It redirects the coming-out narrative for television to a positive one.

Marcy Brewer: Oh, honey! You are the only thing in the world that matters to us, and if David makes you happy then that’s all we care about.

While Patrick’s story is the bulk of this episode we can’t dismiss the importance of Moira and Alexis’ story either. This episode displays some major growth for Moira as she attends a comic con and meets with fans. 

It is one of Alexis’ first moves as Moira’s publicist, and she couldn’t be more successful if she tried. This really opens the door for us to see just how successful Alexis can be at her chosen career path.

16. The Hike (Season 5 Episode 13)

One of the most emotional episodes of the entire fifth season of Schitt’s Creek is “The Hike.” Between David and Patrick getting engaged and Johnny having a heart attack scare the tears are flowing freely.

Patrick makes the mistake of thinking that taking David on a hike is a good idea. However, without that poor decision, we wouldn’t get to see David take charge of this situation and carry Patrick up the mountain.

Patrick: And here he is, the love of my life, standing right in front of me. I thought that this would be the perfect place to ask you to marry me?

Johnny’s life is on the line when he experiences shortness of breath and chest pains. Moira freaks out — but not enough that she doesn’t ask Stevie to grab the unfolded programs.

It is one of the first times we really get to see an extreme level of vulnerability from Stevie and that warms our heart. After “The Hike” there is no doubt in our minds that Stevie is officially part of the Rose family.

17. Life is a Cabaret (Season 5 Episode 14)

Not to be outdone, Season 5 made sure their season finale measured up to all the season finales before it. Season 5’s finale is especially important for the growth of Stevie.

This episode signals the beginning of her “is there more for me” journey that covers most of Season 6. Stevie comes out of her shell the most during her big number — Maybe This Time from Cabaret.

Stevie: I wish I wasn’t watching it all happen from behind the desk.

It’s a turning point for Stevie because for the entire series she has simply been the sidekick, the afterthought. But in Cabaret, Stevie gets to shine and be the center of attention in her role as Sally Bowles.

In short, “Life is a Cabaret” is Stevie’s life anthem. She is more than just what Schitt’s Creek has to offer and that is totally okay.

18. The Premiere (Season 6 Episode 5)

Alexis has her first-ever big publicist moment when Interflix announces they want to do a premiere for Moira’s movie. She plans a really big deal at the town hall only to be shot down by Moira.

She has to scramble quickly to fix the issue only to have her mother change her mind within a few hours. This shows Alexis’ skill and quick thinking because of how smoothly she moves the whole event through each transition.

Patrick: There’s a big ole heart in there, David. There it is.

David is having a few transitions of his own after some dental work leaves Patrick very high. While on the anesthetic, Patrick mentions wanting to have kids with David. 

This leads to an awkward yet lovely conversation where Patrick reassures David that he’s happy with the life that they have. Then the two decide to attend the ill-fated premiere while inebriated with pain killers — which adds another level of hilarity to an already crazy situation.

19. Moira Rosé (Season 6 Episode 7)

As a bookend to the drunk Moira experience on Schitt’s Creek Season 1 Episode 6, “Wine and Roses,” we get Season 6 Episode 7, “Moira Rosé.” This allows us to not only experience a drunk Moira once more but also see just how much she has grown in her time as a resident of Schitt’s Creek.

For this episode, we get Moira and David testing out Herb Ertlinger’s wines for a new line dedicated to Moira. The two sample every wine he has and then start to mix and match wines searching for the perfect pairing.

This leads Moira to bestow some grape filled wisdom on David for his upcoming marriage to Patrick. She tells David that Patrick is much like Johnny in that he is the perfect “designated grape” in their marriage of flavors.

Patrick: As the saying goes as lucky as I feel to have met David. I also feel incredibly lucky to be joining your family!

Meanwhile, Johnny gets a rare moment to have a heart-to-heart with Patrick. The two awkwardly watch a baseball game together before broaching the difficult subject of Patrick joining the family.

Everyone cries — Johnny included — when Patrick reassures the patriarch that his son is going to be well-loved and protected for the rest of his life. It’s a simple moment, but it changes the whole Johnny and Patrick dynamic forever — it’s Patrick’s official welcome into the Rose family.

20. Sunrise, Sunset (Season 6 Episode 10)

One of the biggest things for Stevie throughout Season 6 is her quest to find the perfect career fit. “Sunrise, Sunset,” is a turning point for her because for the first time she fully embraces her job as part-owner of the Rosebud Motel.

She realizes that she can help expand the business and help Johnny find the funds to pay for the catering at David and Patrick’s wedding. To do this she proposes to Johnny the idea to buy up a large number of motels and revitalize them under the Rosebud Motel brand.

Moira also does some growing on this episode when her previous Sunrise Bay co-star comes to town along with Moira’s manager. At first, she is head-over-heels in love with the idea of returning to the show that made her famous.

Alexis: There’s nothing wrong with asking for what you deserve.

Her growth comes through her chat with Alexis about really carving out a path for oneself and demanding what you deserve. Surprisingly, Moira tells the two men where they can put their offer and returns to Alexis to give her praise for the well-placed advice.

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How did we do? Are we missing one of your favorite Schitt’s Creek episodes? Sound off in the comments below and let us know which episode you love to watch again and again.

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