David Rose

Ok, so during the break (winter break, because that's what people who work in education call it when you don't work during the end of December and the beginning of January for two blissful weeks) I got to catch up with Schitt's Creek and I'm here to help you improve your life by recommending it. I know, I know, everybody and their mother are now 'into' it (it started in 2015 but Netflix carrying it and therefore the popularity explosion are new) but there's nothing like bingeing on it. I did it and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

On the surface, it's one of those fish-out-of-water situations that lends itself to lampooning the super-wealthy when they have to live like the rest of us. But soon you'll start peeling the layers and realizing that these characters are multidimensional and even complex. I do not know anybody like Moira, (well, maybe somebody who was an actress and has a penchant for grandstanding) but I do  know people like Alexis, and Johnny and Patrick and Stevie. They're all fantastically human and extremely funny. And that's where the heart of this series lays: in the humanity of its characters.

But to tell you the truth, I immediately connected with David. Basically, it was kinda shocking finding an image of myself on TV. Now, I don't look anything like Dan Levy (he's way much more attractive than I will ever be), but the aesthetic of the character, his essence, let's say,  is basically, me. From the oversized sweaters to the shorts/boots combo to the black and white palette and the rings, to the defensive sarcasm and the pushy dry wit, everything was... me. I do lack the awesome cool the character has and the hilarious one-liners, but still. You know what I mean...

The David Rose character is my favorite int he series, for obvious reasons, but it goes beyond the narcissistic exercise of finding yourself validated on screen. The character is flawed and makes mistakes and that's what makes me like him. Beneath the polished surface there's a person. Beneath the persona there's a character. Not to mention that he's part of one of the couples that I'm shippin' at this moment: David and Patrick. One of the best gay romantic pairings I've seen on tv.

David and Patrick are one of those opposites-attract kinda couples that you sometimes see and wonder 'how?'. And I connect because I'm usually one part of THAT couple. I'm loud and slightly obnoxious and opinionated and emotional and always end up with these reflective, calm, slightly restrained types that drive me crazy. Also, if I were writing my own sitcom, I would have written Noah Reid as my boyfriend in a heartbeat. And include tons and tons of scenes of him kissing me. I see you, Dan Levy!

David is presented as Pansexual (he has a one night stand with Stevie and then falls for a bisexual Lothario, as one is prone to do) and then starts a relationship with Patrick, who until that moment was his business partner. The development of the relationship feels very real, like that moment you realize you are falling for a man you thought was a very unlikely candidate and that he may be feeling the same. It's thrilling and it's romantic and it's very fulfilling to watch that happen on the screen. All in all, representation matters.

The series manages to portrait a queer relationship without much sugar coating. Patrick is apparently bisexual (we have some of those in our mist, didn't you know?) but David is his first same-sex relationship. David tries to give Patrick freedom in the relationship and hilarity ensues. There's a coming out episode and the one that almost killed me (well, that one and the last episode of season five, that is): the one when Patrick sings to David during the opening of their general store:



I had ALL THE FEELS! I have to say that I kind of cried/laughed at the pureness of it all. And THEN David makes up for not being able to sing as well as Patrick does and extends his own olive branch:

m

Dead. Absolutely. I guess it's the magic of comedy, that when it delves deeply into the human condition and human emotions lets you open to recognizing the beauty of small gestures that are enormous. Or it's maybe because just like David, behind the facade of hip self-absortion and solipsism, I am an incurable romantic.

So if you have time, go watch it. If you don't have Netflix, make sure you chill with someone who does or watch it online. And one other thing I discovered: Canadians may be on to something. And they are way cooler than they get credit for.

XOXO


P.S. but of course there's idiots who think two men kissing is risque:

Footage of the Jake/David kiss having been edited out. Aside from this censorship being highly disturbing and dangerous, it was a big laugh in the scene! This is very disheartening. @4Music https://t.co/7ExmZG9bIO

— dan levy (@danjlevy) December 22, 2019

And of course the lame apology:

Thank you @4Music for acknowledging human error. The human that edited out that content did make a very dangerous error. I’m glad and relieved that this is going to be fixed. Presumably across all platforms/including the other David/Patrick scene that was trimmed from S4E1? https://t.co/1pQQNCEwa7

— dan levy (@danjlevy) December 23, 2019

Fuck these people who enjoy gore and straight PDAs but cannot take two men showing affection or god forbid, sexual chemistry.