Schitt’s Creek has been hailed for its hilariously irreverent comedy, its colorful characters, and its incredible messages of love and acceptance. For six seasons, it carefully articulated positive attitudes about everything from pansexuality and same-sex relationships, to being at ease with one’s own preferred sexual identity.
But being sex positive isn’t just about being comfortable with one’s own relationship to sex, it’s about being comfortable with the sexual behaviors of others, and there were several times on the show when certain sexual behaviors, situations, and attitudes were frowned upon. True to form, Schitt’s Creek provided a way for viewers to have a dialogue about sensitive topics through humor and warmth, including these moments surrounding sex positivity.
Sex Positive: Stevie And David’s Hook Up
For fans wondering about David’s orientation (or convinced they knew what it was), watching him hook up with Stevie was probably eye-opening. In an interview with Variety, Dan Levy explained that he consciously wanted David’s first sexual relationship on the series to be with Stevie because he wanted viewers’ expectations and judgments to be put aside.
David’s pansexuality reflected who he was as a person; open, uninhibited, and free. Their relationship also offered a means for viewers to understand pansexuality in a way that they may have not considered before.
Not Sex Positive: Johnny And Moira At The Motel
As can be imagined, finding time (and space) to be intimate with one’s partner in a place like the Schitt’s Creek Motel would be troublesome for anyone. This is especially for Johnny and Moira due to their two adult children sleeping in the adjoining room.
After David and Alexis learned what their parents had been up to in the early hours of the morning, they were disgusted and the entire incident was played for laughs. It had the unfortunate implication that people of a certain age can’t enjoy intimacy, as expressed by a very unkempt, distressed, and insulted Moira.
Sex Positive: David Describing Pansexuality To Stevie
While browsing for a bottle of wine to bring to Alexis and Ted’s party, Stevie mentioned that up until their night of passion, she thought David preferred only one variety – red. Understanding her implication, David abandoned his usual sarcasm and took the opportunity to explain being pansexual to her, using wine varietals to represent all the different people he might be attracted to.
His analogy of liking “the wine and not the label” not only helped Stevie understand what pansexuality was, but described it in a way viewers could become more familiar with the term. It has become one of the most enlightening, heartwarming, and memorable moments in the series.
Not Sex Positive: Afternoon Delight
When David tried to have a romantic mid-day moment with Jake, he was interrupted by first Johnny, then Moira, then Alexis, which certainly killed the mood.
While the rest of the family was actually very supportive of his lifestyle, it was an upsetting and awkward moment for David, who couldn’t divorce how his family saw him from how he saw himself participating in the sexual act so close to their proximity.
Sex Positive: Johnny Approving Of David’s Sexual Activities
After Johnny and Roland had a particular moment of candor during the Schitt Annual Hawaiian Dinner, where the two discussed their children’s sex lives over bbq chicken wings, Johnny got particularly emotional and felt the need to tell David that whether he was dating a girl (Stevie), a guy, or anyone else, he fully supported his sexual activities.
Emboldened by “too much grass” and Roland’s sagacious words, “When it comes to matters of the heart, we can’t tell our kids who to love.”, Johnny had nothing but love, admiration, and respect for his son’s pansexuality.
Not Sex Positive: David And Ted Playing Spin The Bottle
When Patrick and David had their apartment warming party, guests thought it would be fun if everyone played Spin the Bottle, right up until the point where a very drunk Ted’s spin landed on David. Ted and David shared a kiss and Alexis and Patrick were affronted by Ted’s apparent enthusiasm.
Alexis decided that it was inappropriate for David and Ted to kiss given that Ted was her boyfriend and she considered it a form of cheating. She retaliated by grabbing Patrick and forcing him to kiss her out of revenge, but not only did it not make Alexis feel any better, but it also crossed a boundary with Patrick beyond the parameters of the game.
Sex Positive: Johnny And Moira At Roland’s Cabin
After having spent weeks trying to get some privacy at the motel, Johnny and Moira accepted Roland’s offer to stay at his family cabin for a romantic evening. When they arrived, they were able to finally spend time being intimate without being interrupted – up until they realized they weren’t in Roland’s cabin, but Bob’s.
As embarrassing as it was for them to have to walk into the living room and apologize to Bob and his wife (who had heard everything), their passionate antics were praised by the couple, validating Johnny and Moira as sexual beings despite the awkward circumstances.
Not Sex Positive: David’s Happy Ending
Prior to tying the knot, Patrick got David a massage with an unintended special surprise. David was touched by the gesture, especially the “happy ending” that the masseuse supplied for the occasion. Patrick, completely unaware of what “happy ending” actually implied when he made the reservation, was appalled and unamused.
Despite David’s excitement about the whole thing, Patrick took a long time to match his elation, and unfortunately, put a damper on the whole affair by going so far as to question the reputation of the establishment that would allow sex work.
Sex Positive: David And Patrick In Bed
After they moved in together, David and Patrick routinely spent time in bed chatting about their days, discussing business at Rose Apothecary, and – in the case of Season 6 – their upcoming nuptials. There were comments from the pair that implied they had a healthy and happy sex life, full of romance, passion, and most of all security.
Early on in the series, it was made clear that David’s relationship with sex was complicated. In the past he often used it, like his wealth, as a sort of cultural capital and a way to become close to people who didn’t have his best interests in mind. Because Patrick accepted him for who he was without his need to prove anything, their sex life could be an area were David could explore sides of himself safely.
Not Sex Positive: Jake’s Party
Things got awkward for Jake and Patrick when Jake invited them to his house for a sexually open experience. Once they got there, however, they found it to be a much more well-attended party than they thought, made up of a lot more people.
Jake and his party guests became something to gawk at and ridicule, with the subject of polyamory becoming the butt of the joke. David and Patrick retreating from the event once they realized its intent.
