The 25 best episodes of 'Schitt's Creek', ranked

In a way, this episode marks how far the Roses have come. They receive the giant portrait of themselves that was in their mansion in the pilot as all their assets are being seized. There are a lot of sight gags of that massive painting in their much smaller hotel room. Ultimately, they decide to get rid of the painting because it doesn’t represent them anymore. And by this point in the show, it felt earned.

Johnny and Moira watching Roland and Jocelyn’s kid is kind of funny because O’Hara is brilliant as Moira and Eugene Levy is a quintessential straight man, but it’s not exactly world-changing. What’s really fun is watching Ted go from his strait-laced self to a drunken party animal at David and Patrick’s housewarming party.

This is the earliest episode on the list, the fourth in the show’s run. While it was a funny show early on, like many sitcoms, it had to find its footing. “Bad Parents” is an example of what the show could be while firing on all cylinders down the line. There are some fun pairings in this episode, including David and Stevie and Alexis and Mutt.

Look, a real open mic can be brutal. The open mic at David and Patrick’s store is no different. However, this open mic happens to involve Patrick doing a moving take of “Simply the Best” for David. It’s sweet without being saccharine.

The sixth and final season premiere had to start putting pieces in place. After all, we were all pretty sure the show would end with David and Patrick’s wedding. This episode features them looking for a wedding venue within their price range, which is a lot of fun. “Smoke Signals” also mines laughs early on from the opening gag, which involves smoke filling the motel, much to Moira’s distress. All those wigs!

It’s David’s birthday, Alexis’ high school graduation (long story), and the season-three finale. The episode is quite eventful, which was always the case for the show’s season finales. David and Patrick finally kissing is obviously notable, but the big surprise at the graduation is the best part of the episode.

Characters getting stoned can be a comedic crutch. It can also be really funny. In Schitt’s Creek, it was the latter. There’s a lot of good stuff in Ted’s dinner party, but in the end, who doesn’t want to watch the Roses and the Schitts smoke a joint together?

David out of his element is always fun, and David is particular enough that he’s often out of his element. He was perhaps never more out of his element than when he went to a ropes course with Patrick, Alexis, and Ted. Of course, we also have to mention Moira in Bosnia finally shooting the Crows movie.

OK, so this episode’s got a lot of the same vibe as “The Crowening.” This time, Patrick and David are off on a romantic hike, and David is not the hiking type. There’s a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Patrick proposes to David. For once, hiking was worth it.

The Roses used to have a ton of money. By this point, they are going to estate sales to try and buy a new mattress. Unfortunately, the Schitts get that mattress instead. Ultimately, what we love about this episode is Alexis (and later David) learning to ride a bike.

Moira loves to be the center of attention. Try throwing a surprise party for her, and she might end up ruining it because she has to be a part of whatever is going on. If people aren’t telling her what’s happening, that makes her more desperate for attention and authority. That’s funny, but we get to see a party, which is always fun.

This is actually not a season premiere. The title refers to the premiere of the Crows movie. Is everybody dive-bombed by birds, making the whole thing a disaster? Naturally. Patrick is also doped up after getting his wisdom teeth removed, which is usually fodder for good comedy.

On the one hand, there are some real emotions mined from the death of Stevie’s great aunt and her fear of ending up like her, alone and miserable. On the other hand, Johnny and Moira pretend to be poor, simple townsfolk to try and get a better deal on a new car. Moira can’t help but create a big character with a tragic backstory. It’s extremely silly but a delight nonetheless.

For the one and only time, we get a lengthy glimpse at the Roses' life before the rug was pulled out from under them. And it was an expensive rug, to be sure. We see an old Christmas party, and then we see how much Johnny misses those parties. In the end, like in many Christmas stories, Johnny learns a lesson. A simpler Christmas can be better.

While Patrick and Johnny eat pizza and watch baseball while Johnny awkwardly tries to have a heart-to-heart with his son-in-law-to-be, David and Moira go to a winery. And they get drunk. Super drunk. This episode is all about Daniel Levy and Catherine O’Hara’s drunk acting. It’s great.

This is a more serious, emotional episode. Not every sitcom can handle that. Schitt’s Creek can be quite broad. However, they nail the pathos of “Meet the Parents.” Patrick’s parents are in town for a surprise birthday party, but Johnny doesn’t realize they don’t know their son is gay. Thus, this becomes an episode about Patrick coming out to his parents.

Another season finale. In the second-season finale, the Roses all really evolve, and what’s impressive is that it largely feels earned. This episode features the Roses celebrating their anniversary and running into friends of theirs from their former life. At first, they try to keep up appearances, but when the other couple starts insulting Roland and Jocelyn and the town of Schitt’s Creek, they stand up for their friends and home.

We’re back to the winery, although this episode is from the first season, not the sixth. The winery wants Moira, as a former soap star, to be their new spokesperson. It’s been a bit since Moira acted, so she has a total meltdown. O’Hara would eventually win an Emmy for Schitt’s Creek, but she should have won for this episode.

This is another great showcase for O’Hara and Moira. She claims she can cook and that she made the enchiladas the family enjoyed back in the day. Of course, this isn’t true, but Moira won’t admit that. She and David attempt to cook the enchiladas, which is a hilarious disaster.

A big moment happens in “Driving Test,” as Johnny becomes a business partner in the motel that the family has been living in. More importantly, David has a driving test. This is a great episode for the David and Alexis dynamic. We haven’t mentioned Annie Murphy by name yet, which is a surprise because she was a true revelation on Schitt’s Creek.

The series finale ekes into the top five. Yes, some of it is a bit silly. On the other hand, David and Patrick get married! Who doesn’t like a wedding episode? More to the point, who doesn’t like a wedding episode where Catherine O’Hara gets to dress like the Pope?

Johnny and David end up in a baseball game on opposite teams, but they feel differently about it. David is not sporty, so watching him “play” baseball is delightful. While this is all going on, Moira and Stevie get to have a nice bit of business together on their production of Cabaret as well.

Celebrities often have to deal with death rumors, especially if they are on the showbiz fringes like Moira. Her days of soap opera stardom are far behind her. Moira, though, is not the kind of person to correct this immediately. Instead, she relishes the attention and positive comments she gets online when people think she’s dead.

David in the field of the farm dressed in his haute couture fashion. David and the family are yelling at one another across the field. Do we need to say anything more? “Finding David” opens the second season with gusto. It’s so great — a truly quintessential Schitt’s Creek moment.

The best episode is the fifth-season finale. Patrick and David’s attempt to announce their engagement doesn’t go perfectly. Also, Moira finds out the Crows movie is getting shelved, which is bad for her but great for comedy. On the other hand, the production of Cabaret within this episode is a delight. Too well-produced for a small town? Sure, but it’s television! Though the show is about the Rose family, this is the best episode for Stevie. When she sings her big solo in Cabaret? Legit chills.