The big picture
- Love triangles are often criticized in popular media for being overused, used unnecessarily, and for pitting the protagonist’s love interests against each other.
- Canadian sitcom Schitt’s Creek subverted the love triangle trope by allowing protagonist Alexis to develop as a character and foreground her own growth and independence.
- The relationships between Alexis, Ted and Mutt in Schitt’s Creek were well developed and showed the importance of discovering yourself and putting your dreams first. In the end, Alexis chose to stay single and focus on herself.
The love triangle is one of the most polarizing romance novels, and yet there is at least one of them in so much popular media The Great Gatsby back in 1925 to the recently completed Enlightenment lessons. They are often criticized for being drawn out and involving love triangles the Vampire Diaries And Jane the Virgin spanned several seasons or simply seemed unnecessary – it did The hunger Games really need the forced question from Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) against Gale (Liam Hemsworth)? It was always clear that the former was the right choice. They are a cliché of teen and young adult shows Buffy the Vampire Slayer And RiverdaleSo you have a reputation for feeling youthful and frivolous. And perhaps the most annoying thing about them is that they end up pitting the protagonist’s two love interests against each other – see Edward (Robert Pattinson) and Jacobs (Taylor Lautner) intense rivalry in dusk.
However, one series absolutely nailed the love triangle: the Canadian sitcom Schitt’s Creek. The situation between Alexis Rose (Annie Murphy), Ted Mullens (Dustin Milligan) and Mutt Schitt (Tim Rozon) might perhaps be better considered an anti-love triangle, as it subverts the conventions of that trope. The plot works so well that both Ted and Mutt help facilitate Alexis’ excellent character development at various stages of her arc, and although it begins as a typical love triangle in Season 1, it quickly becomes clear that the series has much bigger plans for Alexis has to spend six seasons vacillating between two guys who, frankly, aren’t as interesting as her. That being said, Mutt and Ted are both likeable characters, even if they are very different, and Alexis has good chemistry with both of them; It makes sense why she’s initially torn between them. Although Alexis has relationships with both men over the course of the series, she ends up with neither of them, making it clear that they are merely stepping stones on her path to independence.
Schitt’s Creek’s Alexis learns from her relationship with Mutt
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In Schitt’s Creek, each member of the Rose family is introduced with a very specific baggage that accompanied them from their previous wealthy lives. David (Dan Levy) has trust issues and trauma from his failed relationships, Johnny (Eugene Levy) feels separated from his children due to his previous busy career as CEO of Rose Video, and Moira (Catherine O’Hara) is self-centered and judgmental, having previously sought recognition from the industry instead of appreciating what really matters – her family. Alexis, on the other hand, is adventurous but has problems with being alone. She needs to be around people all the time and ties her identity to her romantic relationships. Before moving to the city, she followed her friends around the globe and never allowed herself to be single, even though her relationships were largely superficial.
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When she arrives at Schitt’s Creek, Alexis is immediately drawn to Mutt, the mayor’s son – he’s mysterious, tough, and her usual “bad boy” type. However, Mutt cannot be reached and the waitress Twyla (Sarah Levy), which in itself becomes a kind of spin-off love triangle to the main story. Although Alexis and Twyla are technically competitive with each other in Season 1, they never display any spiteful or jealous behavior towards each other and even become close friends in Season 6. Twyla arguably proves to be even more important to Alexis than Mutt. in harmony with Schitt’s Creek‘s habit of turning the love triangle on its head.
Alexis is pretty selfish and one-note in Season 1, and when Mutt is kidnapped, she decides to date Ted, the sweet local vet, because it’s more convenient for her than the alternative of being single. Ted is in love with Alexis, and she recklessly seduces him and accidentally becomes engaged to him while still harboring a crush on Mutt. At the same time, she does charitable work alongside Mutt, during which the two become friends and develop feelings for each other. At the beginning of the second season, Alexis finally plucks up the courage to break up with Ted and begins dating the newly single Mutt. Much of the first season revolves around Mutt and Alexis finally getting together because of their chemistry and Alexis’s belief that Ted is “too nice,” but they soon realize that their connection is primarily physical; Their personalities are incompatible and they have little in common. This helps Alexis discover that there are more important things than putting looks first and staying true to her type. Although she thinks she should have Mutt, he’s actually not the best partner for her, and the couple decides to end things.
Alexis and Ted had a healthy relationship – while it lasted
After Ted returns from the honeymoon he was supposed to spend with Alexis, it’s obvious that he’s a bit psyched – he rides a motorcycle and now wears leather jackets, which Alexis immediately notices. However, deep down he’s still the same friendly, nerdy person who loves puns and couldn’t hold her attention while Mutt was in the picture. At the end of season two, Alexis gets a job at Ted’s animal clinic and the two begin to bond on a much deeper level than Alexis was able to with Mutt; She is able to put aside her attraction to remain professional and platonic with Ted, and begins to appreciate how much she enjoys his company – they work together in a way that she and Mutt never did.
Throughout season three, Ted supports Alexis in her decision to finish high school, and the lines between friendship and romance become blurred when they spontaneously share a celebratory kiss after Alexis receives her results. When Ted gets a new girlfriend, they quickly draw boundaries and agree that something like this can’t happen again, but Alexis learns that she has fallen in love with Ted. Alexis, who has grown into a much more selfless person, only cares about Ted’s happiness, and after she leaves the clinic to go to college and start her new career in PR, she puts some distance between them. When Mutt returns briefly at the end of season four, he attempts to attack Alexis, but she has the confidence to reject him despite being unattached – she knows her heart is with someone else and no longer craves distraction from that Fact. However, Alexis and Ted remain in touch and season 4 ends with them reuniting after Ted confesses his feelings for her. Alexis had also given herself in the same way a few episodes earlier and expected nothing in return. After its slow development, the subsequent romance between Alexis and Ted seems earned, and they maintain a happy and healthy relationship throughout season five, giving the series many humorous and heartfelt moments.
On Schitt’s Creek’s End, Alexis chose herself and her dreams
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When Alexis starts her own PR firm and Ted gets a six-month work opportunity in the Galápagos, the duo faces the challenging prospect of a long-distance relationship. Alexis originally planned to join Ted, but they both eventually have to face the reality that it’s not what she wants and that she wouldn’t be happy on a remote island if she was only occupied by her boyfriend. They manage several months of long distance, during which Alexis thrives and focuses on her business. When Ted’s contract is extended to three years, the couple agree to part ways in a scene that is one of the show’s most emotional ever. It’s bittersweet but also optimistic as this is the best move for both of them. That’s refreshing Schitt’s Creek shows a breakup in such a positive light – Alexis and Ted still love each other, but they’re both at a point in their lives where they want to prioritize their ambitions and exciting new career developments. That doesn’t make their relationship any less meaningful or undermine the influence they had on each other, and it seems possible that they could one day reconcile.
As Alexis struggles after the breakup and fails to recover, she accepts that she must face head-on the heartache that she is so unfamiliar with from all of her previous relationships, which were superficial and unsatisfying. She remains single for the rest of the series and it’s the perfect conclusion to her arc. At the beginning of the show, she defines herself by her superficial relationships with men. Now she knows not only what she wants from a relationship, but also that she doesn’t want it have to be in one to feel complete. Because of Alexis’s initial romance with Mutt, she is able to realize what she truly wants in a partner – someone she connects with and who understands her. Through her relationship with Ted, she realizes that she is capable of having a fulfilling relationship where she doesn’t settle for less than she deserves, and that a partner should love and support her fully. Alexis’ relationship with Ted also allows her to mature emotionally to the point where she realizes that she shouldn’t put a man above her goals and dreams; Season 1 Alexis would never have made this decision.
With Alexis, Ted and Mutt, Schitt’s Creek is able to deliver a love triangle that feels natural and ends at the right time – Alexis’ big love story has been all but decided since Season 2, when the writers made it clear that the romance with Mutt had reached its end. And while many fans had hoped that Alexis and Ted would end up together, the show subverts expectations and confirms that the real endgame is Alexis becoming the best version of herself that she can be, and right now that’s just one Single.
Source : collider.com