Sarah O'Connor

“Queer life experience is different; queer cultural experience is different. Why not reframe stories using existing tropes rather than cookie-cutter it instead? That’s also what ‘queering’ means: to disrupt, reframe, challenge and question how it’s always been done,” (Garside 21).

I always find the popularity of Schitt’s Creek a source of pride and humour on my end. As a Canadian, everyone (or at least us Ontarians) were aware of the show from its start and it was watched pretty regularly watched by Canadians so when the pandemic started it was strange to see the world discover and fall in love with this show. I liked reading Garside’s side to things as an author from the U.K. who did watch Schitt’s Creek before the pandemic but was an outlier in doing so before the world caught up with her during the pandemic. It’s still strange to see this proudly Canadian show (though set in the States) went on to win Emmy’s and become and comforting presence to many during a difficult time.

Love That Journey For Me is Garside’s love letter to Schitt’s Creek and all it has done to normalize and celebrate queerness. Garside goes into detail about the shows queerness from David’s infamous “wine not the label” monologue, as well as how David’s fashion crosses genders without anyone batting an eye towards it, and going into great detail about the significance of Cabaret as a queer musical in a queer show, which I hadn’t realized the significance when first watching the show.

A large part of the book is of course dedicated to Patrick and David’s relationship, which is the shows greatest strengths in many ways. The episode where Patrick comes out to his parents is one of my favourites for a variety of reasons, but I also think that episode perfectly shows the love and acceptance that appears in Schitt’s Creek, the fictional town and the show itself.

I was surprised, given Garside’s academic studies, that the book didn’t have more (really any) sources outside of the show itself. Having read another Inkling that was more academic based, I was expecting something more along those lines for Love That Journey For Me. I was expecting Garside’s book to go into detail about queer celebration in Schitt’s Creek while comparing and contrasting other television shows that did and didn’t do this successfully (which Garside does in brief mention of Ellen’s coming out on her sitcom in the 90s) but I thought there might be more analysis on queerness and pop culture, especially going back to queer-coded characters in a time when queerness wasn’t accepted. That being said, I did enjoy that the book was just Garside gushing about Schitt’s Creek. Considering she’s an academic she’s probably tired of writing academically all the time, so it was nice to read a book that was just an ode to a tv show.

Love That Journey For Me is the perfect little read for any Schitt’s Creek fan. It’s a book that celebrates this show and all it has done for queer characters and audiences, and those who found joy and comfort in it during the pandemic.

Publication: June 24th 2021
Publisher: 404 Ink
Pages: 112 pages (Paperback)
Source: Owned
Genre: Non-Fiction, Essays, Queer, Pop Culture
My Rating: ⛤⛤⛤⛤
Summary:

Love That Journey For Me dives deep into the cultural sensation of Canadian comedy-drama Schitt’s Creek. Considering the fusion of existing sitcom traditions, references and tropes, this Inkling analyses the nuance of the show and its surrounding cultural and societal impact as a queer revolution.
By discussing how the show reshapes LGBTQ+ narratives from the crafting of the town itself, and celebratory influences including Cabaret, to how writer-creator Dan Levy utilised and subverted expectations throughout his work, Emily Garside will showcase how one TV show became a watershed moment in queer representation and gay relationships on screen.
Part analysis of Schitt’s Creek’s importance, part homage to a cultural landmark, this is a show that – in the words of David Rose himself – needs to be celebrated. This book is that celebration.