The Schitt’s Creek series finale became even more memorable thanks to a heartwarming behind-the-scenes detail. The Canadian sitcom followed the Rose family, who relocated to Schitt’s Creek after losing their fortune, a small town Johnny (Eugene Levy) originally bought as a joke. Over its six-season run, Schitt’s Creek grew in popularity due to its wholesome and heartwarming tone, and the series finale was no exception. The episode “Happy Ending” was praised by critics and won three Primetime Emmys: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series, and Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series. The finale was already satisfying, but it becomes even more poignant when you learn about the background behind the final scene.
The finale focused on the wedding between David (Dan Levy) and Patrick (Noah Reid). Despite a series of mishaps, including a rainstorm and the original officiant canceling, the couple eventually has their big day at the town hall, with Moira (Catherine O’Hara) officiating. At the end of the episode, Johnny and Moira leave for California to pursue other career opportunities, but not before an emotional goodbye with David, Patrick, Stevie (Emily Hampshire), and Alexis (Annie Murphy) outside the Rosebud Motel.
Annie Murphy, who won an Emmy for her portrayal of Alexis Rose in Schitt’s Creek season 6, shared behind-the-scenes details about the final scene in an interview. She revealed (via YouTube) that the tears shed during that scene were real: “Those tears are not fake tears, those are very real tears. I think you can just basically see Annie Murphy and Dan Levy and it’s not David and Alexis. It’s the two of us having a real cry.” Dan Levy also mentioned how emotional it was to film the last episode, highlighting the joy of discerning between the emotions of the characters and the actors who play them.
This behind-the-scenes detail enhances the Schitt’s Creek finale by showing the genuine emotional undercurrent behind the main characters’ final interactions. Emily Hampshire mentioned (via Buzzfeed News) that the final scene in “Happy Ending” was the last scene shot for the show. It wasn’t just the characters saying goodbye, but also the cast saying their farewells to each other. The cast’s genuine fondness for each other and emotions about the show’s conclusion make the final scene even more moving. The love that Annie Murphy and Dan Levy have for Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara especially shines through Alexis and David’s goodbyes to their parents. The real emotion makes the ending more meaningful than just actors reacting to a script.
Schitt’s Creek excelled at forging emotional bonds between characters and also managed to bring its cast members closer together. It’s clear that everyone loved each other off-screen, which led to natural tears flowing through the excellent final scene. The Schitt’s Creek series finale is enriched because the cast allowed their genuine emotions to come through.
