Turkey Shoot
Season 1, Episode 7
Written by Daniel Levy
Story by Michael Grassi
Directed by Paul Fox
Synopsis: David gets down and dirty with nature, Jocelyn treats Moira to some pampering, and Alexis goes on a date.
Rating: ★★★★☆
This episode is crammed with a remarkable amount of plot and character development. Indeed, when the end credits roll, it’s difficult to believe that only 21 minutes have passed.
David is terrified of a bug he has found in his room and attempts to enlist Stevie’s help in disposing of it. According to Google it’s ‘some sort of demonic cricket that takes chunks out of your skin when provoked’. Apparently David has ‘a thing about bugs with milky exoskeletons’; we already know about his fear of moths, but this is hilariously specific. Stevie, of course, is amused rather than concerned. ‘Sometimes I forget what life was like before I knew you,' she says, almost affectionately, as she leaves the room.
Later, faced with David’s insistence that in general he has no problem with nature, she jokingly suggests that he might like to join her on Roland’s annual turkey shoot. Provoked by the challenge and determined not to be the butt of the joke yet again, he accepts, much to Stevie’s surprise.
The resulting fish-out-of-water scenario is mostly predictable, as David struggles to get to grips with handling a hunting rifle and Roland, Bob and Ronnie each in their different ways belittle his efforts. The only time he’s handled a gun before was at Elton John’s annual hunt at his place in Windsor (‘and that was more about the lunch’). Eventually, he’s goaded into actually shooting a turkey, much to his disgust.
It’s notable that Stevie doesn’t join in the taunting of David; in fact, she seems concerned for his welfare, telling him he doesn’t have to take part if he doesn’t want to, and asking if he’s okay after he’s killed the bird. Later, back at the motel, she regrets having dragged him into it. ‘Usually it’s more fun,’ she tells him contritely. ‘Usually Ray comes, and gets wasted, and spends the whole day singing Carole King ballads.’ Thanks to Emily Hampshire’s performance, Stevie’s remorse at this moment feels genuine. She knows she’s responsible for pushing David so far out of his comfort zone, and feels acutely sorry for the humiliation she’s unintentionally put him through. It’s now truly apparent that the couldn't-care-less attitude Stevie normally adopts is a front, and that a genuine bond of friendship is developing between these two.
Although well-executed, this plot strand serves mainly to consolidate what we already know about these characters and their relationship. Both of the other main storylines, meanwhile, bring us something new and fresh. Indeed, it’s a little odd that, in an instalment called ‘Turkey Shoot’, the literal turkey-shoot element ends up being the least interesting part of the episode.
First of all we see a new, more generous side to Moira’s personality, as she reluctantly accepts an invitation from Jocelyn to join her for a day of pampering. A lesser comedy would have had her return from the salon with a spectacularly awful hairdo. Instead, Moira joins Johnny in the café looking different, yet oddly familiar. He’s impressed with her new look, but can’t place who she reminds him of... until she gestures over her shoulder to where Jocelyn is giving a cheery thumbs-up from the booth opposite. ‘Oh my god, that’s right... Why Jocelyn?’ he asks. ‘Because everyone who comes out of that salon looks just like Jocelyn,’ is the response.
Luckily, this unwelcome transformation hasn’t been visited on Moira’s own hair – it’s one of her treasured wigs. The obvious thing at this point would be for Moira to throw a hissy fit, go home and change into a different one. But Dan Levy, as writer and showrunner, is playing a long game here. Moira knows that Jocelyn’s treat was well-intentioned, and that it behoves her to accept it graciously. ‘This is what I get for being nice, John,’ she says, ruefully.
Later, Jocelyn calls to see Moira at the motel. Previous episodes have hinted that Jocelyn is more perceptive than we might give her credit for, and it’s abundantly clear in this scene. ‘I know you hate your hair, Moira,’ she says bluntly. ‘Almost as much as you hate this town.’ She warns Moira not to reject the local people, and the offers of help that come her way, as one day she may come to rely on them. Moira insists that she doesn’t hate the town; it’s just not who she is. The same goes for the hair. ‘On you it’s adorable. You have a look that says, “Hi, I’m Jocelyn and I know who I am”... I don’t know who I am from one moment to the next.’ It’s a touchingly frank exchange between the two, sensitively played by Robertson and O’Hara, and lays the groundwork for a friendship based on a growing understanding of what they have in common and, just as significantly, what makes them different.
The episode’s third strand brings us Alexis’s introduction to Ted, the local vet, whom we first encountered in the previous episode. Their ‘meet cute’ scene in the café is a joy, as Ted warns Alexis about the undesirable side-effects of Twyla’s smoothies. He wastes no time in telling her that he’s noticed her around and thinks she is the most beautiful girl the town has ever seen. ‘What? No,’ she replies with faux modesty. ‘I’m sure there’s, like, another girl... somewhere.’ This is one of many seemingly throwaway lines in these early episodes that will pay huge emotional dividends in the show’s final season.
In a later scene, after Ted and Alexis have been on a dinner date together, she and Mutt (still fulfilling their community service orders) are painting a fence next to the café. When Alexis reveals that Ted ended the night by kissing her on the cheek (and shaking her hand), Mutt is unimpressed: ‘If a date’s a success with me, I’ll let you know it,’ he replies, scornfully.
Right on cue, Ted drives up in his fancy car. Alexis rushes over and kisses him firmly on the mouth, before turning and smiling triumphantly at Mutt. In a continuation of a now familiar running gag, she removes her hi-vis vest and simply tosses it carelessly away, before hopping into the car and speeding off. Although Alexis is clearly playing games here, showing off her new boyfriend in an attempt to provoke Mutt’s jealousy, it would be wrong to assume that that’s all that’s going on. On the contrary, it was evident from their first meeting that she’s genuinely attracted by the veterinarian’s goofy charm. Tim Rozon’s performance as Mutt, meanwhile, remains a curiously charisma-free zone.
So, a new relationship for Alexis, the beginning of a genuine friendship for Moira, and the strengthening of one for David. The forging of these unexpected emotional bonds between the Roses and the people of Schitt’s Creek would have been unthinkable just six short episodes ago, but they will come to define the show as Dan Levy’s grand plan continues to unfold.
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Moira-ism: ‘If you ever, ever catch me shopping at the Blouse Barn, you must shoot me in the temple.’
Fun fact: there’s another hint at the show’s location in the sweet treats Jocelyn has made. She calls them ‘Nanaimo bars’, which are a Canadian dessert (they’re named after the city of Nanaimo in British Columbia). With a crumb base, a layer of custard-flavoured buttercream and a thin chocolate topping, they’re not unlike the dessert known in the UK as Millionaire’s Shortbread.
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Previous episode: Wine and Roses
Next episode: Allez-Vous