10 Best Schitt’s Creek Characters, Ranked
Schitt’s Creek is remembered as much for its characters as for its jokes. The Roses, the town and the people around them are so specific that many fans can recite their favourite lines from memory. The trouble is that a character list can quickly turn into a fan argument. You want a clear, honest ranking that explains why each character earns their place.
This ranking gives you ten of the show's best characters, from the Roses at the centre of the story to the town figures who make Schitt's Creek so memorable. Each entry explains who the character is, how they change over the series and why they rank where they do.
So what makes a Schitt's Creek character great? For me, it starts with growth. The best characters start out as one thing and become something richer by the end.
The second thing I look for is comedy. A great character gives the writers a voice that is funny and specific. The third is heart. The show's best characters make you care about them even when they are being ridiculous.
It is also worth saying that every character here has their fans. Some people love the chaos of Moira, others prefer the quiet warmth of Patrick. I have tried to explain each ranking clearly, so you can see the reasoning and decide for yourself whether you agree.
Ranking characters is always personal, and you may have a different order in your head. What you will get here is a clear explanation for every position, so you can see why each character sits where it does.
Each entry starts with who the character is and what they are going through, so you know what to expect before you read my opinion. After that comes the reasoning behind its ranking, followed by who will enjoy them most. Think of it as a friend who has spent far too long debating the Roses and wants to share the verdict.
One practical tip before you start. If you are new to the show, begin with the first season and watch how the characters change. The early seasons make the later growth even more satisfying. Either way, the right character is the one who makes you laugh and then makes you care.
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10. Roland Schitt
Roland Schitt is the self-important mayor of Schitt's Creek, who runs the town with a mixture of pomp and paperwork. Played by Chris Elliott, he is a constant presence in the Roses' lives, whether he is making deals, offering unwanted advice or getting in the way. His antics are a steady source of trouble for the family. The conflict is his ego against the Roses' plans, and the stakes are the town's future and his own status.
Chris Elliott plays Roland with a deadpan pride that makes every appearance funny. The character is an effective foil for the Roses, and his mix of self-importance and oddness gives the town a memorable face. He is not as layered as the Roses, which is why he sits at the bottom of this list.
Why it ranks here: He sits at number 10 because his comedy is sharp, but his arc is less developed than the characters above him. He beats the bottom of the list because he gives the town its personality, while he falls behind the nine characters above because he changes least over the series.
Who should watch: Fans of deadpan comedy and anyone who enjoys a pompous local figure.
Where to watch: Check Netflix or your preferred streaming service for the current listing.
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9. Jocelyn Schitt
Jocelyn Schitt is Roland's wife and one of the town's most capable residents, with a sharp mind and a quiet authority. Played by Jennifer Robertson, she often manages the chaos her husband creates. Her relationships with the Roses are a steady source of warmth and sharp humour. The conflict is her practical sense against the Roses' eccentricities, and the stakes are the people she cares about in Schitt's Creek.
Jennifer Robertson is wonderfully grounded, and her deadpan delivery gives Jocelyn a real edge. The character's relationship with Moira is particularly fun to watch. She is a reliable supporting presence, but she gets fewer big arcs than the characters above her.
Why it ranks here: She sits at number 9 because she is a strong, funny supporting character, but her storylines are less central than the characters above. She beats Roland because she is more grounded and likeable, while she falls behind the eight characters above because her arc is smaller.
Who should watch: Fans of grounded supporting characters and viewers who enjoy a sharp, practical voice in a ridiculous town.
Where to watch: Check Netflix or your preferred streaming service for the current listing.
8. Twyla Sands
Twyla Sands runs the café in town and is one of the most good-natured characters in Schitt's Creek. Played by Sarah Levy, she is kind, funny and quietly capable, and she often becomes the family's unexpected confidante. Her warmth is one of the show's great comforts. The conflict is her desire to keep the town's café going against the chaos around her, and the stakes are her friendships and her business.
Sarah Levy gives Twyla a warm, funny presence, and her chemistry with the Roses is a joy. The character is the show's moral compass in many scenes. She is less central to the main storylines than the characters above her, which is why she sits lower on the list.
Why it ranks here: She sits at number 8 because she is warm, funny and reliable, but her arc is less dramatic than the characters above her. She beats the bottom two because she is so likeable, while she falls behind the top seven because her storylines are less central.
Who should watch: Fans of warm, good-hearted characters and viewers who enjoy a kind voice in a chaotic town.
Where to watch: Check Netflix or your preferred streaming service for the current listing.
7. Ted Mullens
Ted Mullens is the town vet, and Alexis's former fiancé, who becomes one of the show's most sympathetic romantic figures. Played by Dustin Milligan, he is kind, goofy and sincere, and his relationship with Alexis becomes a source of both comedy and heart. His storylines explore love and personal growth. The conflict is Ted's desire to find his place against the complicated history with Alexis, and the stakes are his happiness and his friendships.
Dustin Milligan plays Ted with an earnest charm that makes him easy to root for. The character's sincerity gives the romance real warmth. He is a strong presence, but his arc is less distinctive than the characters ranked above him.
Why it ranks here: He sits at number 7 because he is warm, funny and sincere, but his arc is less distinctive than those above. He beats the bottom six because his romance with Alexis is so engaging, while he falls behind the top six because his storylines are less central.
Who should watch: Fans of gentle romantic storylines and viewers who enjoy a sincere, lovable character.
Where to watch: Check Netflix or your preferred streaming service for the current listing.
6. Stevie Budd
Stevie Budd is the motel's sharp, practical partner who becomes one of the show's most memorable characters. Played by Emily Hampshire, she is blunt, funny and deeply loyal, and her relationship with Johnny gives the Roses' business life real heart. She also gets some of the show's best musical and comic moments. The conflict is Stevie's practicality against the chaos of the Roses, and the stakes are the motel and her friendships.
Emily Hampshire is a standout, with deadpan timing and surprising warmth. Stevie is one of the show's most rewarding characters because she grows without losing her edge. She is a little less central to the family's emotional storylines than the characters above her.
Why it ranks here: She sits at number 6 because she is sharp, funny and gets some of the show's best moments, but she is less central to the main family arcs. She beats the bottom five because her character is so memorable, while she falls behind the top five because her storylines are less personal to the Roses.
Who should watch: Fans of dry, blunt humour and viewers who enjoy a character who becomes the heart of a business.
Where to watch: Check Netflix or your preferred streaming service for the current listing.
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5. Patrick Brewer
Patrick Brewer is the owner of the Rose Apothecary, and David's partner. Played by Noah Reid, he is kind, patient and quietly brave, and his relationship with David is one of the show's most celebrated love stories. His arc, including coming out to his parents, gives the series some of its most affecting moments. The conflict is Patrick's desire to be loved for who he is against the people who doubt him, and the stakes are his family and his relationship.
Noah Reid is sensitive and funny, and his chemistry with Dan Levy is one of the show's greatest strengths. Patrick is a warm, grounded presence, and his storyline is a powerful part of the series. He is not as comically sharp as the characters above him, which is why he sits just below the top four.
Why it ranks here: He sits at number 5 because his love story and emotional arc are strong, but his comedy is gentler than the characters above him. He beats the bottom four because his romance is so warm, while he falls behind the top four because his character is more reactive than the family at the show's centre.
Why critics admire it: Many critics praise Reid's performance and the show's respectful, unforced portrayal of a gay couple.
Who should watch: Fans of the David and Patrick romance and viewers who enjoy a warm, sincere character.
Where to watch: Check Netflix or your preferred streaming service for the current listing.
4. Johnny Rose
Johnny Rose is the family's patriarch, a former video store magnate who has lost his fortune and must rebuild his life in Schitt's Creek. Played by Eugene Levy, he is determined, resourceful and often deeply loving, and his efforts to make the motel work give the show much of its heart. The conflict is Johnny's pride against the reality of his new life, and the stakes are his family and his sense of purpose.
Eugene Levy is superb, balancing dry humour with real tenderness. Johnny's arc from a man desperate to leave town to one who cares deeply about it is one of the show's most satisfying. He is a steady, warm presence, but Moira and David have the bigger comic energy.
Why it ranks here: He sits at number 4 because his character growth is excellent and Levy's performance is outstanding, but he is less comically explosive than the characters above him. He beats the bottom three because his heart drives so much of the show, while he falls behind the top three because his comedy is more restrained.
Who should watch: Fans of the Rose family and anyone who enjoys a patriarch who grows into the town.
Where to watch: Check Netflix or your preferred streaming service for the current listing.
3. Alexis Rose
Alexis Rose is the Roses' daughter, a globetrotting socialite who arrives in Schitt's Creek with little patience for small-town life. Played by Annie Murphy, she grows from a self-absorbed figure into one of the show's most surprising and rewarding characters. Her romances, career and personal growth drive many of the show's best episodes. The conflict is Alexis's ambition against her own insecurity, and the stakes are her future and her family.
Annie Murphy is a comic force, and her performance is layered with real vulnerability. The writing gives Alexis some of the show's sharpest lines, and her arc is one of the most convincing in the series. She is less central to the family's emotional core than David and Moira, which is why she sits just below them.
Why it ranks here: She sits at number 3 because her growth is one of the show's best arcs and Murphy's performance is outstanding. She nearly takes a higher spot, but David and Moira have more layers across the series.
Why critics admire it: Many critics praise Murphy's breakout performance and Alexis's surprising arc.
Who should watch: Fans of Annie Murphy and viewers who enjoy a character who grows far beyond their first impression.
Where to watch: Check Netflix or your preferred streaming service for the current listing.
2. Moira Rose
Moira Rose is a former soap opera actress and the family's most theatrical member. Played by Catherine O'Hara, she is vain, dramatic and wonderfully unpredictable, and her commitment to her own image gives the show its most famous moments. Her arc, from a woman who refuses to belong to a woman who finds a home, is the emotional spine of the series. The conflict is Moira's vanity against her need to connect, and the stakes are her family and her sense of self.
Catherine O'Hara gives one of the great comic performances in television, with an accent, vocabulary and physical comedy that are unlike anything else. The character is funny in every scene and still deeply moving in her quieter moments. She nearly takes the top spot, but David has the more consistent emotional throughline.
Why it ranks here: She sits at number 2 because her comedy and character growth are extraordinary. She nearly takes the top spot, but David's arc is slightly more central to the show's heart.
Why fans and critics love it: Many critics praise O'Hara's performance as one of the best comic turns on television, and fans regularly name Moira as their favourite.
Who should watch: Fans of character-driven comedy and anyone who enjoys a performance that is outrageous and deeply human.
Where to watch: Check Netflix or your preferred streaming service for the current listing.
1. David Rose
David Rose is the Roses' son, a self-assured, stylish and sharp-tongued young man who finds himself in a small town with no idea how to fit in. Played by Dan Levy, he is the show's co-creator and its emotional centre. His arc, from an overconfident outsider to a man who finds love, identity and a home, is the best character story in the series. The conflict is David's need to be accepted against his fear of being seen, and the stakes are his relationship with Patrick and his place in the town.
Dan Levy is brilliant, with precise comic timing and real emotional depth. David's relationship with Patrick and his growth into a confident, self-aware man give the show its heart. He is also the character whose growth carries the entire series from start to finish. David beats Moira because his arc is the most complete on this list, and the show's heart runs through him more than any other character.
Why it ranks here: He takes the number 1 spot because his character story is the most complete, his comedy is consistently sharp and his emotional arc carries the show from start to finish. Moira is a close second, but David has the stronger, more complete arc, which is why he beats everything else here.
Why fans and critics love it: He is widely praised as one of television's most original and rewarding comic characters, and many fans count him as the show's most important.
Who should watch: Anyone who loves a character who grows from prickly to lovable and fans of the David and Patrick romance.
Where to watch: Check Netflix or your preferred streaming service for the current listing.
Before we reveal our No. 1 pick…
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Final Thoughts
Looking back over the list, a few patterns stand out. The strongest Schitt's Creek characters change without losing what makes them who they are. Family, love and belonging recur across the list, and the best characters find a home in a town they never expected.
Different viewers will land on different favourites. If you love the comedy of the Roses, Moira and Alexis are the places to start. For a sincere love story, Patrick and Ted are wonderful. If you want the town's personality, Stevie, Twyla and Roland deliver.
David Rose stays at the top because he does nearly everything a sitcom character should. His arc is complete, his comedy is sharp and his heart carries the whole series. He is the character I would recommend first to anyone who has not yet met the Roses.
Now I would love to hear from you. Which Schitt's Creek character is your favourite? Do you agree with the order, or would you move someone up or down?
And if I missed a character who deserves a place, tell me in the comments. I am always looking for the next reason to rewatch the show.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the best Schitt's Creek character?
David Rose is the top pick because his arc is the most complete on the list and his comedy is consistently sharp. Moira Rose is a close second for viewers who love outrageous, theatrical comedy.
Who created Schitt's Creek?
Schitt's Creek was created by Dan Levy and Eugene Levy. Both also star in the show, with Dan playing David Rose and Eugene playing Johnny Rose.
Who plays Moira Rose?
Catherine O'Hara plays Moira Rose. Her performance is one of the most celebrated comic turns on television.
Who is Roland Schitt?
Roland Schitt is the town's mayor, played by Chris Elliott. He is pompous, unpredictable and a constant source of trouble for the Roses.
Who plays Patrick Brewer?
Noah Reid plays Patrick Brewer, the owner of the Rose Apothecary and David's partner.
Who is Stevie Budd?
Stevie Budd is the motel's practical, blunt partner, played by Emily Hampshire. She becomes one of the show's most memorable characters.
Which character has the best growth?
David and Alexis have some of the show's most satisfying arcs. Johnny's growth from a man desperate to leave town to one who cares about it is also a standout.
Is Ted Mullens in the show for long?
Ted Mullens, played by Dustin Milligan, is a recurring character whose storylines run through several seasons, including his relationship with Alexis.
Which Schitt's Creek characters are the funniest?
Moira, Roland and Alexis are often named as the funniest. Stevie's dry humour also earns plenty of fans.
Are there more character lists on That Love Podcast?
Yes. That Love Podcast has several comedy and streaming guides. The links in the You May Also Like section above are a good place to start.
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