General Hospital spoilers for February 9th through the 13th suggest Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) is going absolutely insane and Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) freaking out about something really important.

As we always do on the early edition, we’re going to start with what’s coming the rest of this week and then dive into what is coming next week. There is huge stuff on the horizon.

General Hospital Spoilers: Michael Could Lose

On Wednesday, February 4th, Michael Corinthos (Rory Gibson) is in a position where he knows he needs to cut a favorable deal with Willow Tait (Katelyn MacMullen) on custody before DA Jacinda charges him with Drew Cain (Cameron Mathison)’s shooting. If he waits and that happens, Michael could lose the kids completely. He needs to move while he still has the upper hand to try and make something happen.

At Diane Miller (Carolyn Hennesy) and Alexis Davis (Nancy Lee Grahn)’s office, Willow tells Michael that she hasn’t agreed to anything yet. She knows what is coming down the pike for him because she is trying to frame him. Ric Lansing (Rick Hearst) is there representing Michael, while Alexis represents Willow. Alexis is pushing hard to get Willow at least some custody and visitation so she can keep accessing Scout Cain (Cosette Abinante). Sonny wants Ric to make this deal happen because he doesn’t want Willow cut out of the kids’ lives, but Michael is being very stubborn.

Anna Devane’s Mental Health Crisis and the Faison Conspiracy

Anna begs Felicia Scorpio (Kristina Wagner) to get her out of there so she can stop Cesar Faison (Anders Hove). So, Anna is being held over in France, and Felicia, Emma, and Mac Scorpio (John J. York) head over there to see what to do. It looks like they want to stash her somewhere because Anna is talking like a crazy person.

Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes), Pascal (Mark Forget), and Jenz Sidwell (Carlo Rota) gaslit Anna. It appears they knocked her out and transported her to France, which explains why Pascal left Port Charles to go to France. Anna has no idea she was ever held captive at Wyndemere. And she seems completely unhinged.

Felicia may struggle to believe that Faison is alive. It would be a nightmare for her if it were true. It looks like Sidwell and Cullum want Anna written off as a crazy person making conspiracy theory claims to destroy her reputation and get her out of their way. Mac, Emma, and Felicia are all going to try to get Anna calmed down, get her released. And bring her back home to Port Charles.

Sonny and Jason Plot Against Sidwell While Romance Blooms on GH

Jason Morgan (Steve Burton) and Sonny are working on a strategy against Sidwell. Sonny tells Jason that the more they know, the easier it will be to take him out. They have to get that photo proof. They know that this guy isn’t just a problem for Sonny and Laura Spencer (Genie Francis), but also the source of the problem for Britt Westbourne (Kelly Thiebaud).

Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy) is digging for dirt. And it may be on Cullum. Meanwhile, Lulu Spencer (Alexa Havins) opens up to Laura. She is going to tell her about the Nathan West (Ryan Paevey) kiss and that she has feelings for him. Laura will tell Lulu she might actually have fewer obstacles with Nathan than she thinks.

Laura may point out that Nathan has been gone from Maxie Jones (Kirsten Storms)’s life for seven years through nobody’s fault other than Faison. Damian Spinelli (Bradford Anderson) is currently the man in Maxie’s life. And Dante Falconeri (Dominic Zamprogna) is not in Lulu’s life romantically either. Nathan eventually goes and confesses to Nina Reeves (Cynthia Watros), telling her he has feelings for Lulu.

Nina also has face time with Liesl Obrecht (Kathleen Gati). And we’ll see if she tells her about Nathan and Lulu. She may also vent about Willow and her toxic attitude regarding Michael. Meanwhile, Drew is discharged from General Hospital. He is sent home with Willow, who has a hospital bed set up in the living room for him. It looks extremely tense.

General Hospital Spoilers: Custody Battles and Danger for Drew Cain

On Thursday, February 5th, Michael gives Carly Corinthos Spencer (Laura Wright) and Sonny an update on the custody mediation. Willow is ready to crush Michael, so it will be interesting to see if compromise is even possible or if Willow is going to get greedy and want everything.

Curtis Ashford (Donnell Turner) needs some help from Alexis. He may want divorce papers drawn up or may want to force Portia Robinson (Brook Kerr) to get a DNA test. Harrison Chase (Josh Swickard) loses his temper, which may lead to another argument with Michael if he hears Michael isn’t willing to compromise on visitation. Many people don’t know what Michael knows regarding what Willow was doing to Sasha Gilmore (Sofia Mattsson) and Daisy, which is a big reason driving his current decisions.

Kai Taylor (Jens Austin Astrup) explains himself to Trina Robinson (Tabyana Ali). And Drew is completely shocked. I am wondering if Kai is going to go over to the house, check on Drew. And tell him that Willow was the one who shot him. Drew has locked-in syndrome and is helpless, so Kai may be concerned. Even though Drew is a bad guy, he is at risk from the woman who tried to kill him before.

General Hospital Spoilers for February Sweeps and Valentine’s Day

On Friday, February 6th, Britt gives a little pushback, possibly to Cullum. She needs another dose of her meds to give to Jason to get them reverse-engineered. Michael lets Brook Lynn Quartermaine (Amanda Setton) in on a few things bothering him, including the PCPD interrogation and his concerns about the shooting charges and the custody case.

The following week, February 9th through the 13th, we are midway into February Sweeps. We’re going to see Portia and her DNA test results coming soon. I’m dying to know if it’s going to be Curtis or Isaiah Gannon (Sawandi Wilson). Sonny doubles down on his plan to protect Michael, and he and Jason continue their plot to take down Sidwell.

Drew is worried about what Willow may do to him. I expect him to recover from his locked-in state but then hide it from her, which would be a very General Hospital thing to do. Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna) is going to be livid that Josslyn put herself on Cullum’s radar, which is exactly what Jack didn’t want for her.

Britt is going to spend Valentine’s Day with Jason. They’re going to get a little romantic, but they’ll have to do it on the sly. Ric takes Elizabeth Webber (Rebecca Herbst) out on a date soon. And there is supposed to be a major development for them. Willow continues pushing for more access to her kids while trying to get Michael in the crosshairs of the PCPD.

Sidwell gets an ultimatum from Lucy Coe (Lynn Herring)—likely a “me or Ava Jerome (Maura West)” choice. Jordan Ashford (Tanisha Harper) and Curtis make more time for romance. Nathan and Lulu find it hard to stay away from each other. And we may see more heat between them. Very importantly, Maxie wakes up. We’ll see how long it takes until someone tells her that Nathan is back from the dead. That information will likely be withheld until she is stable.

Footage has surfaced showing Chrisean Rock reacting to Zenith Zion saying that she’s going to “kick” her “ass” in the boxing ring in April.

RELATED: Pepa’s Daughter Egypt Criss Turns Heads After Offering To Hop In Ring With Chrisean Rock For Super Middleweight Championship (VIDEO)

Chrisean Rock Reacts To Zenith Zion Saying She’s Going To Kick Her Butt In The Boxing Ring

On Tuesday, February 3, Instagram user @livebitez posted footage from what appeared to be a recent livestream showing Chrisean Rock with her boxing coordinators. Furthermore, in one clip, Rock tells viewers that she has “a lot of pain and anger” inside her, so the match “should be cool to watch.” Meanwhile, another clip showed what appeared to be the moment when Rock was informed that her opponent was Zenith Zion.

“Who that?” Rock says initially, staring at a phone screen. “What’s her name?”

As Rock started scrolling on the phone, the coordinators told her that she could do her “homework” later. But one then asked, “What’s going through your mind right now?”

“So how long is the fight? And how many minutes in the ring?” Rock asked, pounding her fist.

Furthermore, another clip showed Rock watching a video where Zion shared a direct message for her, saying, “Be prepared, Chrisean. ‘Cause I’m coming to kick your ass.”

“Oh, that’s who that is,” Rock says in reaction. “How is she already talking stuff? We don’t know each other like that.”

See the videos below.

Social Media Continues Weighing In

Social media users shared their thoughts on Chrisean Rock’s reaction to Zenith Zion in the comment section of @livebitez’s post.

More On Zenith Zion Saying She’s Going To Kick Chrisean Rock’s Butt In The Boxing Ring

As The Shade Room previously reported, last month, XRumble announced that Chrisean Rock signed a deal to fight in the platform’s first female Super Middleweight Championship fight. The fight goes down on Saturday, April 25, at Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino in Chester, Pennsylvania. However, at the time of the announcement, Rock’s opponent remained undecided.

RELATED: Chrisean Rock Responds After Claressa Shields Sends Support Following Announcement Of Her Boxing Deal (EXCLUSIVE)

By the end of the month, Pepa’s daughter, Egypt Crisis, dropped her proposal for stepping into the ring with Rock. However, Zenith Zion was ultimately chosen as Rock’s opponent, and she didn’t hold back with sending her sentiments to Rock.

RELATED: Oop! Chrisean Rock’s Opponent For Super Middleweight Championship Boxing Match Revealed Along With SPICY Message (VIDEO)

By Robert Scucci
| Published 1 hour ago

I can finally end my search for an action adventure thriller set entirely in a hot air balloon after watching 2019’s The Aeronauts. While we can get into the nitty gritty about how it’s “based on true events,” as depicted in the 2013 Richard Holmes book Falling Upwards: How We Took to the Air, anybody with access to Wikipedia can do that. Instead, let’s talk about the film itself. Since we’re ultimately dealing with a fictional piece of cinema inspired by multiple real-life balloon ascents, it’s all but expected that creative liberties are taken, and composite characters are stitched together from their historical counterparts for the sake of a cleaner, more dramatic story.

The Aeronauts, like most films that carry the biographical label, is no exception. As long as you’re not treating it like a history lesson, it’s well worth your time for the visuals and sheer level of suspense alone. I never thought a movie about a giant balloon could be this intense, but here we are, watching two deeply committed people float through the troposphere without even packing proper winter coats.

Floating High And Above

Set in 1862 London, The Aeronauts centers on scientist James Glaisher (Eddie Redmayne) and balloon pilot Amelia Wren (Felicity Jones). James believes that ascending to unprecedented heights will allow him to study atmospheric patterns in a way that could eventually make weather prediction possible. When the Royal Society refuses to take him seriously enough to fund the project, he turns to Amelia, whose skill and nerve make the entire expedition feasible. Through a series of flashbacks, we learn about the political resistance and personal motivations surrounding the journey, but that groundwork is not the main reason you’re here.

The real spectacle unfolds once James and Amelia leave the ground, rising beyond 30,000 feet and shattering the standing record for balloon travel. Completely devoted to his research, James pushes forward as Amelia repeatedly urges him to descend. Awestruck by the vast skyscape around them, James loses track of the balloon’s physical limitations and just how drastically the temperature has dropped while he continues taking notes and running tests.

When it becomes clear they’ve gone far too high for their own good, Amelia takes decisive action after recognizing the signs of James’ worsening hypoxia. That plan immediately falls apart when she realizes the gas release valve at the top of the balloon has frozen shut. Reduced to a speck drifting through the sky, Amelia braves brutal conditions in her attempts to bring both of them back to land. The elements are not on her side, and she soon begins suffering from frostbite as well. With their lives and James’ research hanging in the balance, every split-second decision carries real consequences, and the margin for error disappears fast.

Stunning Cinematography All Around 

While the flashback sequences in The Aeronauts are necessary for context, they lean into familiar tropes tied to dangerous missions. Both characters are haunted by their pasts and repeatedly revisit traumatic moments while grappling with their present situation. If I’m being completely honest, I have a hard time taking people in top hats seriously, so these scenes occasionally play as unintentionally funny for me. I fully recognize that I might be a sample size of one here, and your mileage may vary.

What truly impressed me were the sequences that take place inside and around the balloon itself. The horizon, the clouds, and even butterflies drifting through air currents at what were once unheard-of altitudes are the real draw of The Aeronauts. Ice crystallizing across the balloon as Amelia struggles with the frozen gas valve, along with wide shots that emphasize how small she and James are against the open sky, are genuinely striking. The storms that threaten to consume them as they push higher in the name of science add another layer of tension, made all the more effective by how grounded and tactile everything looks.

It’s safe to assume The Aeronauts received a healthy dose of VFX in post-production, but it’s difficult to spot while watching. The visuals feel real and cohesive, creative liberties with characterization aside, and the result is an immersive experience even from your couch. If you’re looking to challenge your fear of heights, or you’re simply in the mood for historical fiction that focuses on discovery rather than warfare, you can stream The Aeronauts on Prime Video as of this writing.

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Published
February 4, 2026
12:57 PM PST

If you love Yellowstone and Kevin Costner, then you may just love this Western drama that’s currently trending on Netflix.

Released in 1994, Wyatt Earp stars Costner as the eponymous, real-life lawman who would go on to be involved in the O.K. Corral gunfight in 1881. The movie is a biographical epic of Earp’s life.

The film features a terrific ensemble cast that includes the late Catherine O’Hara, and while it received mixed reviews from critics at the time, it’s found more favor with fans over time.

Watch With Us breaks down why Wyatt Earp deserves its spot in the Netflix Top 10.

‘Wyatt Earp’ Chronicles the Life of a Fascinating Real-Life Figure

Wyatt Earp takes an in-depth look at Earp’s life from his teenage years during the Civil War, living on his family’s farm in Iowa, to becoming a lawman in towns like Wichita and Dodge City in Kansas and Tombstone, Arizona. From a young age, Earp is taught that only two things really matter in life: family and the law. Thus, Earp is flanked by his brothers James (David Andrews), Morgan (Linden Ashby) and Virgil (Michael Madsen), in addition to friend Doc Holliday (Dennis Quaid), in their eventual confrontation with outlaws at the climactic O.K. Corral, involving the Clanton and McLaury gangs.

As opposed to taking a more mythical or fantastical approach to this real-life material, director Lawrence Kasdan and co-writer Dan Gordon instead give Earp’s life a grittier, more realistic feel in addition to being a psychological portrait of the famous lawman. Rather than being a simple action epic, Wyatt Earp is far more interested in details and nuance, and the internal burden that Earp carries throughout his life — which includes a violent, dark side to Earp’s character.

The Long Runtime Gives Earp’s Life the Richness It Deserves

While some biographical films attempt to sum up a celebrity or important historical figure in just one or two short hours, Wyatt Earp gives its subject the courtesy of a more than three-hour film. Because of this ample runtime, more care is given to the historical detail and accuracy, giving way to more comprehensive storytelling. We’re given this excess time with Earp’s life from adolescence through middle age, and it allows for a deeper understanding of his psychology and his evolution of self, leading up to the major historical event that everyone knows him for.

Thus, far from a fast-paced epic, Wyatt Earp is a slow-burn character study with a Western setting that feels authentic instead of romanticized. Earp’s character arc is incredibly thorough, and the approach to depicting his character even has something of a documentary feel to it. While the slow pacing and occasionally disorganized narrative may turn some people off, those who enjoy biographical films that are concerned with the facts in addition to telling a compelling story will appreciate the lengths that Wyatt Earp goes to achieve this.

‘Wyatt Earp’ Is Character-Driven With a Strong Supporting Cast

While a movie like Tombstone — also about Wyatt Earp and the O.K. Corral — is more centered on the immediate lead-up to and action of the conflict at the O.K. Corral, Wyatt Earp gives a deeper focus to its sprawling cast of characters covering multiple eras of Earp’s life. For instance, Gene Hackman gives a terrific performance as Nicholas Earp, Wyatt’s stern and influential father, while Quaid infuses Doc Holliday with a vulnerability that rings true to the character.

In contrast to Tombstone and Kurt Russell‘s charisma-driven portrayal of Earp, Wyatt Earp finds strength in Costner’s more reserved depiction, more suited for a biopic approach. But besides Costner, the cast of Wyatt Earp is ridiculously stacked. The rest of the supporting cast includes the always-great O’Hara, who portrays Allie Earp, in addition to Bill Pullman, Mark Harmon, Isabella Rossellini, Tom Sizemore and Adam Baldwin.

Stream Wyatt Earp now on Netflix.

By Robert Scucci
| Published 18 seconds ago

One of the common pitfalls post-apocalyptic thrillers run into is trying to do too much at once, because there are a lot of angles to consider. The Mad Max franchise works because there is dense, folklore-driven worldbuilding that we’re made aware of as a smaller group of people navigate the wasteland looking for answers. The 28 Days Later films handle this well too. We’re briefed on what’s happening globally, and then things are handled locally.

2025’s Uncontained, despite the fact that it has a lot going for it, struggles with this balance. The result is a tonally inconsistent film that I wish stuck the landing better, because the potential is clearly there.

Found Family During End Times

Billed as a zombie horror drama, Uncontained tells a much more personal story through the eyes of Dan (portrayed by writer director Morley Nelson). Dan is a drifter who appears to be immune to the zombie virus that has decimated society, and he eventually happens upon a smart house occupied by two children, Jack (Jack Nelson) and Brooke (Brooke Nelson).

Their mother, simply billed as The Woman (Nicole Nelson), works for Homeland Security and is desperately searching for a cure, because Jack carries a latent version of the infection.

Dan, initially just looking for shelter, slowly becomes a surrogate father figure for Jack and Brooke. The Woman is also glad to have him around, mostly because he’s able to clock an intimidating amount of time on the treadmill that doubles as a power source for the house.

Jack handcuffs himself to the bed before going to bed, because he occasionally turns into a bloodthirsty zombie in his sleep and needs to wait out his episodes so he doesn’t harm his family. He also sets elaborate snare traps in the backyard and spends his time studying captured zombies, which initially disgusts Dan, who doesn’t yet realize that he and Jack have more in common than either of them would like to admit.

The B Story

Meanwhile, Uncontained introduces additional conflict in the form of militia leader Brett Carson (Peter O’Meara), who refuses to leave the property because he’s searching for his missing daughter, Melanie (Courtney Blythe Turk). This entire plot line feels largely unnecessary, as it neither helps nor meaningfully disrupts the dynamic inside the house that Dan and the family are occupying.

The limited value these scenes provide comes mostly from comic relief, particularly when Brett talks shop with a police officer who grows more visibly concerned with each passing exchange, as if silently thinking, “dude, you need to go home before you get killed.”

Speaking of comic relief, Uncontained earns genuine points for the dynamic it establishes between Dan, Jack, and Brooke, and The Woman. Dan has a gruff exterior and doesn’t look like the kind of guy who enjoys screwing around. But the moment Brooke offers him her hair clips, he immediately takes her up on it just to be kind. These subtle moments are both funny and disarming, and they say a lot about Dan’s character. The world is effectively ending, and nobody is obligated to be pleasant if they don’t want to be.

Uncontained ultimately leaves a lot on the table, and it’s because it tries to think globally and locally at the same time. Had the film committed to being a bottle story focused on the house and its occupants, I think it would have landed more cleanly. It simply tries to do too much at once, when the initial survival story is already compelling on its own. The moments I enjoyed most came directly from this central dynamic. The idea that an infected child could be the key to a cure while the family battens down the hatches and rides out the proverbial storm is strong enough without a side story pulling attention away from it.

Uncontained is streaming for free on Tubi.

Dave Coulier’s tongue cancer is officially in remission, two months after going public with his diagnosis.

“It’s been a roller-coaster ride for sure,” Coulier, 66, said during a Wednesday, February 4, appearance on Good Morning America. “I’m in remission with both cancers. And what a journey this has been.”

The Full House alum announced in December 2025 that doctors had diagnosed him with HPV-related oropharyngeal tongue cancer that October. The illness was “totally unrelated” to his previous battle with stage III non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

“To go through chemotherapy and feel that relief of, ‘Whoa, it’s gone.’ And then to get a test that says, ‘Well now you’ve got another kind of cancer,’” said on the Today show in December 2025. “It is a shock to the system.”

Related: What Is Oropharyngeal Tongue Cancer? Breaking Down Dave Coulier’s Diagnosis

Full House alum Dave Coulier has been diagnosed with a new type of cancer months after beating lymphoma. “To go through chemotherapy and feel that relief of, ‘Whoa, it’s gone.’ And then to get a test that says, ‘Well now you’ve got another kind of cancer,’” the 66-year-old actor said during a Tuesday, December 2 […]

Coulier announced his non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis in November 2024. He was cancer free by March 2025, after several rounds of chemotherapy.

“It was a really tough year, chemotherapy was grueling,” Coulier told Today late last year. “A couple of months ago, I had a PET scan, and something flared on the scan. The doctor said, ‘We don’t know what it is, but there’s something at the base of your tongue.’”

Coulier explained that it was a “very painful” experience.

“It’s like if you bit your tongue, but the pain just lasted every single day,” the actor shared during his Today interview.

Oropharyngeal tongue cancer is considered rare, with the American Cancer Society estimating that it only impacts 53,000 people a year. The illness “forms in your oropharynx, the middle section of your throat,” according to an article by the Cleveland Clinic. While it is treatable, it “can come back,” the same article claimed. Coulier’s specific type of tongue cancer impacted the P16 protein, a marker for human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection that can turn into cancer if untreated.

In December 2025, Coulier revealed that he planned to undergo 35 radiation treatments. The “prognosis is good,” his medical team said at the time.

Related: Dave Coulier’s Cancer Battle in His Own Words: From His Diagnosis to Now

David Livingston/Getty Images Since going public with stage III non-Hodgkin lymphoma in November 2024, Dave Coulier has been candid about his illness, treatment and prognosis before his second diagnosis. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a type of cancer that affects the patient’s lymphatic system, with “white blood cells called lymphocytes [that] grow abnormally and can form growths […]

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“It’s a whole different animal than chemo,” he explained. “It doesn’t feel as aggressive, but there are still side effects.”

Coulier has stayed in high spirits during his overall cancer battle. However, the actor has spoken candidly about the toll it’s taken on his mental health.

“It’s emotional. It’s psychologically draining,” Coulier told Today, explaining that it has also impacted his wife, Melissa Bring. “I’m going to get on the other side of this. The silver lining here is that I had cancer, which helped me detect my other cancer. It seems crazy to be making that statement, but it’s true.”

Bring, who has been married to Coulier since 2014, also addressed her husband’s lengthy cancer journey in a January 2025 interview.

“He has some really tough days, and as the chemo has been accumulating it gets a little tougher and more difficult,” she said at the time. “He has such a positive attitude, and you need that in order to really fight it.

Bring recalled, “Every morning, if he’s feeling up for it, we try to put on a song and do a little dance party with the dogs, because when you do feel good, you have to celebrate that too.”

When you have a long-spanning, well-established, illustrious career, creating another iconic character in your later years may not be realistic. But then, Catherine O’Hara defied that. She didn’t just play another significant role; she crafted what is perhaps her most beloved character of all time. When you see an image of Moira Rose, you can hear it. From her distinct made-up dialect with signature cadence to memorable quotes that live rent-free in the pop culture lexicon, O’Hara’s role on Schitt’s Creek was a glorious celebration of comedy.

O’Hara’s passing came as quite a shock to all who loved her. It’s allowed us to reflect on her brilliant career and the impact she made on our lives. When it came to Schitt’s Creek, from start to finish, it was a pitch-perfect comedy, produced in part by O’Hara’s Moira. Throughout her six seasons, these Moira episodes stand out as, well, simply the best.

10

“Motel Review”

Season 3, Episode 8

Image via CBC Television

One thing we know Moira Rose is not is a working woman in menial jobs. Don’t ever expect her to do a job a pedestrian might take on. But sometimes, hard times require hard decisions. In this Season 3 episode, the motel receives a particularly negative review: “I was served by an intimidating woman at the front desk, with an unrecognizable accent, and scary-looking attire.” Well, while the first part could have been about Stevie Budd (Emily Hampshire), the second part is most certainly about Moira. So, what is she doing manning the front desk? With Johnny Rose (Eugene Levy) running an errand and Stevie forcing a reluctant Moira to help out with the easy task of simply sitting at the front desk and helping guests, our beloved Moira botches it hardcore.

Moira is of no particular help when a guest seeks to check in, sloughing off that guest’s many requests. When Johnny learns how this review might negatively affect the motel, he forces his wife to make amends with the guest. Moira’s highest points in the episode are watching her muster up enough of a facade to keep the catty side at bay. This is not a position she wants to be put in, but this motel is their only hope. She must right her wrongs. Most employees offer service with a smile. Moira provides service with a smirk. A big part of this episode is seeing Moira and Johnny work through their marital issues in this new confined situation. They need their space! An episode built on relationships and the frustrations that come with them; even our favorite couple had their ups and downs.

9

“RIP Moira Rose”

Season 4, Episode 5

Image via CBC Television

It might be hard to find the humor of this episode, given O’Hara’s passing, but this Season 4 episode epitomized the Moira we grew to love. Rumors circulate that TV’s Moira Rose died. As the news spreads, it brings worry to the citizens of Schitt’s Creek, only for immense joy to come when they learn she’s alive and well. Online, the instant attention brings flattering condolences and complimentary messages, which, of course, she adores. But when a reporter arrives in town for a story, Moira is forced to reconcile her life in Schitt’s Creek.

Moira must decide what’s worse: that there is only one reporter, or that the reporter will see that she lives, in her own words, in “a Podunk motel”. Using a darker tone to discuss mortality, Schitt’s Creek puts death on display through the lens of celebrity. Watching Moira’s downward spiral from joy to sadness is quite genuine and honest. While we all may wish to know how our loved ones may react to our own passing, the reality might end up being a tough pill to swallow. Moira’s descent into her downward spiral is one of the rare moments when the show balances a range of emotions to convey something refreshing.

8

“The Rollout”

Season 4, Episode 11

Image via CBC Television

Generally, no one wants to do jury duty, so the concept of Moira having to sit through jury duty in this community is hilarious in and of itself. Upon learning that she and Jocelyn Schitt (Jennifer Robertson) have to sit through jury duty, she prepares every excuse in the book to get herself out of it. That is, until the case piqued her interest. So, what could this case be about that Moira no longer wants to perjure herself for? Embezzlement. Well, this one hit close to home! Moira has a mission on her mind, and she’s not going to go down easy.

Since this is Schitt’s Creek, Moira is absolutely not going to get what she wants. Moira so desperately wants vicarious revenge on the business manager who robbed the Roses that she overcompensates. Fortunately for the Canadian justice system, she loses her temper, tells the truth, and gets dismissed. This episode was a fun buddy moment for the mothers of the town as they continue to develop their bond as an odd couple. Moira’s engagement with the mundane is part of what makes the latter seasons special. Moira is an example of the extreme actions we wish we could achieve but never dare execute.

7

“Moira’s Nudes”

Season 2, Episode 9

Image via CBC Televsion

The concept of our nudes leaking and circling the World Wide Web is terrifying. Now, when it’s Moira Rose, it’s just a brilliantly funny concept. During Season 2, Moira goes up against Jocelyn for a town council position. Upon learning that her nudes are out, the technologically inept Moira tasks David (Dan Levy) and Stevie to find and delete them. But when they can’t find them, Moira’s true feelings come out. She’s not necessarily upset that her nudes may be circulating; she’s distressed that they’re missing. Why? If they’re missing, the memorial to her youth is lost.

The premise of asking her son to even locate those photos is funny. But to then see them as a highlight of her past is a pretense to her personality and mindset. As Moira comes to realize the impact of these lost photos, she wants to prevent anyone else from enduring this pain. So, she gives young Stevie advice. She famously tells Stevie to take a thousand naked pictures of herself and post them online, so her future self and children can look back fondly. Moira had given out a lot of advice throughout the series, but this one takes the cake.

6

“Finding David”

Season 2, Episode 1

Image via CBC Television

Not everyone took to relocating to Schitt’s Creek well. Case in point, David Rose. In the Season 2 premiere, the Roses are on the hunt to find David. The reason he disappears is that, believing he’d be escaping Schitt’s Creek soon, the sale of the town doesn’t go through. While some genuinely care about David’s whereabouts, Moira is also concerned that he’s supporting himself at her expense. In her mind, that cannot happen. Further, what’s more distressing than her missing son is her missing bag. We’ve seen her in hysterics over her prized possessions before, but this one was peak Moira.

Having a conniption that her brown crocodile bag, which her mother gave her, had been stolen by her missing son, it’s telling what her priorities lie. As much as Johnny attempts to calm her down, alerting her to the many other brown bags she owns, it’s this bag she demands. The hysterics are part of the character because most of us understand the absurdity of her situation and how she’s simply overreacting. But the way she alludes to the bag as if it were one of her children, even though her actual kid is missing, makes it simply hilarious. These early moments are crucial to her eventual character building.

5

“Life Is a Cabaret”

Season 5, Episode 14

Image via CBC Television

There’s something so endearing about our favorite characters putting on a show. Whether it be the kids of Glee or the kids of High School Musical: The Musical the Series, it brings us back to our own high school theater days. Now, imagine that type of scotch tape production in a community theater lens. Schitt’s Creek lets the adults live out their theater fantasies. Schitt’’ Creek opted to put on a production of the John Kander and Fred Ebb classic Cabaret. A very meta selection, the lead-up to the production featured some brilliant moments, including Alexis Rose (Annie Murphy) auditioning with “A Little Bit Alexis.” In the Season 5 finale, it’s opening night, and like any production, nothing can actually go perfectly. With Stevie suddenly going MIA, director Moira Rose is ready and able to step into the role of Sally Bowles.

TV’s Moira Rose had been chomping at the bit to prove she’s a star, but for this production, she kept her expertise lead her to direct. No one was going to steal her thunder. Not even the announcement of David and Patrick Brewer’s (Noah Reid) engagement. But with Stevie missing, in the mother-of-the-year’s opinion, because David spilled his secret, Moira could be the hero without looking like an egomaniac in the lead role. Moira arrives in full costume because the show must go on! But as Stevie finally returns, ready to bring the house down with “Maybe This Time,” there’s a sense of disappointment from Moira.

In perfect Moira fashion, she passes off her costume as silly, awkward cosplay. But as everyone else revels in praise and glory, opening night also becomes closing night for her big film comeback, as she learns it has been shelved. Having divulged that it was the only thing saving her from an emotional spiral, you can’t help but feel for Moira. This episode, which has some funny moments, is Moira at her most vulnerable. O’Hara’s ability to open Moira up to genuine pain and disappointment through the guise of humor is the work of an extraordinary performer. Moira’s depth had been fully achieved.

4

“The Crowening”

Season 5, Episode 1

Image via CBC Television

As Schitt’s Creek delighted devoted fans, the team began sprinkling in running gags that became a gift every time they popped up. For Moira, and her acting career, the best running bit came with her involvement with The Crows Have Eyes film franchise. Highlighting the lengths to which Moira would go to resurrect her career, the first time the fictional horror film appears is in Season 3, when she auditioned for The Crows Have Eyes II. We know she turned it down as she’d have to pay her way to the filming location and live with a local family. Flash forward to the Season 5 premiere, and Moira is back in action as she’s accepted the role of Dr. Clara Mandrake, a respected ornithologist turned human-crow hybrid. Not only is this our favorite mother’s big comeback vehicle, but we also get to see her filming the low-budget project in Bosnia, The Crows Have Eyes III: The Crowening.

As expected, Moira is Moira. She has numerous script revisions that the young director has no interest in taking on. While he claims it’s “an apocalyptic fantasy about mutant crows,” Moira sees it as “a timely allegory about prejudice.” Bless her heart. As she tries to litter her soap opera experience, it just makes the viewing experience even more bizarre. Watching O’Hara decked out like a bird, playing it up in a nest in front of a green screen, was comedy gold. In a feature with Vulture at the time, O’Hara was revealed to have had “free rein” to create Dr. Mandrake’s look. Learning how much input the actress had with this arc was extraordinary. What made it better was seeing the payoff in Season 6, with the local premiere, which was simply divine. Decked out with a Merlot carpet and the support of the town, it truly was a full-circle moment.

3

“Our Cup Runneth Over”

Season 1, Episode 1

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Schitt’s Creek would not be the legendary series it became without a pitch-perfect pilot. A good pilot must set up the series to come and entice us to become invested. Diving straight into the raid of the Rose’s mansion, we saw the high-strung anxiety from the quartet as all of their beloved belongings were ripped from their hands. As we watch the wealth disappear before their eyes, we begin to learn about each character’s quirks and how they react to tragedy. O’Hara brought instant hysteria. First, we see her with designer bags on her person, only for us to see her servants packing up her personal items. And by that, I mean her many wigs. And no, the wigs don’t get along with one another. When the Roses learn that there is one asset remaining, and no, not the kids, the entire series officially begins.

Johnny purchased the town as a joke for David, and now that joke was their saving grace. Schitt’s Creek became their home and our place to join our new favorite revision family. By the time we reach the town, we get to see Moira on full display in her complete disgust, insults flying in only a manner Moira could hurl. Yet it was all part of the comedy, watching his wealthy woman try to get used to her biggest fear—being poor. From watching her maneuver a lightbulb in a drawer to living so close to her kids, Moira is being Moira. Though she jokes about not waking up and about nailing the coffin shut, if only Episode 1 Moira could see herself in Met Gala-inspired regalia in the finale.

2

“Family Dinner”

Season 2, Episode 2

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While we eventually saw the Roses develop into a beautiful family unit, it was during the first few seasons that we saw the quartet’s disconnect. Yet, the more that they were forced to spend time together, the closer they eventually became. In the Season 2 episode, Moira chose to cook dinner to prove she could indeed cook. In an attempt to continue a family tradition, Moira planned to prepare her “family’s” enchilada recipe. Enlisting David to be her essentially sous chef, resulting in a chaotic scene that left us all in stitches.

While in the kitchen, mother dearest instructs her son to follow the recipe. Of course, he takes it all far too literally. Now, they may not be elite chefs, but the term “fold in the cheese” held them up as they could not fathom what it meant. As Moira tried to play coy, David grew angry. And as David’s rage rose, Moira began to panic. From literally believing one must fold the tiny shreds of cheddar like a piece of paper to Moira avoiding answering her son’s question, the scene played out exactly how you’d expect two individuals who never once stepped foot in a kitchen to occur. The zinger of the scene, “David, what does burning smell like?” served as a perfect button. This episode showcased Moira’s attempt at domesticity, which we all knew was a doomed venture. And that’s the comedy of Moira in the early seasons.

1

“Wine and Roses”

Season 1, Episode 6

There are quite a few iconic moments that came out of the first season of Schitt’s Creek, but the moment that put the series on the map was the Herb Ertlinger (Richard Waugh) wine commercial. The sixth episode put Moira back on screen only for her to own her flop. Specializing in fruit wine, Herb was eager to have Moira serve as the winery’s spokeswoman. With an ego boosted, Moira is all in, believing this would be her acting comeback. If only it were that easy. What resulted was one of the funniest scenes in the entire series.

The brilliance of the writing was the name of the man and his winery. An already peculiar name, even some of the best in diction might get tongue-tied while attempting to say “Herb Ertlinger.” But Moira, through all her delusional confidence, goes all in with the mispronunciation, causing a domino effect of flubs. The result was sheer hilarity. Now, mind you, the woman was quite tipsy, having sampled the vino at the unpretentious winery. O’Hara’s nuanced subtlety mirrors the brilliance we remember her bringing to the assortment of Christopher Guest films she starred in. Moira was a character we laughed at, but genuinely rooted for in the world of acting. Thanks to this commercial, it was a sweet taste of where the former soap star could go in the future. And as we’ve discussed, shine a spotlight on Moira, and she dazzles.