David Rose is very... particular. He only wears black, grey, and white. He has perfected his skin and hair care. He knows what is acceptable and unacceptable in his life. He does not know how to compromise. And he uses his steadfast character to start a business and to be the most loyal friend and brother/son. Alexis, Moira, and Johnny all have their idiosyncrasies, too. Over and over the lesson of Schitt’s Creek is to be yourself. As demonstrated through the amusing exploits of the show, trying to be someone you’re not just makes life harder.
Seeing the Rose family weirdos (particularly uncompromising David) find someone who loves them just as they are is more romantic to me than any hijinks-filled rom-com. These weirdos are just... loved. David has felt unloved and misunderstood his whole life and Patrick just... accepts him. And then loves him. Patrick is just right for David because neither of them changed for each other, they met each other where they were. Patrick says "Hey, there's something special here and I'm going to sing at you at an open mic and you're going to be embarrassed but also fall in love with me." (Swoon.) They both open themselves up to love for the first time with people who unexpectedly entered their lives and welcomed them into their hearts.
For some people (*cough*me*cough*) who struggle with the idea of intimacy, admitting to yourself that you even have feelings for someone is a big deal. Saying "I love you" to someone for the first time, or knowing you actually mean it for the first time, is a huge step for someone who has felt unlovable. I relate to David’s struggles at the beginning of their relationship. First of all just not knowing what is going on, then handling relationship milestones all wrong along the way. But none of that makes Patrick love David any less. David doesn’t have to play it cool or send mixed signals. When he does, it throws a wrench into their relationship and sweet angel Patrick has to remind frantic David that he doesn’t have to do or be anything other than himself.
I know it's a TV show. I know they are characters written that way and that their relationships were written for them; they aren't real people who hit that one-in-a-million jackpot of finding their perfect partner. I know Dan Levy specifically created a bigotry-less world for David and Patrick's love to bloom. I know real life isn't so damn hilarious. But this is why people write TV shows, movies, and stories. They portray something real and you can see yourself reflected in them. And when you see yourself in a character on screen and see good things, like love and success, happen to that character, then you can believe that good things could happen to you, too.
I can feel myself turning into a cranky old spinster who finds something new every day to hate, who wonders what happened to all my close friendships, who dreads the idea of a Tinder date or doing anything other than exactly what I want to do. I see myself in David's uncomfortable/appalled faces, his "No, thank you"s, his obsessions with possessions, and his monochromatic wardrobe. When I’m having a day when I feel like no one gets me, I can’t make new friends, no one will ever like or love me because I am who I am, I watch clips of David and Patrick. David makes me feel like I should be even MORE overtly odd and express my discomfort with everything. David shows that when you declare to the universe exactly what you will and won't accept in your life, the universe will listen. And watching Patrick & David fall in love, well, that just fills my heart in a way that only perfect fictional love can. Because nothing in this cruel world can make me believe that that kind of love and perfect partner are out there for me, but when I watch Schitt’s Creek, when I am in their world where this kind of love is possible, I let myself believe there is a Patrick out there for me.
David, and the whole Rose family (and Stevie!), give me hope. Maybe I don't have to change and adapt to be loved or to make a place for myself in the world. Maybe I can go with my natural strengths and declare who I am to the world. Maybe I don't have to compromise to get what I want. Maybe I can be my stubborn, particular, controlling, guarded self and someone will love me just the way I am.