By Morgan Roberts

There are few characters on television that over the course of a series go through a major transformation and character development.  “Schitt’s Creek” character Alexis Rose is one of those.

When introduced in Season One, Alexis is a vapid rich young woman who has never had to struggle or work for anything.  That is until her family loses their entire fortune and are forced to move to the only asset they have: a tiny town called Schitt’s Creek.

At first glance, Alexis is vain, ditzy, self-absorbed.  She quickly gets engaged and just as quickly cheats on her fiance.  But over the six seasons, Alexis leans in to her insecurities. She goes back to high school, she starts her own PR business, she enters a successful relationship and strengthens the relationships with her family members.

“With the end of “Schitt’s Creek,” one of its major accomplishments was being able to give us characters that actually grow.  Character development was never sacrificed for the sake of storylines.”

Alexis is brilliantly portrayed by Annie Murphy.  She gives Alexis depth with the most insane quirks.  Alexis has lived a long life. She was held hostage by Somali pirates on David Geffen’s yacht, she met Beyonce in Mykonos, Jared Leto was her first kiss, she escaped the Yakuza, and she was in a critically reviewed, limited reality series entitled “A Little Bit Alexis.”  But Murphy also gives Alexis a lot of heart. The once self-centred Alexis has turned into an actual sister to her brother David, a friend, a serious girlfriend, and an individual now more engaged with others.

Her relationship with local veterinarian Ted (Dustin Milligan) is where her greatest growth lies.  At first, Ted was just a pastime, a person of convenience.  After breaking up, the two reconnect as friends. Watching Alexis learn to love and genuinely care for another person was tremendous to see.  We were able to see someone devoid of truly deep relationships build one on her own.

With the end of “Schitt’s Creek,” one of its major accomplishments was being able to give us characters that actually grow.  Character development was never sacrificed for the sake of storylines. The character of Alexis Rose has been one of the best written and acted on the show – and again, that is saying something as each character has gotten the time to shine.