Like many of the characters on Schitt's Creek, Johnny Rose went through a very interesting transformation over the course of the series. The show followed him through his many ups and downs dealing with his new town and its colorful characters while also trying to keep his family together.
The Johnny that viewers meet in season 1 is very different from the man who drives away from town in the finale. Given the change he went through and the choices he made, it's interesting to consider how Johnny in season 1 might view his future, what he might approve of, and what might annoy him.
Hate: Still In Schitt's Creek
Much like the rest of the Rose family, Johnny was not too thrilled about having to move to Schitt's Creek. As soon as he arrives there, all he wants to do is figure out some way they can leave this town and never return.
While Johnny and Moira are ultimately leaving town in the finale, season 1 Johnny would not be very pleased about how long it actually took. He seemed to think they would be back on their feet in no time and having to actually make a life in Schitt's Creek would have embarrassed him.
Proud: David's Marriage
The Rose family has a lot of issues, but they are still very loving. In season 1, Johnny talks to Roland about David's sexual preferences and what he thinks of them. It is actually a very sweet moment where Johnny is clearly supportive but just wants David to be able to find happiness.
The fact that David, someone who never had the best of luck with relationships, is getting married in the finale would really please Johnny from season 1. As unexpected as the news might be, seeing his son find the love of his life would make him very happy.
Hate: Failed To Sell The Town
Fans may have forgotten the storyline throughout season 1 in which Johnny tries to sell the town in order to get the family back on their feet. He does all he can to make it seem like a more appealing place, which is sometimes not so easy.
After season 1, Johnny seems to abandon those plans and the storyline is dropped. Given all the effort he put into making that deal and how close he got at times, Johnny would probably be disappointed to see it all forgotten about so quickly.
Proud: New Business
One of the most interesting aspects of Johnny's journey throughout the show is how he deals with no longer being the provider for the family. While he is preoccupied with selling the town in the first season, he struggles for a long time after that to find a new purpose.
Johnny was always proud of the success of his original business so he would be thrilled to see that by the finale, he is gradually building a new empire. Even if he is starting from the bottom, it would be a rewarding feeling for sure.
Hate: The Motel
While Johnny would be happy to see a new business venture underway, he might have been shocked to learn what that new business would be. After partnering with Stevie and Roland to start a new motel chain, they are ready to turn it into a national franchise by the finale.
When Johnny arrives at the motel in season 1, it's fair to say that he is not overly impressed. He would have been horrified to see learn that he would still be living in the motel after all this time, let alone investing his time and money to make it a viable business.
Proud: His Happiness
Johnny was always the most grounded member of the Rose family. While he was certainly not right all of the time, he managed to approach situations with a little more rational thinking than the others. However, season 1 shows just how stressed and filled with anger he was at the situation he found himself in.
As the show went on, that anger and stress never completely went away, but Johnny did adjust more to the easygoing lifestyle of the town. By the end of the series, he is the happiest he has ever been.
Hate: Friends With Roland
Roland Schitt, the town mayor, is the first person the Rose family meets when they arrive and it is not a good omen for what the town would offer. Roland is an obnoxious, nosy, and disgusting human being who Johnny has very little tolerance for in the beginning.
Their relationship is quite tense in season 1 and it feels like Johnny would be happy to never see him again. But by the finale, these two have formed an unexpected bond and become friends. Roland still gets on Johnny's nerves, but it's clear he likes him, which would baffle season 1 Johnny.
Proud: Closer To His Children
Before arriving in Schitt's Creek, the Rose family enjoyed a lavish lifestyle where they were each off in their own worlds. Johnny later admits that he was not the most attentive father, allowing nannies to care for children while he ran his business.
Being forced to live together in a tiny motel certainly made the Rose family grow closer, even if it was reluctantly at first. Over time, they became more involved in each other's lives and cared more, with Johnny proving himself to be a loving and supporting father.
Hate: Family Breaking Up
From the very first episode, Johnny reiterates the importance of the family sticking together. Though they might not have been close before, their current circumstances made him realize family was essential and he insisted they do everything together.
By the end of the series, each member of the family is in a very different place, but they are once again splitting up. Despite the reasons for the separation being quite positive, Johnny would have been crushed to learn their time together would not last.
Proud: His Family's Success
In the end, the Rose family's time in Schitt's Creek made them all better people and sent them all down a very exciting path towards the future. Not only is Johnny's business just beginning to take off, but all the others are building their own lives.
From Alexis's public relations career to David's store to Moira's return to acting, the Rose family was really excelling by the finale. Johnny might have been sad to see the family split up, but judging by where they were in the first episode, he'd be so proud of how far his family had come.