Is Dan Levy's 'Big Mistakes' brilliant or just... a big mistake?

A nonna on her deathbed. A mother in the middle of a mayoral campaign, constantly on the verge of yelling. A gay pastor son. A chaotic, struggling actress daughter. And a younger sibling who seems to have it all together. Throw in one impulsive decision involving a seemingly ordinary necklace, and suddenly, two siblings find themselves pulled into the messy, unpredictable world of organised crime. Intrigued? That’s the chaotic premise of Big Mistakes.

If you walked into this series expecting another warm, fuzzy comedy in the vein of Schitt’s Creek, consider this your reality check. Co-created by Dan Levy and Rachel Sennott, Big Mistakes trades cosy humour for something far more frantic. It follows Nicky, played by Levy, and Morgan, played by Taylor Ortega, as one bad call snowballs into a series of increasingly chaotic and dangerous consequences.

And yet, at least in the beginning, it works. The show opens with a breezy, almost absurd tone. What begins with a stolen necklace quickly spirals into blackmail, shady deals, and a string of bad decisions that keep getting worse. It feels like a far messier cousin of Levy’s earlier work, still rooted in family dysfunction but now layered with danger, secrets, and a lot more panic.

A familiar formula, just… darker

At its core, Big Mistakes is still obsessed with family. Nicky is a pastor who is allowed to be gay by the church but not allowed to be in a relationship. Aspiring actress-turned-school teacher Morgan is chaotic and impulsive, and their mother Linda, played by Laurie Metcalf, is loud, controlling, and ambitious, and easily one of the best parts of the show.

This is where the Schitt’s Creek comparisons feel inevitable. Both shows thrive on dysfunctional families, awkward conversations, and emotionally stunted characters learning to exist with each other. But where Schitt’s Creek leaned into softness and gradual growth, Big Mistakes thrives on discomfort and spiralling down. The humour is sharper, more anxious, and often rooted in watching things go very, very wrong.

The strongest moments are still the quieter ones, when the crime plot fades, and the characters take over, but honestly, these moments are fewer than one would've wanted. The sibling dynamic between Levy and Ortega carries the show, delivering the kind of cringe comedy that feels both exaggerated and weirdly real, but that's that. There is very little to their characters on an individual level; for example, why would you show the lead to be a member of the clergy if religion has nothing to do with the main premise of the story?

When the chaos starts to take over

What starts as fun chaos slowly turns into overwhelming chaos. The first four episodes are genuinely entertaining, powered by a fast-paced plot, absurd situations and quick, smart dialogues. But as the stakes rise, the show begins to lose its footing. The crime storyline becomes more implausible, the pacing gets uneven, and the emotional beats don’t always land the way they should (there are barely any, actually).

Instead of building tension, the show often finds itself leaning into escalation just for the sake of it. Every episode raises the stakes, yes, but not always in a way that feels earned. By the time you reach the later episodes, the spiral feels less like a clever narrative choice and more like a loss of control.

And yet, it is still watchable. That is the strange magic of Big Mistakes. Even when it stumbles and even when it leaves you feeling a bit underwhelmed and confused, you still want to see what happens next.

The performances keep it afloat

If there is one thing that consistently works, it is the cast.

Levy brings his signature awkward charm to Nicky, though this time with a more anxious, morally conflicted edge. Ortega is a standout as Morgan, balancing chaos with vulnerability. And then there is Metcalf, who steals the entire show as Linda with just one monologue, delivering a performance that is both hilarious and quietly terrifying, in a very mom kind of way.

The supporting cast, including Abby Quinn (Natalie), Elizabeth Perkins (Annette), Jack Innanen (Max), and Boran Kuzum (Yusuf), add texture, even when the plot itself starts to wobble.

Will there be a season 2?

The show is still in its early days, but the possibility is very much on the table. The first season leaves enough loose ends to justify a continuation, and Levy himself has hinted during the promotions at wanting to explore the story further.

Whether it should get a second season is another question. A tighter, more focused continuation could fix many of the issues that hold this season back. But if the chaos continues to escalate without direction, it risks becoming exactly what its title suggests.

The final verdict

Big Mistakes is definitely not the spiritual successor to Schitt’s Creek. It is messier, darker, and far more chaotic. At its best, it is sharp, funny, and driven by strong performances. At its worst, it feels uneven, unhinged (not in the fun way) and slightly exhausting even.

So, is it brilliant or a big mistake? Honestly, it is both. And that might be exactly why you should watch the show (and keep your fingers crossed for a better second season).

Lead image: Netflix

Also read: 'Euphoria' season 3 trailer is here and things have never been this chaotic

Also read: Magic behind the magic: 'Finding Harry' trailer shows what went into making the upcoming Harry Potter TV series