Starring: Dan Levy, Taylor Ortega, Laurie Metcalf, Jack Innan, Boran Kuzum, Abby Quinn, Elizabeth Perkins
Producer: Dan Levy and Rachel Sennott
Rating: 2.5 stars
There’s a certain expectation that is placed on creators who strike gold early. Following the global success of Schitt’s Creek, Dan Levy returns with Big Mistakes, an anarchic crime-comedy co-created with Rachel Sennott. Positioned as a star-driven follow-up in the streaming age, the show attempts to blend dysfunctional family comedy with an escalating crime plot – but rarely finds the balance it’s pursuing.
Set in suburban New Jersey, the series follows Nicky, a badly injured pastor who is hiding an affair that may affect both his personal and professional life. When his overbearing mother Linda – in the midst of a mayoral campaign – insists he and his sister Morgan buy a meaningful gift for their ailing grandmother, he is again thrust into family chaos. What starts out as a simple job quickly gets derailed when Morgan impulsively steals a necklace from a shop, but the siblings discover it belongs to a dangerous criminal network. From there, they are reluctantly dragged into a world of gangsters, secrets, and escalating consequences.
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Good
Where the show really comes alive is its family dynamics. Levy understands the rhythms of sibling relationships – the regressions, the petty arguments and the strange comfort of shared dysfunction. Nikki and Morgan’s dynamic is consistently charming, with Taylor Ortega giving a standout performance as the quick-witted, impulsive sister. Their conversations seem lively, chaotic and often hilarious.
Laurie Metcalf, as the domineering matriarch, brings a volatile mix of control and vulnerability that anchors the show whenever it threatens to go too far. Even in the most exaggerated moments, the performances remain committed. The dialogue is sharp, interesting, and often entertaining enough to keep things going, while the show’s restless pace ensures it never feels dull.
bad
However, the central campus remains under investigation. The jump from petty theft to full involvement in organized crime seems forced, with various conspiracies developed to maintain the anarchy. The criminals themselves lack menace or depth, coming across as generic nuisances rather than compelling adversaries.
What’s more frustrating is that character motivations are often thin or inconsistent. For example, Nicky’s role as a priest rarely informs her decisions in a meaningful way, while several supporting arcs feel underdeveloped or forgotten entirely. The twist that comes at the end of the season is intended to shock, but instead it raises more questions than it answers, undermining whatever narrative cohesion the show had built.
Decision
Big Mistakes unfolds as a silly family comedy but falters as a crime story. It’s increasingly entertaining – thanks mainly to its cast and dialogue – but the lack of narrative logic prevents it from fully landing. There’s potential here, especially if future episodes rely more on character than chaos. For now, it remains an uneven but watchable misfire.