Big Mistakes Review: Dan Levy's New Cringe Comedy on Netflix
Dan Levy, the acclaimed creator of Schitt's Creek, returns to television with Big Mistakes, a new Netflix series that blends dysfunctional family dynamics with an organized crime subplot. The show stars Levy as Nicky, a nervous pastor hiding his boyfriend from his family and congregation, alongside a stellar cast including Taylor Ortega as his sister Morgan and Laurie Metcalf as their overbearing mother.
A Star-Studded Cast in a Familiar Premise
Big Mistakes falls into the category of television shows made by established stars, following Levy's breakthrough success with Schitt's Creek. Co-created with Rachel Sennott, the series leverages Levy's proven talent for crafting bickering, boundary-pushing families. The dynamic between Nicky and Morgan is particularly engaging, capturing the instant regression and honest brutality that often characterizes sibling relationships.
Laurie Metcalf delivers a masterful performance as the emotionally volatile mother, oscillating between steely authority and fragile vulnerability. Taylor Ortega shines as the acid-tongued, thrill-seeking sister, providing much of the show's humor. Levy himself brings predictable charm to his role, while the characters' distinctive styles—Nicky's Instagram-friendly Seinfeld aesthetic and Morgan's gothic boho chic—add visual appeal.
Plot Weaknesses Amidst Comedic Strengths
The series begins with Nicky and Morgan attempting to procure a fake diamond necklace for their dying grandmother, only to discover the item is real and steal it, drawing the ire of a criminal gang. This premise, while setting up the central conflict, suffers from significant plausibility issues. The gang's motives and actions are rendered in vague, generic terms, making them more tedious than terrifying.
Many plot developments feel clunky and exist solely to prolong the siblings' entanglement in the criminal underworld. The final twist, while momentarily thrilling, serves primarily as a setup for a potential second season and makes little sense within the overall narrative. The organized crime elements pale in comparison to similar shows like Fargo or Ozark, lacking originality and depth.
Where Big Mistakes Excels
Despite its plot shortcomings, Big Mistakes succeeds as a cringe comedy centered on family drama. The interactions between Nicky, Morgan, and their other sister Natalie are gleefully well-drawn, capturing the petulant squabbling and parent-based in-jokes that define adult sibling relationships. The stress of their mother's disaster-ridden mayoral campaign is effectively conveyed through jerky camerawork and an abrasive score.
This familial tension is far more compelling than the crime caper, highlighting Levy's strengths in creating relatable, boundary-decimating family dynamics. The show's domestic cringe comedy ensures it is far from a major error, offering plenty of laughs and heartfelt moments, even if it falls short of being a complete triumph.
The Challenge of Post-Breakthrough Projects
Big Mistakes exemplifies the difficult second projects often undertaken by newly minted stars after a breakthrough success. Following Schitt's Creek's grassroots rise to global fame via Netflix, Levy secured a lucrative streaming deal, with Big Mistakes likely aligning more closely with platform expectations than his previous melancholic indie film, Good Grief.
However, as with similar deals for stars like Phoebe Waller-Bridge, these post-breakthrough projects can struggle to match the impact of their predecessors. While Big Mistakes is an enjoyable watch with a brilliant cast, it ultimately cannot compete with the raw, star-making power of shows like Schitt's Creek. It remains a passable excuse for Levy to explore familiar comedic territory, rather than a groundbreaking new premise.
Big Mistakes is now streaming on Netflix, offering a mix of cringe comedy and crime elements that will appeal to fans of Levy's previous work, even if it doesn't quite reach the heights of his earlier success.
